Traveling with Friends? The Most Popular Cities for Group Getaways in 2026

Where are groups planning to travel in the remaining months of 2026? London, Paris and Marseille top Kayak’s list of the most popular destinations.

It’s time to revive the group chat, dust off the trip-planning spreadsheet and convince your friends to turn “let’s plan a trip” into “all the flights and accommodation are already booked!”... Sometimes that’s easier said than done.

In Opodo’s August report, “Solo Travel Trends 2026: The Year of Travelling Alone with Purpose,” up to 30% of the 9,000 travellers surveyed said they preferred to travel alone, because their friends or family were unable to travel with them.

But when the group chat does finally produce the long-awaited reaction, travelling with friends can be just as cost-effective.

According to Kayak, splitting the cost of accommodation, car rental, petrol and even meals among friends can “result in significant savings”. The company adds that renting a large ocean-view villa is much cheaper when the cost of the night is divided among five or more people. “The whole secret is knowing where to go.”

The most popular destinations for group trips

Kayak analysed searches for hotels and short-term rental properties suitable for groups of five or more people, for bookings made from March to September and stays from July to December 2026.

Europe came out on top in both cases: London was the most popular destination for hotel bookings by groups. According to Kayak, the average nightly rate was €181 – 6% less than the previous year.

• London’s hidden gems: underrated attractions worth seeing

Paris came second, with an average hotel price of €144 per night, 3% lower than last year’s figure. At the same time, the French capital was the most sought-after destination for groups renting holiday accommodation, with an average nightly rate of €151.

Other French destinations also performed well in the short-term rental rankings – Marseille and Nice took second and eighth place respectively on Kayak’s list.

Marseille, a port city with a history spanning more than 26 centuries, is usually less crowded in October and November, while the climate becomes cooler, making this an ideal time to stroll through its oldest district – Le Panier, which dates back to around 600 BC.

According to the city’s official tourist office, its streets are open-air museums in their own right: murals and street art are everywhere, while artisans and designers selling their creations work in the central areas.

Top 10 most popular destinations for hotel bookings by groups of 5 or more

• 1. London, England: average hotel rate per night – €181
• 2. Paris, France: average hotel rate per night – €144
• 3. Barcelona, Spain: average hotel rate per night – €176
• 4. Madrid, Spain: average hotel rate per night – €124
• 5. Rome, Italy: average hotel rate per night – €143
• 6. Amsterdam, the Netherlands: average hotel rate per night – €165
• 7. Marseille, France: average hotel rate per night – €100
• 8. Marrakech, Morocco: average hotel rate per night – €188
• 9. New York, USA (N): average hotel rate per night – €307
• 10. Berlin, Germany: average hotel rate per night – €115

Top 10 most popular destinations for holiday rental bookings by groups of 5 or more

• 1. Paris, France: average rental rate per night – €151
• 2. Marseille, France: average rental rate per night – €89
• 3. London, United Kingdom: average rental rate per night – €166
• 4. Marrakech, Morocco: average rental rate per night – €101
• 5. Madrid, Spain: average rental rate per night – €119
• 6. Gdańsk, Poland: average rental rate per night – €110
• 7. Barcelona, Spain: average rental rate per night – €149
• 8. Nice, France: average rental rate per night – €141
• 9. Rome, Italy: average rental rate per night – €107
• 10. Kraków, Poland: average rental rate per night – €76