Spain continues to be one of the most popular tourist destinations, holding the title as the second most visited country in the world after France. Last year, the southern Mediterranean country welcomed a record-breaking 93.8 million visitors, with projections that it will knock France off the top spot by 2040.

It continues to be a year-round destination, drawing crowds to iconic sites across the country, even outside of the peak summer season. According to data published earlier this week by the Travelgate platform, holiday bookings to the Balearic Islands have increased by 22.3% over just the last week compared to the same period last week, but it is not the top choice for holidaymakers. In fact, the archipelago has dropped from being the third most popular destination to fourth, with other usually popular choices also faring worse than expected.

According to Travelgate data, the northeastern autonomous region of Catalonia has taken the top spot as the most popular holiday destination over the past week, with 18% of bookings. Renowned for its distinctive culture and language, it is best known for its major tourist hotspot and capital, Barcelona. With a beautiful coastline and famous architecture like Antoni Gaudí's work, including the iconic unfinished Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Casa Mila and Casa Vicens, Catalonia ticks virtually every box for holidaymakers.

For those looking to explore beyond the Catalan capital, there are plenty of other incredible sites and cities to visit, including Montserrat Mountain and Monastery, tucked high in the mountains around 37 miles from Barcelona. Tarragona, meanwhile, is just an hour's drive away by car and is a city just as impressive but without the heavy crowds. Here you can see an archaeological site that reveals one of the most important capitals of Roman Hispania, featuring a Roman amphitheatre and circus and an aqueduct. Its Cathedral, with its impressive stained glass windows, is also a must-see.

Behind Catalonia, Spain's southernmost autonomous community, Andalusia, is the second-most popular region for holidays to Spain this week, with 16.8% of bookings. It is the country's most populous region and is home to a range of beautiful and diverse cities, including Seville (its capital), Granada and Cordoba. Visitors can also enjoy its iconic beach holiday destinations, including the Costa del Sol and Costa de la Luz's beautiful beaches. The region is also dotted with picturesque whitewashed villages, or Pueblo Blanco, including Setenil de las Bodegas, which has been built into the surrounding cliffs.

Further south, the Canary Islands archipelago in the Atlantic and off the coast of North Africa has claimed third place from the Balearics, with 13.2% of bookings. Known for their volcanic origins and year-round warm climate, the islands of Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria offer a huge variety of activities, including hiking, exploring their towns and cities and relaxing on its golden and even black-sand beaches.

The Balearics, made up of the islands of Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera, came fourth, also with 13.2% share of bookings. Each offers tourists something different, from Majorca's diverse landscapes, to Menorca's tranquility, Ibiza's famous nightlife and Formentera's untouched natural beauty. 

According to data published by the platform, 18.8% of bookings made in the last seven days to Spain were made between 15 and 30 days in advance and 17.2% between one and two months before the trip. Last-minute bookings - made the day before or on the day of travel - accounted for 13.8%. Domestic tourism predominates among those who have made reservations in the last week, with Spaniards accounting for a whopping 50.4%, followed by the British with 20.5% and Germans with 4.3%.