If you list the same holiday home or apartment on Airbnb on Booking.com, it is essential to avoid that the same dates remain available on both platforms at the same time.

One of the easiest solutions is to use the iCal calendar.

Airbnb allows you to export the calendar of each listing through a special URL and insert it into another compatible platform, including Booking.com. Airbnb expressly recommends that hosts on multiple sites synchronize their calendars to reduce the risk of two guests booking the same dates.

The operation is:

Airbnb → link iCal → Booking.com

But be careful: this link synchronizes the calendar in one direction only.

If you want true two-way synchronization, you’ll also need to set up:

Booking.com → iCal links → Airbnb

obtaining:

Airbnb ⇄ Booking.com

In this guide we see step by step how to export the Airbnb calendar, import it to Booking.com and complete the synchronization correctly in both directions.

What is the iCal Airbnb calendar?

iCal is a standard used to share calendar information between different platforms.

Airbnb generates a calendar URL for each listing that can be copied into other compatible systems.

The link normally has a format similar to:

.../calendar/ical/....ics

This URL allows the external system to read the dates in the Airbnb calendar.

Airbnb specifies that exporting the calendar provides a URL to be pasted on the external platform, for example Booking.com, so that changes to the Airbnb calendar can be reflected on the linked calendar as the other service updates.

Why sync Airbnb with Booking.com?

Let’s imagine that we have:

Rome Vacation Rentals

Published simultaneously on:

Airbnb

Booking.com

Both calendars show available dates:

August 10-15

At 10:00 a.m., a customer books on Airbnb.

Airbnb immediately blocks those dates on their calendar.

If Booking.com is out of sync, however, it may still show:

August 10-15 → available

A second customer could then book the same apartment on Booking.com.

You would have a:

Overbooking

Synchronization serves precisely to communicate to Booking.com that those dates should no longer be sold.

How to export Airbnb calendar

First you need to retrieve the iCal Airbnb link.

The official path currently indicated by Airbnb from computers is:

Calendar → select your listing → Free/busy → Connect calendars → Link to another website.

Let’s see it in detail.

1. Sign in to Airbnb as a host

Open:

Calendar

If you manage multiple properties, select the listing you want to link to Booking.com.

This step is particularly important.

If you have:

Rome Apartment

Milan Apartment

You need to export the correct apartment calendar.

2. Open “Availability”

In the calendar of the selected announcement enter the section:

Availability

Airbnb collects the main calendar settings here.

3. Open “Link Calendars”

Search the section:

Connect calendars

and select:

Link to another website

From this screen, Airbnb allows you to:

Export your calendar

and:

Import an external calendar.

4. Copy the Airbnb calendar link

In the export section, you’ll find the link to the Airbnb calendar.

Click on:

Copy

or on the relevant function to copy the calendar link.

This is yours:

iCal Airbnb link

You now need to put it inside Booking.com.

Don’t change the iCal link

When copying the link, it is important to paste it entirely.

Do not delete:

final characters;
parameters;
letters;
numbers;
part following the symbol ?, if any.

Even a small change can prevent Booking.com from reading the calendar correctly.

It is also advisable to treat the link as a private address and not to publish it on web pages, social networks or forums.

How to import Airbnb calendar to Booking.com

Now you need to enter the Extranet Booking.com.

The Booking.com interface may vary depending on the type of structure, account configuration, and platform updates.

The path normally used is:

Pricing & Availability / Calendar & Pricing → Calendar → Sync Calendars

or directly:

Rates and availability → Sync calendars

The guides updated to 2026 still report this flow for importing iCal calendars.

5. Log in to the Extranet Booking.com

If you manage multiple properties or units, select the one that matches the Airbnb listing you just exported.

For example:

Airbnb: Apartment Rome

It must be connected to:

Booking.com: Rome Apartment

and not to another structure.

6. Open “Sync Calendars”

Search the section:

Sync calendars

or:

Sync calendars

It is usually found within the management of:

Calendar

or:

Rates and availability.

7. Add a new calendar connection

Click something like:

Add calendar connection

or:

Import calendar

The name may change slightly depending on the version of the Extranet.

8. Paste the iCal Airbnb link

Booking.com will ask you for the address of the external calendar.

Paste the link you just copied from Airbnb.

You can give the connection a name.

For example:

Airbnb

or:

Airbnb – Apartment Rome

The second solution is preferable when you manage multiple facilities.

9. Save the connection

Confirm the import.

At this point you have created:

Airbnb → Booking.com

Booking.com will be able to read the Airbnb calendar and use the unavailability received to block the corresponding dates.

What happens after import?

Let’s say Airbnb receives a booking:

August 10-15

The flow becomes:

Airbnb booking

↓

Airbnb blocks August 10-15

↓

updated Airbnb iCal feed

↓

Booking.com reads the feed

↓

Booking.com makes August 10-15 unavailable

This reduces the risk of Booking.com selling the same apartment for those dates.

Note: You’ve only synced Airbnb → Booking.com

This is one of the most common mistakes.

After you import your Airbnb calendar to Booking.com you created:

Airbnb → Booking.com

But what if someone books on Booking.com?

Airbnb won’t automatically receive that reservation just because you set up the previous link.

For a full sync, you must also create:

Booking.com → Airbnb

How to sync Airbnb and Booking.com both ways

A correct configuration must have:

Link 1

Airbnb → Booking.com

Link 2

Booking.com → Airbnb

The result is:

Airbnb ⇄ Booking.com

Technically, there is no single two-way connection.

You have two distinct feeds.

How to export your Booking.com calendar

After adding the Airbnb connection, stay in the section:

Sync calendars

of Booking.com.

Search:

Export calendar

or the function that allows you to copy the iCal link of the structure.

Booking.com will generate a new calendar URL.

Copy it.

The updated guides show this step within the same section that you used for importing.

You now have:

iCal Booking.com link

How to import Booking.com to Airbnb

Return to Airbnb.

Open again:

Calendar

→ select your ad

→ Availability

→ Connect calendars

→ Link to another website

Airbnb specifies that to import an external calendar, you must obtain the URL from the external service and enter it in the dedicated field. The imported URL must be compatible, and Airbnb recommends that you verify that it ends in .ics.

10. Paste the Booking.com link on Airbnb

In the field dedicated to the external calendar paste:

iCal Booking.com link

Give it a name, for example:

Booking.com

or:

Booking.com – Apartment Rome

and confirm with:

Add calendar

You created the second link:

Booking.com → Airbnb

Sync Complete

You now have:

Airbnb → Booking.com

Booking.com → Airbnb

therefore:

Airbnb ⇄ Booking.com

If an Airbnb reservation comes in:

Airbnb → Booking.com

If a booking comes in, Booking.com:

Booking.com → Airbnb

Full Scheme

The process can be summarized as follows:

1. Airbnb

→ export Airbnb calendar

→ copy iCal link

→ import it to Booking.com

2. Booking.com

→ export calendar Booking.com

→ copy iCal link

→ import it to Airbnb

Result:

Airbnb ⇄ Booking.com

How to check that sync is working

Once you’ve set everything up, don’t just close the page.

Check it out.

You can, for example, check a date that has already been booked on Airbnb.

Check that:

Airbnb → busy date

corresponds to:

Booking.com → same date not available

Then do the same in reverse.

Verify a Booking.com reservation and check that Airbnb shows those nights as unavailable after the calendar update.

Airbnb also shows when an imported calendar has been synced and allows you to manually request an update from the calendar section.

Is Airbnb Booking.com sync instant?

No.

This is probably the most important limitation of iCal.

A calendar sync should not be considered a real-time API connection.

The process is:

Booking

↓

Updated source calendar

↓

updated iCal feed

↓

Other platform controls the feed

↓

updated destination calendar

Airbnb currently claims to automatically update imported external calendars every 3 hours, with the possibility of also requesting a manual update within the limits provided by the platform.

The frequency with which Booking.com read the Airbnb feed depends on how the platform works.

For this reason, you should not consider iCal an instant synchronization.

Does the risk of overbooking disappear completely?

No.

iCal synchronization significantly reduces the risk, but it cannot eliminate it mathematically.

Let’s imagine:

15:00

A customer books Airbnb.

15:02

Booking.com hasn’t updated your imported Airbnb calendar yet.

15:03

Another customer completes a reservation Booking.com on the same dates.

Ideally, an overbooking could occur before the synchronization is complete.

The risk increases especially when:

you have a very high occupation;
you use a lot of OTAs;
you receive numerous last minute bookings;
Manage a lot of units.

In these cases, it may be appropriate to use a Channel Manager with more advanced integrations.

Does iCal also sync Airbnb and Booking.com prices?

No.

The connection we have just configured is mainly used to keep synchronized:

Booked dates

calendar unavailability

Does not automatically sync:

prices;
promotions;
rates;
minimum stay;
pricing plans;
discounts;
Advanced restrictions.

So you may have:

Airbnb: 120 €

Booking.com: 135 €

even if the calendars are perfectly synchronized.

If I change the price, does Airbnb also change Booking.com?

No.

Let’s say:

Airbnb → 100 €

Booking.com → 100 €

Edit Airbnb:

Airbnb → 130 €

With iCal, Booking.com will continue to have:

Booking.com → 100 €

The calendar link does not transmit the fare.

To sync pricing and availability, you’ll need to use software with more advanced integrations, such as a Channel Manager/PMS compatible.

Can I sync only one direction?

Yes, technically you can.

You could only configure:

Airbnb → Booking.com

But in this case you must be aware that:

Airbnb bookings → arrive as unavailability on Booking.com

while:

reservations Booking.com → don’t automatically arrive on Airbnb through that link

For those who actually sell the same unit on both platforms, it is usually convenient to configure synchronization in both directions.

I manage several apartments: what should I do?

Each apartment must have its own connection.

Suppose we have:

Rome Apartment

Airbnb Rome
Booking.com Rome

Milan Apartment

Airbnb Milan
Booking.com Milan

Florence Apartment

Airbnb Florence
Booking.com Florence

You need to create:

Airbnb Rome ⇄ Booking.com Rome

Airbnb Milan ⇄ Booking.com Milan

Airbnb Florence ⇄ Booking.com Florence

You don’t have to use the same calendar link for different apartments.

Mistake to avoid: connecting the wrong structures

If you configure:

Airbnb Rome → Booking.com Milan

a reservation received in the apartment in Rome could block Milan.

When you have a lot of real estate, always give very clear names to the connections.

For example:

Airbnb – Rome Trastevere

Airbnb – Milan Navigli

Airbnb – Florence Center

This makes it much easier to figure out which feed belongs to which unit.

I can’t find “Sync Calendars” on Booking.com

It can happen.

The extranet interface varies depending on the structure and configuration.

Look for the feature within:

Rates and availability

Calendar

Calendar and prices

or use the internal search of the Extranet, if available.

The guides updated to 2026 generally report the route Rates & Availability → Sync calendars or a variant through the calendar.

In some configurations, iCal synchronization may also not be available, for example when the facility already uses special external connectivity systems.

I can’t find the iCal link on Airbnb

From the computer, the current official path is:

Calendar → Select ad → Free/busy → Link calendars → Link to another website.

If you have multiple listings, check that you’ve selected the correct calendar.

Does the Airbnb link have to end in .ics?

Airbnb uses iCal/ICS-compatible calendars.

When Amounts external calendar on Airbnb, the platform expressly specifies that the URL must end in .ics.

However, don’t manually edit a URL to add .ics: Always use the link officially generated by the platform.

Can I sync Airbnb and Booking.com for free?

Synchronization via iCal uses the calendar functions made available by compatible platforms and does not require an external Channel Manager itself.

It can therefore be a very interesting solution for those who manage:

1 or a few holiday homes

and mainly wants to keep busy dates aligned.

iCal or Channel Manager?

It depends on the complexity of the management.

iCal may be sufficient if:

you have one or a few facilities;
you mainly use Airbnb and Booking.com;
you want to synchronize dates above all;
manage prices manually;
You receive a moderate volume of bookings.

A Channel Manager becomes more interesting if:

you have many facilities;
you use a lot of OTAs;
change prices often;
you want to synchronize rates;
manage complex inventory;
you use many restrictions;
You want to centralize everything.

Can I add my site’s calendar as well?

Yes.

If you use a Booking Engine compatible with iCal, you can also add the site to the system.

You may have:

Airbnb

↕

Booking Engine

↕

Booking.com

The Booking Engine can import calendars from OTAs and make the dates already booked unavailable on the site.

If you also generate your own iCal feed, you can sync direct bookings received from your site outwards.

Airbnb + Booking.com + Booking Engine

A configuration might be:

Airbnb → Booking Engine

Booking.com → Booking Engine

Booking Engine → Airbnb

Booking Engine → Booking.com

The principle remains the same:

Each system must receive the outages generated by the other channels.

With Host Domination Booking Engine, for example, you can import iCal/ICS feeds from Airbnb and Booking.com and add OTAs to the OTAs also the direct bookings from your WordPress site.

This way you can continue to use Airbnb and Booking.com as acquisition channels, but simultaneously build a proprietary booking channel.

Beware of iCal loops

When you start connecting three or more systems, you need to avoid an unnecessarily complex setup.

For example:

Airbnb → Booking.com

Booking.com → Booking Engine

Booking Engine → Airbnb

along with other parallel links can make it harder to figure out where a block is really coming from.

The more systems you use, the more important it becomes to define a clear architecture.

For simple structures, you can connect calendars directly.

For complex ecosystems, it may be preferable to have a central system.

How to understand where a blocked date comes from?

If you find an unavailable date after syncing, check:

if there is an Airbnb reservation;
if there is a reservation Booking.com;
if the date has been manually blocked;
if there are other imported calendars;
if the correct structure has been connected;
when the last synchronization occurred.

Airbnb allows you to see if certain nights are blocked and specifies that some dates may be unavailable precisely because of connected or synchronized calendars.

How long does it take to set up Airbnb and Booking.com?

For a single structure, the process is relatively short.

You simply need to create two links:

First

Airbnb → Booking.com

Second

Booking.com → Airbnb

The step that requires the most attention is not the time needed, but choosing The correct calendar.

If you manage ten apartments, you will have to repeat the operation for each unit.

Quick summary: Airbnb → Booking.com

To export your Airbnb calendar and import it to Booking.com:

On Airbnb

Calendar

→ choose your ad

→ Availability

→ Connect calendars

→ Link to another website

→ copy the Airbnb calendar link.

About Booking.com

Extranet

→ Rates & Availability / Calendar

→ Sync calendars

→ Add connection

→ paste the Airbnb link

→ saved.

You have obtained:

Airbnb → Booking.com

Quick Summary: Booking.com → Airbnb

To complete the sync:

About Booking.com

Sync calendars

→ Export calendar

→ copy iCal link Booking.com.

On Airbnb

Calendar

→ Availability

→ Connect calendars

→ Link to another website

→ enter the link .ics Booking.com

→ name it

→ Add calendar.

You have obtained:

Booking.com → Airbnb

Bottom line:

Airbnb ⇄ Booking.com

Conclusion

Exporting your Airbnb calendar and importing it to Booking.com is one of the easiest ways to keep your availability coordinated when the same property is present on both platforms.

The procedure is:

Airbnb

→ Export Calendar

→ copy iCal link

→ import it to Booking.com.

But for a really useful synchronization you also have to remember the reverse path:

Booking.com

→ Export Calendar

→ copy iCal link

→ import it to Airbnb.

This way you get:

Airbnb ⇄ Booking.com

and a booking received on one of the two portals can result in the blocking of the same dates on the other calendar.

However, iCal remains a tool for Calendar synchronization.

Does not automatically sync:

Pricing

Rates

Promotions

Advanced restrictions

It should not be considered an instant API connection.

For one or a few holiday homes it can be a simple and effective solution.

On the other hand, when structures, OTAs and tariff complexity increase, it may become more appropriate to use a Channel Manager.

If you also want to add the Direct bookings from your website, you can connect Airbnb and Booking.com to an iCal-compatible Booking Engine, creating an ecosystem where OTAs and the site share availability.

FAQ

How to export Airbnb calendar?

From a computer, go to Calendar → select your listing → Free/busy → Connect calendars → Link to another website and copy the Airbnb calendar link.

Where should I put the Airbnb link on Booking.com?

In the Extranet Booking.com search Sync calendars, usually within Calendar or Rates & Availability, then add a new connection and paste the Airbnb URL.

Is it enough to import Airbnb to Booking.com?

Not if you want to sync availability in both directions. You also need to export the Booking.com calendar and import it to Airbnb.

How to sync Airbnb and Booking.com?

You need to create two links:

Airbnb → Booking.com

Booking.com → Airbnb

obtaining:

Airbnb ⇄ Booking.com

Is syncing free?

The iCal connection uses the calendar functions of compatible platforms and does not necessarily require the purchase of an external Channel Manager.

Does Airbnb update Booking.com immediately?

You should not consider iCal a real-time synchronization. The system that imports the calendar must periodically reread the feed to receive updates.

How often does Airbnb update Booking.com?

How often Booking.com the Airbnb calendar is read depends on Booking.com. Airbnb says it updates external calendars imported to Airbnb every 3 hours, with the option of manual updating.

Does iCal also sync prices?

No. iCal synchronization is primarily about calendar and unavailability.

If I change the price, does Airbnb change Booking.com?

No. With a simple iCal connection, the price Booking.com remains independent.

Can I sync multiple apartments?

Yes, but each apartment must use its own calendar and must be connected to the corresponding unit on the other platform.

Can I link my site as well?

Yes, if you use an iCal-compatible Booking Engine. This allows you to synchronize OTA availability and receive direct bookings at the same time.

Does iCal eliminate overbookings entirely?

It greatly reduces the risk, but since it is not an instant API synchronization, there can be an interval between a reservation and the update of the connected platform.