European Apartment Market More Expensive but More Predictable: What Should Summer Travelers Watch For?

The European short-term rental market is not collapsing before the summer peak season, nor has it become cheaper: according to fresh May data, supply is expanding more slowly, while occupancy and average prices are rising. For Hungarian travelers, this means that apartments remain a good choice for family, friend, or longer city trips, but real savings increasingly depend on early, regular, and flexible bookings.

According to fresh European market data from AirDNA released on June 17, 2026, there were 3.86 million active short-term rentals available in Europe in May. This is a 2.6 percent increase year-on-year, which is a much more restrained pace than the rapid growth of previous years. The demand side did not strengthen everywhere: the number of guest nights decreased by 1.1 percent to 39 million, while average occupancy rose to 58.3 percent. The average daily rate increased by 6.8 percent to 140 euros, and the revenue per available rental night improved by 8 percent to 81.6 euros.

At first glance, the numbers seem contradictory: lower demand, yet better occupancy and higher prices. The explanation is that the market is no longer in the sudden growth phase following the pandemic. Supply expansion has slowed, regulation is restricting or reorganizing supply in some countries, and guests are choosing more consciously. Many travelers are not simply looking for the cheapest apartment, but for accommodation that is well-located, authentically rated, offers convenient access from the airport, and carries no hidden legal or cancellation risks.

Why is this important right now?

The news is timely because Europe has entered the summer travel peak period. Based on AirDNA, June-August bookings are overall 4.9 percent ahead of 2025 levels, and for September, a 9 percent advantage is already visible compared to the same point last year. This indicates that the peak season is still strong, but some of the demand is shifting toward the shoulder season due to more manageable prices and smaller crowds.

This is a particularly important signal for Hungarian travelers. For summer European city visits, we often look at the flight price first, but the final cost is determined at least as much by accommodation, local transport, and airport transfers. An apartment that seems cheaper can easily become more expensive if it is far from the center, requires a separate access fee for late arrivals, has high cleaning costs, or requires more spending on transport daily due to the neighborhood.

That is why it is worth looking at the entire route when booking for summer. Someone starting from Budapest to Barcelona, Athens, Rome, or Lisbon should not only compare the nightly apartment price, but also how to get from the airport to the accommodation, how much time transport takes, and whether there is reliable public transport nearby. A well-located hotel or apartment is often worth more than an option that is cheaper on paper but harder to reach.

Platform-based accommodations are no longer side characters

Previous data from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, also show that short-term accommodations booked through platforms have now become a defining part of European tourism. In 2025, 951.6 million guest nights were booked in short-term accommodations in the EU through Airbnb, Booking, and Expedia platforms, representing an 11.4 percent annual increase. The overall tourism accommodation market is also strong: in the first quarter of 2026, 471.1 million guest nights were registered in tourist accommodations in the EU, 3.4 percent more than a year earlier.

This background is essential because short-term apartment rentals are no longer just an alternative solution for those who cannot find a hotel. Families, groups of friends, digital nomads, long-weekend travelers, and festival tourists are using them in masses. A two- or three-room apartment can be particularly attractive if several people share the costs, or if the kitchen, laundry facilities, and living room truly add to the quality of the trip.

According to fresh market data, two- and three-bedroom properties performed well in May. This is consistent with what many Hungarian travelers experience: in large cities, smaller studios do not always offer a good enough value for money, while a well-shareable, multi-person apartment can be more competitive for a family or group of friends. At the same time, higher-category accommodations across Europe are maintaining their occupancy better, suggesting that guests with higher purchasing power are less likely to cancel more comfortable options.

Prices are rising, but differences are great

The European average price was around 140 euros in May, but one should not draw conclusions about a single city or country from this. The market is highly fragmented. In Spain, the decline in supply may be related to stricter local regulations, while in Greece, demand increased, supply decreased slightly, and occupancy and revenue improved strongly. Italy appears to be one of the more stable large markets, while softer booking activity was indicated in France and Germany.

In practice, this means that when booking a summer apartment, choosing a country is not enough. Different logic applies in Barcelona, Athens, Rome, Lisbon, Split, or Paris. In the case of Barcelona, for example, due to the urban regulatory environment and high demand, the legality and exact location of the accommodation may be more important; in Athens and Greek island connections, airport access, ferry connections, and timing due to the heat also matter; in Rome, a central location and travel time are often worth more than saving a few euros.

Those preparing for the most popular Mediterranean cities should also review airport logistics alongside accommodation. Useful starting points could be the pages of Barcelona El Prat Airport, Athens Airport, Rome Fiumicino Airport, or Lisbon Airport, because the route between the airport and the accommodation often determines whether a cheaper offer is truly convenient.

EU transparency rules may also reorganize supply

Alongside market data, an important regulatory change is taking place. From May 20, 2026, the rules of the EU short-term rental transparency framework, based on Regulation 2024/1028, will apply. The system's goal is not to generally ban short-term apartment rentals, but to ensure that member states and cities receive more accurate data and that platforms display accommodations in a more verifiable manner.

According to the European Commission, where member states introduce a registration system or request data from platforms, the procedures must operate online and in a user-friendly manner. Hosts may receive a unique registration number, platforms must display and verify these numbers, and authorities may request the removal of non-compliant advertisements. Platforms may share monthly data on guest nights and stays, while ensuring the protection of personal data.

From the traveler's perspective, this is not mere administration. If a city monitors short-term apartment rentals more seriously, irregular advertisements may disappear, supply may shrink, and legal accommodations may become more expensive. In return, safety may improve, the risk of fake or ambiguous advertisements may decrease, and it may become more transparent whether the selected apartment is truly rentable to tourists.

How can Hungarian travelers book more smartly?

The most important advice is not to automatically treat short-term apartments as cheaper hotel substitutes. First, it is worth deciding what kind of trip it is. For a two-day city visit with a late evening arrival and early return, a hotel close to the airport or with a good metro connection is often more practical. For a five-day family vacation or a trip with friends, however, a well-equipped apartment can be a significant advantage.

Before booking, it is worth checking four things separately: the total price including cleaning and service fees, the cancellation terms, the method of entry for late arrivals, and whether there is a clear registration or permit number where local rules require it. Too cheap advertisements with few reviews or imprecise titles can carry risks, especially during the peak season.

If the flight and accommodation are in separate bookings, airport transport must also be priced. In Barcelona, for example, it can be useful to check the transfer and taxi options available from Barcelona-El Prat Airport, and in Rome, the Fiumicino airport transfers. Those planning a seaside or rural segment should also compare car rentals with local transport; for this, Lisbon airport car rental or Athens airport car rental could be relevant starting points.

September can be an increasingly attractive escape route

One of the most interesting elements of the fresh data is that demand for September is already running at a stronger pace than for the entire classic summer period. This is not surprising: some of the more price-sensitive travelers avoid the July and August peak, while in Southern Europe, the weather is still summery in many places in September, but the crowds are smaller, the heat is more manageable, and services are not always as overloaded.

From Hungary, this can be a particularly good strategy for Mediterranean cities and seaside combinations. Barcelona, Rome, Athens, Lisbon, or the Croatian coast are often more comfortable in September than in the middle of the peak season. Flight and accommodation prices are still not guaranteed to be low, but there may be more room for maneuver, especially if the traveler plans with a weekday departure, flexible length of stay, and comparison of multiple airports.

The stabilization of the apartment market therefore does not mean that everyone will easily find cheap accommodation. Rather, it indicates that the market has become more mature: regular, well-located, and well-managed accommodations hold their value, while weaker offers are less attractive. Those who only look at the nightly price can easily make a wrong decision; however, those who examine the total travel cost, transport, regulatory risk, and flexibility together can still find good value.

What does all this mean for the summer of 2026?

The European summer accommodation market of 2026 is expected not to be cheap, but it may be more predictable than in the rapidly changing previous years. Supply is no longer growing explosively, demand varies by country, but the role of platform-based accommodations remains large. EU transparency rules may bring a cleaner market in the long run, but in the short term, they may cause supply shortages and price increases in some cities.

For Hungarian travelers, therefore, the best question is not whether to choose a hotel or an apartment, but which one provides real value for the given route, company, and time. A regularly operating, well-rated apartment can be a great choice for a longer trip or a multi-person journey. A central or airport-proximate hotel, however, may be a better decision for a short city visit, late arrival, or when flexibility and predictability are more important than a larger floor area. The main lesson for the summer is simple: there is accommodation supply in Europe, but it is no longer enough to find the truly good offers; they must also be verified.