Lisbon wins two international awards as a tourist destination

Lisboa was distinguished as Europe's Best City Destination and Europe's Best Cruise Destination at the World Travel Awards Europe 2026, at a ceremony held today in Montenegro, announced the Lisbon Tourism Association (ATL).

The awards were awarded in the categories “Europe’s Leading City Destination” and “Europe’s Leading Cruise Destination”, recognizing the Portuguese capital in two areas of tourist activity.

“ These distinctions reveal how Lisbon is a unique and authentic destination. Lisbon differs from the main European destinations by valuing its identity by responding to different travel motivations. They are also the recognition of a collective work of qualification and valorization of the tourist offer ", says the general director of ATL, António Valle, quoted in the statement.

The responsible also highlights the work developed by the sector, considering that the prizes are “the recognition of a collective work of qualification and appreciation of the tourist offer”.

ATL also points to the qualification of the tourist offer, the enhancement of heritage and culture and the diversity of experiences in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area as central factors for the international competitiveness of the destination, defending a strategy that encourages longer stays and the discovery of different areas of the territory.

Lisbon had already been elected, on Monday, Best Destination of Cruises of Europe at the World Cruise Awards, at a ceremony held in Jamaica, winning the distinction for the third time, after the victories in 2021 and 2024, as indicated by the Porto de Lisboa Administration.

On that occasion, the port administration awarded the award to the professionals and entities involved in cruise tourism and the hospitality of Lisbon, considering that the distinction reinforces the position of capital as a competitive and sustainable destination.

The World Travel Awards distinguish annually destinations, hotel units, airlines and other entities in the tourism sector by voting for industry professionals and the international public.