With the arrival of September, the map of preferred destinations for Spanish travelers takes a notable turn. Madrid and Seville gain weight against coastal enclaves and are placed among the most demanded options for late summer getaways, according to a study by GuruWalk that contrasts the bookings of July and August with those already made for September.
The platform specialized in free tours has analyzed the data of experiences booked by Spanish tourists during July and August, up to August 26, 2026, and compared them with the advance bookings for September. This contrast evidences a change in preferences once the high season ends and the heat eases.
MADRID RISES TO THIRD PLACE AND SEVILLE SLIPS INTO THE TOP 5
Madrid and Seville emerge as the big winners of the change of season. Seville did not appear among the twenty most requested destinations by Spaniards either in July or August, while Madrid was in more discreet positions, 14th place in July and 18th in August.
However, the bookings already made for September now place Madrid in third place and Seville within the top 5, only behind Rome, Budapest, Madrid, and Prague.
In contrast, several coastal destinations lose strength. Porto, which led bookings in August, drops to tenth place in the forecasts for September, while Dubrovnik and Lisbon leave the top 10 after having been among the preferred places in the central months of summer.
According to Belén Casanova, Head of Supply at GuruWalk, the change highlights the existence of "two types of Spanish travelers in summer": those who lean towards the coast in July and August and those who prefer the interior and the south when temperatures drop and overcrowding decreases.
The spokesperson also emphasizes that September "is not a lesser month" and that destinations like Madrid and Seville fit the preferences of those who wish to explore the cities once the high season has ended.
ROME, BUDAPEST, MADRID, AND PRAGUE AMONG THE FAVORITES
Rome, Budapest, Madrid, and Prague lead the choices of Spaniards who will travel in September through GuruWalk.
Rome retains the first place for the fourth consecutive year, while Madrid and Budapest exchange their positions for the first time in the second and third steps of the ranking. Prague continues to gain relevance and consolidates itself among the main alternatives.
Rome, Budapest, and Prague also rank among the favorite destinations of Spanish travelers throughout the year, driven by their powerful historical and cultural offerings.
From GuruWalk, they point out that a part of Spanish tourists does not give up on classic destinations, but rather opts to visit them in September, when there are fewer crowds and greater tranquility is enjoyed.
SEVILLE, KRAKOW, AND JAPAN GAIN PROMINENCE
Seville is the Spanish destination that has climbed the most in the ranking of preferences for September in the last three years. The Andalusian capital was in 13th place in September 2023, dropped to 16th in 2024, rose to 10th in 2025, and, according to forecasts for 2026, will enter directly into the global top 5.
In Eastern Europe, Krakow joins this September the list of favorite destinations for Spaniards, accompanied by the growing interest in Warsaw. The demand reflects a greater attraction to the culture and history of Poland.
Krakow and Warsaw, along with Prague and Budapest, thus reinforce the weight of Central Europe among the getaways chosen to put the finishing touch on summer.
Outside the European continent, Japan is also going through one of its best moments. Tokyo consolidates as the main Asian destination for Spaniards in September, and Kyoto also maintains a prominent position, confirming the growing interest in traveling to the country despite the distance of almost 11,000 kilometers from Spain.
TANGIER AND SOUTH KOREA ALSO STAND OUT
Beyond the list of the twenty most requested destinations, GuruWalk detects an increase in interest in Tangier, in Morocco, within the travel plans of Spaniards for September.
Similarly, South Korea and, in general, other Asian destinations are beginning to gain presence among the preferences for this month.
The analysis by GuruWalk points, overall, to a change of scenario with the arrival of September: against the dominance of the coast, the sun, and the usual destinations of July and August, Spanish travelers are regaining interest in large cities, the interior, southern Spain, and cultural destinations in Europe and Asia.
The data compares the bookings of free tours made by Spanish travelers during July and August 2026, with information closed until August 26, and the advance bookings for September 2026.