Top Destinations In Europe – Best places to travel in 2015
European Best Destinations announced the winners for 2015
1. BORDEAUX
2. LISBON
3. ATHENS
4. VALLETTA (MALTA)
5. RIGA
6. ZAGREB
7. LJUBLJANA
8. INNSBRUCK
9. MILAN
10. BRUSSELS
Top 10 Europe’s Best Destinations for 2015
20 selected destinations competed for the prestigious title of Best European Destination 2015. After a three weeks’ period of online voting, Bordeaux is elected the Best European Destination 2015 and won this prestigious title.
Lisbon, Athens, Valletta, Riga, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Innsbruck, Milan, Brussels, Vienna, Rome, Barcelona, Istanbul and Madrid are the next best destinations for a holiday or city-trip in 2015.
We thank all the participants from Tourism Offices, community managers of social networks and the 244,696 voters who made their choice and influenced the result !
Press Release
The European organization “European Best Destinations“, based in Brussels, whose purpose is the promotion of culture and tourism in Europe, is pleased to announce the results of the 2015 edition of the European Destination of the year. A record edition with a massive increase in participation (+6%) and voters from 113 different countries to elect the Best European Destination 2015.
A 3 weeks competition determined the most popular destination among travelers from all over the world for the quality, reputation and offerings of its destination. 20 “must-see” destinations were in competition to win the prestigious title of Best European Destination 2015:
Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Bordeaux, Brussels, Innsbruck, Istanbul, Lisbon, Ljubljana, London, Madrid, Malta, Milan, Paris, Reykjavik, Riga, Rome, Vienna, Zagreb.
With more than 24,980 shares on social networks and thousands of comments and tweets and hundreds of newspaper articles, this competition was a success: it broke all records with 244,696 votes collected during the 21 days competition.
We thank the 20 participating locations, the different heads of European Tourism Offices in competition with the heads of press services, public relations, Community Managers and partners, media, hotels, artists, institutions and individuals who are the go-between of this great E-tourism competition.
While reviewing the results of the 2015 edition, discover some comments from social networks about competing destinations:
10. Brussels
With 10,814 votes, Brussels is elected as one of the 10 European best destinations 2015.
- “Capital of Europe, Capital of « French » fries, Capital of comic strips, capital of surrealism, capital of friendship, Long life to Brussels!”
- “Mussels and fries, a visit to the Atomium or mini Europe, a real bargain on the flea market, one, two or three beers at the « Mort Subite », a Brussels waffle on the Grand Place…everything to please your stomach, your eyes and your mind !”
- “A great capital city full of different quarters.”
- “If you love the architecture you’ll like Brussels! It is a mixture of styles, it is not uniform, but it is rich, it’s crazy, it’s unbelievable and unforgettable.”
- “Brussels should win because it is the most original city in the world!”
- “Brussels has a lot of charm, it is a different, unique city. It shows itself smoothly and it offers unexpected richness.”
9. Milan
With 11 ,122 votes, Milan is elected as one of the 10 European best destinations 2015.
- “The cradle of fashion, history, modernity, design, gastronomy. Welcome to Milan!”
- “Milan is both the most traditional and most modern city. Milan will show a different face each time you will visit it. It is the most dynamic destination in Europe, the most surprising and the most beautiful.”
- “Milan is all this : style, class, fashion, elegance, refinement, design and excellence.”
- “It would take a lifetime to visit and understand this hectic city life which has a watchful eye on its past. It’s like a big anthill where all the ants would be queens.”
- “You can visit Milan 10 times, 20 times, 30 times, you will keep on being surprised and amazed. Milan is not an old museum, it is an art gallery full of amazing people !”
- “For me Rome is like a red full-bodied wine and Milan is like champagne : it is young, fresh and sparkling at the same time.”
8. Innsbruck
With 12,023 votes, Innsbruck is elected as one of the 10 European best destinations 2015.
- “You can do what you want in Innsbruck : playing sport, skiing, walking in nature, in the city center, from 3 to 103 years old. This city has everything you need for grandiose holidays. »
- “If you love the Alps you’ll love Innsbruck, the capital of the Alps is the best place to ski in Europe and enjoy a great city and all its facilities.”
- “Nature is all around Innsbruck, it’s beautiful. Just take the best cable in the world and go to the top : it looks like it’s come out of a dream. It’s so beautiful !”
- “In summer and winter there is always something to do in Innsbruck.”
- “It is indeed, the destination to be discovered in 2015”
- “Innsbruck is different from anything I knew before and it’s also better than anything I knew before. This is a shining star in the sky and that dazzles you again and again. “
7. Ljubljana
With 13,114 votes, Ljubljana is elected as one of the 10 European best destinations 2015.
- “Ljubljana is like a beautiful girl you would have fallen in love with and would like to keep for yourself. Obviously I’m not the only one who fell under its spell and I am happy that more and more visitors enjoy to discover this exceptional and unique destination.”
- “I love this historical destination,with its beautiful,old streets,old shops,beautiful monuments and beautiful landscapes.”
- “I’m sure it will be a favorite destination for travelers around the world because Ljubljana offers something more, something different, Slovenia is an amazing country to be discovered.”
- “Ljubljana is romantic romantic romantic romantic. “
- “I don’t know how to describe Ljubljana in order to make people want to discover it, but it’s the best of Austria, the best of Italy, of Croatia, of France, and especially the best of Slovenia. Ljubljana has its own strong identity with a mixture of other cultures.”
- “This city is great for lovers of Art Nouveau. There are unique creations in the world there. This city is worth the trip.”
- “This city is lively and calm at the time. A foot or boat ride on the river will help you understand why Ljubljana must be the Best European Destination 2015.”
6. Zagreb
With 15,583 votes, Zagreb is elected as one of the 10 European best destinations 2015.
- “Croatia is the most beautiful country in Europe and Zagreb is the jewel that overlooks the crown.”
- “Where else in the world can you enjoy such a good quality of life ? Zagreb is the most beautiful city in Europe.”
- “Get lost in the streets of Zagreb, get into the courtyard of a museum and find yourself on the terrace of a trendy café. Zagreb is a very trendy and very traditional city at the same time. It is full of subtlety and beauty.”
- “Visiting Zagreb is visiting Europe for you have all the wealth and beauty of the continent in just one single destination.”
- “Zagreb has a lot of amazing things you will not see anywhere else in Europe as the roof of the St. Mark’s church, the shortest funicular railway in the world, the beautiful Mirogoj cemetery, the Dolac market and its colorful umbrellas. Zagreb is unique.”
- “In Zagreb you can go shopping, admire the architecture, discover a contemporary art museum, eat and sleep for cheap and even go skiing in the winter, What else?
- “There is such a mixture of cultures, civilizations that have hybridized in Zagreb that this destination really offers a diverse range of tourist offers that will please all types of travelers.”
5. Riga
With 15,627 votes, Riga is elected as one of the 10 European best destinations 2015.
- “I had never imagined that Riga could be such a beautiful city before I went there. This destination is great and attractive and it makes you feel like home »”
- “A café, a terrace, a magnificent site to have a great time in Riga, the most beautiful destination in Europe! »
- “Riga is traditional, it’s rock, it’s romantic, it’s green, it’s busy and relaxing at the same time.”
- “The architecture in Riga is really fabulous, It deserves, just for this, the title of best European destination”.
- “For me Riga implies relaxation and shopping cheaper than anywhere else in Europe.”
- “I think Riga deserves the title because it is the most amazing city, the most diverse and the most incredible in Europe”
4. Valletta (Malta)
With 21,658 votes, Valletta (Malta) is elected as one of the 10 European best destinations 2015.
- “I’m ashamed to say it but my best memory of Malta is the village of Mellieha, the one where they filmed “Popeye”, I was amazed and this will remain a moment I will never forget.”
- “Malta is an exotic destination that offers each visitor a different experience Visit Valletta, Island of Gozo, or St Julian : they are so different and so amazing !”
- “We do not always know it but Malta is a beautiful and ecological destination for nature lovers. I recommend to visit Nadur and Gharb, two beautiful green destinations.”
- “Malta is the ideal destination for photographers, for its architecture landscapes, streets, beautiful sea, and beautiful light.”
- “Malta is a destination that made me dream before I went there and that makes me dream more now that I’m back home.”
- “I really love Malta and I do love the Maltese. I am English but I feel close to their culture, their way of life. They are big hearted people.”
3. Athens
With 28,184 votes, Athens is elected as one of the 10 European best destinations 2015.
- “Greece is a unique country. I understand that philosophy was born in this country because all the landscapes were made by nature to invite you to think un-restrainedly, to escape.”
- “Going to Athens is like turning back into childhood, into history books. Our whole culture has been influenced by the history of this incredible city.”
- “Athens is a rich capital city thanks to its past but also its present and certainly for its future. This is where democracy was born.”
- “I love Athens, the city is beautiful, full of discoveries and surprises, I discovered Lake Vouliagmeni during my last stay. It is a great place to cool off quietly away from it all, another new face of Athens.”
- “The Greeks are extraordinary and very respectful people. What other European capital can boast of having preserved many cultural and architectural treasures in the heart of the city? This shows all the respect they have for history, memory, culture.”
- “I really enjoy culture but what I like best is its food and Athens left me unforgettable memories of delicious, fresh and sunny meals. A wonderful destination for new flavors lovers.”
- “One is never alone in Athens, because everywhere around you, the thoughts of great philosophers who make you feel « a better person » float in the air. Athens is a unique tourist destination in the world.”
2. Lisbon
With 37,621 votes, Lisbon is elected as one of the 10 European best destinations 2015.
- “The most beautiful city in Europe and even in the entire world!”
- “Lisbon is the most incredible destination in Europe. This was a discovery for me to see the bridge like the one in San Francisco, the Christ like the one in Rio, and castles in breathtaking Sintra.”
- “It is a destination for « beautiful things » lovers.”
- “Lisbon is a city that you like or love.”
- “I love the city ! So do all the people who have had the pleasure to visit it. “
- “The greatest treasure in Lisbon is its people. Portuguese people are very polite, friendly, curious and proud of their country They are right to feel so : the whole country has a breathtaking scenic beauty. Porto, Madeira, the Azores, the Algarve …as well !”
- “I enjoy eating in Lisbon, I love shopping because there are always trendy boutiques opened late at night, I like to have parties there and I love to sit in the park, in front of the sea, in the forest, It’s a bit like Barcelona, but it is better !”
1. Bordeaux
With 17.32% of votes (42,396 votes), the European Destination the travelers have chosen to win the 2015
edition of this great competition, is a city which can now carry the prestigious title of «European Best
Destination » with pride and let the world know it in all its communications, advertising, brochures, maps, airports, travel stands, promotional films etc; it is a fantastic destination, a great winner, a great city.
Ladies and gentlemen, we proudly present Bordeaux,
European Best Destination 2015 !
- “Bordeaux is a beautiful destination. There is nothing better in the world than walking on the docks and in the old town.”
- “Bordeaux has everything of a capital city without the disadvantages of it. I like Paris a lot, but Bordeaux is like Paris but with more nature, landscapes, and a relaxed rhythm of life.”
- “I vote for Bordeaux because this city has reinvented itself in recent years without losing its identity and soul.”
- “Bordeaux has to win because it’s beautiful. It is not only a beautiful city, but its surroundings are stunning ! Saint Emilion, the Bassin d’Arcachon, the Dune du Pilat, the bird island and the landscapes that make everyone dream.”
- “Bordeaux is romantic, it’s fine it’s historical it’s beautiful! And much more!”
- “When I think about Bordeaux, I think about wine, heritage, gastronomy, art of living, I think about France.”
- “Bordeaux is a beautiful destination for adults but also for children with its water mirror, animations, the Pessac zoo, picnics in the floral park and for us ,vineyards, museums, beautiful mansions and a breathtaking scenery.”
- “When I went to Bordeaux for the first time, they were performing « Nutcracker » at the Grand Theatre. As to me, the whole city is like the Grand Theatre. It is rich, generous, full of surprises, soft and inviting. “
- “You can discover Bordeaux passively or actively. This year my discovery was active because we made our own wine and we learned how to cook ! (almost as well as the best chef in Bordeaux ), and made our own macarons … well, nearly…)”
Congratulations once again to all the tourism offices and community managers for this 2015 edition. Visitors, citizens and also the media have discovered
through prints, photos and videos these 20 exceptional destinations which make up Europe’s richness and diversity. With the title of “European Best
Destination 2015” Bordeaux also wins a dedicated online guide (over 242,000 visits to Porto’s guide in 2014) and a photo reportage.
As ranked in the top 1 0 destination, we will highlight your destination on our website and throughout the whole year on our social networks and your
destination will be recognized as being in the top 1 0 European destinations to be discovered in 2015. Every opportunity will be taken to showcase your
destination and praise its beauty, landscape, history and culture and to generate an ever increasing excitement for your destination.
The winner, Bordeaux, will have the right to use the European Best Destination logo on all its communications, websites and documents.
We also thank and congratulate the destinations in 10th to 20th position ; although they are not in the top 1 0, they were,
however, selected as being part of the best European destinations and the votes this year were extremely close.
We hope to see you again next year for the 2016 European Best Destination competition (January 2016). In the meantime,
watch your position on the first E-tourism barometer in Europe and keep promoting your wonderful destination.
Congratulations to the 20 selected destinations and the 10 awarded destinations.
“Europe is a wonderful world !”
European Best Destinations
1150 Brussels – Belgium
E-Mail : contact@europeanbestdestinations.org
Phone : 0032.49.49.202.54
www.europeanbestdestinations.org
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