There's something decidedly magical about Istanbul's soft light. There the sun seems to float in a completely different way, forever shining in a golden glow. Perhaps that's part of the reason why more than 20 million people will fly to Turkey's ancient capital in 2023.
Istanbul becomes the world's most visited city in 2023
Or maybe it's because of tourist attractions such as Hagia Sophia. Alternatively, consider shopping at the Grand Bazaar or staying at the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul in Sultanahmet, voted the world's best hotel. travel + leisure Selected by readers for the 2023 World's Best Awards. Of course, some people eat baklava.
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Whatever the reason, people really seem to be flocking to Istanbul. And more than 20 million arrivals made the city the number one city in terms of international arrivals on the planet in 2023, according to Euromonitor International's Top 100 World Urban Destinations report.
“International travel continues its strong recovery in 2023, with the number of trips expected to increase by 38% and reach 1.3 billion by the end of the year,” the report's findings said. “Istanbul ranked first in the number of international arrivals in 2023, with an increase of 26% year-on-year.”
In terms of international arrivals, Istanbul was second followed by London (up 17%) and Dubai (up 18%). Rounding out the top five is the seaside Turkish city of Antalya, followed by Paris in fifth place.
The report noted that a significant portion of the recovery in international travel in 2023 could be due to a recovery in Chinese overseas travel after China's quarantine measures are lifted. Instead, Hong Kong saw a strong recovery in international arrivals, recording a 2,495 percent increase in 2023.
And 2024 could be the busiest year ever for travel to Istanbul and the country as a whole. In January, Turkey eased visa requirements for North Americans (including Canadians and Americans), allowing them to travel visa-free for up to 90 days.
“Americans vacationing in Turkiye no longer need a visa to visit what has become one of America's favorite international travel destinations,” Go Turkiye previously said. . T+L. “2023 was the best year ever for American tourists to Turkiye, and 2024 is expected to increase even more with the lifting of visa requirements.”
The only downside is that you may have to book all the must-see spots even earlier or wait in long lines. But again, that's okay. You can also stop by the cafe and get a second helping of baklava.
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(Feature image credit: Alexander Spatari/Getty Images)
This article first appeared on travelandleisure.com.
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