Summer is fast approaching and soon suitcases will be packed for sunny holiday weeks. New data from Airbnb shows exactly where Swedes are heading. The Algarve tops the list of the most popular destinations for 2026, while Valencia, Provence-Alpes, Sardinia and Dubrovnik-Neretva are climbing rapidly among younger Swedes.

Sunlight guides our social lives
It’s no coincidence that travel is picking up right now, when the days are at their longest and brightest. A new survey by Verian, commissioned by Airbnb*, shows that 73 % of Swedes say that sunlight directly affects how motivated they feel to plan social activities – and 64 % say they lead a more social life during the summer months.

Psychologist Björn Hedensjö ”Increased exposure to sunlight not only makes us happier, it also makes us want to socialise more. That's why the need to reconnect feels so strong when the sunlight finally returns. A trip with friends can be just the thing to bring those dormant relationships back to life.”. 

The group travel boom
This need for social interaction is increasingly taking the form of a trip together. 53 % say that travelling with friends helps them grow closer to one another, compared with just seeing each other at home, and 7 out of 10 Swedes say they want to travel more with friends. This is something Airbnb sees evidence of in its own data – larger group bookings by Swedes on Airbnb have increased by 17 % compared with last year. 

About the survey: 

• More than 7 in 10 (72%) Swedes say that the amount of sunlight has a direct impact on how motivated they are to plan social activities. 

• 64% also state that they feel they lead a more social life in the summer compared with the rest of the year 
• 8 out of 10 Swedes report that their energy levels are higher during summer compared to winter. 
• Half of Swedes (50%) say that their mood worsens when they see their friends less often
• 74 % say they feel more motivated and energetic after spending time with friends
• 53 % states that travelling with friends helps them to grow closer and bond better than when they meet at home 
• 7 out of 10 Swedes (70%) say they would like to travel more with their friends than they do at present

About the survey
The survey was conducted by Verian on behalf of Airbnb. The survey is based on 1,000 interviews with the Swedish general public aged 18–45. Data was collected via the randomly recruited web panel Sifopanelen between 5 and 9 May 2026.