‘This is Athens’ has received one of the most important awards in tourism on behalf of the city of Athens. The Greek capital was named Europe’s ‘leading city’ for a short break at the World Travel Awards 2024 in Berlin. Athens was chosen from a strong list of destinations: Amsterdam, Venice, Berlin, Geneva, Dublin, Copenhagen, Lisbon, London, Paris, Porto and Rome. The award highlights the long-term strategy and efforts of the city of Athens over the last decade to develop sustainable tourism through the management and promotion of the city as a competitive short-term vacation destination. Annual record In 2023, Athens saw an increase in the number of international visitors in each month and set a new annual record by welcoming more than 7 million visitors during the year. The statistics demonstrate the value of boosting Athens as a short-term break destination that can attract visitors in any season. ‘This is Athens’, the city’s official visitor’s guide, plays an important role in these efforts by raising awareness about the city’s 129 districts and the quality of life during the autumn, winter and spring months. The World Travel Awards ceremony took place in Berlin, where members of the ‘This is Athens’ team also participate in ITB Berlin, one of the leading tourism fairs in Europe, with a dedicated space in the Greece Pavilion. 
This is the second time Athens has been recognised as Europe’s leading city for a short break – the first win was in 2018. In addition to being recognized as the top destination for a short break in Europe, Athens was nominated in five other categories: Europe’s leading cultural city destination, meeting and conference destination, leading cruise destination, leading convention and visitors agency, and the Acropolis was nominated as the leading tourist attraction. The award was received on Wednesday, March 6, by the CEO of the Athens Development and Destination Management Agency (ADDMA), Ioannis Georgizas. Proud “We are proud of this important award that puts our city on the map of the best destinations for a short break in Europe. Athens is a vibrant and welcoming city that is always finding new reasons for weekend getaways. We have a rich cultural heritage and sunny days. Athens is full of museums, contemporary culture, gastronomy, and neighborhoods full of authentic experiences. Our work at ADDMA, the agency that manages “This is Athens”, is about improving the quality of tourism through our support for sustainable tourism, and ensuring that tourism boosts the quality of life of Athenians,” Georgizas said.
