Warsaw earned the prestigious title of Europe’s most attractive tourist destination in the European Best Destinations 2023 competition. Over the course of just three weeks, 142,000 online votes were cast in favour of Poland’s capital by travellers from more than 130 countries around the world.
Warsaw has been awarded the prestigious title of Europe’s Most Attractive Tourist Destination in the European Best Destinations 2023 competition. The contest drew participation from 686,000 people across 178 countries, with 48% of the votes coming from Europe and the remaining 52% from other regions. Warsaw secured an impressive 142,081 votes – outpacing Athens, which received 91,000 – and set a new record in the competition’s history, surpassing Porto’s 2017 result by over 4,000 votes.
According to representatives from the Warsaw Tourist Organisation, this recognition will significantly boost the capital’s global visibility, enhancing its reputation as a must-visit destination and supporting more impactful international marketing and promotion efforts in the months ahead.
This achievement also brings positive momentum to Warsaw’s meetings and events industry. The European Best Destination title positions the city for increased attention not only from leisure travellers but also from international event planners and business tourism stakeholders. In the medium to long term, this recognition is expected to attract more global meetings and conferences, strengthening Warsaw’s role as a leading hub in the international MICE landscape.
Warsaw is considered a top destination for tourists
Warsaw is described by the organizers of the European Best Destinations competition as:
Beautiful, friendly, green, open to the world, perfect for a family city break, cultural holidays, shopping experiences, or romantic stays – Warsaw, your European Best Destination 2023 has something for everyone. Stroll through its beautiful parks, relax on the city’s beaches, take advantage of its fantastic gastronomic offer, come at any time of the year and take advantage of its rich events calendar. You’ll be dazzled by its iconic places such as the Old Town and its colourful buildings, the Palace of Culture and Science, the tallest building in Poland, the Łazienki and its palaces, pavilions and greenhouses.
During your stay in the Best European Destination 2023, don’t miss a walk down “Krakowskie Przedmieście”, the most prestigious street in Warsaw and a visit to the Warsaw Barbican, historic fortifications that once surrounded Warsaw. Warsaw is a dynamic and shining city, and thousands of activities and experiences await you in Warsaw, from sampling local culinary specialities to a hot air balloon ride and zip lining in one of the city’s parks. Would you prefer a cruise down the beautiful Vistula River? If you’re travelling with your family, be sure to visit Warsaw’s zoo and try the Moczydło water park, enjoying its slides, wave pools, and other water attractions.
The competition in numbers
This was a remarkable contest in history. Many records were broken:
- Warsaw collected a record-breaking 142,081 votes (+66,439 votes compared to last year’s winner – this is a record number of votes since the inception of this contest – the previous record was for Porto and its 138,116 votes in 2017).
- Warsaw received 68% of the votes from outside of Poland. Without domestic votes, it would still have been chosen as the best European tourist destination in 2023.
- In total, European Best Destinations collected a record 686,244 votes from 178 countries (528,069 for the 2022 edition of this event).
- The voting website has shared a record + 193,000 times on social media in the last 21 days (122,000 shares for the 2022 edition of this event).
The ranking of the most attractive cities in Europe in 2023 according to internet users:
- Warsaw
- Athens
- Maribor
- Vienna
- Cittadella
- Essen
- Veszprém
- London
- Grenoble
- Mannheim
- Porto Santo
- Toledo
- Faial
- Rhodes
- Copenhagen
- Tossa de Mar
- Ascona-Locarno
- Milos
- Prague
- Soller
- Delft
Without a doubt, these cities have a chance to become the most popular travel destinations in 2023. There are the best cities to visit in Europe on the list, also very unique places in this part of the world. You can add these locations to your list of favourite cities to visit when planning a vacation.
Besides the title “European Best Destination 2023” which was determined by the results of the competition, Warsaw was also acknowledged and distinguished by the organizer in four other categories:
- Best Destinations for a City Break
- Best Destination for Food Lovers
- Best Cultural Destination
- Safest Destinations in Europe
European Best Destination – Polish cities in the contest in the past
Warsaw is not the first Polish city with the title European Best Destination. In the history of the contest also other destinations in Poland took part in the contest:
- Bydgoszcz – 10th in 2020
- Poznan – 5th in 2019
- Wroclaw -1st in 2018
- Gdansk – 3rd in 2017
About the EBD competition
European Best Destinations is an organization founded in 2009 with the mission of promoting tourism and culture in European cities and regions. It collaborates with the EDEN network operating under the European Commission, influential media on a global scale, and over 400 European destinations. Once a year, between January and February, a contest for selected cities and regions takes place, with the winner being determined through open internet voting. Several hundred thousand people from all over the world participate. The results and progress of the contest are widely commented on in the global media.
You can follow European Best Destinations on their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Hashtag #EuropeanBestDestinations #EBD2023
Source: EBD press release
