‘Hipster holidays’ gaining popularity in Europe: report

Millennials obsessed with authenticity and everything indie are driving a push towards ‘hipster holidays’ in Europe.

That’s according to a new report which has identified the top emerging travel trends around the globe.

In their World Travel Market Global Trends Report 2015, experts at the market research firm Euromonitor single out a fast-rising phenomenon in Europe they call “hipster holidays,” in which young, trend-obsessed Millennials are seeking out neighborhoods located far from the tourist-trodden paths that lead to Buckingham Palace and the Eiffel Tower.

Instead, they’re exploring districts that don’t make it into conventional guidebooks, perhaps for being located in a dodgy part of town, or for being less than picture postcard perfect.

They're often vibrant hotbeds of creativity which typically involve pop-up restaurants, vegan cafes, independent shops and craft galleries.

(For the record, the report defines a hipster as “a person who follows the latest trends and fashions, especially those regarded as being outside the cultural mainstream.”)

Instead of following the herd mentality and visiting museums and historical sites, these Millennials, for instance, subscribe to a travel philosophy that values artistic and creative hang-outs, shopping, and hyper local food experiences.

Driving this trend is the growth of short-term vacation rental sites such as Airbnb and Homestay, which have helped open up previously inaccessible areas to tourists, the report adds.

Sites like Vayable and Tours By Locals also facilitate 'hipster holidays' by offering tours led by locals who build itineraries that appeal to creative hipsters.

On Vayable, for instance, one local has created a Paris itinerary for travelers who appreciate good design, while a tour in Amsterdam is built entirely around street art.

The report was released out of the World Travel Market trade show in London which opened Monday and ends November 5.