Online bookings for German vacation rentals surge in 2025

Germany has seen a substantial surge in online bookings for vacation rentals, with a total of 68.3 million overnight stays recorded last year through major platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Expedia. This represents a 13 percent increase compared to 2024 and a remarkable 83.4 percent rise from pre-pandemic 2019 levels, nearly doubling bookings over this period.

The domestic market remains the primary driver of this growth. German guests accounted for 48.5 million of the total overnight stays, marking a 15.3 percent increase from the previous year. This indicates a strong preference among Germans for domestic travel and vacation rentals.

International tourism also contributed to the rise, with bookings from foreign guests increasing by 7.8 percent. The majority of these international visitors hailed from the Netherlands, Poland, the United States, France, and Switzerland, highlighting Germany's appeal as a destination for various nationalities.

This trend underscores a significant shift in travel behavior, with online platforms becoming increasingly dominant in the vacation rental sector. The data suggests a sustained recovery and growth in tourism, with a particular emphasis on self-catering accommodations, even as the industry continues to adapt to post-pandemic travel patterns.