These Are the Top Trending Destinations for Winter Getaways, According to Airbnb

The Olympics is turning winter wonderland into a competitive sport.

That’s according to Airbnb, which told Travel + Leisure the upcoming Winter Olympics is creating a surge in bookings in Italy. The Olympics are set to kick off Feb. 6, 2026, with short-term rentals surging for both the city of Milan and other regions hosting events like Trentino-South Tyrol, Lombardy, and Veneto. 

In fact, Airbnb said Lombardy had a triple digit increase when it came to year-over-year searches. “This year, Italy takes the gold medal for international winter travel as excitement builds for the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics,” Airbnb shared with T+L, adding, “The top countries leading the pack in travel interest to Italy during the Olympic Games are Germany, Canada, Italy (domestic travelers), Switzerland, and the United States.”

In addition to the Olympic trend, which was detailed in Airbnb’s Winter and Holiday Travel Trends Report, the company said travelers are embracing the concept of “gateway travel,” or staying in cities considered gateways to natural landscapes.

The Australian Capital Territory was one of the top trending global destinations, according to the company. Located southwest of Sydney, the region boasts the country’s capital of Canberra, access to national forests, and lush countryside estates.

Santiago, Chile, and its surrounding areas was another top trending destination thanks to the stunning Andes Mountains, an eclectic arts scene, and more.

Travelers were also expected to flock to T+L’s 2025 Destination of the Year, Thailand. There, the coastal town of Prachuap Khiri Khan was another trending destination, home to coral reefs and stunning beaches. Additional trending destinations included Goslar, Germany; San José, Costa Rica; the state of Goiás, Brazil; and Cordoba, Colombia.

In the United States, the town of Champion, Pennsylvania, was the top trending destination. Set about an hour outside of Pittsburgh, Airbnb called the town a “true winter wonderland offering every type of snowy sport, local hospitality, and a cozy mountain vibe.” That was followed by St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana; Bay St. Louis, Mississippi; Hermosa Beach, California; and Dover, Vermont, rounding out the top five.

Overall, Airbnb said American travelers are split between cold-weather vacations and warm getaways. And when it comes to families, 80 percent are choosing rural trips and suburban towns over major resorts or cities. They’re also choosing longer stays with nearly a third of families planning to travel for a week or more, according to the company.