Braga has just been elected the Best European Destination to visit in 2021. The City collected 109,902 votes from internet users, consolidating itself as a destination of excellence and a reference in international tourism. After having already been considered the second Best European Destination in 2019, Braga now occupies the first place in the preferences of the participants, at a distance of over 31,000 votes from the second ranked, the Italian capital, Rome.

The results were known this Wednesday, February 10, and for the Mayor of Braga this vote is "the crowning of an unquestionable work of international affirmation of the Braga brand". Ricardo Rio highlights the support for this candidacy by many Portuguese throughout the world, in addition to the commitment of the City itself, of the institutions and Bracarans. Of the total number of votes in the City of Braga, 72% refer to participants outside the national territory, a data well demonstrative of the projection of the City at a national level.

"It is a result that fills us with pride and that will certainly have extremely positive reflexes in Tourism and in the local, regional and national economy during the next years", stresses the Mayor, thanking the commitment of all those who "decisively contributed so that this result was possible" and leaving a word of recognition to the support shown by the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the Secretary of State for Tourism, Rita Marques, the Regional Entity of Tourism of Porto and North of Portugal and the Tourism Association of Porto and North (ATP), in addition to several Local Authorities, entities and citizens.

In this edition, Braga was the favourite destination of travellers from the United Kingdom and Brazil and one of the main choices of travellers from the United States of America and France. Every year, the organisation receives one from the Vatican, which this year was also deposited in the Bracarense candidature. The organisation also highlighted the capacity of mobilisation promoted by Braga, uniting the whole country around its candidacy.

"From now on, Braga will be even more present in the most reputable publications in the area of Tourism all over the world, which will make the City an increasingly sought after destination for millions of travellers", said Ricardo Rio.

Of the 20 destinations to be voted, the first 15 will appear in the webpage of the 'European Best Destination', where they can be visited by thousands of travellers who use this information to choose their tourist destinations. The website is the most visited tourism website in Europe, with an audience of over 5.5 million travellers.

In this edition, the 15 cities awarded were: Braga, Portugal (109,902 votes); Rome, Italy (78,124); Cavtat, Croatia (50,025); Florence, Italy (46,484); Sibiu, Romania (45,699); Paris, France (39,584); Kefalonia, Greece (36. 551); Kotor, Montenegro (32,481); Soca Valley, Slovenia (30,088); Canary Islands, Spain (26,432); Tubinga, Germany (25,586); Dordogne, France (24,427); Tahiti, French Polynesia (22,356); Capri, Italy (18,420) and Ghent, Belgium (16,503).

It should be remembered that, as in 2019, Braga was the only national destination nominated to receive this distinction in 2021, a data that ultimately confirms the growth of the Braga brand and the qualification of the tourist offer provided by the City.

Created in 2009, the European Best Destinations, an organisation based in Brussels, promotes culture and tourism in Europe and distinguishes, since 2010, the most modern and attractive cities to visit in the European Union. This is considered the biggest e-tourism event in Europe.

Check out the 2021 results HERE