Istanbul, Turkey, was just ranked the most popular travel destination in the world by TripAdvisor.
Millions of TripAdvisor users voted on their favorite destinations around the world, and Istanbul took the top spot. This is surprising because the city jumped 11 spots from the previous year, surpassing perennial favorites like London and Rome.
So why are travelers flocking to Istanbul? Perhaps it's because the vibrant city embodies both ancient and modern. It's chock-full of historic mosques and monuments, but it also has tons of hip boutiques, cool restaurants, and design-savvy boutique hotels that hipsters, foodies, artists and fashionistas love. The city feels decidedly chic — and travelers from all over the world are taking note.
Located in a former warehouse on the Bosphorus, the Istanbul Modern showcases cutting-edge contemporary art from Turkish artists.
The restaurant at the Istanbul Modern serves international cuisine in a sleek design-conscious setting.
Nearby, the neighborhood of Cihangir is quickly becoming one of the coolest areas in Istanbul, attracting hipsters and artists with its Bohemian chic vibe and its cafes, shops and galleries.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider