2024 was a year full of travel for Romanians, a year in which their preference for city-breaks in European cities was consolidated, but in which an increase in demand for exotic destinations, less known or chosen for holidays, was also observed yet.
London was the most visited city in 2024. Photo Archive
In terms of tariffs, it seems that there have been no significant price increases, quite the contrary: according to the data provided by the online travel agency Vola.ro, the period from February to September 2024 was cheaper compared to the same period in 2023.
London, the most visited city by Romanians
As expected, in the top of the most visited cities in 2024 are London, Milan, Rome, Brussels, Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, Vienna and Istanbul, cities known either for their large Romanian communities or for their tourism potential , tourists frequently choosing city-break vacations.
Residents of major cities in Romania had different preferences regarding the destinations they flew to the most in 2024. From Bucharest, most travelers chose London, Rome and Milan. The people from Cluj flew most often to Bucharest, Paris and Milan, just like the people from Timisoara. Last but not least, people from Iași most often chose Brussels, Paris and Milan. This diversity highlights, in addition to Romanians’ preference for European cities, a better air connection created between the regions in Romania and the main hubs in Europe.
As for the countries with the largest flow of Romanian travelers, Italy, Spain and Germany occupy the first three positions, followed closely by France and Great Britain.
Airline ticket prices in 2024: How much have they really gone up?
According to Vola.ro, the average fare for a plane ticket in 2024 was 152 euros, with significant variations depending on the month. January was the most accessible month for travel, but also the month in which, year after year, Vola runs the Cheap campaign, with the lowest rates of the year for plane tickets. For example, tickets bought by Cheap for the month of August were, on average, 27% cheaper than they would have been if they had been purchased in the month of departure. At the opposite pole, August, the quintessential vacation month, was the most expensive.
The February-September period was generally cheaper compared to 2023, which encouraged many Romanians to take advantage of the affordable prices and book new holidays. On the other hand, in the rest of the months there were small tariff increases, especially in December, the month which had a very high demand for city-break holidays at the Christmas markets in Europe.
Milan remains the cheapest city in terms of plane ticket prices, with an average fare of 107 euros in 2024. It is followed by Rome, with 122 euros, and London, with 123 euros. However, there are also some interesting records: the cheapest ticket in 2024, of only 40 euros, was to Ouarzazate, Morocco, a country that is increasingly popular among Romanians. At the opposite pole, the Cayman Islands were the most expensive destination, with an average fare of €2,262.
According to the data provided by Vola.ro, the cheapest days to make a reservation were Tuesday and Saturday, days when travelers took advantage of more affordable rates to plan their vacations in advance. Sunday, on the other hand, was the most expensive day for such transactions, probably due to the habit of booking tickets on the weekend, when people have more time to look for deals, which increases demand.
In terms of departures, Tuesday and Wednesday proved to be the most affordable days, with travelers often choosing these days for cheaper and less crowded flights. Friday, Sunday and Monday, on the other hand, were the days with the highest rates, as they frequently coincide either with the beginning or end of the working week, but also with weekend getaways.
When it comes to returns, Tuesday was the cheapest day, giving travelers the opportunity to return home at reduced costs, especially for those extending their city breaks into the start of the week. In contrast, Saturday stood out as the most expensive day for returning home, being preferred by those who want to maximize their time at the destination, but also by business travelers.
With which airlines did Romanians travel most often in 2024
Low-cost airlines, Wizz Air and Ryanair, were chosen most often by Romanians in 2024, their advantages being, in addition to lower prices compared to airline companies, and varied route portfolios. These were followed by Tarom and HiSky, the company from the Republic of Moldova that quickly gained the trust of Romanians.
Regarding the average length of stay, most Romanians stayed, on average, 3-6 days at their destination. The most popular choice remains the four-day option, further proof of the fact that city-break vacations are still the favorites of Romanians. And if the shortest stay lasted only one day, Vola.ro also recorded the longest stay at the destination: 155 days.
And even if the popular destinations remained largely the same as every year, 2024 was marked by two sporting events that increased the number of flight bookings: it is the European Football Championship, which generated an increase in demand for cities in Germany, and the Olympic Games, which increased the number of flights to Paris. Also, Tirana, the capital of Albania, has seen increased growth compared to previous years due to a massive tourism campaign.
In 2025, Vola.ro specialists expect to see European cities still in the top of popular destinations. At the same time, with the waiver of visas for the United States of America, an increase in demand for this destination is expected, especially since there is already an airline that operates direct flights to New York. Last but not least, the airlines will introduce new routes in their portfolio in 2025, so there will most likely be an increased interest in them as well: Bucharest – Ibiza (AnimaWings) from June 2025, Bucharest – Helsinki (Norwegian) from June 2025, Cluj-Napoca – Riga (airBaltic) from May 2025, or Craiova – Bari (Wizz Air) from June 2025.
