In an article published online September 30 and featured in its November 2026 issue, National Geographic Traveller (UK) named Morocco its Editors’ Pick, an award chosen by the magazine’s editorial team alongside the reader-voted awards. Morocco edged out Japan, which also ranked second in the Readers’ Choice category, while Sri Lanka rounded out the three finalists.
A record number of visitors
The magazine notes that Morocco welcomed a record number of international visitors in 2025, approaching 20 million. That popularity was reflected in the editorial vote, with Morocco receiving more votes than almost all of its competitors.
The travel climate also worked in Morocco’s favor. British readers, the magazine notes, favored familiar and relatively close destinations this year, as the travel industry faced pressure from tighter household budgets, political instability and conflicts in the Middle East. Morocco fits that profile: according to the magazine, a flight of less than four hours from the UK can take travelers to a destination that feels worlds away.
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Marrakech as the gateway to Morocco
To describe the first impression of Jemaa el-Fna, National Geographic Traveller found a phrase that captures the experience as something between a slap and a warm embrace. With its stalls, crowds and constant bustle, Marrakech’s famous square remains an iconic gateway to Morocco and a major draw for travelers.
The magazine also stresses that Morocco is about more than its medinas, highlighting the range of experiences on offer: sleeping under the stars at a desert camp, surfing the laid-back beaches of Taghazout and Tamraght, or hiking through the ochre landscapes of the Atlas Mountains. Few countries, the authors argue, offer such a wide range of experiences within just a few hours of Europe.
A ranking that reflects the year in travel
The award is part of a broader list dominated by Italy, which won the Readers’ Choice award and was also named the top food destination, receiving nearly three times as many votes as its closest rival. Japan and New Zealand completed the Readers’ Choice top three.
Other winners included Rome for a city break during the Jubilee, Cornwall for a UK getaway, France for family travel, South Africa for wildlife, Costa Rica for responsible and adventure travel, Iceland for winter travel and the Norwegian fjords for cruising.
At a time when familiar destinations and shorter trips have gained ground, Morocco stands out as one of the few places that combines a strong sense of escape with easy access. That may be the key to its appeal: offering travelers a taste of somewhere far away without the demands of a long-haul journey.
