London, Dubai and Paris are the top three city destinations that have figured the most in searches for summer travel this year, says a report Google Travel Insights released by Google. 

The tech giant shared the list based on past flight booking data and search trends. The list features many unexpected locations and the biggest change from 2023 is that Cancun moved down from the number two to number six in the list. 

United States of America

USA is Google’s most searched destination while NYC follows close behind with fourth spot in the top inbound demand for cities list

The top searched country for travel is the United States of America. Its effervescent ‘Big Apple’ city, also sometimes known worldwide as the world’s most important city and the capital of the world, New York City, takes up fourth spot in the top inbound demand for cities list. Due to the strong demand for spring and summer travel as well as what it described as the ‘most constructive backdrop’ for the airline industry, Georgia-based airline Delta says it expects its highest second-quarter revenue in history.

Upcoming attractions : 

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, from April 12 – 14 and 19 – 21

Boston Marathon in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 15

US Independence Day throughout US on July 4

Comic-Con International Festival in San Diego, California, from July 25 – 28

Spain

Spain attracted about 85.1 million visitors in 2023

The second biggest crowd-puller this travel season has been Spain. A popular travel destination, Spain is known for its stone castles, snow-capped mountains, enormous monuments and sophisticated cities. So strong has been the inbound demand for this country that Spain has also recently made  several headlines as it grapples with overtourism, especially in the tranquil little city of Málaga. About 85.1 million visitors flocked to the Iberian nation in 2023, making that year the new record holder for most travellers, previously held by 2019’s 83.5 million visitors. Summertime in Spain can get very busy, especially in the south and in coastal cities like Barcelona. No wonder Barcelona lands in the fifth spot in the busiest summer cities list.

Upcoming attractions :

Seville fair or La Feria de Abril in Seville from April 14–20 

Feria Del Caballo in Jerez de la Frontera from May 5-11 

La Tomatina in Buñol on August 28

La Mercè in Barcelona, Catalonia, on September 24

Italy

Italy has been a popular summer attraction with wanderlusts thronging every season

With the recently concluded Borsa Internazionale del Turismo (BIT 2024) in Fieramilanocity, visitor arrivals in Italy are at an all-time high. Come summer, international tourists and vacationing ‘wanderlusts’ flock to popular attractions like the Spanish Steps in Rome. The bustling capital city, Rome, is ranked sixth internationally in the busiest cities list. Banking on the summer surge in travel and an overall positive outlook for the year, Italy is also set to flag off the FS Treni Turistici Italiani or Italian tourist trains in 2024 to offer services that are “high quality, sustainable and focused on rediscovering the riches of Italy,” the company says. The concept is to provide a train travel experience where the carriers become an integral part of a traveller’s Italian sojourn.

Upcoming attractions : 

Vinitaly Verona Wine Festival 2024 in Verona from April 14-17

Rome’s city birthday celebration featuring parades, fireworks all throughout Rome on April 21

Liberation Day throughout Italy on April 25

Festa della Sensa in Venice on May 12

Infiorata di Noto in Sicily from May 17 to 21

Sagra del Limone in Cinque Terre, Monterosso, on May 18

United Kingdom

London is the world’s top city with busiest summer travel trends

On the fourth spot as most popular country for summer travel is the United Kingdom with its top carriers like British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Jet2 and more launching additional flights and new routes to cater to the pent up summer travel demand. London is the world’s top city with busiest summer travel trends, according to the report. Raise a glass to England’s wine scene, which is brimming with new tours and festivals this year. With a host of new shows amd movies filmed in and around the United Kingdom, the destination is also riding high on film tourism. 

Upcoming attractions : 

Bath Festival from May 17–26

Chelsea Flower Show in Chelsea, London, from May 21–25

Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland from August 2 – 26 

Keswick Beer Festival in Keswick from June 7-8

France

Soon to host the Olympics, France ranks a surprising fifth on top searches

France, host to the upcoming Olympic Games, surprisingly comes in the fifth place to comprehensively make up the top five destination countries that travellers have searched for. Its capital city and epicentre of the Games, Paris ranks third in the worldwide busiest cities list. Despite, flight bookings, not just searches, to Paris are up 125 pc for the period of the Olympic Games in 2024, compared to the same travel period last year. With the approaching Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it has been arguable as to whether into major sporting events really do bring an economic boost to host cities and countries, or whether the costs outweigh the benefits.

Upcoming attractions :

Nuits Sonores electronic music festival in Lyon May 7–12

Paris Olympics in Paris from 26 July to 11 August

Paralympic Games in Paris from 28 August to 8 September