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Skillcations Gain Ground As Travellers Combine Holidays With Learning

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

August 31, 2026

Travellers are increasingly using holidays to learn practical skills, from cooking and music to nature activities, in a trend known as “skillcations”.

A survey of 1,000 Americans by IHG Hotels & Resorts and Talker Research found that 47% were interested in taking a skillcation, while 68% believed the experience could be life-changing.

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Younger Travellers Lead The Shift

Younger consumers are driving the trend. Some 41% of Gen Z and Millennials said they had already taken a skillcation, compared with 16% of Baby Boomers.

Digital detox is another part of the appeal, with 68% of respondents saying they would consider completely unplugging during a skillcation. Among Gen Z, the figure rose to 83%.

Respondents also said these trips increased their confidence, encouraged them to try new activities and gave their holidays greater meaning.

Cooking Remains The Most Popular Choice

Cooking was the leading skillcation activity, with 37% of respondents interested in a trip centred on culinary learning. Hotels are responding with classes that combine practical skills with local food and culture.

Kimpton Shorebreak Hotel in California offers pie-making classes, while Six Senses Crans-Montana provides traditional Swiss cheesemaking experiences. At Jade Mountain Resort in St. Lucia, guests can learn vegan Creole cooking using local ingredients.

Other programmes focus on culture and nature. Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan offers ukulele lessons featuring local songs, while InterContinental Dominica Cabrits Resort & Spa organises birdwatching focused on native parrots.

Hotels Expand Learning-Based Experiences

The growing range of activities allows hotels to incorporate local food, music, wildlife and other cultural experiences into their offerings. For travellers, skillcations combine leisure with an activity they can continue after returning home.

For the hospitality industry, these programmes provide another way to differentiate the guest experience as consumers increasingly look for activities and experiences alongside accommodation.

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Europe’s Most Popular Castles And Palaces For 2026: Prague Castle Leads As Heritage Travel Surges

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 21, 2026

As autumn settles across Europe, culture is moving to the top of the travel agenda. According to the European Travel Commission, cooler months such as October and November are increasingly prompting travellers to build trips around history, heritage and landmark experiences.

TUI Musement’s latest data reinforces that shift. The travel company found that 94% of respondents say they are interested, or very interested, in experiences tied to history, culture and heritage on their next city break. Meanwhile, eight in 10 said they have already visited a monument or landmark near where they live.

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Against that backdrop, TUI Musement has released a new ranking of Europe’s 30 most popular castles and palaces for 2026, based on accumulated Google reviews. The analysis compares review volumes from 2023 and 2026, offering a useful snapshot of which historic sites are gaining the most traction with visitors.

Spain Stands Out In A Wide-ranging European List

The ranking reveals a broad geographic spread, but Spain emerges as the most represented country, with six sites in the top 30. Both the Alhambra in Granada and the Royal Palace of Madrid secured places in the top 10, underscoring the country’s enduring appeal as a destination for heritage tourism.

At the top of the list, Prague Castle retains first place, while Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna climbs into the top three. The only new entrant is Buda Castle in Budapest, which posted a 65% increase in accumulated Google reviews compared with 2023.

The Top 10 Castles And Palaces In Europe

Prague Castle remains the benchmark for European heritage tourism. With 199,000 reviews, a 31% increase from 2023, it is one of the largest palace complexes in the world and a concentrated showcase of centuries of history. Visitors can explore St Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace and Golden Lane with a single ticket.

In second place is Buckingham Palace, one of London’s most recognisable landmarks and one of the official residences of the British monarchy. Its daily Changing of the Guard continues to draw crowds, while summer opening periods allow visitors inside the state rooms.

Schönbrunn Palace moves up to third, marking the 30th anniversary of its designation as a World Heritage Site. In Vienna, the palace offers a window into Austria’s imperial past and the dynastic legacy that shaped the country’s history.

Versailles follows in fourth place. The former residence of the kings of France remains one of Europe’s most significant historical sites, with the Hall of Mirrors, royal apartments and formal gardens helping tell the story of absolutism, monarchy and the later Treaty of Versailles.

Wawel Castle in Kraków holds fifth place despite slipping two positions. Once the residence and coronation site of Poland’s kings, it remains one of the country’s most important cultural attractions, with the Dragon’s Den statue at its base adding another layer of local symbolism.

Spain claims sixth and seventh place. The Alhambra in Granada ranks sixth with its palaces, gardens and fortresses, including the Nasrid Palaces, Generalife, Alcazaba and Palace of Charles V. The Royal Palace of Madrid climbs to seventh after a 47% rise in accumulated Google reviews since 2023. Still used for official receptions, it also opens select highlights such as the throne room, Gasparini Room and royal chapel to the public.

London appears again in eighth place with the Tower of London, a fortress that has played a defining role in English history. Today, it is best known as the home of the Crown Jewels and for its Yeoman Warders and resident ravens, which have become part of its enduring identity.

Neuschwanstein Castle rises to ninth place after a strong increase in reviews. Set in the Bavarian Alps, the fairy-tale palace reflects the imagination of King Ludwig II of Bavaria and his fascination with art, architecture and medieval legend.

Rounding out the top 10 is Bran Castle in Romania, long associated with the Dracula myth but historically important in its own right. Beyond its fictional reputation, the fortress tells the story of Transylvania through its role as a frontier stronghold and later a royal residence.

The Top 10 Most Popular Castles In Europe

1. Prague Castle, Czechia
2. Buckingham Palace, United Kingdom
3. Schönbrunn Palace, Austria
4. Palace of Versailles, France
5. Wawel Castle, Poland
6. The Alhambra, Spain
7. The Royal Palace of Madrid, Spain
8. The Tower of London, United Kingdom
9. Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
10. Bran Castle, Romania

For travellers looking beyond the usual city break circuit, the message is clear: Europe’s castles and palaces are not just surviving history. They remain some of the continent’s most powerful magnets for modern tourism.