Athens Wins Two Global Titles at the World Travel Awards 2025

• 18 December, 25

The Greek capital Athens claimed two major global honors at the World Travel Awards 2025, further solidifying its leading position on the international tourism map and marking a new phase in the development of Greece’s tourism industry.

Athens was named “World’s Leading Cultural City Destination 2025” and, for the first time, won “World’s Leading City Break Destination 2025.”

This achievement is particularly noteworthy. The City Break Destination title had been held by Lisbon, Portugal, for three consecutive years, and Athens’ rise to the top highlights a significant breakthrough for Greece’s tourism sector and a clear enhancement of its international competitiveness.

At the awards ceremony, Ioannis Georgizas, CEO of Develop Athens, stated: “These awards fully recognize our ongoing international promotion strategy, which has successfully shaped a new image of Athens as a modern, creative, and sustainable city.”

From European Leader to Global Spotlight

These global accolades build on Athens’ strong performance in Europe. As early as October 2024, Athens was awarded “Europe’s Leading Cultural City Destination 2025” and “Europe’s Leading City Tourist Board 2025,” laying a solid foundation for its ascent to global recognition.

At the national level, numerous Greek hotels, resorts, and tourism enterprises also received awards at the 2025 World Travel Awards, further reinforcing Greece’s position as a global leader in high-end tourism and hospitality, and showcasing the strong growth momentum of the country’s tourism industry as a whole.

International Promotion and Sustainability Go Hand in Hand

Athens’ success stems from a long-term, systematic urban tourism strategy. Through international partnerships, high-profile events, and innovative promotional models, Athens is steadily transforming into a sustainable tourism city that combines deep cultural heritage with modern vibrancy.

Key initiatives include the “This is Athens City Festival,” held every May with more than 300 cultural events, and the “This is Athens – Agora” international tourism forum, which continues to promote high-quality urban tourism, authentic cultural experiences, and global industry exchange.

Athens Mayor Haris Doukas commented: “Athens has once again proven its ability to secure a top position on the global tourism stage. Culture, openness, and sustainability are the core strategies behind our vision of building an open, dynamic, and people-centered city.”

Strong Growth in Greek Tourism

Founded in 1993, the World Travel Awards are often referred to as the “Oscars of the tourism industry,” recognizing excellence across the global travel and hospitality sectors. Athens’ victory over long-time leader Lisbon at the global level represents not only a leap forward for the city’s brand, but also a symbol of the broader breakthrough and sustained growth of Greece’s tourism industry.

As international recognition continues to rise and city branding grows stronger, Greece—driven by Athens as a central engine—is steering its tourism industry toward a new stage defined by higher quality, greater sustainability, and stronger global influence.

Cre: Greek Travel Pages