This southern city in Italy is finally having its moment without the Amalfi circus. Think a lived‑in southern city with a real seafront, serious food and quick hops to the coast and ancient sites. Skyscanner has flagged it as the top trending destination for 2026, so interest is rising, yet there’s still room to breathe.
Why Salerno is Skyscanner’s top 2026 trending destination
Salerno delivers everyday city life by the sea at fair prices, plus enough culture for a long weekend without chasing postcard views. Skyscanner’s 2026 data shows searches up 211% year on year—one of the biggest surges—thanks to the city's long lungomare for evening strolls, compact historic centre that still feels local, and strong spread of restaurants, markets and small museums.
Where travellers are looking to go next
Skyscanner analysed tens of thousands of data points to spot the biggest year‑on‑year search surges. Travel experts then hand‑picked ten destinations with real momentum.
Salerno is the top pick, with Koror in Palau (+156%) drawing warm‑water divers to the Rock Islands. Kochi in Japan (+106%) suits slow‑travel fans chasing Shikoku’s temple routes, a lived‑in castle city and great markets without Tokyo prices. Bilbao in Spain (+97%) pairs the Guggenheim and city beaches with strong food and gentler hotel rates than San Sebastián. And finally, Rabat in Morocco (+87%) offers a calm, culture‑rich capital experience minus the Marrakech crush.
What Skyscanner’s trend signals mean for travellers
Skyscanner's trend data points to travellers favouring smaller, lesser‑known places with strong value and real local texture.
In practical terms, this early‑buzz phase brings better availability in mid‑range hotels and apartments, more forgiving last‑minute options, and flight fares that haven’t hit peak “it‑spot” pricing.
Best months to visit Salerno in 2026 for value and experience
Seasonality follows the Mediterranean curve, but the city setting softens the extremes.
Shoulder‑season sweet spots
Late April–June and September–October hit the sweet spot for warmth, daylight and calmer streets. Sea temperatures are workable, boat schedules are decent, cafés keep regular hours, and the softer light flatters the waterfront and cathedral quarter.
Value windows and event‑led trips
Midweek outside school holidays is usually kinder on the wallet, with the city ticking along without weekend spikes. Autumn and early winter are best for food‑led trips and Luci d’Artista. Spring suits mozzarella runs near Paestum and anchovy season in Cetara. Even around bank holidays, Salerno still tends to price better than the headline towns up the bay.
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