Istanbul is the most visited city in the world, after attracting 20.2 million international visitors in 2023, according to a ranking by Euromonitor International. This is an increase of 26% compared to the previous year 2022.
The historic center of Istanbul is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. According to National Geographic, the best time to visit Istanbul is in spring or autumn.
In second place is London with 18.8 million international visitors in 2023. The British capital recorded a 17% growth in visits on an annual basis. The ranking emphasizes that London has the best tourism infrastructure in the world. Several companies, including Park Hyatt, Oberoi and Mandarin Oriental, are planning to open new hotels in the city.
New York is the only US destination to make the top 10 in the ranking. About 11 million visits were registered in the city, which represents a 24% increase compared to 2022.
“International travel continues to recover, with 38% growth in the number of trips expected to reach 1.3 billion by the end of the year in 2023”, says the study. “Consumers are expected to look for bargain travel deals. This, in turn, will drive consumer demand for intra-regional travel. Travelers will continue to favor authentic and local experiences in addition to sustainable tourism alternatives”, adds the study.
