Istanbul entered the competition for the first time this year and subsequently has become the first city to win the accolade upon its first year entering the competition.
The only city in the world to straddle two continents, Turkey's fabled city of Istanbul at the historic crossroads between East and West is the perfect choice for a refreshing, exciting and cultural city break with a difference. Istanbul took 1st place in European Best Destinations 2013, followed by Lisbon in 2nd place and Vienna in 3rd. Now in its fourth year, European Best Destination is an initiative of non-profit making European Consumers Choice which aims to promote culture and tourism in Europe.
For the fourth edition of this major event several thousands of people voted, with the good spirit of the competition prevailing once again – an event in which advertising did not play any role nor was any personal data collected. This year all records have been beaten: the number of votes, followers, videos viewed, press articles and shares have all contributed to making this competition the largest e-tourism event in Europe.