June is when the European travel season really picks up each year, with a noticeable increase in both crowds and temperatures. June 2024 brought a lot of European travel news, but if you missed anything that month, this post will help you catch up.
There’s been a lot going on this month, from a crackdown on short-term rentals to the announcement of exciting new rail partnerships and impressive infrastructure projects. Make sure you sign up for the TravelPulse newsletter to stay up to date with the latest European travel news all summer long.
Park Güell in Barcelona, photo by Paul Hennie. (Photo credit: Paul Hennie)
Barcelona sets sights on vacation rentals
Barcelona Mayor Jaume Corboni unveiled plans this month to ban short-term holiday rentals by 2028. The controversial plan comes as rents for locals continue to rise as tourism numbers grow with much of the city’s housing stock being converted into tourist accommodation.
Development of the Denmark-Germany tunnel
This month, construction began on the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel, which will connect Denmark and Germany. When complete, it will be the longest undersea road and rail tunnel in the world. The tunnel, which will connect southern Denmark with northern Germany and stretch for more than 11 miles, will drastically cut travel times between the two countries at this point, reducing the 45-minute ferry journey across the Baltic Sea to just a seven-minute train journey. The Fehmarnbelt Tunnel is scheduled to open in 2029.
Costa Cruises families can enjoy family-friendly excursions in the Mediterranean, including a visit to a local market in Palermo. (Photo credit: Costa Cruises)
Costa Cruises Unveils New Family Experiences
Families sailing the Mediterranean with Costa Cruises can take part in a new series of family-friendly land excursions and onboard activities, such as a trip to a local market to gather ingredients for a Sicilian dessert (before preparing it on board) and a street art photo safari for teens.
A heat wave rears its head
The first real heatwave of the season hit Europe in June, causing major damage in parts of Italy and Greece. After a string of tourists died in the unseasonably hot weather, Greek authorities issued health warnings and urged visitors to be mindful of the heat and avoid risky behaviour. Access to popular outdoor sites such as the Acropolis was restricted during peak daytime hours this month.
Eurail Pass (Photo: Rail Europe)
2024 travel trends taking shape
As we’re halfway through the year, this year’s European travel trends are becoming clearer. European rail pass brand Eurail has revealed that some of the trends it’s seen in the first quarter of the year include an increase in Americans buying three-month rail passes (possibly signaling a shift to slower travel) and a surge in the popularity of the Limoges region in France and Appenzell in Switzerland.
Meanwhile, travelers are increasingly prioritizing value, regardless of income, according to the Mastercard Economics Institute’s 2024 Trends Report, with countries such as Albania, Turkey and Croatia seeing their largest air traffic increases since 2019 as a result.
Greece to restrict cruising
In an interview published this month, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the country will soon put a cap on cruise ships calling at Santorini and Mykonos, among other islands. “There are people who spend a lot of money to stay on Santorini and they don’t want the island to be crowded,” he said, suggesting cruise lines could compete for docking spots or put a limit on the number of available docking spots.
Regiojet (Photo: Rail Europe)
Rail Europe Adds Regiojet
European rail ticket provider Rail Europe has announced that its B2B platforms, including RailAPI, RailFlash and RailPortal, now allow bookings for RegioJet, a privately owned rail operator based in the Czech Republic serving destinations in Slovakia, Austria, Croatia and Hungary.
(Provided by AmaWaterways)
AmaWaterways opens bookings for 2026
Ama Waterways unveiled its 2026 booking calendar earlier this month, announcing several new additions to its European river cruises. The new Ama Sophia ship will sail the Danube from May 2026, and in addition to its Paris debut, the year will also see new land-based packages to locations such as Madrid and San Sebastian, Spain. Additionally, 2026 will see new tours to locations such as Utrecht (Netherlands), Strasbourg (France) and the spa town of Baden-Baden (Germany).
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