Travel Istanbul Guide

The only city in the world that remains in both Asia and Europe, Istanbul also straddles the ancient and contemporary worlds.

The best way to experience Istanbul is to allow for unscheduled wandering in between check outs to historical sites and museums. Increase early enough to take part of the popular Turkish breakfast. And ride the ferries, typically. They're not simply a way to obtain from here to there; on a ferry you can rest feet tired from sightseeing, beverage tea, or eat a grilled-cheese sandwich and take in the very best views of anywhere in the city.

The ghosts of marauding Crusaders and marching janissaries haunt the city's historical alleyways-- but this is no museum: the Bosporus is still a buzzing artery for maritime trade, and the noises of building construction play istanbul tourism a constant counterpoint to the shouts of street hawkers and the call of the muezzin. There are several reasons why visitors return consistently: the setting is remarkable, ideal on the Sea of Marmara and astride the hectic Bosporus Strait. And Istanbul's horizon is a spectacular mélange of domes, turrets, medieval towers, and office buildings towering above low-rise domestic structures.

Today the cultural and financial center of Turkey, Istanbul has actually been the capital of 3 empires-- Byzantine, Roman, and Ottoman. Our Istanbul travel guide integrates the very best of Istanbul old and new.