Three Europe destinations more and more Aussies are visiting
By Kristine Tarbert |
Emirates has released data showing a massive surge in flight bookings, with over 120,000 Aussies set to trade winter chills for summer thrills in Europe.
Among the most popular European destinations for Australians this June, July, and August are the usual suspects including London, Rome, Paris, Barcelona, and Lisbon.
But Emirates has also seen an increase in bookings to Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria, compared to the same period in 2024.
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And there are plenty of reasons for Aussie travellers to explore these less-trafficked Euro destinations.
There's a lot to love about Hungary besides its super-cheap pricing. Budapest is coming in hot as a leading travel destination for 2025 thanks to its thermal baths, ruin pubs, Danube activities (don't miss a day on Margaret Island) and waterfront bars and festivals.
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Don't forget to buy a Budapest Card, which has unlimited free public transportation, free entry to over 30 museums and attractions, free cruise on the Danube, free entry to a thermal bath and more.
Further afield, Hungary has seven different wine-growing regions, resort life on the banks of Balaton, Central Europe's largest lake, plus a host of pristine national parks including the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hortobagy National Park.
Long considered one of the cheapest European countries to visit, Romania is a kaleidoscope of castles, well-preserved mediaeval towns dotted with cathedrals, and – if you head away from the capital, Bucharest – Black Sea beaches.
Romania is very much removed from the typical 'Euro summer tourist trail', but a trip to Brasov certainly won't be a regret.
The small city in the Transylvania region is ringed by mountains - where you can also visit the castle that inspired Dracula.
Brasov itself is a blend of medieval history and a modern city, with a charming old town full of cafes and bars. Gourmands and wine lovers will instantly be in love, thanks to the fresh produce, abundance of local wineries, and the relatively low cost of everything.
While home to some of the cheapest ski resorts in Europe, Bulgaria is just as popular with ski bunnies as it is with those keen to enjoy its Black Sea beaches, the majestic Rila mountain range (including the insta-famous Seven Rila Lakes) and its multitude of monasteries.
The capital, Sofia, enjoys a bustling nightlife and thriving food scene and best of all, the city's coolest bars and galleries are only over less than 30 minutes away from lush nature getaways so you can have two different holiday experiences in the one day.
According to the data, driving this surge in bookings are couples (43 per cent) and families (25 per cent).
The airline has also witnessed a surge in demand for premium travel, with bookings up 15 per cent for Premium Economy, 4 per cent for Business Class, and 6 per cent for First Class.
Premium Economy is now available via two daily services from Sydney, two daily services from Melbourne, and a daily service from Brisbane, with a third Melbourne service launching on 30 March 2025.
