Travellers vote Istanbul number one city in the world

The "awe-inspiring" Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) in Istanbul

NEWS/GLOBAL

Holidaymakers have voted Istanbul the world’s top destination. Popular global travel site TripAdvisor announced the winners of their annual Travellers' Choice Destinations on Tuesday. Istanbul beat off stiff competition from last year’s number one city Paris, which this year dropped to seventh place despite the French capital recording record tourist figures for 2013.

Istanbul, a newcomer to the top 10 list, shot its way to the top spot following millions of positive reviews and opinions posted by TripAdvisor travellers. The city’s unique Europea-Asia location, coupled with historic sites such as “the awe-inspiring Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque)” and Grand Bazaar, and its contemporary culture formed around restaurants, shopping and nightlife, has helped the city score better than a host of other rivals including: Rome (2^nd best destination), London (3^rd), Berlin (11^th), New York (12^th), Barcelona (15^th) and Dubai (17^th). 

TripAdvisor – the largest travel website in the world – used an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for hotels, attractions and restaurants in destinations worldwide, gathered over a 12-month period. Along with recognising the best cities to visit in the world, the American-based company’s sixth annual Travelers' Choice™ awards also announced the most popular places in Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, Europe, China, Middle East, Russia, South America, the South Pacific, the U.K. and the U.S. In total some 500 destinations found themselves honoured.

World's Top 25 Destinations

1. Istanbul, Turkey (+11)

2. Rome, Italy (+2)

3. London, UK (0)

4. Beijing, China (+17)

5. Prague, Czech Republic (+4)

6. Marrakech, Morocco (+13)

7. Paris, France (-6)

8. Hanoi, Vietnam (New)

9. Siem Reap, Cambodia (+14)

10. Shanghai, China (+12)

11. Berlin, Germany (0)

12. New York City, New York (-10)

13. Florence, Italy (-5)

14. Buenos Aires, Argentina (+4)

15. Barcelona, Spain (-10)

16. St. Petersburg, Russia (+4)

17. Dubai, United Arab Emirates (New)

18. Chicago, Illinois (-4)

19. Cape Town, South Africa (-3)

20. Bangkok, Thailand (-7)

21. Budapest, Hungary (New)

22. Sydney, Australia (-12)

23. Lisbon, Portugal (New)

24. Chiang Mai, Thailand (0)

25. San Francisco, California (-18)