Lisbon Crowned Europe's Best City and Best Cruise Destination at World Travel Awards

At the 33rd World Travel Awards Europe ceremony, held on 17 October 2026 at the Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort in Montenegro's Bay of Kotor—the first time Montenegro had hosted the event—Lisbon claimed two of the night's most coveted prizes: Europe's Best City Destination and Europe's Best Cruise Destination. The Portuguese capital's success was attributed to its mix of historic neighbourhoods such as Alfama, its Tagus waterfront, distinctive azulejo-tiled architecture, and a food culture drawing visitors to pastéis de nata bakeries, fado restaurants and contemporary dining. António Valle, director-general of the Lisbon Tourism Association, noted the wins reflect the city's strategy of balancing the preservation of its identity with the needs of diverse travellers, while encouraging longer stays and exploration of the wider Lisbon Metropolitan Area, including Sintra's palaces and the Atlantic coastline. The double win was reported widely across travel media on 19 October, the day Montenegro's own new profile as an emerging destination also drew attention.