These are the best tourist villages in Europe as selected by the United Nations Tourism Organization.
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From Venice to Athens, Europe’s most popular tourist destinations are collapsing under the strain of unsustainable tourist numbers.
Tourists encounter crowds, queues and crumbling infrastructure, while local residents face a lack of resources and are increasingly frustrated with tourists.
So how can you make sure you are part of the solution and not part of the problem?
It’s time to explore off the beaten path, and to help you discover undiscovered destinations, UN Tourism has handpicked the best tourist villages.
These are places where tourism preserves culture and traditions, celebrates diversity, provides opportunities and protects biodiversity.
In other words, it is a rural location where tourism is beneficial for both locals and tourists.
This year, 53 villages from around the world, 16 of which are in Europe, were awarded the prize, and the winners were announced at the United Nations Tourism Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan in October.
Discover all the award-winning villages in Europe.
Ordino, Andorra: traditional stone houses and alpine lake
With a population of less than 80,000, Andorra is one of the smallest countries in Europe.
Nestled between France and Spain and high in the Pyrenees, this tiny country is popular for skiing and duty-free shopping, but it has much more to offer.
Ordino is a medieval town with picturesque stone houses, one of which can be explored at the Casa Areni Museum.
After exploring the town itself, you can enjoy outdoor adventures in the local parish.
From the alpine Lake Tristaina and Soltenyi National Park (the country’s largest natural area) to Mount Casamaña and Ordino Arcalis ski resorts, there’s an abundance of panoramic hikes and powdery slopes to conquer.
Ordino can be reached on a day trip from Barcelona, Girona and Toulouse, each taking around three hours by car.
St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria: Adrenaline-pumping skiing and hikes that stimulate the senses
High in the Tyrolean Alps, Sankt Anton am Arlberg is the gateway to the Arlberg ski region.
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The region is known as the “birthplace of alpine skiing” for its pioneering role in the invention of alpine skiing, and there’s no better place to do so than here. Learn all about alpine skiing at the Sankt Anton am Arlberg Museum, housed in a wooden ski hut.
If you tire of snow sports, stimulate your senses on the “Wanderwanderweg” (wonderful hiking trail), which consists of a barefoot path, an alpine herb trail and an alpine flower trail.
Schladming in central Austria also won a United Nations Tourism Award: a former mining town now known for its world-class skiing, beautiful cycling and hiking trails, and refreshing lakes.
Slunj (Croatia): cascading waterfalls and traditional waterwheels
Most visitors head straight to Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, but you can also head into the country’s mountainous regions to enjoy cascading waterfalls and riverside beaches.
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The town of Slunj is just a short drive from the famous Plitvice Lakes, but offers a unique waterscape: Rastoke, where 23 waterfalls feed the Korana River, lined with traditional watermills.
In summer, take a refreshing dip in the water before cycling through the tranquil Gjervik Forest along the river.
Tokaj, Hungary: Tasting sweet “Noble Rot” wines
Wine lovers shouldn’t miss the historic Hungarian town of Tokaj, the heart of the Tokaj-Hegyalja wine region and home to the original “noble rot” wine, Tokaj.
This sweet, complex libation is made possible by the use of a special fungus called Botrytis, which infects overripe grapes and turns them into sweet, wrinkled berries, a process that requires the region’s unique weather conditions and grapes that are hand-harvested.
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Needless to say, no visit would be complete without a wine tasting and a visit to the Tokaj World Heritage Wine Museum.
Lerici, Italy: Experience the Italian Riviera Sustainably
Lerici, on Italy’s northwest coast, is dotted with the iconic, colorful buildings that the Cinque Terre is known for.
But it is thanks to its commitment to the blue economy that the town has been recognised by the United Nations Tourism Board.
It is here that you will find the Santa Teresa Smart Bay, Italy’s first underwater “living” laboratory, where scientists observe the growth rates of aquatic invertebrates – bryozoans – and monitor destructive ocean acidification.
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The research will aid in their mission to protect the bay’s delicate ecosystem and promote sustainable tourism in the area.
Sortelha (Portugal): A journey back in time
From Lisbon to Porto, Portugal has become a popular tourist destination in recent years, but the country still has plenty of hidden gems to discover.
It is home to the ancient walled town of Sortelha, which has preserved its medieval and Renaissance architecture.
Overlooked by an imposing 13th-century castle, the town’s granite country houses paint a picture of times gone by, while wind turbines offer a vision of a sustainable future.
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Portugal has won numerous awards at the United Nations Tourism Organization’s Best Tourism Villages Awards.
Also receiving awards were surfing paradise Ericeira, the lush mountain village of Manteigas and Vila da Madalena on the Azores island of Pico.
Vareni, Moldova: Pelican watching on Lake Vero
Experience Moldova’s beautiful natural wonders in the southwestern Moldova village of Vareni.
The destination has been gaining tourism credibility since 2014 when Ecovillage Valeni was established as a base for visitors to explore the region.
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Watch flocks of pelicans on their way to the Danube Delta at Lake Bello and explore the Lower Prut Nature Reserve, part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
Siguenza, Spain: A medieval train journey
Siguenza, in central Spain, is known for its fortress-like castle and Diocesan Museum, home to a renowned collection of religious artwork.
But in recent years, this living museum has stagnated due to population decline.
The city is now on a mission to change that by becoming a hub for rural development, with tourism being a key piece of the puzzle.
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The city encourages weekday trips on the Medieval Train, which runs from Madrid in 1 hour and 20 minutes and is accompanied by minstrels and knights who use music and drama to tell the tales of the villages and towns they pass along the way.
The Basque town of Oñati, which is embracing smart tourism, and the historic municipality of Cantavieja were also awarded the UN Tourism Best Tourism Village award.
Morcote, Switzerland: Relaxing by the lake
Morcote, on the postcard-perfect shores of Lake Lugano, is a charming destination.
Surrounded by greenery, the water’s edge, lined with arcades of old patrician houses, greets ferries as they depart from Lugnano for this protected Swiss village.
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The Swiss town of Saint-Ursanne, with its Romanesque abbey church and medieval houses, also won the best tourist village award.
Sirince, Turkey: A tranquil escape
With a history dating back to Hellenistic times, the Turkish city of Şirince strives to preserve its ancient atmosphere.
Cars are banned from the town’s narrow streets, and locals get around on foot or by horseback.
This hilltop town, which was a Greek village before the Greco-Turkish Wars, is 12 km from the ancient city of Ephesus and is surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees.
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