Gen Z flocking on holidays with the perfect birds to allow them to watch them by binoculars
Despite being the victim of several assumptions, Gen Z are keen to explore new unexpected hobbies – including bird watching, with many claiming they’d book holidays based on the activity
Forget TikTok – birdwatching is one of the niche hobbies set to take off among Gen Z, research found. Once a thing for the older generations, young Brits are taking over their binoculars.
And it turns out 46% of 18 to 28-year-olds would even consider using a photo of themselves in the hobby’s gear to bag a date online. Meanwhile, eight in 10 young people said they would prefer to learn a new skill when they go on holiday, GetYourGuide found. The company’s vice president Jean-Gabriel Duveau said: “Travellers are choosing activities that challenge and change them.”
From birdwatching to the rise of coffee tours, niche hobbies are not just soaring into mainstream culture, they’re changing how and where we want to holiday. Duveau added: “Travel now means tapping into real connections, not ticking off landmarks”.
GetYourGuide’s research reveals a brand new holiday trend. While previously Ibiza was the fancy of many, 55% of UK travellers are eager to experience birdwatching on their next trip while nearly half (47%) now see the pastime as “cool again” – even from their own gardens.
Predecessors to Gen Z, the British Millennials, are leading the way with their interest in birdwatching, with eight in ten (85%) being interested in birdwatching on holiday.
Duveau added: “Many travelers are discovering birding via #birdtok. But it’s not just an online fad. Destinations known for birdwatching have experienced some of the highest increases in searches on our platform in 2025.
“These include places like Oman’s Daymaniyat Islands, Vietnam’s Cat Ba National Park, and Thailand’s Doi Inthanon, where travellers can see birds as they hike and kayak.”
The surprising statistics don’t stop there, with coffee trips also becoming popular with the young adults. Looking for a stiff cup of the black stuff, Gen Z will adjust their trip based on the quality of the beans.
The numbers say it all: almost three quarters of British Millennials (74%) would pick a destination just for its coffee scene while a third of UK travellers (30%) now rank coffee culture above nightlife when planning their next getaway.
Lastly, it appears late clubbing nights are out and sunrise AM walks are more important. More than half of Brits (56%) say they’ll wake up early – even if it annoys their travel companions – to experience top attractions without the crowds.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.
