Istanbul Tourism Statistics 2025: Official Data & Trends

Key Insights

• Russia dominates every single month, showing consistency.
• Germany remains a stable second, confirming European demand.
• The USA strengthens from spring onward, peaking in high season.
• Iran shows seasonal spikes, especially in late summer and early autumn.
• Saudi Arabia appears mainly in peak months, reflecting seasonal travel behavior.

January 2024: 1,165,996 people

January 2025: 1,268,660 people

RATE OF CHANGE: 8.80%

January Visitor Trend (2021–2025)

Means of Transport Distribution (January 2025)

Air arrivals: 1,251,769 (8.06% increase)

Sea arrivals: 16,891 (122.40% increase)

Top Visitor Nationalities

Russian Federation (11.10%), Germany (6.43%), Iran (5.48%), United States (4.45%), United Kingdom (3.60%), Saudi Arabia (3.54%), France (2.98%), Uzbekistan (2.81%), Italy (2.71%), Indonesia (2.31%)

Accommodation Capacity (January 2025)

Total Properties: 648

Total Rooms: 66,132

Total Bed: 132,571

Note: Not all accommodation types are included in these figures.

Most preferred: 5-star hotels (557,229), 4-star (394,598), Basic (263,435)

Average stay: 2.34 nights

Food & Beverage Facilities (January 2025)

Important note: There are other food and beverage establishments operating outside of these facilities. The reason they have not been included in these statistics is that there are a very large number of them, and no significant change has been observed in these figures.

Key Highlights & Insights

• January 2025 marks the highest visitor volume in the last five years.
• After a slight dip in 2024, tourism shows a strong recovery with 8.80% growth.
• Sea arrivals show exceptional growth (122.40%), although air travel still dominates.
• 5-star hotels dominate both capacity and demand, aligning with highest overnight stays.
• The average stay of 2.34 nights suggests short but intensive city visits.
• Accommodation capacity is heavily concentrated in 4 and 5-star segments, indicating upscale tourism infrastructure.

Feburary 2024: 1,291,522 people

Feburary 2025: 1,255,459 people

RATE OF CHANGE: -2.79%

Feburary Visitor Trend (2021–2025)

Visitor Distribution & Change (Feburary 2025)

Total visitors: 1,255,459

Change compared to 2024: -2.79%

Top Visitor Nationalities

Russian Federation (9.54%), Germany (7.57%), Iran (4.86%), United Kingdom (4.16%), France (4.08%), United States (3.69%), Saudi Arabia (3.05%), Uzbekistan (2.83%), Italy (2.73%), Iraq (2.44%)

Accommodation Capacity (Feburary 2025)

Total Properties: 647

Total Rooms: 66,108

Total Bed: 132,504

Note: Not all accommodation types are included in these figures.

Most preferred: 5-star hotels (529,317), 4-star (155,315), Basic (121,009)

Average stay: 2.34 nights

Food & Beverage Facilities (Feburary 2025)

Important note: There are other food and beverage establishments operating outside of these facilities. The reason they have not been included in these statistics is that there are a very large number of them, and no significant change has been observed in these figures.

Key Highlights & Insights

• February 2025 shows a decline of -2.79% compared to 2024 despite remaining near peak levels.
• The highest February volume still belongs to 2024, with 2025 slightly below it.
• Tourism growth from 2021 to 2024 shows a strong recovery trend post-2021, followed by stabilization.
• 5-star hotels dominate demand, with a significant gap compared to other accommodation types.
• The sharp drop from 5-star to 4-star stays highlights a strong preference for luxury segments.
• The average stay remains stable at 2.34 nights, indicating consistent travel behavior.

March 2024: 1,309,200 people

March 2025: 1,228,785 people

RATE OF CHANGE: -6.14%

March Visitor Trend (2021–2025)

Visitor Distribution & Change (March 2025)

Total visitors: 1,228,785

Change compared to 2024: -6.14%

Sea arrivals: 13,399 (67.36% increase)

Top Visitor Nationalities

Russian Federation (12.49%), Germany (8.25%), Iran (7.77%), United States (4.70%), United Kingdom (3.91%), Italy (3.55%), France (2.97%), Uzbekistan (2.49%), Azerbaijan (2.18%), the People’s Republic of China (1.97%)

Accommodation Capacity (March 2025)

Total Properties: 655

Total Rooms: 66,845

Total Bed: 134,099

Note: Not all accommodation types are included in these figures.

Most preferred: 5-star hotels (529,317), 4-star (392,983), Basic (283,857)

Average stay: 2.34 nights

Food & Beverage Facilities (March 2025)

Important note: There are other food and beverage establishments operating outside of these facilities. The reason they have not been included in these statistics is that there are a very large number of them, and no significant change has been observed in these figures.

Key Highlights & Insights

• March 2025 records the sharpest decline (-6.14%) compared to the previous months.
• Despite the drop, visitor numbers remain significantly higher than pre-2022 levels.
• Sea arrivals surge by 67.36%, showing notable diversification in entry methods.
• 5-star hotels continue to dominate both in capacity and overnight preference.
• The gap between 4-star and basic accommodation narrows compared to previous months.
• The average stay remains stable at 2.34 nights, indicating consistent travel patterns.

April 2024: 1,478,218 people

April 2025: 1,583,204 people

RATE OF CHANGE: 7.10%

April Visitor Trend (2021–2025)

Means of Transport Distribution (April 2025)

Air arrivals: 1,555,977 (6.64% increase)

Sea arrivals: 27,227 (42.29% increase)

Top Visitor Nationalities

Russian Federation (10.29%), Germany (8.05%), the United States (5.10%), the United Kingdom (4.05%), France (4.03%), Iran (3.96%), Italy (3.80%), Saudi Arabia (2.90%), Uzbekistan (2.25%), the Netherlands (2.17%)

Accommodation Capacity (April 2025)

Total Properties: 660

Total Rooms: 66,790

Total Bed: 133,968

Note: Not all accommodation types are included in these figures.

Most preferred: 5-star hotels (699,295), 4-star (483,469), Basic (435,982)

Average stay: 2.46 nights

Food & Beverage Facilities (April 2025)

Important note: There are other food and beverage establishments operating outside of these facilities. The reason they have not been included in these statistics is that there are a very large number of them, and no significant change has been observed in these figures.

Key Highlights & Insights

• April 2025 shows a strong recovery (7.10%) following the declines in previous months.
• The month records the highest April visitor volume in the last five years.
• Air travel dominates, but sea arrivals show a notable 42.29% increase.
• 5-star hotels lead overwhelmingly, with significantly higher overnight stays than other categories.
• The average stay increases to 2.46 nights, indicating longer visits compared to earlier months.
• The gap between 4-star and basic accommodations narrows, suggesting broader distribution of demand.

May 2024: 1,678,832 people

May 2025: 1,668,304 people

RATE OF CHANGE: -0.63%

May Visitor Trend (2021–2025)

Means of Transport Distribution (May 2025)

Air arrivals: 1,608,375 (-2.25%)

Sea arrivals: 59,929 (79.38% increase)

Top Visitor Nationalities

Russian Federation (10.67%), Germany (7.38%), the United States (6.28%), the United Kingdom (4.41%), Iran (4.22%), Saudi Arabia (4.06%), France (3.83%), Italy (3.16%), Uzbekistan (2.51%), the People’s Republic of China (2.17%)

Accommodation Capacity (May 2025)

Total Properties: 663

Total Rooms: 66,767

Total Bed: 133,933

Note: Not all accommodation types are included in these figures.

Most preferred: 5-star hotels (691,298), 4-star (509,011), Basic (433,753)

Average stay: 2.45 nights

Food & Beverage Facilities (May 2025)

Important note: There are other food and beverage establishments operating outside of these facilities. The reason they have not been included in these statistics is that there are a very large number of them, and no significant change has been observed in these figures.

Key Highlights & Insights

• May 2025 shows a minimal decline (-0.63%), indicating near stability compared to 2024.
• The month remains one of the highest volume periods despite the slight decrease.
• Sea arrivals surge by 79.38%, highlighting a strong shift toward maritime tourism.
• Air arrivals decline slightly (-2.25%), balancing overall visitor numbers.
• 5-star hotels continue to dominate, but 4-star usage increases significantly.
• The average stay remains consistent at 2.45 nights, maintaining stable visitor behavior.

June 2024: 1,638,399 people

June 2025: 1,631,177 people

RATE OF CHANGE: -0.44%

June Visitor Trend (2021–2025)

Means of Transport Distribution (June 2025)

Air arrivals: 1,552,341 (-1.92%)

Sea arrivals: 78,836 (41.44% increase)

Top Visitor Nationalities

Russian Federation (10.80%), Germany (7.78%), the United States (7.60%), Saudi Arabia (3.99%), the United Kingdom (3.98%), Uzbekistan (3.28%), France (3.19%), Iran (2.92%), Italy (2.72%), the People’s Republic of China (2.09%)

Accommodation Capacity (June 2025)

Total Properties: 675

Total Rooms: 67,147

Total Bed: 134,676

Note: Not all accommodation types are included in these figures.

Most preferred: 5-star hotels (659,707), 4-star (440,691), Basic (403,192)

Average stay: 2.51 nights

Food & Beverage Facilities (June 2025)

Important note: There are other food and beverage establishments operating outside of these facilities. The reason they have not been included in these statistics is that there are a very large number of them, and no significant change has been observed in these figures.

Key Highlights & Insights

• June 2025 reflects near-perfect stability (-0.44%) despite peak season demand.
• Visitor numbers remain almost identical to 2024 peak levels, indicating market saturation.
• Sea arrivals increase by 41.44%, continuing the upward maritime trend.
• Air arrivals decline slightly (-1.92%), balancing the overall visitor count.
• 5-star hotels dominate strongly, but 4-star and basic accommodations show closer distribution.
• The average stay rises to 2.51 nights, marking the longest duration so far.

July 2024: 1,905,146 people

July 2025: 1,879,266 people

RATE OF CHANGE: -1,36%

July Visitor Trend (2021–2025)

Means of Transport Distribution (July 2025)

Air arrivals: 1,807,059 (-1.40%)

Sea arrivals: 72,207 (-0.38%)

Top Visitor Nationalities

Russian Federation (10.62%), Germany (8.73%), the United States (6.28%), Saudi Arabia (5.06%), France (4.09%), the United Kingdom (4.03%), Iran (4.01%), Uzbekistan (3.05%), the Netherlands (2.58%), and Italy (2.24%)

Accommodation Capacity (July 2025)

Total Properties: 679

Total Rooms: 67,186

Total Bed: 134,746

Note: All accommodation figures include classified facilities only; other accommodation types are not included.

Most preferred: Basic accommodations (879,294), 5-star hotels (489,041), Four-star hotels (489,041)

Average stay: 2.38 nights

Food & Beverage Facilities (July 2025)

Important note: There are other food and beverage establishments operating outside of these facilities. The reason they have not been included in these statistics is that there are a very large number of them, and no significant change has been observed in these figures.

Key Highlights & Insights

• July 2025 shows a slight decline (-1,36%) despite being peak season.
• Both air (-1.40%) and sea (-0.38%) arrivals decline, marking a rare simultaneous drop.
• Basic accommodations become the most preferred, surpassing luxury segments.
• 5-star and 4-star hotels record equal overnight stays, indicating a shift in demand distribution.
• The average stay drops to 2.38 nights, suggesting shorter visits during peak season.
• Overall visitor levels remain very close to record highs, indicating strong but stabilizing demand.

August 2024: 1,802,290 people

August 2025: 1,852,996 people

RATE OF CHANGE: 2,81%

August Visitor Trend (2021–2025)

Means of Transport Distribution (August 2025)

Air arrivals: 1,763,164 (1.73% increase)

Sea arrivals: 89,832 (30.04% increase)

Top Visitor Nationalities

Russian Federation (10.67%), Germany (9.14%), the United States (5.74%), Iran (5.15%), the United Kingdom (4.26%), France (3.83%), Saudi Arabia (3.75%), Italy (3.53%), Uzbekistan (2.96%), and Spain (2.55%)

Accommodation Capacity (August 2025)

Total Properties: 676

Total Rooms: 66,194

Total Bed: 133,003

Note: All accommodation figures include classified facilities only; other accommodation types are not included.

Most preferred: Basic accommodations (1,013,045), 5-star hotels (865,462), Four-star hotels (612,289)

Average stay: 2.45 nights

Food & Beverage Facilities (August 2025)

Important note: There are other food and beverage establishments operating outside of these facilities. The reason they have not been included in these statistics is that there are a very large number of them, and no significant change has been observed in these figures.

Key Highlights & Insights

• August 2025 reaches the highest visitor volume (1,852,996) in the last five years.
• The 2,81% growth confirms continued demand during peak summer season.
• Sea arrivals increase by 30.04%, maintaining strong maritime growth alongside air travel.
• Basic accommodations dominate, exceeding both 5-star and 4-star stays significantly.
• The gap between 5-star and 4-star hotels widens, indicating a two-tier demand structure.
• The average stay stabilizes at 2.45 nights, consistent with peak-season travel patterns.

September 2024: 1,753,540 people

September 2025: 1,790,651 people

RATE OF CHANGE: 2,12%

September Visitor Trend (2021–2025)

Means of Transport Distribution (September 2025)

Air arrivals: 1,714,849 (1.74% increase)

Sea arrivals: 75,802 (11.46% increase)

Top Visitor Nationalities

Russian Federation (10.86%), Germany (7.69%), the United States (6.07%), Iran (5.74%), the United Kingdom (4.23%), France (2.92%), Italy (2.77%), Uzbekistan (2.54%), Iraq (2.43%), and the People’s Republic of China (2.31%)

Accommodation Capacity (September 2025)

Total Properties: 686

Total Rooms: 66,543

Total Bed: 133,668

Note: All accommodation figures include classified facilities only; other accommodation types are not included.

Most preferred: Basic accommodations (1,007,250), 5-star hotels (828,048), Four-star hotels (613,827)

Average stay: 2.42 nights

Food & Beverage Facilities (September 2025)

Important note: There are other food and beverage establishments operating outside of these facilities. The reason they have not been included in these statistics is that there are a very large number of them, and no significant change has been observed in these figures.

Key Highlights & Insights

• September 2025 continues positive growth (2,12%) following peak summer months.
• The month records the highest September visitor volume in the last five years.
• Air travel remains dominant, while sea arrivals continue to grow at 11.46%.
• Basic accommodations remain the top choice, maintaining dominance after August.
• The gap between 5-star and 4-star hotels remains significant, reinforcing tiered demand.
• The average stay slightly decreases to 2.42 nights, indicating shorter post-peak visits.

October 2024: 1,745,808 people

October 2025: 1,857,314 people

RATE OF CHANGE: 6,39%

October Visitor Trend (2021–2025)

Means of Transport Distribution (October 2025)

Air arrivals: 1,781,173 (5.90% increase)

Sea arrivals: 76,141 (19.13% increase)

Top Visitor Nationalities

Russian Federation (10.36%), Germany (8.99%), the United States (6.21%), Iran (4.52%), the United Kingdom (4.15%), France (3.76%), Italy (3.07%), Saudi Arabia (2.38%), Uzbekistan (2.29%), and the People’s Republic of China (2.18%)

Accommodation Capacity (October 2025)

Total Properties: 693

Total Rooms: 67,041

Total Bed: 134,677

All accommodation not included.

Most preferred: Basic accommodations (1,102,540), 5-star hotels (835,903), Four-star hotels (645,010)

Average stay: 2.38 nights

Food & Beverage Facilities (October 2025)

Important note: There are other food and beverage establishments operating outside of these facilities. The reason they have not been included in these statistics is that there are a very large number of them, and no significant change has been observed in these figures.

Key Highlights & Insights

• October shows a strong acceleration in growth (6,39%), significantly higher than the previous month’s trend.
• The city reaches the highest October visitor volume in the last five years, continuing a clear upward trajectory since 2021.
• Sea arrivals grow over 3x faster than air travel (19.13% vs 5.90%), indicating increasing cruise and maritime demand.
• Basic accommodations remain dominant, but the gap with 5-star hotels slightly narrows compared to previous patterns.
• Consistent top markets (Russia, Germany, USA) maintain their positions, showing stable demand from core source countries.
• The average stay drops to 2.38 nights, reinforcing the trend of shorter, high-volume visits during shoulder season.

November 2024: 1,394,452 people

November 2025: 1,462,607 people

RATE OF CHANGE: 4,89%

November Visitor Trend (2021–2025)

Means of Transport Distribution (November 2025)

Air arrivals: 1,440,978 (5.18% increase)

Sea arrivals: 21,629 (11.59% decrease)

Top Visitor Nationalities

Russian Federation (10.48%), Germany (7.27%), Iran (5.00%), the United States (4.98%), Saudi Arabia (4.67%), the United Kingdom (3.48%), France (3.15%), Italy (2.97%), Uzbekistan (2.76%), and the People’s Republic of China (2.15%)

Accommodation Capacity (November 2025)

Total Properties: 708

Total Rooms: 67,623

Total Bed: 135,712

Note: These figures do not include all accommodation establishments in Istanbul.

Most preferred: Basic accommodations (884,292), 5-star hotels (708,842), Four-star hotels (547,739)

Average stay: 2.40 nights

Food & Beverage Facilities (November 2025)

Important note: There are other food and beverage establishments operating outside of these facilities. The reason they have not been included in these statistics is that there are a very large number of them, and no significant change has been observed in these figures.

Key Highlights & Insights

• Growth remains solid at 4,89%, though slightly slower compared to the previous month’s pace.
• Air travel continues to dominate with steady growth, while sea arrivals show a notable contraction (-11.59%).
• The drop in sea arrivals contrasts sharply with October’s increase, indicating seasonal cruise fluctuations.
• Basic accommodations maintain clear dominance, though overall overnight stays decline in line with seasonal demand.
• Top source markets remain stable, with Russia leading and minimal reshuffling among the top countries.
• The average stay slightly increases to 2.40 nights, suggesting marginally longer visits despite lower seasonal volume.

December 2024: 1,418,919 people

December 2025: 1,494,276 people

RATE OF CHANGE: 5,31%

December Visitor Trend (2021–2025)

Means of Transport Distribution (December 2025)

Air arrivals: 1,477,273 (5.18% increase)

Sea arrivals: 17,003 (17.68% increase)

Top Visitor Nationalities

Russian Federation (10.28%), Germany (7.83%), Iran (4.93%), the United States (4.62%), the United Kingdom (3.45%), France (3.45%), Italy (3.43%), Saudi Arabia (3.02%), Uzbekistan (2.54%), and Algeria (2.38%)

Accommodation Capacity (December 2025)

Total Properties: 715

Total Rooms: 68,265

Total Bed: 137,097

Note: All accommodation establishments are not included in these figures.

Most preferred: Basic accommodations (787,040), 5-star hotels (678,720), Four-star hotels (502,009)

Average stay: 2.44 nights

Food & Beverage Facilities (December 2025)

Important note: There are other food and beverage establishments operating outside of these facilities. The reason they have not been included in these statistics is that there are a very large number of them, and no significant change has been observed in these figures.

Key Highlights & Insights

• Growth remains stable at 5,31%, closing the year with consistent upward momentum.
• Both air and sea arrivals increase, with sea travel rebounding strongly compared to the previous month.
• Sea arrivals growth (17.68%) significantly outpaces air, indicating a short-term recovery in maritime travel.
• Basic accommodations continue to lead, though total overnight stays decrease further in line with winter seasonality.
• Average stay rises to 2.44 nights, the highest among the last three months, suggesting longer end-of-year visits.
• Top visitor markets remain largely unchanged, with only minor shifts in ranking and composition.