BERLIN, September 2026 – Announced last year as a Hidden Trend for 2026, birdwatching has officially taken flight this year with bookings of GetYourGuide birdwatching experiences up 65% compared to the same time last year.
British travelers are proving to be the real highfliers with GetYourGuide birdwatching bookings among Brits up 130 percent annually. From urban birdwatching to the cliffs of Iceland, modern day “twitchers” can’t get enough of travel experiences that put feathered friends center-stage.
Long considered a niche hobby, birding continues to enjoy an image revamp thanks to pop culture moments, including #BirdTok which has racked up more than 1 billion views on TikTok. GetYourGuide research found that 45 percent of travelers say they now consider birdwatching “cool.”
The growing trend is particularly popular among younger generations. Research published by the U.K.’s Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) earlier this summer showed a 1,088 percent increase in 16-29-year-old birdwatchers since 2018, making it the fastest growing outdoor hobby for Gen Z in the U.K. Across all generations, interest in birdwatching is up 47 percent in the last eight years.
“Birdwatching as a travel experience has flown well beyond being a ‘Hidden Trend.’ It’s growing in popularity every month as travelers rediscover ways to connect with nature and disconnect from the daily hustle – whether that’s among a flamboyance of flamingos in southern France or spotting rare sightings in your own city."
- Anne Wallin, GetYourGuide's global trends and experiences expert.
Top spots for birding, by The Explorer:
Iceland: Perfect for puffin watching
As Puffin season draws to a close, travelers will have to swoop fast on bookings at one of one of the world’s most important nesting grounds. About 60 percent of the world’s Atlantic puffin population breeds each spring.
New York City: Birding in the Big Apple
You don’t have to be in the countryside to find your inner Beak Freak. And New York is actually one of the best birdwatching spots in the U.S. for urban sightings. Central Park, Prospect Park, and Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge are all popular spots to do some birdwatching in between making your way through the must-dos in the concrete jungle.
Ecuador: Behold the blue-footed booby
North Seymour in Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands is the best place to spot the blue-footed booby with its bright turquoise feet. Time your birding tour in the Galápagos for their breeding season between June and August for the chance to watch their elaborate, flamboyant mating dance.
Portugal: Flyway frontier for seabird spotting
Nestled along the East Atlantic Flyway, a major bird migration route stretching from the Arctic to Southern Africa, Portugal is a top destination for scouting seabirds. The Portuguese islands of the Azores and Madeira are also prime birdwatching territory, especially for unique sightings such as the Zino’s petrel on Madeira.
Photos by Karol Dobrowolski available for accredited use here
Press Contact
press@getyourguide.com
About the data
GetYourGuide booking data analyzed performance from January 1 to August 27 across 2025 and 2026.
Increase of bookings of birdwatching experiences on GetYourGuide by consumers from the following countries. Growth comparison between 2025 and 2026.
Global: +65%
France: +40%
Germany: +58%
UK: +130%
United States: +67%
About GetYourGuide
GetYourGuide is a leading global online marketplace to discover and book experiences worth traveling for. Travelers can use GetYourGuide to find things to do in more than 18,000 cities, including tours from local experts, exclusive access to must-see attractions, as well as immersive bucket-list experiences. More than 50,000 supply partners leverage GetYourGuide’s easy-to-use platform to grow their businesses, offering 200,000 experiences to travelers around the world. For more information, follow GetYourGuide on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok and visit getyourguide.com.
FAQs: Birdwatching trips in 2026
Are birdwatching tours worth it?
Do I need experience to go birdwatching?
No. Most trips welcome mixed groups, from complete beginners to serious birders. A good guide explains things simply, repeats names, and never makes you feel silly for asking “wait, which one was that again?”
What should I pack?
Binoculars, weather-ready layers, and shoes you’re happy to stand and walk in for hours. Download a bird ID app for offline use. A small notebook is surprisingly satisfying for jotting down sightings. Check if your tour includes binocular loan before you buy a pair.
When’s the best time to go?
Depends what you want to see. Seabird and puffin colonies peak in late spring and summer. Big migrations through wetlands and deltas often hit in spring and fall. Tropical rainforests are good year-round, with shifts in which species are most active. Remember the hemispheres are opposite: summer in Iceland means winter in South Africa.
How do I choose the right tour or destination?
Start with your dream bird or habitat, then work backward. Penguin or puffin fan? Head for coasts and islands. Into macaws or hummingbirds? Think rainforest. Read recent reviews and look for guides and species mentioned by name, not just “great tour.”
How do I birdwatch responsibly?
Give birds space, follow your guide’s lead, and stick to marked paths or boat guidelines. Skip the drone, and never move closer for a photo if it changes the bird’s behavior. Support local conservation, choose ethically certified activity providers, and never touch nests, bait wildlife, or trample vegetation for a shot.
.jpg)