Istanbul maintained its position as Türkiye’s primary gateway for foreign tourists in April 2026, recording roughly 1.47 million international arrivals during the month. This figure places the city ahead of other prominent Turkish destinations in terms of visitor numbers.
Comparison with Other Turkish Cities and National Tourism Overview
During the same period, Istanbul surpassed Antalya, Edirne, and Muğla in attracting foreign visitors, underscoring its continuing appeal as a key destination. Despite Istanbul’s strong performance, the country as a whole experienced a decrease in tourism, with nationwide foreign visitor arrivals down by 9.44% in April 2026.
The data indicates that while overall tourism in Türkiye declined, Istanbul retained its lead
as the foremost entry point for international travelers.
