Italy ranks 2nd in EU for tourist overnight stays in 2025

Italy closed out 2025 as the second most sought-after tourist destination in the European Union by number of overnight stays, behind only Spain. The data comes from Eurostat, the EU's statistical office, and shows a record-breaking year for tourism across the European bloc.

Italy ranks second in the European ranking

Italy registered 476.9 million overnight stays in accommodation establishments throughout 2025, according to Eurostat. The number solidifies the country as one of Europe's leading tourism powers, but it was not enough to overtake the ranking leader.

Spain took first place with 513.6 million overnight stays — a difference of 36.7 million compared to Italy. Close behind the Italians is France, with 471.7 million overnight stays, a number very similar to Italy's. In fourth place comes Germany, with 442.1 million.

These four countries form the absolute top of European tourism, and the closeness of Italy and France's numbers shows how the competition for second place remains fierce.

What the indicator measures and the rest of the ranking

It's important to understand exactly what Eurostat counts in this survey. The overnight stays indicator measures the nights effectively spent by guests in establishments such as hotels, short-term accommodations, and campsites. It is not about the number of bookings made or the total number of tourists who visited the country — it is a measure of actual occupancy, which helps gauge the impact of tourism on the economy and hotel network utilization.

After the four leaders, the rest of the European ranking is headed by Greece, with 156 million overnight stays, followed by the Netherlands, with 148 million, and Austria, with 134 million.

Together, Spain, Italy, France, and Germany accounted for 61.7% of all overnight stays recorded in the European Union in 2025, according to Eurostat. The data reinforces that tourism in the bloc remains heavily concentrated in the four largest markets, despite growth observed in smaller destinations.

EU breaks record and trend continues into 2026

In total, the European Union recorded approximately 3.09 billion overnight stays in 2025, a growth of 2.2% compared to 2024. The advance was driven mainly by an increase in international visitors, according to Eurostat.

Growth was not limited to traditional tourism powerhouses: 24 of the 27 EU member states registered an increase in overnight stays throughout the year. In percentage terms, Malta, a Mediterranean island consolidating its position as an emerging destination in Europe, saw the largest growth.

The upward trend appears to have continued into 2026. In the first quarter of the year, the European Union already totaled 471.1 million overnight stays, a 3.4% increase compared to the same period in 2025. The numbers indicate that Europe's tourism sector continues on an expansion trajectory, even after the strong results of the previous year.

Relevance for Brazilians and descendants

For those following Italy News with an eye toward a future trip, the Eurostat data confirms what was already apparent: Italy remains among the continent's most sought-after destinations, with consolidated tourism infrastructure and a steady flow of visitors throughout the year.

The information also has direct relevance for those planning roots tourism itineraries — trips organized to visit the cities where family members originated in Italy. This type of travel often goes hand in hand with the process of recognizing Italian citizenship, as many descendants take the opportunity to visit local archives, town halls, and churches in search of documents from their ancestors.

Those in this phase can rely on support from a certificate search in Italy to locate birth, marriage, and death records that often exist only in notaries of small Italian towns. Those who already have the paperwork in hand and want to understand the next steps can seek guidance from a specialized Italian citizenship advisory.

For those planning to live in the country, whether through citizenship or other visas, it's worth following the content about Life in Italy, with practical information about daily life there.

Eurostat's numbers show that, despite intense competition with Spain, France, and Germany, Italy maintains its strength as one of Europe's major tourism hubs — a scenario that should continue to attract Brazilians, whether as regular tourists or descendants seeking their roots.

Source: Italianismo