The Travelers' Choice Award by TripAdvisor has recently named Istanbul as the second best hotspot in 2016. Jumping five spots from the previous year, London ranks first on the list.
The city's highlighted venues including the Tate Modern, the Royal Opera House, Harrods and Abbey Road, are mentioned as attractions that distinguish the English capital as a favorite ahead of Istanbul, which came in third last year. "The mosques, bazaars, and Turkish baths of Istanbul could keep you happily occupied for your entire trip: an eyeful of breathtaking architecture here, a good-natured haggle over a carpet there. Kick your trip off at the awe-inspiring Blue Mosque, which is visible from many points across the city. Stroll across the Galata Bridge and stop by the Miniatürk Park to see its tiny artifacts. The Grand Bazaar has thousands of shops to explore, while the Egyptian Bazaar is a fragrant trove of spices and fruits," Tripadvisor suggests to travelers heading to Istanbul.
The top 10 list includes, in order of importance: Marrakesh, Paris, Siem Reap, Prague, Rome, Hanoi, New York and Ubud. The "Red City" of Marrakesh, Morocco's most popular holiday destination, topped rankings last year. Siem Reap, Cambodia's second-largest city, also fell three slots compared to last year's results. "The Travelers' Choice Destination" awards recognize the world's most beloved travel spots based on feedback and booking interests from the TripAdvisor community," said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. Award winners were determined using an algorithm that took into account the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants and attractions available in destinations worldwide were gathered over a 12-month period, as well as traveler booking interests on TripAdvisor.
