İstanbul travel

Information and tips

1001 nights and landfills; smart hotels and ruins from the great earthquake in August 1999 – Istanbul is a city of contrasts. However, despite these enormous differences, Istanbul is unique not only due to the fact that it is located on the border of two continents: Asia and Europe.

The most overwhelming thing about Istanbul for any visitor to the city are the crowds that fill the streets. No matter where you look and at whatever time of day or night, the streets are always crowded. Sitting in one of the many cafes to watch the goings on is always entertaining. Ideally suited is "Istiklal street", which is also a particularly well known part of Istanbul. During the day, the street acts as a magnet for tourists with its many boutiques and restaurants. Later at night, the area mutates into the main party district of the city.

An absolute must during any weekend break in Istanbul is a visit to the Sultanahmet district with the breathing Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia - now a museum.

Bosphorus Bridge and the busy daily bazaars should not be missed. Here, the trick is to stay firm and barter with the traders to get a real bargain. However, just sauntering past the colourful stands filled with spices, jewellery and souvenirs can be entertaining enough.

In the evening, delicious food will tempt visitors to end the day in one of the restaurants or in the exotic Turkish shisha or hookah bars in former Constantinople.

Facts

Name	İstanbul
Region	İstanbul
Country	Turkey
Continent	Eastern Europe
Latitude	41.013840 North
Longitude	28.949659 East
Population	11,174,257