Portugal has been awarded Europe’s leading destination for 2023, with the country receiving this award for two years in a row and only losing it once to Greece in 2021, meaning that Portugal has been recognized as the leading destination in the region every year since 2017.
According to rankings by the World Travel Awards, Portugal has collected a total of 22 awards this year, being acclaimed for its airline, resorts, hotels as well as tourism spots.
More specifically, Passadiços do Paiva (Arouca UNESCO Global Geopark) has been awarded as Europe’s Leading Adventure Tourist Attraction for the sixth consecutive year, or ever since this category was introduced by the World Travel Awards in 2018. Similarly, TAP Air Portugal has been recognised as Europe’s Leading Airline to Africa and South America for the ninth consecutive year, making this airline an undisputable winner in these two categories.
Portugal also managed to snatch the award for Europe’s leading All-Inclusive Resort, which was granted to Pestana Porto Santo All-Inclusive for the second year in a row. Portuguese resorts have been Europe’s leading all-inclusive resorts since 2016, while in 2014, they took the award from the Turkish Concorde De Luxe Resort.
Portugal also remains a non-contestant winner for Europe’s Leading Beach Destination as it has been recognized for its Algarve beaches since 2012, only losing this title once to Oludeniz, Turkiye (2011) and Corfu (2014) as well as Peloponnese, Greece (2018).
Verride Palacio Santa Catarina managed to return to Portugal with the award for Europe’s Leading Boutique Hotel after having it taken from Kivotos Mykonos, Greece (2022) and Sunborn Yacht Hotel London, England (2021).
This year, the award for Europe’s Leading City Break Destination went to Porto, Portugal, while in 2022, Lisbon received this award. In general, this award was shared between destinations like Istanbul, London, Geneva, Lyon, Athens, and Saint Petersburg, as well as Porto and Lisbon in Portugal.
Lisbon was also recognized as Europe’s Leading City Destination for 2023, taking this award from Porto, which was awarded one year prior.
Furthermore, Lisbon Cruise Port in Portugal, once again, was selected as the Leading Cruise Port of the Year, making it the eighth time in a row for this cruise port to receive this award.
In addition, Portugal was awarded for the Leadins Island Resort, Landmark Hotel, Lifestyle Resort as well as Luxury Boutique Hotel.
The Luxury Business Hotel, Resort Vullas, Sports Resort, and Villa Resort for the Year all are awarded to Portugal, while the country was also recognised for having Europe’s Leading Wine Region Hotel, as well as for the Most Romantic Resort and Responsible Tourism Award.
List of Categories Won by Portugal at World Travel Awards 2023:
