European Best Destinations (EBD), an international organisation, has recognised Warsaw as the European city that best combines business tourism (MICE) with leisure travel.
Warsaw received recognition for the record growth of its tourism sector in recent years, including an increase in tourism’s share of the city’s GDP, modern infrastructure, a strong commitment to sustainability and the presence of global brands. According to EBD experts, the city’s major strengths also include an excellent value-for-money ratio, dynamic urban development symbolised by Europe’s fastest-growing skyline, and a high level of safety.
“The title Best European Capital of MICE & Leisure 2026 confirms Warsaw’s strong international position and its competitiveness as a destination for business events. It creates opportunities to attract further conferences, which will translate into tangible economic benefits – from higher hotel occupancy rates and new job creation to the development of visitor services. The award reinforces the brand of Poland’s capital as a place where one can work efficiently, generate new ideas and enjoy leisure time thanks to a rich cultural and gastronomic offer,” said Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of the City of Warsaw.
Foreign visitors to Warsaw appreciate the high standard of hotels and restaurants, the favourable price-to-quality ratio and the growing number of culinary accolades, including Michelin Guide recommendations. They also praise the city’s safety, cleanliness and increasingly eco-friendly public transport, which makes getting around the capital easy and convenient. Warsaw’s strong asset base also includes excellent air, rail and road connectivity.
“Markets in the Middle East show increasing growth potential for Warsaw’s tourism sector. It is therefore significant that this trophy was awarded in Riyadh, from where Warsaw is easily accessible thanks to a direct flight connection launched by LOT Polish Airlines last year. The title also confirms that cooperation between the city authorities and the Warsaw Tourism Organisation in planning tourism development and promoting Warsaw as a destination is an effective path to strengthening the capital’s tourism brand,” added Paweł Moras, Director of the Warsaw Tourism Office.
Tourism in Warsaw
According to the report Tourism in Warsaw, visitors travelling to the city for business purposes, particularly from abroad, spend significantly more than other tourists. As a result, the meetings industry represents one of the key pillars of Warsaw’s tourism sector and contributes to stable year-round occupancy of service facilities.
The report highlights the importance of tourism for the city’s economy. In 2023, tourist expenditure reached PLN 12.2 billion, while revenues to the City of Warsaw’s budget amounted to PLN 497 million, representing a 267% increase compared to 2019, the year before the pandemic. The contribution of the tourism economy to the city’s GDP is estimated at PLN 34 billion, accounting for approximately 7.3% of Warsaw’s GDP. Tourism also generates a substantial number of jobs – over 92,000 people are employed in sectors related to servicing tourist traffic.
