UN Tourism has announced Europe's Best Tourism Villages for the year ahead. This year has seen destinations from Venice to Amsterdam bring in rigorous new rules like daytripper taxes and Airbnb bans to tackle growing problems with overtourism. Often, the visitor experience in these hotspots is stressful and frustrating, while local residents suffer from which results in a growing with tourists.
To encourage sustainable travel - where visitors are part of the , rather than the problem - UN Tourism has been releasing an annual list of Best Tourism Villages since 2021. These lesser-trod destinations tempt tourists off the beaten track to places where tourism helps to preserve and traditions, celebrate diversity, provide opportunities and protect . “Tourism is a vital tool for inclusion, empowering rural communities to protect and value their rich cultural heritage while driving sustainable development,” says UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.
“The Best Tourism Villages initiative not only recognises the remarkable achievements of these villages but also highlights the transformative power of tourism.” Globally, 55 villages - 14 of them in Europe - received the award this year. Here’s where to find winemaking, wellness and walking in Europe’s villages.
Located at an altitude of 659 meters in the majestic Kitzbühel Alps, St Johann in Tirol is a vibrant market town. It has a long history dating back to the 6th and 7th centuries when Bavarians first set.
