An increase in the flow of Russian tourists to Turkey was recorded in the ten-month period January–October 2025, despite an overall marginal decline in foreign arrivals to the country. Official data from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism show that visits from Russia rose by 2.25% compared with last year, while in October alone there was an impressive increase of 11.4% – the highest monthly performance of the year.
In total, Turkey received 47.25 million foreign visitors during the ten-month period, a figure slightly lower (-0.1%) than in 2024. However, the main markets remained strong. Russia regained first place with 6.39 million arrivals and a slight increase, followed by Germany (6.2 million, +1.9%) and the United Kingdom (4.05 million, +2.25%). Also in the top five are Iran (2.55 million) and Bulgaria (2.31 million), with the five markets together accounting for 45.5% of all foreign visits.
Where Russians travel in Turkey
Antalya continues to be the undisputed hub of Russian tourism. During January–October, it welcomed 3.89 million Russians, marking a 3.3% increase and capturing a 60.8% share of the total flow. The region’s heavy dependence on the Russian market remains clear, with Antalya’s resorts boosting their performance thanks to the extended tourist season.
In Mu?la, Russian arrivals reached 398,621, showing a 2.5% decline and representing only 6.23% of the total. This drop is attributed to shifts in demand toward more economical options and the Russian preference for regions with all-inclusive packages.
In Istanbul, arrivals from Russia, according to Russian tour operators, reached around 1.7 million – a 26.6% share of the total. The market remained stable compared with last year, with the metropolis continuing to serve both as a city-break destination and as an air-transit hub. An additional 6.3% of Russians entered via Trabzon, Izmir, Ankara, and the land borders with Georgia.
October: the strongest month of the year for the Russian market
October was the strongest month for Russian tourism to Turkey. Of the 5.68 million foreigners who arrived in total (+4.3%), Russians numbered 865,472, recording an 11.4% surge.
The top five markets of the month were:
- Germany: 983,346 arrivals (+6.2%)
- Russia: 865,472 (+11.4%)
- United Kingdom: 510,408 (-3.8%)
- Bulgaria: 272,125 (-1.8%)
- Iran: 268,102 (-4.7%)
The strong performance of Russians in October is linked to the Mediterranean “velvet season” and the highly competitive holiday costs in Turkey during this period. Antalya, which absorbed 67.4% of Russian arrivals for the month, recorded a 12.3% increase (583,044 arrivals). In contrast, Mu?la continued downward with -10.7% and only 40,191 visits.
Istanbul, based on preliminary estimates, welcomed around 185,000 Russians (+5.3%), gathering 21.5% of the monthly flow. Another 6.5% entered via Trabzon, Izmir, Ankara, and the land border gates.
