Riga Crowned Europe's Top Christmas Destination for 2024 in Landmark Vote
Riga has been named Europe's best Christmas destination for 2024. The Latvian capital topped a major public vote, beating well-known cities like Vienna, Paris and Edinburgh. This is the first time Riga has reached the top three in the European Best Destinations competition.
Over 803,000 travellers from 179 countries took part in the online vote. Riga secured first place with 72,804 votes, more than any other city. The win comes after Riga was awarded 'Best Christmas Lights in Europe' for the third year in a row.
The competition saw Riga outperform traditional favourites such as Madrid and Edinburgh. While the city has gained recognition for its festive displays, no recent figures are available on how tourism numbers or revenue have changed since its previous awards.
Riga's victory highlights its growing reputation as a winter travel hotspot. The city will now feature prominently in European Christmas tourism promotions. Officials have not yet released data on how the award might affect visitor numbers or local businesses.
