Which Italian destinations have travelers loved the most in the last year? The answer comes from the Tourism Oscars, the award that each year honors destinations with the best tourism performance. It is the Italy Digital Destination Award, conceived in 2015 by The Data Appeal Company, whose winners were announced at the TTG Travel Experience in Rimini.
The 2026 edition changes the rules. For the first time, alongside the satisfaction expressed in reviews, factors such as air connectivity, travel experiences, and the lodging offer also count. The analysis covers the period from September 2025 to August 2026, with data collected from 130 sources. Here are all the winners.
Most loved destination by visitors: Basilicata
The most coveted award goes to Basilicata, topping the list for traveler satisfaction. Matera also makes a contribution, appearing among emerging destinations with a +9.3% increase in reviews of accommodations. The podium is completed by Trentino-Alto Adige and Umbria.
Most connected destination: Rome
A result that comes as no surprise when you consider that Rome represents Italy’s main gateway. It accounts for 24.3% of direct air seats to the country and is connected to 291 airports. Milan and Venice follow. The lead isn’t about flights alone: the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon are the three most reviewed attractions in Italy.
Greatest growth in demand: Milan
Milan wins for the growth in spontaneous traveler interest, ahead of Rome and Venice. It holds 19.3% of the air seats and is connected to 289 airports. Alongside the capital, the Lombard capital confirms itself as the base from which to explore the rest of the country.
Coastal destination with the largest increase in tourism value: Tropea
Tropea is the seaside location that generated the most value through visitors’ spending. Reviews of its accommodations grew by 27.8%. The second and third places also remain in the south: the Egadi Islands and Lampedusa.
Best wine-and-food experience: Valtellina
When it comes to dining, the mountains win. Valtellina surpasses two heavyweight Italian wine regions: Valdichiana Senese with Montepulciano and the Langhe with Barolo. In the reviews, the enogastronomy experience tops the scores: 9.7 out of 10.
Emerging destination: Reggio Calabria
Reggio Calabria is the fastest-growing destination, with a +52.5% increase in accommodation reviews compared to two years earlier. In second place is Tirano (+51.5%), starting point of the Bernina Red Train. In third place is Bari (+33.6%).
Best offering of experiences: Trapani
Trapani stands out for offering the most varied and balanced array of experiences. Sports, culture, food, and nature share the online-bookable experiences almost equally. The podium is entirely Sicilian, with Enna and Messina.
Sustainable destination: Liguria
Liguria is the region that most effectively grows tourism without compromising the territory’s balance. Behind it are Valle d’Aosta and Trentino-Alto Adige, which climbs onto the podium for the second time in this edition.
Most widespread lodging offer: Abruzzo
In Abruzzo there is no need to target the most famous towns to find a place to stay: accommodations are spread out across the entire territory. They are followed by Marche and Piedmont.
Favorite emerging foreign destination for Italians: Bratislava
Finally, when traveling abroad, Italians are increasingly choosing the Slovak capital. Their reviews of Bratislava accommodations have more than doubled (+112.5%). They are followed by two Egyptian destinations: the Red Sea, with Hurghada and Marsa Alam, and the South Sinai, with Sharm el-Sheikh.
