The Istanbul area of Turkey is one of the world’s greatest destinations. The combination of its old area with its ancient history is in striking contrast to new vibrant business districts. The wonderful climate has made Istanbul a year-round destination and visitors can enjoy historic sites as well as the vibrant nightlife and designer shopping of Turkey’s largest city.
Autumn and winter months are perfect seasons to enjoy many historic buildings and stunning architecture. Some iconic landmarks include the Hagia Sophia, a former church, and later a mosque. This is now a museum and a great architectural beauty.
The Blue Mosque is one of only a few in the world with six minarets and is still a place of prayer. A short ferry ride away is where you can explore peaceful Uskudar district and the legend-laden Maiden Tower set on an islet. No matter where you go, there is always something to see and do.Birçok savaşa tanıklık eden ve kendisi için sayısız mücadelelerin verildiği gözde şehir İstanbul Türkiye’nin en büyük ve gelişmiş şehridir. Ülkenin en kalabalık şehri olmasıyla beraber nüfusu yaklaşık on beş milyondur.
Exploring European Istanbul
Out of both continents, the European area garners more fame and attraction than the Asian side. This is because it's home to the Sultanahmet and Beyoglu districts named new and old parts.The Golden horn separates both, while the Bosphorus straits separates them from the Asian Side.
Sultanahmet, Turkey’s top touristic destination welcomes millions of visitors every year, who are eager to see landmark buildings built by the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Beyoglu, home to Taksim Independence square and Istiklal avenue also offers a few tourist attractions alongside its vibrant shopping and nightlife scenes.
Other prominent districts for tourism include Besiktas and Ortakoy. Meanwhile up and coming districts for real estate include Bakirkoy, Beylikduzu, Bahcesehir, Esenyurt, Kucukcekmece, Buyukcekmece, and Sariyer, an upmarket destination with many millionaire homes.
The Asian Area of Istanbul
Both Turks and international tourists have ignored Asian Istanbul for many decades, yet as the internet advanced and travellers got more curious, its profile rose. Thanks to excellent transport links, it’s also a good place to live and commute to the European area.
Also called the Anatolian area, some neighbourhoods like Kandilli, Beylerbi, Bostanci, Pendik, and Beykoz are rising in popularity but, it is Uskudar and Kadikoy that capture the most attention. Uskudar’s excellent ferry network links with the other side make it the main travel hub, while Kadikoy, is where leisure, nightlife, and shopping shine through.
The 14-kilometre Bagdat Avenue is the Asian area’s main street and some travel writers have even compared it to Rodeo Drive in the USA. Home to millionaire homes and upmarket brand boutiques, this is an area with self-indulgence at the forefront of society.
