Despite recent unrest, nearly 40 million people continue to trek into Turkey annually. In 2015, 39.5 million tourists visited major cities and historic sites throughout Turkey—making it the sixth most visited place in the world. Putting it in perspective, Turkey comes in just behind Italy, which placed fifth on the census and ahead of countries like Germany (seventh) and the U.K. (eighth place).

Turkish authorities have been attempting to tighten security and develop tourism-related infrastructure to ensure safety and maintain growth in tourism numbers.

Instanbul’s Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, and the Blue Mosque are considered must-see attractions, this city alone welcomes nearly 12 million visitors each year. Gaziantep Cuisine, which comes from the southeastern Turkish province of the same name, was just included into the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.