Marbella, named best place to travel in Europe in 2024 by European Best Destinations

Marbella has been chosen the best tourist destination by travelers on European Best Destination, the most visited website dedicated to travel and culture in Europe

Marbella, best place to travel in Europe

Marbella is celebrating, after being named the best European destination to visit in 2024. More than 1 million travelers from 172 countries had their say to choose their favorite European destination. Marbella received over 149,000 votes to be crowned the winner, bagging over 15,000 more votes than second place Monaco. Marbella is the first Spanish city to top the list and as champions of the area and Marbella holiday specialists, Vacation Marbella are very proud that it’s got this much deserved recognition.

What is the European Best Destinations?

This accolade is highly regarded, as it comes from the most visited website dedicated to travel and culture in Europe. European Best Destinations promotes more than 400 destinations on its website and in the media, to inspire travelers and help them select the best place for their next trip. They work in partnership with more than 300 European tourism offices to get the latest information and the insiders’ secrets and inspire a love for European travel for travelers from around the globe.

Why did the travelers choose Marbella?

Over 1 million travelers were asked to vote for their Best Destinations in Europe overall, as well as choose their favorites in a number of categories. These included; the best destination for a city break, best places to enjoy nature, sunshine holiday destinations, cultural destinations, foodie favorites and more.

The votes were cast and Marbella came out on top in many different categories. The organizers said, Marbella “is the destination most voted for by American and English travelers for a stay in Europe in 2024. This is a sunny, five-star, natural, sporty, gastronomic destination with everything to please the most demanding travelers.”

It was voted as best for –
·         5-star Holidays
·         Golf
·         Wellness
·         Beach
·         Shopping
·         Foodies
·         Outdoor Activities
·         Nature
·         Romantic Getaways
·         Family Holidays

It’s so fantastic to see that holidaymakers rate Marbella for so many different reasons. We’re not surprised by this list, as it really is a place that appeals to everyone. Here’s why we think it’s so popular in these categories.

5-star Holidays – Marbella is a true luxury destination, with the very best of everything available for discerning tourists. Guests can choose to stay in a stunning holiday rental villa or luxury penthouse, or select from one of the world-renowned 5* hotels in the area. They can dine in the very best restaurants, including five with Michelin stars, and have the services of a private chef to cook in their luxury villa. They can also shop until they drop in designer boutiques and be pampered in the best spas and salons. As if that weren’t enough, there are so many wonderful 5* experiences to enjoy in Marbella, such as helicopter rides, private tours and excursions, private yacht charters and more. No wonder Marbella was voted as the best place for a 5-star holiday! Our recommendations for areas when you’re looking for luxury holiday rentals would be Puerto Banus and the Golden Mile.

Wellness – Marbella boasts a wide range of spas, wonderful hair and beauty salons and some fantastic fitness and wellbeing experts. Many tourists love to combine a holiday in Marbella with some pampering, personal training, beauty treatments and even some cosmetic surgery, to come back looking and feeling their very best. Whatever you choose, as part of our guest services, we can arrange for wellness professionals or personal trainers to come and visit you and provide their services in the comfort of your vacation rental, for maximum convenience and relaxation. We also have a guide of wellness services in Marbella to help you enjoy this to the full.

Beach – Marbella and the whole Costa del Sol is known and loved for their fantastic beaches and so there’s no surprise that this is on the top of the list for the things that travelers most value about a holiday in Marbella. There are an impressive 27.9km of beaches in Marbella, so you’ll be spoilt for choice! If you love beaches, check out our collection of beachfront vacation rentals in Marbella.

Shopping – Marbella is a shopaholic’s dream, with options to suit all budgets and tastes. There’s a busy high street, a charming Old Town packed with independent shops, and a number of shopping centers too. The biggest is La Cañada, just on the outskirts of Marbella, and it’s fantastic for clothes shopping. For designer brands, head down to Puerto Banus, where you’ll find a very high concentration of luxury boutiques in a very picturesque setting. El Corte Ingles department store in Puerto Banus is also well worth a visit for a spot of shopping. You’ll find everything from beauty, perfume and fashion to toys, homeware and furniture all in one place. Check out our guide to shopping in Marbella.

Foodies – Marbella is a hot spot for gastronomy, whether you want to sample traditional Spanish fare, enjoy international flavors, or indulge in fine dining. There really is something for everyone! We’d recommend at least one lunch in one of the beachside chiringuitos of Marbella, to sample the fresh fish and have a taste of paella. You must try tapas at least once, and an evening popping from tapas bar to bar for a drink and a different dish is a joy. Then, why not treat yourself to a Michelin star meal, dine at one of the beautiful fine dining restaurants in Marbella, or book a private chef to cook for you at your villa? Whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed!

Outdoor Activities – Marbella’s fantastic year-round weather, makes it a perfect place to try outdoor activities and sports and there’s loads to choose from. Take to the sea on a jet ski, paddle board, or yacht. Explore the beautiful countryside on foot, bike, horseback, or buggy. Try your hand at tennis, golf, padel tennis, or do a yoga class on the beach – there’s no excuse to be bored. We have a guide to the best adventure activities in Marbella to help you choose.

Nature – It’s great to see that more travelers are recognizing Marbella for its stunning natural surroundings, as it’s something that wasn’t well known before. It is a very green town, with lots of lovely parks to enjoy. Head a few minutes inland and you’ll find nature all around you, and some amazing opportunities to hike and climb in the beautiful woodland at the base of the iconic La Concha mountain. You can even climb La Concha if you’re feeling up to the challenge, but be aware that it’s 1215m high – so it’s quite a climb!

Romantic Getaways – Marbella is a lovely place for a romantic getaway. Strolling hand in hand along the beachside promenade, swimming together in the sea and watching the sun go down with a cocktail in hand with the one you love is pretty hard to beat. The wonderful restaurant and bar scene is really popular with visiting couples too.

Family Holidays – Families absolutely love Marbella, as it is a really family-friendly place. The Spanish culture is very much focused around family time and kids are doted on and welcome wherever you go. We have a huge number of fantastic playgrounds here, which often have cafes next to them, so the adults can relax while the kids play. Kids are always happy on the beach and there are also lots of great activities for the little ones in and around Marbella if they ever get bored on the beach. Holiday villa rentals are the perfect choice for a family holiday in Marbella, as you can enjoy a real home-from-home, give the kids their favorite breakfasts, and allow them to have the naps and bedtimes they need for everyone to have a great time! We’d recommend checking out our collection of vacation rentals with pools if you’re traveling with a family. Check out our guide to traveling to Marbella with kids for more information.

Marbella, Best Golf Destination in Europe

Did you know that Marbella has 21 golf courses and Andalucia boasts more than 100? So, it’s no wonder really that Marbella was also named as the Best Golf Destination in Europe for 2024! There’s an incredible variety of golf courses in a very small area and golfers love the great year-round weather too. There’s a real concentration in the Nueva Andalucia area, which is known as golf valley, so if golf is your thing, a holiday rental in Nueva Andalucia is a good choice.

The 20 Best European Destinations of 2024 for European Best Destination

It was a hotly contested competition and some incredible destinations couldn’t quite reach the top, but deserve special mention. Monaco, Malta, Geneva and Batumi in Georgia, all featured in the top five, for their fantastic tourist offering, culture and lifestyle.

Here’s the full list of the top 20 most voted for European Destinations that you should add to your list of places to visit!

20. Thassos, Greece
19. Newquay, England
18. Piran, Slovenia
17. Sirmione, Italy
16. Faroe Islands
15. Champagne Wine Region, France
14. Porto-Vecchio, Corsica, France
13. Ponza Island, Italy
12. Siena, Italy
11. Lege-Cap-Ferret, France
10. Reykjavik, Iceland
9. London, England
8. Florence, Italy
7. Madeira Islands, Portugal
6. Riga, Latvia
5. Batumi, Georgia
4. Geneva, Switzerland
3. Malta
2. Monaco
1. Marbella, Spain

It’s such a pleasure to see our beloved Marbella at the top of that amazing list of places to visit in Europe. We hope that winning this accolade will enable even more people to discover this stunning destination. The team from Vacation Marbella is here to help you make the very most of your next holiday in Marbella.

We can find you the very best holiday rentals in Marbella to suit your needs and organize lots of added extras to make your stay complete. You can browse our website to see our selection of handpicked holiday rental properties in Marbella and view our list of guest services. Please also feel free to get in touch with our helpful team for insiders’ advice and information about visiting the best destination in Europe.

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