Ljubljana Named European Best City Break

Ljubljana, the charming capital of Slovenia, has been awarded the prestigious title of Best European City for Short Breaks by the European Best Destinations organization, a leading website dedicated to promoting culture and tourism in Europe. The title is a recognition of Ljubljana's exceptional appeal and uniqueness as a top destination for travelers seeking unforgettable urban experiences.

The award was based on the visitor data of the European Best Destinations website (europeanbestdestinations.com), which attracted 7.2 million visitors in the past year, including 26% from the United Kingdom, 14% from the United States, 6% from Australia, 5% from Canada, and 5% from Germany. Ljubljana was the most visited landing page in the last 12 months, with 243,089 visitors. The majority of these visitors belong to the age group of 18-24 years (30.4%), followed by visitors in the age groups of 25-34 years (18.8%) and 35-44 years (17.9%), indicating the popularity of Ljubljana among younger and active travelers.

Only 10 cities made it to the list of the best European destinations for city breaks, including Copenhagen, Lisbon, Riga, Florence, Paris, Malaga, Madrid, San Sebastian, and Vienna. The results show that Ljubljana is on par with the trendiest European destinations. The title of Best European City for Short Breaks will be retained by Ljubljana in 2024 as well.

Maximilien Lejeune, the director of European Best Destinations, is not surprised by the result, as Ljubljana has already proven its attractiveness with the title of Best European Destination in 2022, which received votes from a record number of travelers from outside Slovenia. The results also demonstrate the significant multiplier effects of the previous title. As a result of that title, Ljubljana received international promotion worth over 10 million euros, while the value of the promotion for being named the Best European Green Capital in 2021 was estimated at 1.6 million euros.

"Ljubljana is a trendy but safe destination where everyone feels welcome. It is an open, family-friendly, and green cultural center that everyone dreams of visiting," says Maximilien Lejeune. The organization is confident that Ljubljana is a leading destination in many areas important to travelers seeking authenticity, high-quality services, safety, and unique experiences. Ljubljana ranks among the top destinations in Europe, which is a result of efforts to create a friendly city, sustainable practices, and quality events. This is also confirmed by high ratings on the TravelSat platform, where Ljubljana significantly exceeded the average of other European destinations by 34 points in 2022.

"At Ljubljana Tourism, we highly value and are proud of the awards and recognition we receive. This award holds great importance as it is based on the opinions of people who have visited our beautiful destination. We are aware that their experiences and impressions are crucial, as they are the best confirmation of the quality of our joint work and our dedication to creating exceptional experiences. With their opinions, travelers have become part of our evolving story, growing with each new experience. Therefore, we will continue to strive to provide top quality, hospitality, and uniqueness to ensure that every visitor experiences unforgettable moments in Ljubljana. This inspires and motivates us to continue our mission – to create unforgettable moments and leave a lasting impression in the hearts of our visitors. The award brings excellent visibility and invaluable promotional value to the destination," said M. Sc Petra Stušek.

The organization European Best Destinations will share the news about this year's selections with over 740,000 recipients of their newsletter, and the results will also be published on their website, which is among the most visited tourism portals in Europe. The official award ceremony will take place on Sunday, June 4th, at a grand ceremony in Warsaw, which holds the title of Best European Destination for the year 2023.

*European Best Destinations

European Best Destinations is a travel website dedicated to promoting culture and tourism in Europe. They collaborate with tourism organizations and EDEN, the largest network of sustainable tourism destinations established by the European Commission. Their competition, European Best Destination, plays a significant role in promoting Europe as a leading tourist destination in the world. It has become a hub for tourism organizations and travelers, serving as the main gateway for discovering Europe.