Portugal is celebrating once again: The country has reclaimed the title of “Europe’s Best Destination” at the 2025 World Travel Awards. After Greece “stole” the title last year, Portugal proves that it still reigns supreme – with six wins since 2017.
This year’s competition was fierce. Portugal competed against 12 European destinations beloved by travelers: Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey. And in the end? It once again demonstrated why it remains such a favorite among tourists.
The ceremony took place in Sardinia, Italy, as part of the 32nd edition of the World Travel Awards.
Madeira, Lisbon, and Porto Take Home Awards
The national victory is just the tip of the iceberg. Several Portuguese regions and cities also received special recognition. Madeira, the enchanting island in the Atlantic Ocean, was named “Europe’s Best Island Destination.” Porto, the city of wine and bridges, was crowned as Europe’s leading urban destination. And Lisbon? It was chosen as the ideal spot for a weekend getaway.
What does this mean for investors? Yossi Yitzhak, Chairman of the Europa Group, explains the deeper significance of the win: “Portugal continues to outperform Europe’s leading nations in the metrics that truly matter. For real estate investors, a thriving tourism industry is an economic growth engine — creating demand for housing and signaling stability and quality of life. When Portugal wins the title of ‘Europe’s Best Tourism Destination’ for the seventh time, and Porto is crowned as the leading urban destination — that’s validation that cannot be ignored.”
The Destinations Tourists Love
But Portugal wasn’t the only country in the spotlight. Spain also tasted victory — Huesca La Magia won the title of Best Destination for Adventure Tourism, dethroning the Azores, which held the title last year. Greece wasn’t far behind, with Costa Navarino crowned as Europe’s Perfect Beach Destination.
Batumi, the charming seaside town in Georgia, was recognized as the ideal all-seasons destination. In Croatia, Dubrovnik continued its winning streak, earning the title of “Europe’s Leading Cruise Destination” for the third consecutive year.
France took home the title of “Europe’s Best Cultural Destination,” while Athens was crowned “Europe’s Best Cultural City.” Meanwhile, the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace in Greece was named “Europe’s Most Promising Emerging Destination.”
In short? Europe continues to be the continent every traveler dreams of exploring — and Portugal once again proves why it remains the crowd favorite.