Methodology: how this guide was produced
Exclusive internal search data was used to collate a list of destinations in Europe which do not appear on the list of the top 5,000 most-searched destinations across HomeToGo's European domains for holiday accommodation stays during summer 2025. A shortlist of 50 destinations was then compiled based on tourism infrastructure insights. In order to rank these destinations, seven points were researched for each location: summer temperatures, traveller demand, surrounding landscapes, traveller search trends, walking routes, food and drink options, and holiday accommodation costs. After obtaining the raw data, each data point was assigned a representative numerical value between 5 and 10, with 5 representing the lowest data point and 10 representing the highest data point. The hypothetical "perfect score" would be 70 out of 70. The following equation was used in order to calculate this for each factor:
Score(i) = 5 · (x(i) - xmin ) / (xmax - xmin ) + 5
Heat Score: Statistics from sources including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Climate Data, and World Weather API were used to find the average high temperatures across July, August, and September for each destination. The location with the highest average temperature was awarded a maximum score of 10, and the remaining destinations were awarded a score of 5 or higher.
Under-the-radar Score: Exclusive internal HomeToGo demand data was used to find the search volume for stays with a check-in date during summer 2025 in each destination. The destination with the lowest search volume was awarded a maximum score of 10, and the remaining locations were awarded a score of 5 or higher.
Scenic Setting Score: The number of beaches, UNESCO sites, and protected natural areas within or within close proximity to each destination was calculated. The destination with the overall highest number was given a score of 10, and the remaining destinations were awarded a score of 5 or higher. Alongside this, Flickr was used to identify the number of photographs featuring each destination as its subject, with the most-photographed destination given a score of 10, and the remaining destinations awarded a score of 5 or higher. For each destination, the total of these two scores was calculated. The destination with the highest combined score was awarded a maximum score of 10, and the remaining locations were awarded a score of 5 or higher.
Rising Star Score: Exclusive internal HomeToGo demand data was used to find the search volume for vacation home stays during summer 2025 in comparison to the same period in 2024 for each destination. The destination with the largest year-on-year percentage increase in search volume was awarded a maximum score of 10, and the remaining locations were awarded a score of 5 or higher.
Wander Score: Data from Komoot was used to determine the number of hiking paths within 3 miles of each destination. The destination with the most nearby hiking paths was awarded a maximum score of 10, and the remaining destinations were awarded a score of 5 or higher.
Gastronomy Score: Sources including Tripadvisor and Google Maps were used to find the number of food and drink establishments in each destination. The destination with the most food and drink establishments was given a score of 10, and the remaining destinations were awarded a score of 5 or higher. Alongside this, the percentage of restaurants with a rating of four out of five stars or higher was calculated, with the destination boasting the highest percentage given a score of 10, and the remaining destinations awarded a score of 5 or higher. For each destination, the total of these two scores was calculated. The destination with the highest combined score was awarded a maximum score of 10, and the remaining locations were awarded a score of 5 or higher.
Accommodation Cost Score: Exclusive internal HomeToGo price data was used to find the median cost per night per person for holiday accommodation in each destination during summer 2025. The destination with the lowest median nightly price for accommodation was awarded a maximum score of 10, and the remaining locations were awarded a score of 5 or higher. Data was collected in June 2025. Prices are subject to change.
