Tourism website crowns Istanbul the world’s top destination

ISTANBUL

The Blue Mosque in Istanbul.

Istanbul has topped popular travel review site TripAdvisor’s list of the best spots to visit in the world this year, announced in the sixth annual Travelers’ Choice awards on April 8. 

“I think what really appeals to people about Istanbul is this great combination of wonderful culture and amazingly beautiful architecture there and great shopping. And if you’re a U.S. traveler, the exchange rate is pretty good,” said Brooke Ferencsik, director of communications at TripAdvisor.

Rome and London rank second and third on the list. Six of this year’s top 25 global destinations are in Asia, with several Asian cities climbing 10 or more spots from their rankings last year. The United States, on the other hand, disappeared from the top 10, as New York and San Francisco aren’t featured at all in this year’s list.

Travelers’ Choice award-winning destinations are determined using an algorithm that takes into account the quality and quantity of reviews from TripAdvisor users. In addition to the top spots globally, there are also lists for a selection of countries, continents and regions.

Click below to see the top global destinations in the gallery.