The winners were announced during the Award ceremony that took place in the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2025, Sibiu, Romania, on 2 October 2025.
The ‘Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism’ Awards aim to enhance the visibility of European cultural tourism destinations, provide a platform for sharing experiences and knowledge and foster networking among destinations. For the eighth consecutive year, the European Travel Commission (ETC), the European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN), Europa Nostra, and the Network of European Regions for Competitive and Sustainable Tourism (NECSTouR) have jointly organised these awards to promote best practices in sustainable cultural tourism.
This year’s edition, focusing on “Visitor Experiences and Authenticity for Sustainable, Smart and Resilient Cultural Tourism Destinations”, is supported by Iter Vitis Cultural route of the Council of Europe, Europeana and Sibiu County Tourism Association. The Awards contest was open to tourist destinations across Europe, to showcase their achievements and contributions in sustainable cultural tourism across five categories.
The winners and runners-up were selected by an expert jury (composed of representatives of ETC, ECTN, Europa Nostra, Sibiu County Tourism Association, Iter Vitis Cultural Route of the Council of Europe and INSPIRES SMP Project coordination), out of 48 applications received from 14 countries.
The winners were revealed at an Awards ceremony held in Sibiu, a vibrant and historic city known for its rich cultural heritage.
See the full list of winners below.
Jury vote – winners per category:
Resilience in Sustainable Cultural Tourism Destinations
-
1st prize:
Transylvanian Highlands – Responsible Tourism in the Saxon Cultural Landscape: A Path to Community Resilience
by Asociația Colinele Transilvaniei, Romania
-
2nd prize:
DescOpera Festival: A Model of Sustainable Cultural Tourism in Moldova
by The National Inbound and Domestic Tourism Association of Moldova (ANTRIM), Moldova
-
3rd prize:
by Public Institute of Krka National Park, Croatia
Wine and Gastronomy Tourism based on eno-culinary heritage preservation
-
1st prize:
Tasty Tartu – a Month Full of Flavours, invigorating the Low Season
by Visit Tartu / Tartu County Tourism Foundation, Estonia
-
2nd prize:
Tiramisù World Cup
by Tiramisù Academy APS, Treviso, Region of Veneto, Italy
-
3rd prize:
Vrsar amareti – a traditional hazelnut delicacy inspired by local heritage
by Vrsar Tourist Board, Croatia
-
Special prize:
Vipava Valley Wine Train – The amazing way to taste the Paradise Valley
by Javni zavod za turizem Nova Gorica in Vipavska dolina (Tourism Board), Slovenia
Digitalisation in Smart Tourism, Cultural Heritage and Creativity aspects, enhancing visitor experiences
-
1st prize:
Time travel was once the stuff of science fiction
by Associação Rota Histórica das Linhas de Torres – Historical Route of the Lines of Torres Vedras Association, Portugal
-
2nd prize:
Biertan Audio Quest
By Designers, Thinkers, Makers Association, Biertan, Sibiu, Romania
-
3rd prize:
Digitally Preserving the Past: Resilient Heritage Experiences in Sibiu for a Smart Tourism Future
by City Hall of Sibiu, Romania
Transnational Thematic Tourism products involving Culture and Heritage
-
1st prize:
European Route of Historic Gardens – A Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
by European Route of Historic Gardens (ERHG) non-profit association based in Catalonia, Spain, with member gardens in Belgium, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Ukraine
-
2nd prize:
The People’s Portal Dublin, connecting people and cultures above borders
By Dublin City Council Culture Company, Ireland
-
3rd prize:
Via Dinarica: Green Trail above borders, South-West Serbia and Central and East Bosnia and Herzegovina
by Regional Development Agency “Zlatibor” Uzice, Serbia
Cultural Tourism Services for All, Visitors and Residents Alike
-
1st prize:
Living Heritage for All: Revitalizing Rural Museums through Inclusive, Authentic, and Sustainable Cultural Tourism in the Laona Plateau
By Kathikas, Ineia, Droushia, and Arodes Synergy, Pafos region, Cyprus
-
2nd prize:
Via Transilvanica: The Road That Unites
by Tasuleasa Social Association, Romania
-
3rd prize:
LUV FEST, winter festival of love, art, and wanderings in Ljubljana
by Ljubljana Tourism, Slovenia
About European Travel Commission
Established in 1948, the European Travel Commission is a unique association in the travel sector, representing the National Tourism Organisations of the countries of Europe. Its mission is to strengthen the sustainable development of Europe as a tourist destination. In the last several decades, ETC has positioned itself at the forefront of the European tourism scene, establishing its expertise and building up partnerships in areas of tourism, based on promotion, market intelligence and best practice sharing.
