Istanbul is a charming city which is built on two Continents,
Asia, and Europe, and divided by the Bosphorus Strait.
This is one of the finest cities in the world where you can see an
excellent blend of modern western city and old fashioned eastern city.
In 2010, Istanbul was also declared as European
Capital of Culture by the European Union.
From the groundwork of Byzantium in the 7th century BC till the present times,
Istanbul has always played a very significant role in
the history of humankind in this side of the world.
Since the time of Republic in 1923, Istanbul kept on growing and now it
has advanced its people over 14 million living in this beautiful city,
which makes it the largest city of Turkey and one of the largest cities of the world.
Today Istanbul is acknowledged as the cultural and financial center of Turkey and it
has been the capital of three empires, Byzantine, Ottoman, and Roman, and Ottoman.
The best way to enjoy Istanbul is to wander around the city visiting
historical places, ride ferries, eat delicious local cuisines, and many more.
The list is endless; you just need to know what you want to do.
Best Time To Visit
If you are planning to visit Istanbul, it can
be difficult to determine what time is best.
While summer has the most visitors, the climate can be unnervingly hot and humid.
But Spring and Fall have more pleasant weather but with less visitors.
And if you want to come in winter, it would be better
for you to develop the tolerance for cold and damp.
Transportation
If you want to get around in Istanbul, their public transportation
services comprise of bus network, railway systems, funiculars,
and maritime services to assist its millions of
inhabitants to travel around the city area of 5712 km2.
With one hell of traffic that Istanbul sees every day, the several modes of
transportation may be a bit jam-packed, but they also serve as a blessing in disguise.
With all the Metro, Tram, Ferryboats, buses,
Seabus, Aerial lift, etc., you will be able
to move around this brilliant city without getting stuck in the never-ending traffic.
Top tourists destinations in Istanbul
1. Aya Sofya – Built in 537 AD, it is the previous Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal
cathedral, which later became an Ottoman imperial mosque and now it is a museum.
2. Topkapi Palace - Topkapi Palace, or Seraglio,
is a big museum in Istanbul, which served
as the chief residence and managerial head
office for Ottoman Sultans in the 15th century.
3. Blue Mosque – Blue Mosque or Sultan Ahmed
Mosque was built between 1609 and 1616, and
it is one of the most incredible buildings of
all magnificent Ottoman mosques in Turkey.
4. Basilica Cistern - The Basilica Cistern is the largest ancient
cistern that is present underneath the city of Istanbul.
5. Istanbul Archaeology Museum - This museum
comprises an astounding collection of artifacts from
Turkey and all through the Middle East region,
representing the vast, rich history of the regions.
6. Grand Bazaar – It is a massive market, which is
kind of the first ever shopping mall in the world,
with 61 covered streets and in excess of 4,000 shops,
where you can enjoy all the shopping you want.
There are also other places such as Spice Bazaar, Dolmabahçe
Palace, Rüstem Paşa Mosque, Yedikule Fortress and more.