Istanbul was the city with the most international arrivals in 2023.
Istanbul, Turkey was the No. 1 city for international arrivals in 2023. The city saw a whopping 20.2 million visitors in 2023 — a 26% growth from 2022 to 2023 — according to the report.
The historical center of Istanbul is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to several buildings and structures, such as the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Walls of Constantinople, and more.
Top 10 cities for international travelers 2023
- Istanbul, Turkey
- London, U.K.
- Dubai, UAE
- Antalya, Turkey
- Paris, France
- Hong Kong
- Bangkok, Thailand
- New York, U.S.
- Cancún, Mexico
- Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Two of the world’s four most-visited cities are in Turkey. With the recent lift of visa requirements, the country is likely to welcome even more tourists in 2024.
Antalya managed to welcome 16.5 million international visitors – more than Paris.
Antalya has long been a popular travel destination for Germans, Russians and Brits – who make up the large majority of its international arrivals. Its turquoise waters, its mild winters, sizzling summers and 300 days of sunshine have historically led it to be a beach destination, but its dramatic setting atop a limestone plateau facing Roman walls and Ottoman-era homes led Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, to once proclaim, “There is no doubt that Antalya is the most beautiful place in the world.”
