This Country Has Just Been Voted As The Best European Travel Destination

Voices in global travel have officially declared what Portugal’s Tourism Office, the Turismo de Portugal, has been communicating for over a year now: you can’t skip Portugal! As big winners in the 2018 World Travel Awards, otherwise known as ‘the travel industry’s Oscars’, Portugal brought home more than 20 awards from the ceremony in Athens, Greece, the most prestigious being Europe’s Leading Destination 2018.

Despite its fairly small size, Portugal has made a big impact on the world of tourism. After all, it’s a country of idyllic beaches and exotic islands, friendly locals and an inviting culture, spa resorts and historic hotels, mouthwatering gastronomy, world-renowned wine, and so much more.

European Best Destinations has listed Portuguese beaches among their top choices for the last few years, and this year’s winner is the Algarve’s scenic resort town of Carvoeiro. The country’s most recent big win (or wins, depending on how you want to look at it) came at this year’s World Travel Awards.

Not only was Portugal named Europe’s Leading Destination, but the Madeira Islands won the award for Europe’s Leading Island Destination, and Lisbon was named Europe’s Leading City Destination. The national flag carrier airline, TAP Air Portugal (remember the world’s most handsome airline crew?), brought home two awards as Europe’s Leading Airline to Africa and South America, and TAP’s UP Magazine was announced Europe’s Leading In-Flight Magazine.

Portugal is also recognised as a destination for adventure-seekers. Despite the massive waves that have put the country on the map for surfers, the levada and mountain trails that call hikers to Madeira, and the diverse Peneda-Gerês National Park, a UNESCO-classified World Biosphere Reserve, it is the Paiva Walkways’ five-plus miles (eight kilometres) of wooden passages through nature that seized recognition as Europe’s Leading Adventure Tourist Attraction for the third year in a row. The walkways, located between the historic cities of Viseu and Porto, guide visitors through a nature reserve filled with archeological and geological sites and some of Europe’s endangered species.

Paiva walkways and river in Arouca municipality, Aveiro, Portugal

Despite its reputation as a budget-friendly destination (which it is), Portugal is also a country for luxury-seekers. Located on the sparkling shores of the Algarve, the 5-star Vila Vita Parc Resort and Spa was named first in the category of Europe’s Leading Luxury Hotels & Villas.

So, who wants to visit Europe’s Leading Destination?

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.