Štajerska, the renowned wine region in northeastern Slovenia, has been voted Europe’s third most desirable destination to visit this year, behind Madrid and Nicosia, according to European Best Destinations. The platform described the region as a place where landscapes, culture, gastronomy and wine combine into a refined yet authentic experience.
The ranking was based on a two-stage selection process that reviewed more than 480 destinations before shortlisting 20 finalists, with over 1.3 million registered voters determining the final results. Regional officials noted that Štajerska ranked ahead of globally recognised destinations such as Verona, Paris, Madeira and Lisbon, boosting its international visibility and competitiveness. The regional capital Maribor was also named Best Wine Capital in Europe for this year by the same platform.
