İstanbul Crowned Most Desirable City in Europe at the 2025 Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards

İstanbul has been named “Most Desirable City (Europe)” at the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards 2025, taking home the prestigious Gold Award at a ceremony held yesterday evening at London’s National Gallery.

Now in its 24th year, the annual awards are among the most respected accolades in the global travel industry, celebrating destinations, tour operators and airlines that inspire Wanderlust’s readers around the world. This year’s awards, hosted by British broadcaster and adventurer Simon Reeve, attracted engagement from over 200,000 readers who collectively cast 4.8 million votes across 22 categories.

İstanbul’s win marks a significant moment for the Turkish cultural capital, which earned the Silver Award in 2024, and has now secured the top spot in 2025. Readers praised the city’s unique fusion of history and modernity, from its skyline of domes and minarets to its thriving contemporary art, design and dining scenes.

The recognition underscores İstanbul’s enduring appeal as one of Europe’s most dynamic and culturally rich destinations. The city’s ancient landmarks such as Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque sit alongside new creative districts and galleries, reflecting its evolving spirit.

İstanbul’s recognition comes amid an exceptional year for the city. The metropolis also earned global acclaim beyond Wanderlust, with İstanbul Airport named the world’s Best Airport for Food in Condé Nast Traveller’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, and İstanbul ranked among the top five European city breaks of the year by Which?

Türkiye hosted 50 million international visitors in the first nine months of 2025, marking a 1.6% year-on-year increase from 2024. Reflecting its growing reputation as a sustainable destination, Türkiye now leads the world in eco-certified accommodation. More than 2,000 hotels across the country are GSTC-certified, accounting for over 80% of all such properties worldwide.

This Gold award for İstanbul reaffirms its position as Europe’s most captivating city, where the meeting of continents continues to attract and inspire visitors year after year.