Visiting Istanbul

Visiting Istanbul

Visiting Istanbul is a journey through time and civilizations. Scent of a Woman or a trip, discover this beautiful and vibrant city. Built on seven hills like Rome, Istanbul has a long and rich history. Located on the Bosphorus in Turkey, the city is a real link between the European and Asian continents. This strategic position it has always ensured significant economic development.

Centre of Byzantine and Ottoman empire, it was adorned with the best features inherent in that status. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, the Mosque of Suleiman reflect the radiation of the former Constantinople. Similarly, museums full of masterpieces from ancient and beautiful objects, symbols of Turkish arts.

But Istanbul is also a city of today. With some 9.7 million inhabitants, Istanbul is vibrant and lively. The smells wafting from the Grand Bazaar and the Egyptian Bazaar, Oriental melodies interspersed with calls to prayer, the tempting trays of hawkers and many other scenes of everyday life Istanbulites offer incredible scenery.

Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul: three names for most eastern European cities. Istanbul is not only the cultural and financial center of Turkey, but also the most populous city in the country. Straddling both banks of the Bosphorus, Istanbul is a bridge between Asia and Europe. With its long history of empires center, Istanbul has an extraordinarily rich heritage, with many religious sites dating from the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman.

Things to see and do in Istanbul

Istanbul is a city full of different influences, of an incredible cultural depth. To know, in outline, this gigantic city, we must stay there at least a week.

Feel free to browse the Bosphorus to see the city in another way, or even go back until the Black Sea.

Start your tour by the historical center of Istanbul, Sultanhammet and the inevitable visit of the city: St. Sophia, the symbol of the Byzantine Empire, Topkapi Palace, the measurement of the power of the great Ottoman sultans, the Mosque Blue, named as such because of its pottery blue, green and white, the Basilica Cistern …

Get lost then in the Grand Bazaar, over 2,000 shops distributed by types of activities, and go through the alleys until Egyptian bazaar dedicated to spices, and Newfoundland Mosque (Yeni Cami). You can then visit the archaeological museums, Kariye Museum, the Dolmabahce Palace ….

Cross the Bosphorus by the Galata bridge and walk through the Beyoglu district to find a good restaurant, continue to Taksim Square by Istiklâl Caddesi, main shopping street and one of the symbols of contemporary Turkey

let’s see istanbul in pictures