Istanbul not only joins continents, it also joins cultures and people. The charm of Istanbul lies in historical fabric and culturel mosaic that meets us at every corner and turn the city. Istanbul, the capital city of three mighty civilizations and the subject of countless songs, poems and novels, can best be described as a mosaic of cultures. This historical city has embraced the beliefs of three great religions and offers its residents and its guests the finest blending of the old with the new, the east with the west. A city of mosques, palaces, and mansions, Istanbul is also a city of street hawkers, dock workers, street children and tramps. Their presence on street corners only serves to lend even more flavor to this grand and enchanting city. The list of sights and sites that make up Istanbul's rich and colorful cultural fabric is too long to fit on any number of pages. When we add the city's natural beauties to the historical monuments dating from the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires, we get a breath-taking synthesis. No tour of Istanbul would be complete without experiencing the traditional and unforgettable boat trip up the Bosphorus, the strait that divides the city into European and Asian sides. There is many Shopping Malls. The shores of the Bosphorus reflect both a majestic and utterly rarified beauty, a blend of the past with today. The old wooden mansions along the shore nestle among modern hotels, ancient stone fortresses, rustic palaces and small fishing villages. And any trip to Istanbul must also include a trip to the city's nearby Princes' Islands, so named as they were the exile destination for deposed princes during the Byzantine era. Those who have the time may want to venture a bit more away from the city and explore its environs. There seem to be countless alternatives. Trips to Poyrazkoy, Riva, Şile and Ağva will be appreciated by those searching for good beaches, while Kemerburgaz and Durusu offer a glimpse at nature's delights. Those who make the hour drive to Kilyos will discover that this Black Sea town boasts both swimming and sun bathing opportunities.
Buyukada (Big Island) is the largest of the clustering of island in the Marmara Sea that were once used as places of exile for Byzantine princes. Today these islands are considered excursion points that are welcoming near the city. The other island in this chain are Kinali, Sedef, Burgaz and Heybeli. Twenty-five kilometers distant from the city proper is Kilyos, a European side Black Sea town whose sandy beaches attract visitors throughout the summer.
The Belgrade Forest, Istanbul's largest forest, is inland from the Black Sea. The forest's golf course and equestrian center are popular for those searching these kinds of attractions. The town of Polenezkoy, which is also located twenty-five kilometers from Istanbul on the Asian side was founded by a group of Polish immigrants in the 19th century.
Still maintaining a kind of central European village charm, this is an ideal site for long walks and excursions and for sampling some of the delicious food of the town. Also on the Asian side is the Black Sea town of Sile, a charming resort town with sandy beaches and good hotels and restaurants.
Visitors to Istanbul must sure board one of the ferry boats for a trip up the Bosphorus Strait. The ferry passes under two suspension bridges and stops at various ferry boat stations of neighborhoods that are usually described as "pretty as a picture". The trip lasts an afternoon, crisscrossing from continent to continent and floating smoothly from shore to shore. After passing under the first (Bosphorus) bridge the landscape along the shores seems to completely change every kilometer or so. In the 17th century Istanbul residents of means began building large wooden mansions along the shore. The most beautiful of these mansions -referred to as yak-are found on the Asian side between Cengelkoy and Kanlica. Almost every one of these mansions has its own dock or boathouse for the owner's rowboats, once an important means of Bosphorus transportation to tie up. Most of the mansions remaining today date from the 19th century. These mansions were designed in a manner that they blended in beautifully with their natural surroundings. Popular Bosphorus villages like Arnavutkoy, Bebek, Yenikoy and Tarabya are located on the European side. On the way back to the central city stop at one of these spots for a fresh fish dinner.
Buyukada (Big Island) is the largest of the clustering of island in the Marmara Sea that were once used as places of exile for Byzantine princes. Today these islands are considered excursion points that are welcoming near the city. The other island in this chain are Kinali, Sedef, Burgaz and Heybeli. Twenty-five kilometers distant from the city proper is Kilyos, a European side Black Sea town whose sandy beaches attract visitors throughout the summer.
The Belgrade Forest, Istanbul's largest forest, is inland from the Black Sea. The forest's golf course and equestrian center are popular for those searching these kinds of attractions. The town of Polenezkoy, which is also located twenty-five kilometers from Istanbul on the Asian side was founded by a group of Polish immigrants in the 19th century.
Still maintaining a kind of central European village charm, this is an ideal site for long walks and excursions and for sampling some of the delicious food of the town. Also on the Asian side is the Black Sea town of Sile, a charming resort town with sandy beaches and good hotels and restaurants.
Visitors to Istanbul must sure board one of the ferry boats for a trip up the Bosphorus Strait. The ferry passes under two suspension bridges and stops at various ferry boat stations of neighborhoods that are usually described as "pretty as a picture". The trip lasts an afternoon, crisscrossing from continent to continent and floating smoothly from shore to shore. After passing under the first (Bosphorus) bridge the landscape along the shores seems to completely change every kilometer or so. In the 17th century Istanbul residents of means began building large wooden mansions along the shore. The most beautiful of these mansions -referred to as yak-are found on the Asian side between Cengelkoy and Kanlica. Almost every one of these mansions has its own dock or boathouse for the owner's rowboats, once an important means of Bosphorus transportation to tie up. Most of the mansions remaining today date from the 19th century. These mansions were designed in a manner that they blended in beautifully with their natural surroundings. Popular Bosphorus villages like Arnavutkoy, Bebek, Yenikoy and Tarabya are located on the European side. On the way back to the central city stop at one of these spots for a fresh fish dinner.
Istanbul Hotels
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I love Istanbul, there is many great hotels and turkish hammam. So There is very comfortable for vacation. Last there are historical palaces.
Yea, right and Istanbul is unique in all the world because no other city straddles two continents. There is many boutique hotels.With the Bosphorus Straits dividing it's European and Asian sides, Istanbul does.
That's Great Post !
Istanbul is greater than other countries. So it has natural beauty and luxury hotels. I going to go Istanbul next summer again.
That's great place. Those hotels are very luxury.Hotel information is probably wide of site. True?
Hi all, istanbul is very crowded than other metropol cities. So traffic is awful. But hotels have many specifications about culture and hictorical. Finally prices are very comfortable against other metropol.
There are many night clubs, pubs, restaurants and taverns with live music in the city. The night clubs, restaurants and bars increase in number and move to open air spaces in the summer. The areas around Istiklal Avenue and Nişantaşı offer all sorts of cafés, restaurants, pubs and clubs as well as art galleries, theaters and cinemas.