Spain is the most popular European destination

Poll reveals Europe's most – and least – popular places

Germany is the least popular European destination for holiday-makers, according to new research.

Tourists from the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain were quizzed by Ciao.co.uk, the online travel forum, about their least favourite destinations in Europe. Germany polled least favourite with 30.4 per cent, followed by the UK: 26.6 per cent, Italy: 22 per cent, France: 13.8 per cent, and Spain: 7.2 per cent. Germany’s low score was attributed by those polled to a lack of friendliness - while 40 per cent of the Germans polled disliked the UK because of the weather.

The most popular countries in Europe are Spain: 28.8 per cent, Italy: 25.4 per cent, France: 21.2 per cent, the UK: 15.4 per cent and Germany: 9.2 per cent.

The most important factors when choosing a destination include: the landscape: 43 per cent, weather: 19 per cent, people: 16.8 per cent, cuisine: 16.6 per cent and nightlife: 4.6 per cent.

Respondents from Britain, France and Spain rated their own countries as their favourite place for a European holiday.

For the Brits and Spanish it is the pictorial landscape and rolling hills that make them want to stay put, whilst the French’s adoration for their own cooking means they do not venture further afield.

Holiday-makers key pet hates are: bad weather, unfriendly people, unfavourable food, unsuitable nightlife and non-idyllic landscape.