A new global poll by online travel agent Opodo reveals that a growing minority of travellers are deliberately seeking out 'dark' attractions such as sex museums and catacombs while on holiday. Jenny Southan reports

Unconventional sightseeing features more often in holiday plans than might be expected, according to a new global poll commissioned by Opodo. While most travellers stick to familiar activities, a sizeable minority actively seek out attractions related to sex and death when they travel.

Across all markets surveyed, 30% of respondents say they visit "less classical" museums while on holiday. These include museums focused on themes such as sex, torture or wax figures.

A further 19% say they deliberately visit dark tourism sites, including cemeteries and catacombs.

The data shows that these experiences sit alongside more typical activities, with most travellers still visiting local supermarkets, shopping for clothes or eating at fast food restaurants.

Age plays a clear role in these choices. Among travellers aged 25 to 34, 35% say they are interested in visiting less classical museums and 24% say they like to visit dark tourism sites. Among those aged 65 and over, the figures fall to 17% for unconventional museums and 12% for dark tourism.

There are also strong national differences. Spanish and Italian travellers are the most likely to visit weird museums, with 39% saying they do so, followed closely by French travellers at 38%. British travellers are more cautious, with just 21% saying they visit these types of museums while on holiday.

Interest in dark tourism is highest among French travellers at 27%, followed by Spaniards at 23%, Americans at 19% and Brits at 18%. Germans are the least likely to include cemeteries or catacombs in their itineraries, at 12%.

Superstition remains part of the travel experience for many people. Globally, 21% of respondents say they take a moment at take-off and landing in the hope that everything will go well.

In the UK, the figure rises to 23%. Londoners stand out, with 44% saying they do this, compared with just 9% of travellers from Yorkshire and the Humber.

British men are also more likely than women to follow travel rituals, with 10% saying they step onto a plane, train or ship with their right foot first, compared with 6% of women.

The Opodo poll of 9,000 respondents was conducted in October 2025 across international markets including France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and the US. 2,000 respondents were from the UK.