Istanbul named Europe's most desirable city at 2025 travel awards

Istanbul has claimed the title of Europe's "Most Desirable City" at the prestigious 2025 Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards, receiving the Gold Award during a ceremony at London's National Gallery. The Turkish metropolis advanced from its Silver award position in 2024, with the UK-based travel magazine highlighting its "East-meets-West magnetism" that captivated international travelers.

Reader Impressions and Editorial Praise

Wanderlust's editorial team noted that readers particularly celebrated Istanbul's breathtaking Bosphorus crossings at sunset, its diverse culinary heritage blending centuries of influences, and the unique experience of wandering between ancient churches, mosques, and contemporary art galleries. Editor-in-Chief George Kipouros remarked that readers consistently describe Istanbul as "a city that still surprises them every time," praising its ability to "comfortably live between worlds" with "history in its stones but also imagination in its future."

Tourism Growth and Sustainability Leadership

The recognition comes during an exceptional year for Turkish tourism, with Istanbul Airport recently earning the title of world's Best Airport for Food in Condé Nast Traveller's 2025 Readers' Choice Awards. According to the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency, the country welcomed 50 million international visitors in the first nine months of 2025, representing a 1.6% increase from 2024. Türkiye now leads globally in sustainable tourism, hosting over 2,000 GSTC-certified hotels that account for more than 80% of all such certified properties worldwide.

Award Significance and Competition

Now in their 24th year, the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards represent one of the travel industry's most respected honors, with this year's edition attracting 4.8 million votes from over 200,000 readers across 22 categories. In the European city competition, Dubrovnik, Croatia secured the silver award while Madrid, Spain earned bronze, placing Istanbul at the forefront of European urban destinations for 2025.