Tourists choose the Costa del Sol. A record year for Malaga airport
The popularity of Spain's Malaga airport is growing. The authorities there have taken stock of the past year, during which as many as 22…
September is the time when the typical holiday season is slowly drawing to a close, but… not in Spain! On the Costa del Sol, the sun shines for over 320 days a year, and the Spanish coast is bustling with life for far longer than just the summer months. Figures from the 2026 season confirm that Spain remains one of the most popular overseas destinations for Poles – both for package holidays and for independent travel.
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Spain is popular with tourists
A report by the Polish Chamber of Tourism, ‘Poles’ Holidays Abroad 2026’, shows that Turkey (28.3 per cent), Greece (18.0 per cent) and Egypt (13.6 per cent) remain the most popular destinations for package holidays. Spain ranks fourth with a share of 9.6 per cent, ahead of Bulgaria (7.5 per cent). Importantly, the Chamber points out that Spain has significantly improved its performance compared with the previous season. Its position is even more evident in the air traffic figures: from 1 June to 28 August 2026, 939,900 passengers flew to Spain from nine Polish airports – the highest number of all international destinations included in this breakdown.
Spain’s popularity is not determined solely by the weather. Other factors include a wide range of holiday options, the opportunity to combine beach holidays with city breaks, good infrastructure and an ever-expanding network of air links. According to data from the European Travel Commission cited by Turespaña, as many as 90 per cent of Poles stated in 2026 that they intended to travel within the following six months. Between June and November 2026, Spain was the most frequently cited European destination among Polish respondents – with a share of 13 per cent – ahead of Italy (11 per cent), Croatia (9 per cent), Greece (8 per cent) and Turkey (6 per cent).
In recent years, the number of flights from Poland to Spain has increased significantly. According to Turespaña, 342 weekly flights were scheduled between Poland and Spain for the 2026 summer season, compared with 256 in the previous season. The scale of the market is also illustrated by the full data from the Civil Aviation Authority for 2025: 4,891,649 passengers were carried on scheduled international flights between Polish airports and Spain, accounting for 9.38 per cent of the market and placing Spain third among international destinations – after the United Kingdom and Italy.
The growing availability of flights is reflected in the number of Polish tourists visiting Spain. In 2025, 3.02 million tourists from Poland visited the country – 23.6 per cent more than the previous year. Their total expenditure reached approximately €4.04 billion, representing an increase of 28.3 per cent. Average expenditure per person stood at €1,335, whilst average daily expenditure was €204; the average length of stay was 6.6 nights.
After the second quarter of 2026, growth remained strong: the number of tourists from Poland was 23.8 per cent higher year-on-year, and their spending was 25 per cent higher.
An extensive network of direct flights covers many Polish airports. You can fly directly to Spain, including Málaga – the main gateway to the Costa del Sol – from, amongst others:
- Warsaw (Chopin Airport and Warsaw-Modlin)
- Kraków (Kraków-Balice Airport)
- Katowice (Katowice-Pyrzowice Airport)
- Poznań (Poznań-Ławica Airport)
- Gdańsk (Lech Wałęsa Airport)
- Wrocław (Wrocław-Strachowice Airport)
- Łódź (Władysław Reymont Airport)
Depending on the airport and the season, direct flights are available to destinations including Málaga, Barcelona, Madrid, Alicante, Valencia, Seville, Majorca and the Canary Islands. Aena currently lists connections from Málaga to, amongst others, Warsaw (Chopin and Modlin), Kraków, Katowice, Gdańsk, Wrocław, Poznań and Łódź. Flight schedules vary seasonally, so it is worth checking the latest timetables with the airlines before travelling.
Polish tourists are drawn to the uniqueness of Spanish cuisine, which is characterised by a wealth of flavours, a variety of regional dishes and cultural influences from different parts of the world. Andalusian cuisine is known for its olive oil, fish and seafood, whilst Catalan cuisine is characterised by sweet-and-spicy dishes and a generous use of vegetables.
The dishes served in Spanish restaurants are brimming with fresh, seasonal vegetables – such as tomatoes, peppers, onions and citrus fruits. The local cuisine is known for its intense flavours, achieved through the use of herbs and spices – such as garlic, saffron and paprika. These ingredients lend the dishes depth and aroma.
Spain attracts Poles not only with its beaches and climate, but also with its urban, cultural and gastronomic offerings. Data from Turespaña for 2025 show that the most popular destinations among Polish tourists were the Canary Islands (22 per cent of arrivals), Catalonia (20 per cent) and Andalusia (19 per cent).
The most popular activities were sightseeing (77 per cent), relaxing on the beach (75 per cent) and shopping (62 per cent). The Costa del Sol’s strong position is confirmed by the figures from Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport: in 2025, it handled a record 26.76 million passengers, 7.4 per cent more than the previous year. In the first eight months of 2026, the figure had already reached 19.32 million passengers, and Aena identified Poland as one of the foreign markets with the highest growth rate in August 2026.
The Mediterranean inspires
The Polish package holiday market continues to grow, although the pace in 2026 was more moderate than in previous record-breaking seasons. Data from the Tourist Guarantee Fund, cited by the Polish Chamber of Tourism, show that in the first half of 2026 the number of contracts concluded was 2.6 per cent higher than a year earlier, whilst in June alone the increase stood at 3.2 per cent year-on-year. In July, the TFG registered contracts covering 890,700 travellers.
Poles continue to book well in advance. In July 2026, as many as 19.2 per cent of travellers covered by TFG data purchased holidays starting as late as October 2026, whilst 9.5 per cent – trips for 2027. This means that holiday sales are increasingly extending beyond the traditional July–August peak, and the tourist season is gradually lengthening.
In 2026, the typical travel agency customer primarily opted for a comfortable, week-long holiday. Almost 68 per cent of customers chose a stay lasting 7–8 days, whilst 82.2 per cent opted for an all-inclusive package. The average price of a trip was 3,263 PLN per person, and the average booking value was 9,513 PLN. Air travel accounted for 98 per cent of organised trips.
In the case of Spain, the high availability of scheduled and charter flights further strengthens its position as a destination for both travel agency customers and independent travellers.
Source: Polish Chamber of Tourism, report “Poles’ Holidays Abroad 2026”.
Source: Turespaña, “Ficha ejecutiva – Polonia”, August 2026
Source: Polish Chamber of Tourism / Tourist Guarantee Fund
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FAQ
Will Spain still be one of the most popular holiday destinations for Poles in 2026?
Yes. In organised tourism, Spain ranks fourth with a share of 9.6 per cent. At the same time, from 1 June to 28 August 2026, it was the most popular destination according to data on departures from nine Polish airports – 939,900 passengers.
How many Poles visit Spain, and is that number still rising?
In 2025, around 3.02 million tourists from Poland visited Spain, 23.6 per cent more than the previous year. By the end of the second quarter of 2026, the number of Polish tourists had continued to rise by 23.8 per cent year-on-year, whilst their spending had increased by 25 per cent.
