Christmas Airbnb demand in Europe: trends, prices and the case of Greece

Demand for Airbnb properties located in European Christmas destinations showed a significant increase during the festive period of 2025.

December bookings moved at markedly higher levels in 2025 compared to 2024. This insight is derived from PriceLabs, the smart pricing tool used by property managers to set optimal rates based on demand, seasonality, and local factors.

PriceLabs data recorded an increase in demand across all 15 European cities examined. Budapest led the way with a 39% increase compared to the same period in 2024, followed by Frankfurt with a 35% rise.

Basel followed closely with a 26% increase, while Prague and Krakow both saw a 24% rise. Strasbourg, one of Europe’s most renowned Christmas destinations, recorded particularly high occupancy, reaching 73% between the 1st and 20th of December.

These figures were recorded during a period when many European countries introduced or tightened strict measures—ranging from restrictions to outright bans—on short-term rentals, significantly limiting accommodation supply.

Increased average daily rates

Despite the strict restrictions imposed on the short-term rental sector, Airbnb properties saw an increase in Average Daily Rates (ADR) across all examined destinations, with Budapest recording the largest surge (+27%).

However, even with this increase, the Average Daily Rate in Budapest remained relatively affordable at approximately €81 per night, whereas Strasbourg stood at €249 per night.

The table below displays the 15 cities examined, ranked from the lowest to the highest Average Daily Rate:

Greece’s position during the holiday season

In contrast to the average across European cities, where Airbnb accommodation supply increased by 2.5%, Greece recorded a 4.5% decrease in available properties, while maintaining stable occupancy levels.

The regulatory interventions implemented in our country—including the ban on new Airbnb licenses in specific areas and the mandatory operational standards that all accommodations must now meet—led to the withdrawal of a significant number of properties from the short-term rental market.

The picture formed during the festive season highlighted an interesting contrast: while demand for Christmas destinations trended upwards on a pan-European level, the Greek market operated with a more limited supply without losing its momentum.

The stable occupancy, combined with reduced availability, indicates that the Greek short-term rental sector has entered a phase of stabilisation and maturity, confirming that the 2025 holidays functioned more as a period of adjustment rather than a market decline.