November the 7th, 2026 – Wanderlust readers have once again crowned Dubrovnik as the second most desirable European city to visit.
The City of Dubrovnik has once again confirmed its position as one of the most desirable European tourist destinations by winning the Silver Award in the Most Desirable City in Europe category. Dubrovacki Dnevnik reports that the city took home the award at the prestigious Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards 2026, which was held on the 4th of November in London. This recognition continues a series of international successes for Dubrovnik, which in recent years has regularly ranked among the best European city destinations according to readers of the respected British travel magazine Wanderlust.
The awards ceremony was held in the impressive Painted Hall, located in the historic Old Royal Naval College complex in London’s Greenwich. The Silver Award was accepted on behalf of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board by its director Miro Drašković. In this year’s selection Dubrovnik competed against some of the best-known European city destinations, including Copenhagen, Madrid, Lisbon, Istanbul, Bordeaux, Genoa and Tbilisi. This success confirms Dubrovnik’s international recognisability, its rich cultural and historical heritage, unique architecture and exceptional tourist appeal.
Wanderlust is otherwise one of the oldest and most respected British travel magazines, which for more than three decades has been promoting authentic travel, the discovery of new destinations and responsible and sustainable tourism. Its annual Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards, which this year mark their 25th edition, rank among the significant recognition in the international tourism industry. Special value is given to the awards by the fact that the winners are decided by the readers and travel lovers themselves.
Croatian islands were declared the Most Desirable Region in Europe. This recognition for the Croatian National Tourist Board, together with the silver award for Dubrovnik and the Dubrovnik Tourist Board, additionally confirms the strong position of Croatian destinations on the international tourism market.
Dubrovnik has in recent years been repeatedly awarded in Wanderlust’s selection, including winning the gold award in the Most Desirable European City category. At last year’s ceremony it also received a special recognition from Wanderlust editor-in-chief George Kipouros for outstanding achievements in sustainable tourism management. With that recognition Dubrovnik was highlighted as an example of responsible destination development, thanks to the City of Dubrovnik’s “Respect the City” project and measures for managing tourist flows, regulating cruise ship arrivals, and preserving cultural heritage and the quality of life of the local population.
The continuous recognitions from one of the most respected British travel magazines have special importance for Dubrovnik, especially given that the United Kingdom is one of its most important source tourism markets. They represent additional confirmation of Dubrovnik’s international recognisability as a destination that combines exceptional cultural and historical heritage, authentic experiences and a responsible approach to tourism development.
