Larnaca Emerges As One Of Southern Europe’s Top Autumn Getaways

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

August 25, 2026

Larnaca ranked third among Southern Europe’s top autumn destinations for 2026 in a new ranking by UK travel insurance comparison company Quotezone. The Cypriot city placed behind Antalya in Türkiye and Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands.

Larnaca Scores On Weather And Cost

Quotezone assessed 10 destinations based on sunshine, temperatures, rainfall and accommodation costs. Larnaca recorded average air temperatures of 25.5°C, sea temperatures of about 27°C and 12 millimetres of rainfall during the two months.

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The ranking also highlighted the city’s access to beaches, including Nissi Beach, which has been included in previous European beach rankings.

Autumn Travel Gains Popularity

Quotezone’s 2026 Shoulder Season Index examined destinations for autumn trips with warm weather and lower accommodation costs than during the peak summer period. The company said shoulder-season travel is becoming more popular, a trend also described by UK travel body ABTA as “Super September.”

Nearly half of surveyed travellers, 48%, said they would consider moving their annual holiday from summer to autumn. Another 52% said they would avoid Southern Europe during summer because of the heat.

Heat And Prices Influence Travel Plans

Extreme weather has become one factor behind the shift. Quotezone pointed to record temperatures in parts of Western Europe during June and July and wildfires in countries including France and Spain.

Price is another consideration, with 26% of respondents citing lower costs as a reason to travel in autumn. Some 42% said they would wait for a last-minute price reduction before booking, while 11% said they regularly look for autumn deals. Fewer crowds also influenced travel decisions. About 21% preferred autumn because there are fewer tourists, while 16% cited fewer children and 3% said taking time off work is easier during the season.

Larnaca’s third-place ranking puts Cyprus among the Southern European destinations attracting travellers looking for warmer weather outside the peak summer season.

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Europe’s Busiest Ports Show The Scale Of Maritime Trade

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 7, 2026

Maritime transport carried roughly 13 billion tonnes of goods worldwide in 2024, highlighting its central role in global trade and supply chains. EU ports handled about 3.4 billion tonnes, or 26% of the global total, while nearly 90% of the bloc’s external freight trade is carried by sea.

Rotterdam And Antwerp-Bruges Lead The EU

Rotterdam was the EU’s busiest port in 2024, handling 397.3 million tonnes of goods. Antwerp-Bruges ranked second with 243.7 million tonnes, putting the two northern European hubs well ahead of the rest.

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Hamburg ranked third at 97 million tonnes, followed by Spain’s Algeciras at 81.5 million tonnes and Amsterdam at 78.8 million tonnes. France’s HAROPA port complex, covering Le Havre and Rouen, handled 76.6 million tonnes, while Gdansk recorded 71 million tonnes.

Marseille and Valencia followed with 66 million and 64.5 million tonnes, respectively. Romania’s Constanta completed the top 10 at 57.6 million tonnes, reflecting the Black Sea’s role in Europe’s wider trade network.

Europe’s Second Tier Of Major Ports

Several ports handled between 40 million and 56 million tonnes in 2024. Barcelona recorded 55.5 million tonnes, followed by Trieste at 53.5 million, Genoa at 47.4 million and Sines at 44.1 million.

Piraeus handled 43.7 million tonnes, while Germany’s Bremerhaven recorded 42.5 million. Sweden’s Göteborg handled 38.5 million tonnes and Dunkerque in France 36.8 million.

Netherlands Leads By National Port Volume

Looking at total cargo across each country’s ports, the Netherlands ranked first with 538.1 million tonnes in 2024. Italy followed with 488.6 million tonnes and Spain with 486 million tonnes, putting all three well ahead of the rest of the EU.

Belgium ranked fourth at 274.9 million tonnes, followed by Germany at 273.9 million and France at 269.8 million. Greece, Sweden and Poland each handled more than 100 million tonnes, showing the breadth of Europe’s maritime network.

Turkey Expands The Regional Picture

Including EU candidate countries and EFTA members puts Turkey in second place with 524.7 million tonnes, behind the Netherlands. Norway ranked eighth with 212.1 million tonnes and handled 212.1 million tonnes.

The European Commission has described maritime transport as a long-standing driver of European economic development. Its role now extends beyond moving cargo, with ports increasingly tied to supply chains, energy security and industrial policy.

In March 2026, the Commission adopted two strategies focused on competitiveness, sustainability, security and resilience across the EU’s waterborne sector, including ports, shipping and shipbuilding.

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