Titanic Belfast beats Eiffel Tower to 'best tourist attraction' spot
Titanic Belfast has fended off one of the most iconic buildings in Europe to be named the continent's best visitor attraction.
The 300m Eiffel Tower may have breathtaking views of Paris, bit it was Northern Ireland's top tourist spot which won over judges at a major travel awards event in Berlin.
It also beat off stiff competition from artist Claude Monet's Grand Gardens in France and the London Eye.
Inside an impressive exterior - designed to resemble the ship's prow - Titanic Belfast contains a number of exhibitions on early 20th Centrury Belfast, the ship-building industry, the ship's sinking and its legacy.
It was the only attraction from across Ireland to be recognised at the European Group Travel Awards.
CEO of Tourism Ireland Niall Gibbons said: "Congratulations to Titanic Belfast on this very well deserved award. Since its opening in 2012, Titanic Belfast has become a truly iconic and ‘must visit’ attraction for overseas visitors to Belfast."
The inaugural European Group Travel Awards (EGTA) were organised to recognise and celebrate the best suppliers in the group travel sector, with group travel buyers around Europe asked to submit their nominees in 21 different categories.
