New Expedia data shows European hotel rates fall an average of 7% after summer, with autumn 2026 savings of up to 30% in Albufeira, Faro, Mykonos and Kos — while UK city rates and some extended-season Greek islands move the other way.
Cover image: a hotel pool terrace on Santorini in the quiet shoulder season — photo by SANTORINI, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Europe autumn hotel prices in 2026 are set to fall by an average of 7% once the summer peak ends, according to new Expedia booking data reported by Euronews Travel on 18 August — but the headline average hides a far bigger prize for travellers who choose carefully. In Albufeira and Faro on Portugal's Algarve, and on the Greek islands of Mykonos and Kos, autumn rates run up to 30% below summer levels. The deepest discounts arrive late: Expedia says international stays booked on its platform are, on average, 10% cheaper in November than in summer, making it the single best-value month of the season. The data covers stays between 1 September and 30 November 2026. There are two important exceptions. Across much of the UK, hotel prices actually rise in autumn — Birmingham by 30% and Liverpool by 20% — and in Greece, hotel analysts at Square Lime expect average daily rates to climb 10–12% this autumn as the season stretches towards November, meaning some islands will hold firm even as Mykonos and Kos discount.
Where do hotel prices fall most in autumn 2026?
The biggest verified savings in the Expedia dataset, as reported by Euronews Travel, are concentrated in beach destinations that live off the July–August peak. Albufeira and Faro in the Algarve, and Mykonos and Kos in Greece, all show autumn rates up to 30% below summer. Benidorm, Alicante and Istanbul are also flagged as notably cheaper in the autumn months, with the gap widest in November.
| Destination | Typical autumn saving vs summer (Expedia data) |
|---|---|
| Albufeira, Portugal | Up to 30% lower |
| Faro, Portugal | Up to 30% lower |
| Mykonos, Greece | Up to 30% lower |
| Kos, Greece | Up to 30% lower |
| Benidorm, Alicante, Istanbul | Notably cheaper, deepest in November |
| Europe average (outside UK) | Around 7% lower |
Expedia's search data also points to where shoulder-season demand is heading next: Luxembourg is the platform's fastest-trending autumn destination among British travellers, with search interest up 470%. For a fuller shortlist of where the value sits this season, see our guide to the best autumn travel destinations for 2026.
When do European hotel rates drop after summer?
Rates ease gradually from September, but the Expedia figures point to November as the sweet spot. "International stays on Expedia are, on average, 10% cheaper in November than in summer, making it the sweet spot for savvy travellers," Expedia travel expert Melanie Fish told Euronews Travel. The comparison is based on Expedia searches made between 13 April and 12 July 2026 for stays from 1 September to 30 November.
September, by contrast, is increasingly a second peak: school-free couples, remote workers and heat-avoiders have pushed early-autumn demand — and prices — up across the Mediterranean. Hotels are only half the equation, of course; our analysis of when flight prices drop in autumn 2026 shows air fares follow a similar late-autumn curve.
Which destinations stay expensive in autumn?
The UK bucks the European trend entirely. Expedia's data shows hotel prices across much of the UK are higher in autumn than in summer, led by Birmingham at +30% and Liverpool at +20% — a function of conference season, football fixtures, arena tours and city-break demand replacing leisure trade.
The United States tells a similar story. Expedia's separate Fall Travel Outlook, reported by Hospitality Net, found lodging prices in the top 10 US destinations averaging 20% higher in fall than in summer, with flights up 2% — evidence that shoulder-season bargains are structural in southern Europe but no longer guaranteed elsewhere, as strong US hotel RevPAR growth continues to hold rates up.
Is Greece cheaper in October and November?
It depends on the island — and this is the nuance the headline 30% figure misses. Athens-based hotel revenue specialist Square Lime, whose data was reported by GTP Headlines and Tornos News, expects Greek autumn average daily rates to rise 10–12% on average, with some hotels gaining up to 15%, alongside higher occupancy, as strong September–November demand stretches the season. Paros and Naxos are the standout beneficiaries, with demand up around 20% year on year, and interest is now firming for November itself.
So Greece in autumn 2026 splits two ways: large peak-dependent islands such as Mykonos and Kos discount hard once the summer crowd leaves, while extended-season islands riding new demand hold or raise rates. Square Lime also notes a surge in last-minute booking, with American travellers who once booked five to six months out now frequently reserving less than 30 days before departure — which is precisely when comparing an OTA price against the hotel's own site pays off; our direct booking versus OTA guide explains how to check both in under a minute.
Frequently asked questions
How much cheaper are European hotels in autumn 2026?
On average, hotel rates outside the UK fall about 7% after summer, according to Expedia data reported by Euronews Travel. The savings are much larger in peak-dependent beach destinations: Albufeira and Faro in the Algarve and the Greek islands of Mykonos and Kos show autumn rates up to 30% below summer levels, and international stays average 10% cheaper in November.
What is the cheapest month for hotels in Europe after summer?
November. Expedia's data shows international stays on its platform average 10% cheaper in November than in summer — the deepest discount of the autumn window, which the company measured for stays between 1 September and 30 November 2026. Benidorm, Alicante and Istanbul are singled out as destinations where November pricing is especially attractive.
Is Greece cheaper in autumn 2026?
Partly. Expedia data shows Mykonos and Kos hotel rates up to 30% lower in autumn than summer. But analytics firm Square Lime expects Greek autumn average daily rates to rise 10–12% overall — up to 15% at some hotels — because the season is stretching into November, with Paros and Naxos seeing demand up around 20%. Savings depend heavily on the island.
Why are UK hotel prices higher in autumn than summer?
Expedia's data shows much of the UK moves opposite to continental Europe, with autumn hotel prices up 30% in Birmingham and 20% in Liverpool. City hotels there are driven by conference season, concerts, sporting fixtures and weekend city-break demand rather than summer beach tourism, so demand — and pricing — peaks after the holidays end rather than during them.
Sources
- Euronews Travel — New Expedia data shows autumn travel can still be more affordable than summer – if you know where to look
- GTP Headlines — Square Lime: Strong Demand Keeps Greece's 2026 Tourism Season on Track
- Tornos News — Greek Tourism 2026: Increase in Last-Minute Bookings and Extension of the Season Until November
- Hospitality Net — Expedia: Fall lodging prices are 20% higher and flight prices are 2% higher on average in the top 10 U.S. destinations compared to summer
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