A new Sifo survey from TUI shows that one in six Swedes wants to swap Christmas celebrations at home for a holiday abroad.

Christmas is often associated with traditions, family dinners and Christmas presents, but a survey conducted by Kantar Sifo on behalf of the travel company TUI shows that many Swedes like to escape the country during the holiday. One in six (16 percent) say they prefer to celebrate Christmas abroad. Among families with children, the corresponding figure is even higher: one in five (19 percent) prefer to travel abroad.

“Although the majority seem to prefer a traditional celebration, it is clear that many would like to avoid the hustle and bustle of Christmas and family gatherings. And with the many days off this year, it is easier than ever to get away,” says Dian Martinez Valencia, communications manager at TUI.

Young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 are most likely to stay home over Christmas – barely one in ten want to celebrate abroad. At the same time, the survey shows that the desire to travel increases for New Year's: just over one in five Swedes (22 percent) prefer to celebrate New Year's abroad, and among families with children this applies to one in four (26 percent).

Last-minute trips on Christmas Eve
For those who want to swap Christmas chaos for sun, there are still last-minute options at TUI.

– We have last-minute trips left from both Stockholm and Gothenburg, even on Christmas Eve morning itself. Perfect for those who want to take a dip in the sea just before Donald Duck starts, says Dian Martinez Valencia, communications manager at TUI.

According to booking figures from TUI, most Swedes travel to Gran Canaria, Thailand or Egypt over Christmas and New Year this year.

The result in brief:

• 16 percent of Swedes would rather celebrate Christmas abroad than stay in Sweden
• Among families with children, 19 percent would rather celebrate Christmas abroad than stay in Sweden.
• Young adults 18–35 years old: 9 percent would rather celebrate Christmas abroad than stay in Sweden
• 22 percent of Swedes would rather celebrate New Year's abroad than stay in Sweden
• Among families with children, 26 percent would rather celebrate New Year's abroad than stay in Sweden.
• Among young adults aged 18–35, 21 percent would rather celebrate New Year's abroad than stay in Sweden.

About the survey
The survey was conducted in Kantar Media's Sifopanel via an online survey and with a representative sample. A total of 1,071 people aged 18–79 participated in the survey. The survey was conducted on September 22-24, 2025. The question asked was: "During which of the following holidays would you rather travel abroad than stay in Sweden?".