Germans undertook a record number of overnight trips, both domestically and internationally, in 2024. According to data released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), a total of 277 million private and business trips were made, marking the highest figure since record-keeping began in 2012.
The number of trips lasting multiple days saw an eleven percent increase compared to 2023 and a six percent rise compared to the pre-pandemic level of 2019. International travel experienced even stronger growth, with 114 million trips representing a twelve percent increase year-on-year and a fifteen percent rise compared to 2019. Domestic travel also saw a significant boost, rising ten percent to 163 million trips, a one percent increase over the figures recorded in 2019.
Italy remained the most popular destination for German travelers abroad in 2024, accounting for fourteen percent of all international trips. Austria (13%), Spain (10%), France (8%) and the Netherlands (7%) followed as the top destinations, a consistent ranking observed over the past decade.
Private travel accounted for approximately 240 million trips in 2024, an eleven percent increase compared to 2023 and a nine percent increase compared to 2019. Business travel rose eight percent year-on-year to 37 million, a continued move towards pre-pandemic levels although still ten percent below the figures registered in 2019.
Car travel continued to be the dominant mode of transport for overnight trips. Fifty-eight percent of multi-day trips utilized automobiles, while trains accounted for nineteen percent and air travel for seventeen percent. Coaches comprised three percent of transport methods, mirroring the usage of other forms of transport. Destatis noted that the proportions of transport methods have remained relatively stable in recent years.