For decades, Germans have been among Europe’s most reliable globe-trotters. They fly south when the clouds set in, they pack their hiking boots when spring arrives, and they treat travel not as a luxury but as a rhythm of life. A new YouGov report for 2026 suggests that rhythm is shifting. The desire to explore remains, but the pace has changed.
The study, published this December, tracks how economic pressure, rising prices, and changing lifestyles are quietly reshaping Germany’s international travel landscape.
How Often Does Germany Still Travel Abroad
According to the survey, 45 percent of Germans travel abroad at least once per year for tourism. Another 14 percent go roughly every two to three years. Smaller groups stretch the interval further.
Yet 18 percent report never traveling internationally.
Younger generations, unsurprisingly, remain the most mobile.
- 54 percent of Millennials travel abroad at least once a year.
- 53 percent of Gen Z follow the same pattern.
For them, travel is still freedom and self-definition. For older generations, travel is increasingly shaped by cost and responsibility.
One in Three Germans Traveled Less in 2025
While the majority maintained their habits, 31 percent of German international travelers reduced their trips this year compared with 2024.
Their explanations depict a country adjusting to a more expensive world.
- 31 percent cite personal reasons such as family, health, or work
- 28 percent blame rising travel costs
- 27 percent mention economic uncertainty or reduced disposable income
Nearly half of those who travelled abroad in 2025 agree that rising costs directly affected their travel plans.
And Germans are precise observers. When asked where prices climbed most sharply, they pointed to the essentials:
- 58 percent say transportation became more expensive
- 55 percent saw higher accommodation costs
- 53 percent felt a rise in food and dining prices
- Activities and on-site transport were less of a shock but still rising
The cost of going anywhere has changed. Travellers feel it before they even reach the airport.
How Germans Adapt Their Holidays
Cost awareness has quietly become a new travel skill.
Among those who adjusted their behaviour, the most common strategies were:
- 40 percent moved their trips into the off-season
- 29 percent chose cheaper destinations
- 26 percent booked flights earlier
- 25 percent shortened their trips
The picture is simple. Germans are still travelling, but they are thinking harder about how.
Which Destinations Lost Ground on Value
Two of Germany’s all-time favourites — Spain and Italy — received the lowest marks for value this year.
- 39 percent say Spain’s value for money has worsened
- 37 percent say the same of Italy
Despite the complaints, both countries remain at the top of the list of preferred destinations for future holidays, followed by Austria, Greece, and France.
In one of the more interesting shifts, Poland recorded the strongest improvement in overall perception, ahead of Sweden and China.
Why These Trends Matter
Carolin Petrow, Account Director at YouGov Germany, notes that travellers are entering 2026 with a more deliberate mindset. Wanderlust remains strong, but rising costs force many to rethink the how, the when, and even the why of travel.
The new “German international traveler outlook 2026” examines these shifts in depth. It suggests that conscious travel, careful planning, and real-world value are becoming just as important as sunshine and scenery. As travellers adapt, the tourism industry will need to adapt with them.
The findings are based on a multiregional YouGov survey conducted between 20 October and November 11, 2025, among 1,001 respondents in Germany. Additional analyses are available for fifteen other markets, including Australia, Canada, France, Poland, the UAE, and the United States.
