Portugal was once again in the spotlight at the 2025 edition of the World Travel Awards, whose global ceremony took place on 7 December in Bahrain. The country won 12 awards among the 308 categories in competition, with special emphasis on the Algarve and Madeira.
The Algarve region maintains its international recognition by once again winning the award for ‘World's Leading Beach Destination’, a title it had already achieved in 2020, 2021 and 2024. The Algarve also received several individual awards: Vila Joya, in Albufeira, was voted ‘World's Leading Boutique Resort 2025’; Domes Lake Algarve, Autograph Collection, in Vilamoura, won the ‘World's Leading Family Resort 2025’ category; and Dunas Douradas Beach Club, in Almancil, was distinguished as ‘World's Leading Golf & Villa Resort 2025’.
Madeira also reinforced its international visibility by being named ‘World's Leading Island Destination’ for the eleventh consecutive time.
Among the other national winners, TAP stands out, awarded ‘Best Airline to Africa’ and ‘Best Airline to South America’; Amazing Evolution, recognised as ‘Best Boutique Hotel Manager’; and the Olissippo Lapa Palace Hotel in Lisbon, which once again received the award for ‘Best Classic Hotel in the World’.
Several Portuguese tourist attractions were also recognised: the Passadiços do Paiva (Arouca UNESCO Global Geopark) received the award for ‘Best Adventure Tourism Attraction’; Dark Sky Alqueva was distinguished as ‘Best Responsible Tourism Project’; and Parques de Sintra – Monte da Lua won, for the thirteenth consecutive time, the title of ‘World's Leading Conservation Company’.
It should be noted that, in October, at the European gala of the World Travel Awards, Portugal had already been voted ‘Europe's Leading Destination’.
Created in 1993, the World Travel Awards recognise merit and excellence in the tourism industry on a global scale, through the votes of thousands of professionals from around the world.
The
complete list of winners for this edition — which awarded the Maldives the title of ‘World's Best Destination 2025’ for the second time — can be found on the organisation's
official website.
