In 2023, the most visited city in the United States by international tourists was New York, attracting just under nine million visitors. Miami and Los Angeles followed in the ranking, with roughly 4.4 million and 3.6 million international visitors, respectively.

Madrid was the most visited city destination in Spain in 2023, having welcomed nearly 10 million overnight visitors. The Catalonian capital followed second in the ranking that year, with roughly 8.2 million tourists spending at least one night in the destination. How did Madrid rank in tourist visits and accommodation? In 2022, Madrid attracted over 4.5 million domestic and 4.6 million international tourists for stays exceeding one day, despite experiencing a more than 10 percent decrease compared to 2019 pre-pandemic levels. Furthermore, the Spanish capital has consistently ranked among the top ten European cities with the highest number of nights spent by tourists in paid accommodation, securing the 8th position that year. Which regions attracted the most international tourists? Spain's international tourism rebounded strongly from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, surpassing 100 million visitors in 2022. Catalonia led as the most visited region, attracting over 14.9 million international tourists. The United Kingdom played a pivotal role as the primary source of international tourists, contributing over 15 million travelers, followed by France with around 10 million visitors.

Rome was the Italian municipality recording the highest number of overnight stays in travel accommodation establishments in 2023. That year, tourist overnight stays in Rome exceeded 37 million, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. Venice and Milan followed in the ranking in 2023, with around 12.6 million and 12.5 million overnight stays, respectively.

Berlin attracted the most tourist arrivals in Germany in 2023, which is perhaps to be expected. But the country has other city destinations with a lot to offer as well. Among them Hamburg in the north with the largest port in Germany and Munich, the capital of Bavaria, in the south. All three cities also have busy airports and railways. The top three Berlin recorded a significant drop in travel accommodation numbers in 2020, the year the COVID-19 pandemic began. Figures began to pick up again later, with 724 establishments open in 2024, though this was still less than in previous years. The numbers may also have to do with competition from such accommodation platforms as Airbnb. Hamburg is also catching up after the pandemic in terms of tourism, with noticeably more travel arrivals recorded recently. While 2021 saw around 3.3 million arrivals, there were already roughly 6.4 in 2023. Meanwhile, the average occupancy rate in Munich travel accommodation was also noticeably higher in 2022 than in previous years, with an almost 48 percent total. City tourism As of 2023, around 33.7 million people in Germany preferred city trips as a vacation. Numbers decreased somewhat in recent years. Various factors contribute to making a city attractive for tourists, among them mobility options, the ease of getting around, and spending time outside. In 2022, Germany’s largest cities were evaluated in terms of walking and cycling space availability. Munich scored highest at 51 percent, followed by Cologne with 46 percent and Hamburg with 42 percent. That same year, these cities were also evaluated in terms of traffic safety for pedestrians and cyclists. This time, Hamburg came first at 74 percent, and Berlin followed with 72 percent.

The number of international tourist arrivals to the selected European destinations increased significantly in 2023 over the previous year, experiencing strong signs of recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in some cases even surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Overall, Paris and the Île-de-France region recorded the highest figure among the selected destinations in 2023, with around 21.6 million inbound tourist arrivals. London and Istanbul followed in the ranking that year, with roughly 20.3 million and 17.4 million arrivals, respectively. What are the most visited countries by international tourists? Both before and after the health crisis, France was the country with the highest number of inbound tourist arrivals worldwide. In 2023, inbound arrivals to France reached 100 million, the highest figure reported by the country to date. Meanwhile, the United States, which ranked third by inbound arrivals that year, was the country with the highest international tourism receipts worldwide. Has inbound tourism recovered from the impact of COVID-19? While the number of international tourist arrivals worldwide grew sharply in 2023 compared to the previous year, it remained approximately 11 percent lower than in 2019. Overall, the total contribution of travel and tourism to the global GDP was four percent below pre-pandemic levels in 2023.

London was by far the most visited city by international tourists in the United Kingdom in 2023. That year, inbound visits to the UK's capital totaled just over 20 million, staying roughly seven percent lower than in 2019, prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Edinburgh and Manchester followed in the ranking, reporting around 2.3 million and 1.7 million visits, respectively. Overall, the number of inbound visits to the UK reached 38 million in 2023 but remained below pre-pandemic levels. What is the leading tourist attraction in London? Tourists visit London for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is its attractions. In 2023, the British Museum was London’s most visited tourist attraction, drawing in approximately 5.8 million visitors. The Natural History Museum in South Kensington and the Tate Modern came next in the ranking, with about 5.7 and 4.7 million visitors, respectively. While attendance at many of London’s top tourist attractions saw a significant increase in 2023 compared to the previous year, attendance generally remained below pre-pandemic levels. What is the leading region for summer staycations in the UK? A 'staycation' typically refers to a holiday spent in one's home country rather than abroad. It can also refer to a holiday spent at home involving day trips to local attractions. The leading region for summer staycations in the UK, according to an April 2024 survey, was the South West. Meanwhile, 12 percent of respondents said that they intended to visit Scotland during their summer holiday while only three percent stated that they would like to visit Northern Ireland. London came second in the ranking.

In 2022, Makkah welcomed 15.4 million inbound tourists, making the city the primary destination for inbound tourists arriving in Saudi Arabia. In comparison, Riyadh welcomed 2.8 million inbound tourists, making it the second most visited city in the country that year. Tourist arrivals were calculated based on the primary destination, and not secondary cities visited throughout the trip, which would otherwise make Al-Madinah the second most popular tourist destination.

In 2023, the number of overseas resident visits to the United Kingdom totaled 38 million, representing a growth of over 20 percent from the previous year. The figure was projected to reach 38.7 million in 2024. Has the UK’s tourism industry completely recovered from the coronavirus pandemic? Like in most countries, the travel restrictions put in place to stem the spread of the coronavirus wreaked havoc on the UK’s tourism industry. Overseas visitor numbers dropped to 7.1 million in 2021, representing a drop of over 80 percent from 2019. While the figure reported for 2023 showed a continued recovery in terms of overseas visitors to the UK, it remained below pre-pandemic levels. However, in terms of spending among the UK’s leading inbound travel markets, most overseas visitors spent more in 2023 than in 2019, with visitors from the UK’s leading inbound travel market, the United States, spending around 50 percent more during their travels than in 2019. What are the most visited cities in the UK? Unsurprisingly, London consistently ranked as the most visited town or city in the UK among international tourists in recent years, drawing in 20.27 million visitors in 2023. This was around tenfold the number of the second-most visited city, Edinburgh, which received 2.32 million visitors during the same year. As the UK’s capital city, London’s tourist attractions are as varied as the city itself; however, one particularly strong draw for inbound visitors is Royal Family-related tourism. This is evident with the top two most visited paid tourist attractions in England being based in London and either belonging to the Royal Family or being run by a Royal-affiliated charity. Meanwhile, among UK residents, London ranks as the second most popular destination for a summer staycation, with the South West ranking first.

Three Mexican cities were among the ten world's best-rated destinations in 2023, according to a survey conducted among Travel + Leisure readers. In 2023, Oaxaca ranked first with a score of 93.53. Udaipur in India followed closely behind with a score of 93.33, while Kyoto in Japan placed third on the list.

The British Museum was the most visited free tourist attraction in London in 2023, welcoming roughly 5.8 million visitors. While attendance at the renowned institution increased significantly over the previous year, the number of visitors remained below the figure reported before the COVID-19 pandemic. This was also the case with many other leading attractions, with only the National History Museum and the Royal Museums Greenwich having higher attendance in 2023 compared to 2019, among the listed attractions. Has tourism in London recovered from the impact of COVID-19? In 2023, the number of overseas visits to London exceeded 20 million. While inbound tourist visits experienced a sharp annual increase, they did not fully recovery yet from the impact of COVID-19. That said, expenditure by international visitors in the UK’s capital had more than recovered in 2023, reaching an all-time high that year. London’s contribution to inbound tourism in the UK Both before and after the pandemic, London was by far the most visited city in the UK by international tourists. When looking at the contribution to inbound tourism of leading European travel destinations, the city’s prominent role in supporting inbound tourism in the UK stands out. In 2023, London alone accounted for over half of inbound tourist arrivals in the country.

In 2023, approximately 19.5 million arrivals were recorded in Croatia’s travel accommodation establishments. The capital Zagreb received the largest number of visitors, with over 1.3 million arrivals. Dubrovnik came in second place, having attracted more than 1.2 million tourists in 2022. Tourism in Dubrovnik Dubrovnik has long been a favored tourist destination owing to its historic landmarks and distinctive Old Town. Moreover, following its first appearance in the popular Game of Thrones series in 2011 as the main filming location for King’s Landing, Dubrovnik has attracted even more visitors. The number of overnight tourist arrivals in the town peaked in 2019 at over 1.5 million. However, figures fell considerably over the following years due to the restrictions introduced by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the number of visitors reached only 786,000 in 2022. Croatia’s offering for nature lovers Besides sunny beaches and historic buildings, Croatian national parks also attract a high number of tourists. In 2023, the Plitvice Lake National Park, known for its waterfalls, recorded 1.45 million visitors. Krka National Park was the second most popular destination for nature enthusiasts, with approximately one million visitors.

The Tower of London was the most popular paid attraction in London in 2023, welcoming roughly 2.8 million visitors. Attendance at the renowned site grew significantly compared to the previous year, nearly catching up with the figure from 2019. Meanwhile, the Royal Botanical Gardens (Kew Gardens) was the second most visited paid attraction in 2023, with just under two million visitors. What is the most popular free tourist attraction in London? In 2023, the British Museum topped the ranking of the most visited free attractions in London, welcoming nearly six million visitors. While attendance at the British Museum did not fully recover from the impact of COVID-19, the number of visitors to the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, which came in second in 2023, exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Overall, nine of the ten most visited tourist attractions in London that year did not charge for admission tickets. How many tourists visit London every year? London plays a key role in supporting the travel and tourism sector in the United Kingdom. Both before and after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was by far the city with the highest inbound tourism spending in the UK. In 2023, the number of international tourist visits to London surpassed 20 million, nearly catching up with the overseas tourist visits recorded in 2019.

Lake Balaton belongs to Hungary’s leading tourist regions owing to its attractive beaches, resort towns, and volcanic hills. Héviz, one of the country’s most popular spa towns, recorded approximately 62,000 guest nights in December 2023, making it the most visited settlement in the Balaton tourist region. Over the same period, Zalakaros ranked second based on the number of guest nights, totaling nearly 48,000. Foreign visitors at Lake Balaton Lake Balaton is not only popular with domestic tourists, but it also welcomes numerous international visitors each year. In the 1960s, Balaton became a meeting place for friends and families separated by the Berlin Wall as both residents of the Eastern and Western Bloc could visit the lake. The region’s popularity with foreign tourists hasn’t ceased over time as in June 2022, approximately 177 thousand inbound guest nights were recorded in the most visited settlements of the region. The spa town Héviz accounted for the highest number, measuring at 44 thousand guest nights. Public beaches in Hungary Hungary is home to numerous rivers and lakes, however, according to the findings of a survey conducted among the Hungarian population in 2021, a significant proportion of the respondents felt that the share of public beaches on natural waters had decreased in the country. Moreover, the findings of the same survey revealed that the majority of Hungarians found entry fees to beaches rather expensive.

The Capital District of Bogotá welcomed more than 1.1 million international tourists in Colombia in 2023, while Antioquia – with Medellín as capital – received roughly 678 thousand foreign visitors arriving in the South American country that year.

Bogotá: the main travel hub in Colombia

With a population approximating eight million inhabitants, Bogotá is not only the capital of Colombia but also its most populated city. In addition to that, its geographic location —right in the middle of the country's territory— has also enabled this metropolis to become the most important crossing point for international and domestic travelers. Bogotá’s International Airport is by a wide margin, the main point of entry into the Latin American country, handling more than 1.5 million passengers each month in pre-pandemic times.

Cartagena: the most attractive destination of the Colombian Caribbean coast

With its Spanish colonial buildings of the walled city, the modern vibe of Boca Grande, and the colorful houses of Getsemaní, Cartagena attracts many international and domestic tourists each year. This Caribbean city is also Colombia's cruise tourism center, with more than 300 thousand passenger arrivals per year in pre-pandemic times. Consequently, Bolívar ranks among the departments with the largest number of accommodation establishments in Colombia, with nearly 4.5 thousand in total.

Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia, was the most popular destination for tourists in 2023. Around 1.1 million domestic and foreign visitors were recorded in tourist accommodation establishments that year. The resort city of Piran was the second most visited destination, with over 591,300 tourist arrivals in the same year.

The number of overseas tourist visits to London, United Kingdom continued to grow in 2023, following a sharp drop in 2021, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite the significant annual increase, inbound arrivals in the UK's capital remained below pre-pandemic levels, reaching 20.28 million in 2023. That year, inbound tourist visits to the UK totaled nearly 40 million. London leading the way in Europe London’s contribution to inbound tourism in the United Kingdom is significant, with the UK’s capital accounting for over 50 percent of international tourist arrivals in the country in 2023. This was more than other leading European destinations, such as Amsterdam, Paris, and Berlin. Those visiting the UK capital also made a significant contribution to the local economy, with expenditure of international visitors in London peaking in 2023, with inbound tourists spending over 16 billion British pounds that year. However, this was not reflected in business travel spending in the city, which was nearly half a billion British pounds in 2023 than in 2019. London’s visitor attractions As the largest city in the UK, London is home to some of the country's most iconic visitor attractions. These range from government-sponsored museums, such as the British Museum, to the Tower of London and the ZSL London Zoo. In 2023, the British Museum was the most visited tourist attraction in London. Overall, most sites have struggled to match the visitation rates recorded before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, however. For instance, attendance at the British Museum – the most visited free attraction in London in 2023 – declined by around seven percent from 2019.

In 2024, the number of domestic trips undertaken in Japan amounted to approximately 539.95 million, increasing considerably compared to the previous year. However, the value was still below pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. Most popular travel destinationsThe most visited prefectures by Japanese travelers are primarily regions surrounding large metropolises and well-known tourist attractions, with Tokyo prefecture heading the ranking. The capital city is a major destination of business-related travels, being home to large multinational corporations. At the same time, more than half of Japanese visitors were traveling to Tokyo for the purpose of leisure and sightseeing in 2023. While the city center draws in travelers with its bustling city life, mountainous regions on the outskirts are popular for nature sightseeing and outdoor activities. What do tourists want to do?The leading goals of domestic tourists in Japan were relaxed leisure activities, such as nature and scenery sightseeing or bathing in a hot spring (onsen). A tourist hotspot known for its scenic view surrounds the active stratovolcano Mt. Fuji, which is a national symbol of Japan. The highest mountain on the archipelago attracts more than 200 thousand mountaineers to its peak yearly. It is popular among leisure tourists, who want to relax in the famous hot springs of Hakone town at the border of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

In 2023, the number of international hotel guests in the selected Dutch cities increased significantly compared to the previous year. Overall, Amsterdam recorded by far the highest figure, with just under seven million inbound hotel guests in 2023. Rotterdam ranked second in the list, with 776 thousand inbound hotel guests. Accommodation services in Amsterdam: hotels vs. Airbnb Based on data on the accommodation establishments in Amsterdam broken down by type, there were just over 500 hotels in the popular Dutch destination in 2023. By comparison, the number of Airbnb listings in Amsterdam totaled nearly 9,000 as of March 2024, with entire homes and apartments accounting for most listings. How many inbound tourists visit the Netherlands? In 2023, the Netherlands ranked behind Austria and ahead of Poland in the list of the most visited European countries by inbound visitors, with over 20 million inbound tourist arrivals. Meanwhile, international tourism receipts in the Netherlands amounted to approximately 20 billion U.S. dollars that year, exceeding the figures recorded before the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Attendance at the Vatican Museums in the Vatican City increased by roughly 33 percent in 2023 over the previous year. Overall, the institution – one of the most visited museums worldwide – welcomed around 6.76 million visitors in 2023.

In 2023, the most visited tourist destination in Czechia was Prague Castle, located in the capital city, Prague. Nearly *** million people visited this landmark. It was followed by the funicular leading to the top of Petřín Hill in Prague, which attracted nearly *** million visitors.