Marbella Crowned as the Best European Destination for 2024
Marbella has secured the top spot in the vote for the “Best European Destination 2024”, an award given by a Belgian tourism website. The Spanish municipality, which came second in 2022, surpassed by Ljubljana (Slovenia), has now achieved the highest recognition, ahead of Monaco and Malta.
Marbella’s Surprise Announcement
In a surprise move, the Marbella City Council announced on Wednesday that the city had won this prestigious award, which it had also competed for in 2022. Unlike the previous year, when the vote was announced in advance and the mayor, Ángeles Muñoz, called on citizens to participate, this year the result was announced without prior notice, placing Marbella as the best European destination for 2024.
Record-Breaking Participation
The competition saw 20 finalists, none of which were from Spain, and a record-breaking online participation of over a million participants from more than 170 countries. Marbella shared the podium with Monaco, in second place, and Malta, in third. Other cities on the list included Geneva (Switzerland), Batumi (Georgia), Riga (Latvia), Florence (Italy), London (UK), and Reykjavik (Iceland), among others.
Marbella’s Record-Breaking Votes
According to the City Council, Marbella received a total of 149,192 votes, a record number since the inception of this award, making it the first Spanish city to achieve this recognition. In 2002, it came second, surpassed by Ljubljana (Slovenia). As reported by Marbella24horas, €30,000 was paid to secure the distinction.
Marbella: A Strong Tourism Brand in Europe
Maximilien Lejeune, CEO of European Best Destinations, stated that Marbella is “one of the strongest tourism brands in Europe; a destination with a unique cultural, event, sensory, and gastronomic offer; a destination where you can enjoy experiences like nowhere else”. He also highlighted that the municipality “is a leader in tourism excellence in Europe” and emphasized its ability to “please all travelers, from 3 to 103 years old, from sports and shopping lovers to gourmets”.
Marbella: The Most Voted Destination by American and English Travelers
The organization also highlighted that Marbella is the most voted destination by American and English travelers for a stay in Europe in 2024 and that it is a “sunny, five-star, natural, sporty, gastronomic enclave with everything to please the most demanding travelers”.
Record-Breaking Votes in the 2024 Edition
In this 2024 edition, according to European Best Destinations, a total of 1,096,938 votes were obtained, 59 percent of them coming from outside the continent, which also represents a record since the creation of this event. The awarded destinations are promoted not only on the organization’s travel website but also in associated media such as Forbes USA, Condé Nast, Corriere Viaggi, or Yahoo, with a cumulative audience of approximately 420 million travelers.
