UN highlights Portuguese villages. Óbidos and Santa Cruz da Graciosa among the 55 best in the world to visit in 2024
In the middle of fall, many people choose tourist destinations for their last getaways of the year. At this time of year, when golden and reddish tones reign, the favorite trip clearly resonates with medieval towns that are in touch with nature.
The World Tourism Organization has published its new list of the ‘Best Tourist Villages 2024’, which includes two destinations in Portugal: the town of Óbidos and Santa Cruz da Graciosa, in the Azores. In Spain, there are two ‘pueblos’ – Aínsa, in Huesca, and Mura, in Barcelona – that you should visit if you have the chance.
Since the organization started making this list (in 2021) to promote more sustainable natural tourism, new destinations have been added every year: this initiative promoted by UN Tourism aims to distinguish the best rural destinations worldwide. These are territories that stand out for being destinations of excellence, and where tourism is decisive as an economic and social catalyst for the sustainable development of the territory in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Valid for three years, the Best Tourism Village label, in addition to enhancing rural areas and their communities, aims to give visibility to regions, increasing their tourism potential, while involving them in a platform for sharing good practices and experiences at an international level.
You can see the full list of the Best Tourist Villages 2024 in alphabetical order below:
Abo Noghta and historic Tabab Castles, Saudi Arabia
Abu Ghosoun, Egypt
Aínsa, Spain
Amagi, Japan
Anogeia, Greece
Asheke, China
Bo Suak, Thailand
Capulálpam de Méndez, Mexico
Caviahue-Copahue, Argentina
Cuatro Ciénegas de Carranza, Mexico
El Tambo, Ecuador
Anton Valley, Panama
Esfahak, Islamic Republic of Iran
Gaiman, Argentina
Gharb Suhayl, Egypt
Grand Baie, Mauritius
Guanyang, China
Huancaya, Peru
Jardim, Colombia
Jatiluwih, Indonesia
Kalopanagiotis, Cyprus
Leymebamba, Peru
Mindo, Ecuador
Mura, Spain
Nishikawa, Japan
Óbidos, Portugal
Ormana, Turkey
Palizada, Mexico
Pissouri, Cyprus
Portobelo, Panama
Maras City, Peru
Quinua, Peru
Ralcó, Chile
Roches Noires, Mauritius
Romoos, Switzerland
Ruboni, Uganda
San Casciano dei Bagni, Italy
San Juan del Obispo, Guatemala
San Rafael de la Laguna, Ecuador
Santa Cruz da Graciosa, Portugal
Shibadong, China
Sibayo, Peru
Splügen, Switzerland
Johann in Tyrol, Austria
Taoping, China
Tra Que Vegetable Village, Vietnam
Trevelín, Argentina
Uaxactún, Guatemala
Urych, Ukraine
Villa Tulumba, Argentina
Vorokhta, Ukraine
Wukirsari, Indonesia
Xiaogang, China
Xi’tou, China
Yandunjiao, China