2020 has been a rather unpredictable year for Airbnb holiday lets in the UK and Europe. After markets experienced drastic declines in short-term vacation property bookings in late March, many began to see demand steadily climb as summer arrived — a welcomed reversal from what could’ve been a much bleaker season in terms of booking shortages and cancellations. The driving force behind some markets’ emergence? In the face of the pandemic, travelers revisited and revised their travel plans to explore hidden gems closer to home.
But the UK and Europe aren’t out of the woods yet; year-over-year growth has a ways to go before it reaches pre-pandemic levels, let alone eclipses them.
Although a staggering number of markets felt the full force of shutdowns and travel restrictions, we’ve seen just how resilient some markets — and travelers — can be.
How We Determined the Top UK and European Markets for Short-term Holiday Lets in 2021
Despite substantial challenges this year, several markets emerged as vacation hotspots for 2021 and saw significant holiday rental demand, revenue growth, and reservation spikes — the three criteria we used to determine the UK’s and Europe’s hidden holiday gems:
- Rental Demand: How often are rentals booked throughout the year? To answer this question, we combine annual occupancy and booked listing growth rates, revealing relative travel demand in each market. The higher the score, the higher the demand.
- Revenue Growth: Did properties earn more this month than the same month of the previous year? We get the answer by calculating the change in year-over-year RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Rental) for properties that received bookings in the same time period. Higher scores reveal increasing Revenue Per Property.
- Reservations: This metric is the number of bookings made in November 2019 and November 2020, comparing the percent change between these two months. For this list, we included only markets that had at least 100 reservations in 2019.
These three metrics, when combined, reveal how each of these European destinations outperformed others in their respective markets.
Why 2021’s Best Markets for European and UK Airbnb Properties Stand Out from Previous Years
Travel during the first few months of the pandemic revealed that some of the best places to buy vacation rental property in Europe are no longer just big cities. And while some markets felt travel’s decline more acutely than others, demand didn’t disappear — it shifted. Urbanites across the continent and the UK quickly realized that they could still travel safely by trading flights to other urban areas for more rural, “drive-to” destinations.
People didn’t stop traveling. They changed how and where they traveled.
Before 2020, travelers and vacation property owners and managers in population centers could count on relatively steady bookings throughout the year. Seasonality of course played a role, but not to the degree it has traditionally played in more rural destinations. The pandemic altered these previously predictable travel trends.
Best Cities for Airbnb in Europe and the UK
Rural markets and mid-size metros gave travelers the freedom (and relative safety) to travel within their country or region in ways they may not have otherwise. These are the top markets they explored.
City Country Listings Rental Demand Rental Growth YoY % Change New Bookings New Bookings Nov. Index Total
Sortavala Russia 183 77 100 189% 100 277
Lakhdenpokhskiy Russia 107 82 94 180% 95 271
District de la Broye-Vully Switzerland 71 85 88 178% 94 267
Montrichard France 64 75 99 150% 80 254
Polperro United Kingdom 45 89 88 130% 69 246
Bronckhorst Netherlands 74 87 82 142% 75 245
Emmen Netherlands 79 95 89 110% 58 242
Barrow-in-Furness United Kingdom 93 81 100 107% 57 238
Middlesbrough United Kingdom 65 81 84 135% 71 236
Sens France 60 98 78 113% 60 235
Elburg Netherlands 54 85 100 94% 50 234
Vertou France 58 93 83 110% 58 234
Gaillard France 79 89 85 111% 59 233
North Lanarkshire United Kingdom 101 75 82 137% 72 230
Newquay United Kingdom 556 93 91 83% 44 228
Coevorden Netherlands 61 88 90 93% 49 228
Putten Netherlands 157 94 83 94% 50 226
Sallanches France 126 78 79 124% 65 223
Calstock United Kingdom 64 92 96 66% 35 222
Landkreis Donau-Ries Germany 85 86 84 97% 51 221
Chaumont France 49 96 76 92% 49 221
Ludgvan United Kingdom 59 84 100 67% 35 219
St Columb Major United Kingdom 67 82 82 104% 55 219
Camborne United Kingdom 45 89 99 57% 30 218
Fenland United Kingdom 58 75 82 110% 58 216
Ooststellingwerf Netherlands 71 87 83 82% 43 213
Perranzabuloe United Kingdom 171 88 82 80% 42 212
Agen France 153 91 86 66% 35 212
Jastarnia Poland 98 80 77 105% 55 212
Warminster United Kingdom 40 99 100 25% 13 212
North East Lincolnshire United Kingdom 152 92 78 70% 37 208
St Gennys United Kingdom 54 86 88 64% 34 208
Tarbes France 154 83 76 87% 46 205
Konigsberg Russia 1585 75 85 74% 39 200
Douai France 81 96 79 45% 24 198
Lens France 56 94 80 45% 24 198
Hayle United Kingdom 143 93 83 41% 21 198
South Hams District United Kingdom 1155 80 81 69% 36 197
Hart United Kingdom 66 80 77 75% 40 197
Epe Netherlands 90 96 76 45% 24 196
St JuSt United Kingdom 100 88 85 44% 23 196
Landkreis Tuttlingen Germany 100 82 76 69% 37 195
Landerneau France 43 89 93 23% 12 194
Saint-Maurice Switzerland 54 78 80 66% 35 194
North Lincolnshire United Kingdom 112 79 76 70% 37 192
Cottbus Germany 43 91 86 29% 16 192
Landkreis Bautzen Germany 197 92 81 33% 18 191
Château-Gontier France 36 76 99 29% 15 191
East Lindsey United Kingdom 651 79 80 58% 31 190
#1 Airbnb Destination: Sortavala, Russia
While Russian rentals across the country didn’t see significant shifts, the country claims the top two spots on our list. Hugging Lake Ladoga’s edges along the Finnish border, Sortavala drew droves of travelers, sparking an impressive increase in both rental demand and revenue growth.
#2 Airbnb Destination: Lakhdenpokhskiy, Russia
Sharing Lake Ladoga’s shores southwest of Sortavala, Lakhdenpokhskiy’s increased demand for holiday lettings solidified that urbanites took advantage of one of northwestern Russia’s more rural areas — a trend that is likely to continue into 2021.
#3 Airbnb Destination: District de la Broye-Vully, Switzerland
Lakeside towns were a major draw for travelers in the past year, with Switzerland’s District de la Broye-Vully rounding out the top three markets. Despite lying only 50km from Bern, its relative rurality was a major attraction.
#4 Airbnb Destination: Montrichard, France
With a population of just more than 3,000, Montrichard is a short drive from urban centers like Paris, Lyon, and Nantes, offering relative remoteness and many accommodation options for its size.
#5 Airbnb Destination: Polperro, UK
Southwest England’s Polperro provided an attractive seaside destination for those looking to escape more populated areas during the pandemic.
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The Best Airbnb Destinations in the UK
The data makes one thing clear: the UK’s top markets weren’t concentrated within one region. While many of the top towns could hardly be considered small, several cling to coastlines, and are a stark departure from London, Glasgow, and other urban areas.
What the data may reveal, too, is that those with the ability to work remotely took advantage of shuttered offices, and took their laptops with them to smaller spaces and mid-size metros, blurring the line between holiday and workday.
City | Country | Listings | Rental Demand | Rental Growth | YoY % Change New Bookings | New Bookings Nov. Index | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Polperro | United Kingdom | 45 | 89 | 88 | 130% | 69 | 246 |
Barrow-in-Furness | United Kingdom | 93 | 81 | 100 | 107% | 57 | 238 |
Middlesbrough | United Kingdom | 65 | 81 | 84 | 135% | 71 | 236 |
North Lanarkshire | United Kingdom | 101 | 75 | 82 | 137% | 72 | 230 |
Newquay | United Kingdom | 556 | 93 | 91 | 83% | 44 | 228 |
Calstock | United Kingdom | 64 | 92 | 96 | 66% | 35 | 222 |
Ludgvan | United Kingdom | 59 | 84 | 100 | 67% | 35 | 219 |
St Columb Major | United Kingdom | 67 | 82 | 82 | 104% | 55 | 219 |
Camborne | United Kingdom | 45 | 89 | 99 | 57% | 30 | 218 |
Fenland | United Kingdom | 58 | 75 | 82 | 110% | 58 | 216 |
The Best Airbnb Destinations in the Netherlands
The Netherlands’ top destinations each enjoyed year-over-year revenue growth. Much like the UK’s top towns, these Dutch destinations aren’t exactly rural, though they have significantly smaller populations than the largest cities. Bronckhorst, the top Dutch destination, sits roughly equidistant from Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Düsseldorf, Germany, making it easily accessible for urbanites craving some space.
City | Country | Listings | Rental Demand | Rental Growth | YoY % Change New Bookings | New Bookings Nov. Index | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bronckhorst | Netherlands | 74 | 87 | 82 | 142% | 75 | 245 |
Emmen | Netherlands | 79 | 95 | 89 | 110% | 58 | 242 |
Elburg | Netherlands | 54 | 85 | 100 | 94% | 50 | 234 |
Coevorden | Netherlands | 61 | 88 | 90 | 93% | 49 | 228 |
Putten | Netherlands | 157 | 94 | 83 | 94% | 50 | 226 |
Ooststellingwerf | Netherlands | 71 | 87 | 83 | 82% | 43 | 213 |
Epe | Netherlands | 90 | 96 | 76 | 45% | 24 | 196 |
Simpelveld | Netherlands | 41 | 97 | 84 | 4% | 2 | 183 |
Noordenveld | Netherlands | 67 | 90 | 81 | 16% | 9 | 179 |
Brummen | Netherlands | 47 | 93 | 93 | -15% | -8 | 178 |
The Best Airbnb Destinations in France
Paris may be one of the most-visited cities in the world, but travel trended from Paris to smaller towns within driving distance of the French capital. Each of its top destinations has populations under 40,000 — most of which are significantly under that figure and offer rural escapes surrounded by mountains, winding rivers, and pandemic-friendly socially distancing.
City | Country | Listings | Rental Demand | Rental Growth | YoY % Change New Bookings | New Bookings Nov. Index | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Montrichard | France | 64 | 75 | 99 | 150% | 80 | 254 |
Sens | France | 60 | 98 | 78 | 113% | 60 | 235 |
Vertou | France | 58 | 93 | 83 | 110% | 58 | 234 |
Gaillard | France | 79 | 89 | 85 | 111% | 59 | 233 |
Sallanches | France | 126 | 78 | 79 | 124% | 65 | 223 |
Chaumont | France | 49 | 96 | 76 | 92% | 49 | 221 |
Agen | France | 153 | 91 | 86 | 66% | 35 | 212 |
Tarbes | France | 154 | 83 | 76 | 87% | 46 | 205 |
Douai | France | 81 | 96 | 79 | 45% | 24 | 198 |
Lens | France | 56 | 94 | 80 | 45% | 24 | 198 |
The Best Airbnb Destinations in Germany
Unlike the other countries on the list, most of Germany’s top destinations were fairly large urban areas with populations at or above 100,000. Still, these areas can’t be compared to Berlin, Hamburg, or Munich. Many of Germany’s leading markets sit rather close to some of the country’s most-populated cities, aligning with trends in other markets that travelers looked for an escape from huge cities, even if they weren’t all that far.
City | Country | Listings | Rental Demand | Rental Growth | YoY % Change New Bookings | New Bookings Nov. Index | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Landkreis Donau-Ries | Germany | 85 | 86 | 84 | 97% | 51 | 221 |
Landkreis Tuttlingen | Germany | 100 | 82 | 76 | 69% | 37 | 195 |
Cottbus | Germany | 43 | 91 | 86 | 29% | 16 | 192 |
Landkreis Bautzen | Germany | 197 | 92 | 81 | 33% | 18 | 191 |
Landkreis Zwickau | Germany | 98 | 84 | 90 | 26% | 14 | 188 |
Landkreis Oldenburg | Germany | 79 | 80 | 85 | 31% | 16 | 182 |
Landkreis Mayen-Koblenz | Germany | 286 | 83 | 79 | 36% | 19 | 181 |
Emden | Germany | 60 | 90 | 88 | 5% | 3 | 181 |
Donnersbergkreis | Germany | 50 | 78 | 80 | 35% | 19 | 177 |
Landkreis Oberspreewald-Lausitz | Germany | 112 | 77 | 76 | 38% | 20 | 173 |
2021’s Top European and UK Airbnb Destinations Will Likely See Continued Growth — and Investment
One thing is clear: travelers and vacation property owners alike have enjoyed the rise in rentals within the UK’s and Europe’s hidden holiday lettings. Property owners and managers have especially welcomed the revenue and reservation reversal from the spring’s plummet.
Those looking to capitalize on this shift in travel trends need clear data to determine if their property has significant revenue-generating potential in 2021 and beyond. MarketMinder’s Market Comparison tool enables users to compare up to four markets side-by-side — perfect for determining which markets offer the most profit potential. Explore bedroom counts, amenities, accommodations, and other must-know metrics to pinpoint earning potential.
To explore specific vacation properties, use Rentalizer, the leading Airbnb calculator, to get lucid data on how much you could be earning. Just enter an address and discover how much revenue that property could bring, and find out if your property is the next hidden gem for travelers across the UK or Europe.