Istanbul

Europe

The city is liberally scattered with glorious remnants of its long and illustrious history, and the sightseeing here will impress even the most monument-weary visitor.

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About

Coveted by empires across the centuries, straddling both Europe and Asia, Istanbul is one of the world’s great metropolises. Founded around 1000 BC, the colony of Byzantium grew into the Byzantine Empire’s great capital of Constantinople and after the Ottoman conquest of the city, retained its glorious place as the heart of their empire. The city is liberally scattered with …

Istanbul

Planning a Trip

LANGUAGE Turkish CURRENCY Turkish Lira BEST TIME TO VISIT April to May and September to November NEAREST RAILWAY STATION Sirkeci station (for European countries) & Haydarpasa Station (for Asian countries) NEAREST AIRPORT Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST) EMERGENCY HELPLINE NUMBER 112 INTERNET ACCESS As is the case elsewhere in Europe, the proliferation of personal communications devices has led to internet cafes …

Istanbul

Getting Around

Boat The most enjoyable way to get around town is by ferry. Crossing between the Asian and European shores, up and down the Golden Horn and Bosphorus, and over to the Princes’ Islands, these vessels are as efficient as they are popular with locals. Some are operated by the government-owned İstanbul Şehir Hatları; others by private companies, including Dentur Avrasya …

Istanbul

History & Culture

Turkey has a settled history that dates back more than 4,000 years, making it one of the longest surviving civilizations in the world. However, modern Turkey really began after the fall of the Ottoman Empire post-WWI. The Ottomans took control of the Anatolian Peninsula during the 15th century, and their authority over the region lasted until the empire’s decline in …

Istanbul

Top Attractions

Aya Sofya It’s said that when the Byzantine Emperor Justinian entered his finished church for the first time in AD 536, he cried out “Glory to God that I have been judged worthy of such a work. Oh Solomon, I have outdone you!” The Aya Sofya (formerly the Hagia Sophia) was the emperor’s swaggering statement to the world of the …

Istanbul

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