The World Travel Awards Europe 2025 gala in Sardinia has recognized the best airlines, hotels, resorts and travel destinations in Europe. Find out who was named the leading travel destination for 2025 and who received special awards

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On October 23, 2025, the World Travel Awards Europe 2025 gala ceremony was held at the luxury resort of Forte Village in Sardinia, where the leading representatives of the European travel industry were recognized. On the red carpet, the winners were announced in various categories - from the best airlines to the most impressive festival locations.

We tell you about this year's leaders in Europe according to the World Travel Awards in this article.

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What is the World Travel Awards known for?

Founded in 1993, the World Travel Awards annually recognizes the most successful players in the travel market and organizes a series of regional ceremonies around the world.

The World Travel Awards Europe 2025 Gala was the fifth leg of the 2025 Grand Tour and brought together industry experts from across the continent.

Portugal is the best place to travel in Europe 2025

The World Travel Awards Europe 2025 has named Portugal the best tourist destination on the continent. This victory confirms the country’s undisputed leadership in the travel industry – Portugal has once again taken first place after a year when the title was temporarily held by Greece.

The continent’s most famous countries competed for the right to become “Europe’s Leading Destination 2025”: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway and Ireland. It was Portugal that managed to convince the jury with its unique combination of nature, culture and hospitality.

The country also triumphed in a number of other categories: “Europe’s Leading Island Destination”, “Leading City Destination” and “Leading Destination for Short City Breaks”.

Portugal has once again confirmed that it remains the heart of European tourism – a place where every traveler will find inspiration, comfort and vivid impressions.

World Travel Awards Europe 2025 Winners

The ceremony honored representatives from all key segments of the travel market, including:

Airlines and Tour Operators

- Europe’s Leading Airline: Lufthansa

- Europe’s Tour Operator: TUI

Resorts and Hotels

- Europe’s All Inclusive Resort: Ikos Odisia, Greece

- Europe’s Boutique Hotel: VISTA Lago di Como, Italy

- Europe’s Leading Hotel: Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, Turkey

Cities and Destinations

- Europe’s Leading Destination: Portugal

- Europe’s City Destination: Porto, Portugal

- Europe’s Leading Short Break Destination: Lisbon, Portugal

- Europe’s Leading All-Year Destination: Batumi, Georgia

Cruises

- Europe’s Leading Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruise Line, Norway

- Europe’s Leading Cruise Destination: Dubrovnik, Croatia

Culture and Events

- Europe’s Cultural Destination: France

- Europe’s Leading Cultural City Destination: Athens, Greece

- Europe’s Festival and Event Destination: Cannes, France

Adventure and Development

- Europe’s Leading Adventure Destination: Huesca-La Maggia, Spain

- Europe’s Emerging Destination: Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece

Islands and Nature

- Europe’s Island Destination: Madeira, Portugal

- Europe’s Responsible Tourism: Dark Sky, Alceva, Portugal

The 2025 WTA Grand Final will take place on December 6 in Bahrain, where the world’s best travel industry leaders will be announced.

The World Travel Awards Europe 2025 gala ceremony reaffirmed Europe’s leadership in global tourism, recognizing the best airlines, hotels, resorts, cities and destinations. The ceremony also showcased the continent’s diversity, from the culture of Athens and the festival spirit of Cannes to the adventure tourism of Huesca La Magia and the unique natural corners of Madeira.

For tourists, it proves once again that Europe offers countless travel options, and the WTA award serves as a reliable benchmark for the highest standards in the industry.

To make your trip to Europe hassle-free, use our travel guide, which contains:

- Current entry regulations for different countries.

- Information on the necessary travel documents.

- Useful tips on moving around and basic local legal requirements.

Plan your trip without unpleasant surprises and make your trip comfortable and safe!

Reminder! The best places to vacation in December 2025 - from festive Paris and snowy Scotland to sunny Maldives and Sydney beaches. We have already talked about the weather, season, cultural features, gastronomy and tips for tourists in each direction.

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