The best Christmas destinations in Europe selected by travellers.
Since 2009, European Best Destinations has promoted culture and tourism in Europe to millions of travellers but also to tourism professionals and the media in partnership with more than 300 European tourist offices and the EDEN Network created by the European Commission.
Advent in Zagreb
Photo: Julien Duval / Zagreb Tourist Board
The competitions for the European Best Destinations of the Year, European Best Ski Resorts, European Best Beaches, Most Romantic Destinations, and European Best Christmas Markets have become the most important tourism competitions in Europe; they bring together millions of travellers who support and discover the most beautiful destinations in Europe. They also have an impact in “real life” with significant growth of tourists for the rewarded destinations with + 16% in growth of tourism for Porto rewarded in 2014, + 13% for Bordeaux rewarded in 2015, + 18% for Zadar rewarded in 2016 as well as tens of millions of media coverage.
Advent in Zagreb
Photo: Hrvoje Pilić / Zagreb Tourist Board
Like every year, the competition was fierce with only 10 days of online votes from 2 to 12 December to determine the ranking of the best Christmas markets in Europe, that will be promoted throughout the year to millions of travellers and will be able to display the title “Best European Christmas Markets”.
More than 50 Christmas markets are promoted throughout the year on www.europeanbestdestinations.com, but only the most beautiful ones have been selected to compete as Europe’s Best Christmas Market in 2017.
Advent in Zagreb
Photo: Julien Duval / Zagreb Tourist Board
21 “must-see” Christmas Markets were in competition to win the prestigious title of Best Christmas Market in Europe: Aachen, Brussels, Budapest, Colmar, Cologne, Dresden, Graz, Helsinki, Leipzig, Lille, London, Madeira, Manchester, Metz, Nuremberg, Prague, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Strasbourg, Tallinn, Vienna, Zagreb.
This year beats all records of participation with 188,648 votes coming from 124 countries. For the first time since the launch of the competitions, travellers could vote for their 3 favourite Christmas markets in Europe. Voters come to 79% of Europe and 21% outside Europe.
Advent in Zagreb
Photo: Hrvoje Pilić / Zagreb Tourist Board
Discover the 20 favourite Christmas markets selected by travellers.
20. Manchester
19. Helsinki
18. Lille
17. Rothenburg
16. Nuremberg
15. Leipzig
14. Madeira
13. Metz
12. Cologne
11.Graz
10. Brussels
9. Budapest
8. Prague
7. Tallinn
6. Dresden
5. Vienna
4. Aachen
3. Colmar
2. Strasbourg
1. Zagreb
Congratulations!
The next main European Competition will be held from 20th January to 10th February 2017 for the award of the Best European Destination with 20 cities in competition among which Gdansk, San Sebastian, Basel, Milan, Sozopol, Amsterdam, Novi Sad, Roma, Madrid, Stari Grad, Paris, Vienna, Porto, London,…
