Tripadvisor fan favorite Elafonissi beach on the Greek isle of Crete dazzles with pink sand and turquoise waters. (iStock)
As a new year draws near, countless travel-related publications love to tell us all about the places we must go and the things we need to experience in the months to come. While their suggestions can often prove inspirational, another fun way to inform oneself is to take a look at the establishments that have won “best of” accolades in the present year. Some publications turn to panels of industry experts in categories such as accommodation, food and drink, and leisure time activities; others let their users and readers weigh in on their favorite places and things to do. Here are some of the places that came out on top in 2025:
Bars: The World’s 50 Best Bars is an annual list ranking bars across the world, from grand hotel bars to secretive speakeasies. An expert panel made up of bartenders, journalists covering the drinks industry and other specialists helps to whittle down the field, which typically comes down to a mix of longstanding institutions and newcomers to the scene.
While you’ll need to travel to Hong Kong to experience the world’s No. 1-rated bar Leone’s, Europe’s scene is well represented by two bars in Barcelona, including Sips, known for its craft cocktails and exquisite presentation; and Paradiso, described as a not-so-secret speakeasy where the service is a spectacle unto itself. Other bars landing on the list include Moebius Milano in Milan, Italy, a sci-fi-inspired space offering a bistro serving tapas and a fine-dining, glass enclosed restaurant, as well as Lines in Athens, Greece, a bar specializing in wines made from locally sourced fruits and a no-waste ethos. Online: theworlds50best.com/bars/list/1-50
Street foods: European Street Foods is a competition organized by Food Mutiny, a team of professionals promoting street food traders as the new rock stars in the world of dining. Following national street food events held across Europe and a grand finale, 2025’s victors included Jaybees, food trucks from Switzerland that serve up vegetarian specialties; Toni’s Eatery from Oeringen, Germany, known for its burgers, and MIKI from Slovakia, where tacos are served topped with ingredients favored by local palates. Online: europeanstreetfood.com/2025-awards
Hostels: The booking platform Hostelworld.com is the force behind the HOSCARs, (Hostelworld Customer Annual Ratings) annual awards for the best hostels based on millions of customer reviews and ratings. Hoscar winners are announced across a range of categories including those best for solo travelers, those with the best social scene and best chains. Amongst Europe’s top picks are Hostel Ruthensteiner in Vienna, Austria, loved for its garden, prime downtown location and helpful staff. The Monk’s Bunk Hostel & Bar in Tallinn, Estonia was voted the country’s best due to its nightly social activities, central location and comfy beds. Zeus is Loose in Thessaloniki, Greece came out tops for its cleanliness and rooftop bar offering spectacular views. Online: global.hostelworld.com/hoscars
Camping areas: Each year, the booking website camping.info compiles a list of the 110 Best Campsites in Europe. The top three finishers in 2025 include Campingpark Kühlungsborn, along northern Germany’s Baltic seacoast, a big hit with cyclists in particular. Luxury Camping Schlosshof in Lana, Italy, is popular with hikers, who laud its roomy pitches, pools and on-site restaurant. Camping Sonnenland Lutzmannsburg in Austria is a favorite of parents with young children, who can’t get enough of its bouncy castles and petting zoo. Online: camping.info/en/topic/award
Amusement parks: The trade publication Amusement Today reports on the latest news and trends for amusement parks, water parks and other such attractions. Its Golden Ticket Awards highlight the most highly rated attractions across several categories. The 2025 winners include Europa-Park in Rust, Germany, named Best Amusement Park in all the world for the tenth time running. Best Water Ride goes to Chiapas in Bruehl, Germany’s Phantasialand, which stands out for its fun Mexican theme and 53° drop, the steepest descent of any water ride in the world. Danse Macabre, a haunted-house dark ride located at Efteling in the Netherlands, was named the year’s best New Family Attraction. Online: goldenticketawards.com/2025-gta-winners
Hotels and cities: The Travel + Leisure magazine and website calls upon its readers to choose the destinations, operators and hotels that have turned trips into lifelong memories, and their favorites wind up on the publication’s annual World’s Best Awards. Readers’ European top hotel pick is the Royal Champagne Hotel and Spa in Champillon, France, an establishment featuring a Michelin-starred restaurant, a champagne cellar with 20,000 bottles and rooms with sweeping views across the vineyards. The readers’ best-loved European cities in 2025 include Florence, Italy (architecture and food); Seville, Spain (art, parks and piazzas); and Granada, Spain (the nearby Alhambra and quaint city streets). Online: travelandleisure.com/worlds-best-awards-2025-11744233
Beaches and tours: Tripadvisor, the world’s largest platform for travel guidance, also calls upon its users’ collective knowledge to come up with its annual Traveler’s Choice Awards. Beaches are always a hot topic on the site, and Europe’s not short of them. Coming in at No. 1 is Elafonissi Beach, on the Greek island of Crete, dazzling with its pink sands and turquoise waters; followed by Praia da Falésia in Olhos de Agua, Portugal, with its golden sands and dramatic cliffs. Site users also rate Things to Do; the top pick in this category is a walking tour titled “Renaissance & Medici Tales – guided by a Storyteller.” The experience offered in Florence, Italy, weaves historical anecdotes with superb sightseeing. Online: tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice