As the world prepares to turn its attention to Milan-Cortina, Italy, for the 2026 Winter Olympics next month, mountain tourism has become an emerging travel trend.
According to new data from global travel search aggregator Skyscanner, eight out of 10 travelers are considering or planning a mountain escape for summer or fall 2026.
Furthermore, hotel bookings using Skyscanner's "Room with a mountain view" filter have increased by 103 percent globally year over year.
As travelers are introduced to the dramatic landscapes of Italy's Cortina d'Ampezzo mountain resort this February, interest in mountain escapes, whether in Europe or elsewhere, will only rise.
Beyond the Winter Olympics, the primary motivations to reach the mountains include obtaining peace and quiet (62 percent), enjoying clear air and cooler weather (60 percent) and stepping into beautiful and remote accommodations (57 percent).
Skyscanner also found that a good amount of travelers are willing to venture off the beaten path when it comes to taking a mountain vacation, with 14 percent of respondents indicating that they would consider visiting a lesser-known mountain range over a traditional one.
The team at Skyscanner also gave a shout-out to some accessible mountain locales for travelers seeking to join in on this latest trend in 2026, including two-time Winter Olympics host Lake Placid, New York.
Other domestic mountain travel destinations to consider are Steamboat Springs, Colorado; Stowe, Vermont and Pennsylvania's Poconos Mountains.
Meanwhile, travelers can take in multiple Olympic venues in the coveted French Alps and follow in the footsteps of their favorite Winter Olympics athletes in Italy's Dolomites mountain range, which will be a centerpiece of February's Games.
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