September is shaping up to be a busy month for late-summer travel, and new booking data from Opodo suggests Spain is comfortably the favourite destination for UK travellers. Opodo analysed bookings for trips between 26 August and 26 September 2026, revealing where people are heading, how long they are staying and even when they prefer to book.
1. Spain is the number one September destination for UK travellers
Spain accounts for 21% of UK bookings in Opodo’s data. Barcelona, Alicante and Malaga are among the most popular destinations. Greece comes second with 8% of bookings, followed by Italy with 7%.
2. Short and medium-haul trips dominate
UK travellers are largely staying relatively close to home. Around 45% of bookings are for short-haul travel, while 43% are medium-haul. Turkey is particularly popular, accounting for around 5% of bookings.
3. September holidays are being planned well in advance
Despite the temptation of a spontaneous end-of-summer escape, most travellers are not booking at the last minute. Opodo says 44% of bookings were made between 61 and 90 days before departure.
4. Three to four-day breaks are particularly popular
Short breaks continue to appeal, with 35% of travellers booking trips lasting three or four days. Longer holidays have not disappeared, though: 27% are heading away for between seven and 13 days.
5. Sunday night could be Britain’s favourite time to think about a holiday
Opodo found that Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays were the most popular days for making bookings. Peak booking times included 10pm, 9pm and 5pm – perhaps the hours when thoughts naturally turn towards escaping everyday routines.
There is plenty of travel in the opposite direction too. According to the data, 27% of visitors heading to the UK during the period are coming from Spain, followed by Germany at 15%. London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Glasgow and Bristol are among the leading UK destinations.
Spain also comes out strongly across Europe, ranking as the preferred destination among travellers from France, Germany and Portugal – and even among Spanish travellers themselves.
Find out more about Opodo’s September travel data and holiday options at Opodo.
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