As a travel site, we love looking at the data to see what travel destinations are most popular and why. It wasn’t a surprise when France was declared the most-visited country in 2023, and no one batted an eye when it was announced that the Grand Canyon is the most-visited national wonder in the entire world. But sometimes, the data surprises even us.
You might already be aware that Turkey is one of the most visited countries in the world. But would you be nonplussed to find out that Istanbul, Turkey, is the most popular international travel destination? In 2023, Istanbul received more international arrivals than any other country, proving that it’s the top destination in the world. Is it surprising, or is there more to the story that explains why Istanbul is truly an international hot spot?
International Travelers Love Istanbul: The Most-Visited City Beckons
Istanbul is one of the biggest cities in Europe, which explains why it’s such a hot destination for international travelers. It’s the biggest city in the country of Turkey and has a massive population of 15.66 million people.
- What language do people speak in Istanbul? Turkish (and English)
- How many people live in Istanbul? 15.66 million
But if you thought around 16 million was a lot of people, consider this: over 20 million people visited Istanbul in 2023 — 26% more visitors than the city received in 2022. Istanbul’s arrivals outpaced every other big city in the world, including London, Dubai, Paris, and NYC.
|
City, Country |
2023 Arrivals |
|---|---|
|
Istanbul, Turkey |
20.2 million |
|
London, UK |
18.8 million |
|
Dubai, UAE |
16.8 million |
|
Antalya, Turkey |
16.5 million |
|
Paris, France |
15.5 million |
Interestingly, the fourth most-visited city is also in Turkey; Antalya received 16.5 million visitors in 2023, a 29% jump from 2022.
Why do so many people travel to Istanbul?
The simple answer for why so many people travel to Istanbul (and Antalya) is that there are a ton of things to do and see. Not only that, but many people in Turkey speak English in addition to Turkish, making the country a friendly destination for Americans who only speak one language.
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Who travels to Istanbul, Turkey?
Euromonitor provided data to show that Istanbul was the most-visited city in 2023, but who exactly are the 20.2 million travelers that flocked there? Most of the tourists to Istanbul come from other European countries, as it turns out.
|
Origin |
2021 arrivals |
|---|---|
|
Russia |
6.3 million |
|
Germany |
6.2 million |
|
United Kingdom |
3.8 million |
Americans weren’t too far behind, however; Hurriyet Daily News stated that in 2021, Turkey received over 370,000 visitors from the US. That figure grew to 1 million in 2022, and again to 1.33 million in 2023.
Why Visit Turkey? Here’s What To Know About Travel & Tourism To Istanbul
Varda Railway Bridge in Adana, Turkey
Turkey is home to plenty of attractions for every type of traveler. You can visit the site of one of the oldest ancient civilizations there, and more or less travel back in time at historical sites. If history isn’t your thing (some folks get tired of seeing ancient ruins, to be fair), it’s also an option to travel over to stunning Greek islands.
“Step into Istanbul, where history and the future intertwine, ancient legends meet contemporary dreams.” — Visit Istanbul
All that said, Istanbul itself is a bucket-list destination thanks to history, culture, shopping, and snappy transportation that gets you there quickly to see it all. But the fact that Turkey is so well-connected — it shares a border with eight countries — also means travel is easier than in many other places (like the US).
- The most-visited tourist destination in Istanbul is said to be the Hagia Sophia, which was once the largest cathedral in the world.
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Daily trains run internationally from Turkey to surrounding destinations like Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece, if you decide that the oversaturated city of Istanbul is getting to be too much. Of course, Turkey’s population density isn’t too terribly high; 294 people per square mile isn’t the worst.
Even though there are many millions of residents and travelers in Istanbul on a given day, it might not be as claustrophobic as you may imagine.
As of July 2023, the U.S. Department of State recommends that travelers
exercise increased caution
when traveling to Turkey; terrorism and “arbitrary detentions” are two noted risks.
References: Worldometer, Euromonitor, Hurriyet Daily News, U.S. Department of State, Visit Turkey
