What was once seen as a niche hobby among nature lovers, birdwatching is now spreading its wings and becoming a popular reason for travel.
In its Hidden Trends List for 2026, published last November, GetYourGuide said that birdwatching is “having a moment” with #BirdTok videos going viral on social media. Last month, the company reported a 65% year-on-year increase in global bookings for birdwatching experiences between 1 January and 27 August 2026.
“Birdwatching as a travel experience has flown well beyond being a ‘Hidden Trend’,” said Anne Wallin, GetYourGuide's global trends and experiences expert.
“It’s growing in popularity every month as travellers rediscover ways to connect with nature and disconnect from the daily hustle – whether that’s among a flamboyance of flamingos in southern France or spotting rare sightings in your own city.”
A trends report by Voyageurs du Monde also said that we’re now “heading into the birdwatching era” and that 2027 is “set to be the year of birdwatching”.
The travel company has reported growing demand, saying bookings for birdwatching holidays between July and October 2026 to date were 57% higher than during the first six months of the year.
“Rather than asking our clients where they want to go, we ask what fascinates them? And what we’ve increasingly found is a growing interest in birdwatching holidays,” Tom Barber, chief brand officer of Voyageurs du Monde, told Euronews Travel.
“In an industry where slow travel is here to stay, and in a world where so much of life happens at speed and through a screen, there’s something wonderfully simple about stepping outside with a pair of binoculars and seeing what you can spot.”
Where to go for birdwatching
So, where should travellers go to experience birdwatching? The Danube Delta and northern Greece are great choices for a European birding trip, according to Barber.
“For beginners who want a taster, spend a day on the Danube Delta in eastern Romania,” he said. “The vast wetlands and waterways here constitute some of the most important wetlands in the world, home to over 300 species of birds, including huge concentrations of breeding and migrating flocks.
“Northeast Greece has also been one of our top sellers of European birding holidays this year, as it’s along a key migration flyway and is home to a diverse blend of wetlands and forests. Go in the shoulder season, because it’s quieter overall, but also an excellent time for birdwatching around the lakes.”
Writing on GetYourGuide's The Explorer, birder Cindy Brzostowski says Portugal is one of the best places for checking out seabirds.
“With its long Atlantic coastline and position along the East Atlantic Flyway, a major bird migration route stretching from the Arctic to Southern Africa, Portugal is a top destination for scouting seabirds,” she said. “The Portuguese islands of the Azores and Madeira are prime birdwatching territory, too.”
If seeing puffins is your thing, then there’s no better place than Iceland, Brzostowski said. “The Westman Islands off the south coast are home to the world’s largest colonies.”
In a ranking of the world’s 20 best birdwatching destinations by AllClear Travel, just two European destinations featured. The study assessed birdwatching sites using factors including recorded species, weather, airport proximity and daily travel costs.
Ranked 19th worldwide and first in Europe in the study, Falsterbo Peninsula on the southwestern tip of Sweden is a “hotspot for birders”.
On England’s north Norfolk coast, Titchwell Marsh is one of the UK’s most celebrated birdwatching destinations.
Europe’s top 15 birdwatching destinations according to AllClear
- 1. Falsterbo Peninsula, Sweden
- 2. Titchwell Marsh, England
- 3. Fair Isle, Scotland
- 4. Kalloni Saltpans, Lesvos, Greece
- 5. Minsmere, England
- 6. Lake Kerkini National Park, Greece
- 7. Rutland Water, England
- 8. Slimbridge Wetland Centre, England
- 9. Bowling Green Marsh, England
- 10. Ria Formosa Natural Park, Portugal
- 11. Camargue, France
- 12. Ebro Delta, Spain
- 13. Hortobágy National Park, Hungary
- 14. Monfragüe National Park, Spain
- 15. Loch Gruinart, Scotland
The world’s top 20 birdwatching destinations according to AllClear
- 1. Manú National Park, Peru
- 2. Tambopata National Reserve, Peru
- 3. Tsavo East National Park, Kenya
- 4. The Pantanal, Porto Jofre, Brazil
- =5. Milpe Bird Sanctuary, Ecuador
- =5. Carara National Park, Costa Rica
- 7. Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica
- 8. Keoladeo National Park, India
- 9. Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve, Argentina
- 10. Kruger National Park, South Africa
- 11. Minca, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia
- 12. Dry Tortugas National Park, USA (Florida)
- 13. Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
- 14. Amboseli National Park, Kenya
- 15. Moss Landing, USA (California)
- 16. Cape May Point, USA (New Jersey)
- 17. Chobe National Park, Botswana
- 18. Soberanía National Park, The Pipeline, Panama
- 19. Falsterbo Peninsula, Sweden
- 20. Titchwell Marsh, England