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- Welcome ! This page has been prepared in order
to help those who wish to visit and take photos of Istanbul, with amateur
purposes, therefore there could be some defects. That's why I would like
to point out not every one but the most important sights of Istanbul.
- Brief history of Istanbul ;
Founded as a small settlement known as Semista in about 1000B.C.
Istanbul grew from a fishing village to a city called Byzantium in 657
B.C. The city was established by a Greek colonist named Byzas.
In 324 A.D. when the Roman Emperor Constantine claimed the throne he
reconstructed the city of Byzantium and named it Constantinople. He made
this city the capital of his kingdom, which was called the Byzantium
Empire.
The Byzantium Empire however fell to the conquering Ottoman Mehmet II in
1453 and saw a flourishing period until the 19th century. Soon after in
the 20th century, following the World War I, Istanbul lost its position as
the capital of Turkey to Ankara. However, it continues to hold its ground
today by being the business and cultural center of Turkey apart from being
its largest port and city.
Istanbul or the ancient city of
Constantinople, spells splendor, magnificence and grandeur. Made famous by
crusaders, this ancient city is at present Turkey's cultural heart and
erstwhile capital. Surrounded by the Marmara Sea and the Black Sea, this
important port city is positioned on both Europe and Asia. The important
body of water dividing Istanbul into two is the Bosphorus, which is also
the only alternative to reach the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
This strategic position maintains Istanbul’s importance on the world map.
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How to get Istanbul ;
By air ;
Some airlines and Turkish Airlines
THY run competitive flights to Istanbul from all over the world, alongside
the major national carriers, though in some cases from other continents it
may prove worthwhile to take a cheaper flight into Europe and to take a
connecting flight from there. From northern Europe, the distance, the
steady rise in popularity of Turkey as a tourist destination, and the visa
restrictions of Bulgaria and Romania combine to make travel by air often
the cheapest, and by far the most convenient, direct route to Istanbul.
Those with an eye on their budget should scan newspapers and travel agents
for huge discounts and charter flights, especially, but not only, during
the tourist seasons, and will probably find the effort very well rewarded.
It should be noted that a cheap charter . On arrival at lstanbul Ataturk
Airport there is a rapidly improving bus service (HAVAS) to take you
through Aksaray to Taksim. Also, you may always use your attentive taxi
driver, which is not too expensive either.
By land ;
By comparison, travel by land is strictly for those coming from closer, or
with places to go en route. By bus, though, for longer distances it's only
the sight rather than the feel of the places that's on offer as the
journey can't usually be broken and rejoined, and interminable border
crossings and transit visas only reinforce the feelings that your holiday
would be best spent in Istanbul itself rather than on the way, there.
By car ; there are likely to be similar border concerns, and visas should be
looked into well in advance of crossing the Balkans. The most attractive
route is to park your car on a boat in Venice for a more relaxed
Mediterranean voyage to Izmir, where you'll be able to compare the Italian
style of driving with the Turkish as you head up the Aegean coast to
Istanbul. For entry into Turkey, an international driving licence and
insurance are necessary, and for tax purposes the same car must be with
you when you leave.
By rail ; too, you can normally arrange to break your journey and explore
the lands you are crossing, but with flying a cheaper alternative, then
unless you have a specific destination en route, train travel should only
be considered by those with a deep fear of both flying and buses. For the
incurably romantic with plenty of money and little sense of direction
there is always the Orient Express, but unfortunately it no longer goes as
far as Istanbul and you'll have to make your own way from Venice.
- Accommodation ;
Hotels in Istanbul are countless. You can find all sorts of hotels, from
small pension to international standart and luxury hotels.
But I will recommend you choose your hotel located at Sultanahmet area
which is heart of old town . I think 2 links below will helps you.
http://www.istanbulshotels.com/sultanahmet_area.htm
http://www.istanbullife.org/tophotelsinistanbul/suggested-hotels-in-sultanahmet.htm
- RECOMMENDED TOP TEN SIGHTS :
1- Topkapı Palace Museum (Topkapı Sarayı)
http://www.topkapisarayi.gov.tr
2- The Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii)
3- Hagia Sophia Museum (Ayasofya Müzesi)
4- Khora Church / Kariye Museum
5- Dolmabahçe Palace (Dolmabahçe Sarayı)
6- The Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarayı)
http://www.yerebatan.com/english/index.html
7- The Covered Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı)
8- The Bosphorus
9- Galata Tower
http://www.galatatower.net
10- Cağaloğlu Turkish Bath
http://www.cagalogluhamami.com.tr
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