Airbnb analyzed the travel patterns of more than 40 million people that stayed in homes on Airbnb in 2015 and selected 16 neighborhoods that have gained the most momentum in the past year. Asian neighborhoods took the top of the list led by the far and away frontrunner, Chuo-ku in Osaka, Japan – a neighborhood famed for it’s artistic theaters and delicious street food vendors.
“Airbnb travelers are checking in to neighborhoods in all corners of the globe and in doing so they are visiting local coffee shops and small businesses that haven’t benefitted from tourism in the past,” said Chip Conley, Head of Hospitality, Airbnb. “When an Airbnb traveler heads to Hammerbrook in Hamburg or Brickfields in Kuala Lumpur, with the help of hosts, they are able to see these places through the eyes of a local, and embrace the culture in a completely new way.”
To unearth the vibrant pockets in towns and cities, Airbnb analyzed the travel to local communities that took place over 2015, across regions, countries, metros, and down to neighborhoods. The final list is composed of neighborhoods in some of the most popular cities around the globe where bookings are growing particularly fast.
16 neighborhoods gaining the most Airbnb momentum for 2016
- Chūō-ku in Osaka, Japan – 7471% Growth
- Banglampoo in Bangkok, Thailand – 1239% Growth
- Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – 1231% Growth
- Capucins in Bordeaux, France – 966% Growth
- Koukaki in Athens, Greece – 801% growth
- Triana in Seville, Spain – 774% growth
- Hammerbrook in Hamburg, Germany – 418% growth
- Kaneohe on Oahu, US – 324% Growth
- Meireles in Fortaleza, Brazil – 287% Growth
- Roma Sur in Mexico City, Mexico – 279% Growth
- Oak Lawn in Dallas, US – 264% Growth
- Poncey-Highland in Atlanta, GA – 242% Growth
- District VII in Budapest, Hungary – 148% Growth
- The Bukit Peninsula, Bali – 134% growth
- Richmond in Melbourne, Australia – 126% Growth
- Constitución in Buenos Aires, Argentina – 125% growth
When guests stay in a home on Airbnb, they have local hosts that can share inside knowledge about a neighborhood and its go-to locations for the best cup of joe or local cuisine, where to go for a jog, where to find local art, artisans, and more. Many hosts already share these insights in their listings and in the Guidebooks product on Airbnb.
Some consistent themes across the neighborhoods that made the list:
- Art: Creativity is alive across the globe and modern interpretations vary. While museums remain popular, people are seeking neighborhoods known for street murals like Melbourne’s Richmond area, or interesting mixed galleries/performance spaces/shopping experiences like Vertigo Galleria in Roma Sur, Mexico City.
- Food: Interest in food from around the world is growing both for upscale restaurants and for street vendors. Fast, cheap, and delicious food is blossoming around the world – from hawker market in Asia to food trucks in the US and street stalls in Latin America, everyone is clamoring for these local concoctions. On the flip side, travelers still love dining at the finest restaurants despite the hefty price tag and are flocking to Molecular Gastronomy-inspired restaurants in Constitución, Buenos Aires, or splurging on decadent French food in Capucins in Bordeaux. But no matter the neighborhood, one thing most people agree on is the need for coffee, and each Airbnb host has their own favorite cafe they encourage guests to go to.
- Outdoor Experiences: People are travelling on foot to soak in the local culture, whether it’s to leisurely stroll down a secret alleyway or escape for a long hike. From jogging through Katy Trail in Oak Lawn in Dallas, Texas, to meandering through the narrow walkways of Chou-ku in Osaka, Japan or around the Waterfront of Calle Bettis in Traina, Seville, Spain, people are looking for the best routes to undiscovered gems within cities.
- Shopping: While traditional malls attract visitors, more people are seeking out neighborhoods where local artisans congregate and sell their unique wares such as District VII in Budapest, Hungary or Poncey Highland in Atlanta, Georgia.
