Crisp cold wine and bubbling hot springs: Why you should visit Europe’s best villages for 2025

19.11.2024 - 02:59 / euronews.com / Zurab Pololikashvili / Rebecca Ann Hughes

This year has seen destinations from Venice to Amsterdam bring in rigorous new rules like daytripper taxes and Airbnb bans to tackle growing problems with overtourism.

Often, the visitor experience in these hotspots is stressful and frustrating, while local residents suffer from overwhelmed services which results in a growing discontent with tourists.

To encourage sustainable travel - where visitors are part of the solution, rather than the problem - UN Tourism has been releasing an annual list of Best Tourism Villages since 2021. 

These lesser-trod destinations tempt tourists off the beaten track to places where tourism helps to preserve cultures and traditions, celebrate diversity, provide opportunities and protect biodiversity.

“Tourism is a vital tool for inclusion, empowering rural communities to protect and value their rich cultural heritage while driving sustainable development,” says UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. 

“The Best Tourism Villages initiative not only recognises the remarkable achievements of these villages but also highlights the transformative power of tourism.”

Globally, 55 villages - 14 of them in Europe - received the award this year. Here’s where to find winemaking, wellness and walking in Europe’s villages.

Located at an altitude of 659 meters in the majestic Kitzbühel Alps, St Johann in Tirol is a vibrant market town. 

It has a long history dating back to the 6th and 7th centuries when Bavarians first settled the valley. Since then, St Johann has developed into a community of 9,885 residents. 

The town is named after its church dedicated to St John the Baptist, built by missionaries in the 8th century. 

Today, it offers an array of year-round activities, from winter sports on pristine pistes to summer hiking and mountain biking. 

Tourism in St Johann is pivotal in creating jobs and supporting local businesses, which is essential for the development of the rural economy. 

To enhance mobility for locals and tourists, St Johann has implemented a cutting-edge digital traffic guidance system. Using GPS technology, the system optimises traffic flow and provides real-time information about traffic conditions.

Kalopanayiotis in Cyprus is situated at an elevation of 700 metres in the lush Marathasa valley on the steep banks of the Setrachos River. 

Marathasa, part of the Troodos UNESCO Geopark, is home to a diverse ecosystem of forests, springs and natural vegetation interspersed with small agricultural plots of deciduous trees and vineyards. 

Kalopanayiotis is characterised by traditional architecture, narrow cobblestone streets and scenic views of the river and tranquil valley landscape. With mild winters and cool summers, it offers year-round opportunities for tourism focused