Malaga, Alicante and London are topping the list of most booked destinations for last-minute summer bookings, according to booking statistics from the travel agency Ticket. For charter trips, Crete and Rhodes are the most booked destinations, and a full 6 out of 10 of the most popular last-minute charter destinations are in Greece.
When people book their summer holiday late, it's primarily well-known destinations around the Mediterranean and in major European cities that prove most alluring. Topping the list of most booked scheduled flights is Malaga, followed by Alicante and London, while Crete and Rhodes continue to be the most booked charter destinations.
– When travellers book late, we see that they often choose well-known and easily accessible destinations. European major cities and classic holiday resorts continue to attract many, while we are seeing increased interest in destinations such as Gdansk, Rome and Berlin. For package holidays, established Mediterranean destinations continue to dominate, says Tiyoneh Jah, PR and Communications Manager at Ticket.
Ticket booking statistics show that scheduled flights account for the majority of late summer bookings, despite charter companies luring with generous last-minute prices to fill unsold airline seats and hotel rooms.
– Anyone looking for a trip close to departure would be wise to compare both scheduled flights and charters – something many seem to miss. Charters often give a lot of holiday for the money as both flights and hotels are included in the price. In addition, charter trips are covered by the Package Travel Act, which gives the traveller extra protection if anything unforeseen should occur, says Tiyoneh Jah.
On the scheduled flights page, bookings to several destinations have increased sharply compared to last summer. Gdansk stands out with a 42 percent increase, while bookings to Alicante have increased by 33 percent and Malaga by 21 percent. At the same time, last-minute bookings to London have decreased by 22 percent compared to last year's levels, but the city still retains a place at the top of the list.
Of the standard charter trips, the biggest change this year is that Preveza, Parga and Samos are entering the top list, while Alanya, Gran Canaria and Karpathos are leaving it.
Top 10 - Most Booked Destinations with Scheduled Flights
- Malaga (2)
- Alicante (3)
- London (1)
- Gdańsk (7)
- Barcelona (4)
- Mallorca (5)
- Paris (10)
- Rom (NY)
- Split (9)
- Berlin (New York)
Top 10 – Most Booked Last-Minute Charter Destinations
- Crete
- Rhodes
- Larnaca (4)
- Antalya
- Mallorca (3)
- Split (6)
- Preveza (NY)
- Parga (NY)
- Samos (NY)
- Kos (9)
Source: Ticket booking statistics for trips booked between 1 June and 21 June 2026 with departure and return by 31 August 2026. Comparisons refer to the equivalent period in 2025. Figures in parentheses indicate the destination's ranking on the top list during the same period the previous year.
