After more than 3 million votes were cast by 168,000 passionate, globetrotting readers, the results for the 23rd Annual Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards are now in. Destinations, tour operators and travel brands have been recognised across 22 categories, including the Most Desirable Countries and Cities in Europe and around the world. Read on to discover if your favourites have been victorious…
GOLD AWARD
Most Desirable Island (World)
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has risen from last year’s eighth place to take Gold in one of the Awards’ most thrilling turnarounds. Known as the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, the nation’s history comes to life through spectacular monuments such as Sigiriya Rock, the cave temples of Dambulla and the ancient ruins of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. Elsewhere, its leopard-filled national parks and the jungle-fringed beaches of Tangalle and Trincomalee show off the island’s natural side. But, more recently, it’s the tea plantations and lush highlands of the centre that have caught the eye, with the fresh addition of the Pekoe Trail offering an exciting new way to explore Sri Lanka’s green heart.
Silver Taiwan
Bronze Puerto Rico
4. Tobago
5. Tasmania
6. Bermuda
7. Cuba
8. Barbados
9. Madagascar
10. Palawan
GOLD AWARD
Most Desirable Country (World)
Australia
For the third time in four years, readers have voted Australia the Most Desirable Country in the World. It is perhaps no coincidence that the same period has seen a steep rise in the availability of Aboriginal- and Torres Strait Islander-run cultural tours and experiences. These have opened up new ways to see this ancient land, from exploring the Indigenous roots of iconic cities such as Sydney to venturing into the red desert of the Northern Territory and its 65,000 years of culture. Travellers are also increasingly discovering Australia’s furthest corners for themselves, heading west to seek out the whale sharks, turtles and manta rays of Ningaloo Reef, or escaping to wildlife-filled Kangaroo Island or Tasmania, where you can encounter iconic critters roaming in their natural habitats.
Silver Canada
Bronze Japan
4. USA
5. New Zealand
6. Costa Rica
7. South Africa
8. Brazil
9. South Korea
10. Peru
GOLD AWARD
Most Desirable Country (Europe)
Italy
Italy, home to ancient treasures and renowned cuisine, has been named the Most Desirable Country in Europe by Wanderlust readers. While famed spots like Florence, Venice and the Amalfi Coast might draw the crowds, Italy’s real charm lies in its lesser-visited UNESCO-listed sites and towns. Cities like Bologna, with its historic university and famed pasta, and Trieste, with its Austro-Hungarian flair, show a different side to the country. Meanwhile, the south, home to Puglia’s distinctive trulli (dry stone huts) and Basilicata’s cave city of Matera, beckons those seeking out authentic charm; crowd-free Umbria rivals even Tuscany’s dazzling countryside and historic cities; and the north’s vineyards, lakes and mountains need little introduction. It really does have it all.
Silver Croatia
Bronze France
4. Spain
5. Greece
6. Germany
7. Türkiye
8. Austria
9. Iceland
10. Portugal