With less than 50 days to go until the highly anticipated ‘summer of football’, new KAYAK research reveals fans are already turning the global occasion into a full-blown holiday. Rather than chasing expensive stadium seats in host countries or competing for tickets to a local UK fan zone, nearly a third (32%) of football fans report they have planned or are planning a holiday that coincides with the tournament. Travellers are seeking sunny terraces and buzzing bars to enjoy late-night matches in a different country’s atmosphere.
Top Destinations for Football Holidays
Spain comes out on top as the highest-ranking ‘dream destination’ for football viewing on holiday, according to 23% of fans, followed by Italy (15%), Portugal (12%), Greece (10%) and France (8%).
Why Fans Choose to Travel
This football-led travel isn’t just about having a TV to watch the games. KAYAK’s research shows that better weather (36%), visiting a new country (33%), going with friends and family (33%), and experiencing a different football culture (30%) are the highest-ranking drivers for planning holidays around watching matches.
KAYAK Launches Dedicated Guide
To help fans plan their perfect football-viewing escape, KAYAK has launched a dedicated guide for fans looking to turn the summer football season into a holiday. The hub brings together the most searched European destinations during the tournament, alongside practical insights like average flight and hotel prices, local beer costs, and how easy it is to find pubs with decent screens to watch the matches. According to the page, locations like Málaga in Spain, Rome in Italy, and Paris in France are well placed to meet fans’ football holiday needs.
