Europe continues to dominate global tourism, attracting hundreds of millions of international travelers each year and solidifying its status as the world's most visited region. From Mediterranean beaches to culturally rich cities, data reveals where international tourists spend the most nights across the continent. The European Commission data shows that six European countries are among the top 10 most visited countries globally, with Spain, Italy, Turkey, France, and the United Kingdom making up the five most popular destinations in Europe.

Data from Eurostat and the UK's Office for National Statistics via VisitBritain provides insight into which areas of the continent are particularly popular. According to Visual Capitalist, there were over 1.5 billion overnight stays across Europe in 2025, up from 25 million in 1950, according to the online travel resource Smarter Travel.

A recent study by the World Tourism Organization predicts that the global sector will grow by about 3.2% in 2026, which is 0.8% wider than the expected global economic growth of 2.4%. The travel and tourism industry is expected to support 376 million jobs worldwide in 2026, or one in nine jobs globally, according to Euronews.

Destinations Welcome Millions Despite Concerns Over Over-Tourism

Spain remains not only the most popular tourist destination in Europe but also globally. It welcomed international visitors for nearly 330 million overnight stays in 2025, easily outpacing Italy, which is second on the list with just under 265 million overnight stays, according to Eurostat data.

Turkey and France follow, each attracting more than 150 million overnight stays in the previous year. Despite its exit from the EU, the UK remains one of Europe's success stories, ranking fifth with nearly 150 million visitors in 2024. This number is expected to increase for -2025, when VisitBritain releases its latest statistics.

The appearance of Greece, Austria, Croatia, Germany, and the Netherlands among the top 10 suggests that much of European tourism remains seasonal and popular in places with solid infrastructure for visitors.

Despite protests against over-tourism, especially in Spain and Italy, people can't resist their picturesque beaches or numerous historical sites.

In France, it's not just Paris that attracts countless tourists. Summer travelers head to the French Riviera and Provence, while in colder months, ski enthusiasts flock to the Alps.

Tourists Not Drawn Only to Large Countries

Austria, a popular winter destination, welcomed nearly 100 million tourists in 2025, while Croatia had more than 85 million visitors the same year, many of whom were drawn to its picturesque Adriatic coastline.

Here is a list of the top 10 most visited European countries by the number of international tourist overnight stays:

  1. Spain: 329.661.068 overnight stays
  2. Italy: 264.741.414 overnight stays
  3. Turkey: 154.799.879 overnight stays
  4. France: 150.753.829 overnight stays
  5. United Kingdom (2024 data): 149.803.000 overnight stays
  6. Greece: 130.851.809 overnight stays
  7. Austria: 97.020.394 overnight stays
  8. Croatia: 85.604.505 overnight stays
  9. Germany: 83.622.666 overnight stays
  10. Netherlands: 64.311.055 overnight stays