Sofia Named Europe's Top City Destination for 2027
Translated & summarized from Hamal by baba
Sofia, Bulgaria, has been named Europe's top city destination for urban holidays in 2027 by European Best Destinations, ahead of Lisbon and Copenhagen. The city has seen a 50% rise in Israeli visitors in 2025, making them a key tourist group. Bulgaria has emphasized its safety for Israeli tourists since October 2023, increasing security at popular sites. The ranking considered history, culture, food, and nightlife.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Sofia, Bulgaria, was chosen as Europe's top city destination for urban holidays in 2027.
- The Bulgarian capital ranked ahead of Lisbon, Portugal, and Copenhagen, Denmark, in the European Best Destinations poll.
- Israeli tourism to Sofia increased by 50% in early 2025 compared to the previous year.
- Bulgaria has promoted itself as a safe destination for Israeli tourists since October 2023.
- The ranking involved 11,614 voters who selected from 64 pre-chosen cities.
- Lisbon, Copenhagen, Cannes, and Milan were among other highly ranked European cities.
Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, has been selected as the leading European city destination for urban holidays in 2027, according to a ranking by the travel website European Best Destinations. The Bulgarian capital surpassed Lisbon, Portugal, and Copenhagen, Denmark, which secured second and third place, respectively. The ranking aims to highlight destinations suitable for city breaks, combining history, culture, cuisine, nightlife, and leisure activities. Organizers reported that 11,614 people participated in the voting over 33 days, selecting up to three destinations from a list of 64 cities pre-selected by independent travel journalists.
For Israelis, this designation is particularly welcome. Since the security tensions and travel concerns that arose after October 7, 2023, Sofia has remained a popular destination for Israeli tourists. Data from the Sofia Municipality's Tourism Authority indicates a 50% increase in Israeli visitors between January and September 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, with Israelis being among the top five largest foreign tourist groups.
Bulgaria has actively sought to retain Israeli tourists amidst regional tensions. In January 2024, then-Bulgarian Tourism Minister Zarița Dinkova assured Israeli Tourism Minister Haim Katz that Bulgaria is a safe destination for Israeli travelers. In the weeks following the October 7th attacks, security was enhanced at sites in Sofia frequented by Israelis.
Lisbon was recognized for its picturesque neighborhoods, Portuguese cuisine, and scenic viewpoints. Its cultural attractions include the MAC/CCB Museum of Contemporary Art and traditional Fado music. Copenhagen ranked third, noted for its design, cycling culture, and neighborhood restaurants. Other top-ranked cities included Cannes, France; Basel, Switzerland; Bristol, UK; Leuven, Belgium; Milan, Italy; Calpe, Spain; and Verona, Italy.
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