Two Croatian destinations named among Europe’s 20 best for 2026

Two Croatian places have been named among the 20 best cities in Europe for 2026 by leading travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler.

Dubrovnik ranked 15th and Rovinj 17th in the magazine’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, which this year attracted votes from more than 200,000 readers.

The ranking evaluates cities based on travellers’ experiences across categories including food, shopping and hotels.

Dubrovnik was recognised for its exceptionally well-preserved historic centre, famous city walls and views over the Adriatic, as well as its expanding choice of hotels and restaurants.

Rovinj, meanwhile, was highlighted for its distinctive old-town skyline, narrow stone streets, restaurants and galleries.

The Istrian coastal town was noted as an appealing choice for travellers looking to combine a traditional city break with time by the sea and a slower pace.

At the top of this year’s European ranking was Paris, followed by Istanbul and last year’s winner, Valletta.

The full list of the best cities in Europe 2026

1. Paris, France – 97.14

2. Istanbul, Turkey – 95.96

3. Valletta, Malta – 95.76

4. Amsterdam, Netherlands – 94.44

5. Stockholm, Sweden – 94.17

6. Madrid, Spain – 93.97

7. Porto, Portugal – 92.78

8. Vienna, Austria – 91.70

9. Lisbon, Portugal – 91.70

10. Monte Carlo, Monaco – 90.05

11. Rome, Italy – 89.78

12. Salzburg, Austria – 87.78

13. Zurich, Switzerland – 87.56

14. Cork, Ireland – 87.41

15. Dubrovnik, Croatia – 87.24

16. Reykjavík, Iceland – 86.67

17. Rovinj, Croatia – 86.29

18. Helsinki, Finland – 85.67

19. Genoa, Italy – 85.39

20. Krakow, Poland – 85.13

The Readers’ Choice Awards are based on the experiences and ratings of Condé Nast Traveler readers.