Istanbul city guide
Istanbul : Intercontinental city on both sides of the Bosphorus. Meeting point of Europe and Asia . Istanbul which was the capital of The Byzantine Empire and Ottoman Empire is one of the oldest cities of the World. Nowadays it is the cultural and financial center of Turkey .
Best time to visit : July and August is hot but it is very popular. Spring ( March especially April and May ) and Autumn (September to November ) are the ideal time to visit. Winter is cold but presents a different beauty.
Marmara Sea and Istanbul's European Side
15 July Martyrs Bridge
Historical Buildings
Blue Mosque
Popular historical places
other
Historical buildings and monuments in Istanbul
Popular places
visit Historical Peninsula ( Old city ) :
Popular places in the Historical Peninsula or
Moda , a popular district in Istanbul
Rahmi Koc museum
Museums :
Archaeological, industrial , islamic , military and art museums in Istanbul.
Attractions :
- Old City
- Miniaturk: Miniature park in Sutluce ( Golden Horn ). Models of the famous symbols of the civilizations: Topkapi palace, Hagia Sophia, Anitkabir , Selimiye Mosque ....
- Vialand Theme Park : in Eyup ( Golden Horn ) . Activities like Magic room , Breath Taker, Sponge Bob , Jet ski, Wild River .
Stores, Restaurants & Cafes , Cinema, Bowling.
- European side
- Istanbul Aquarium : in Florya: Approximately 1.500 species, 17.000 land and sea creatures in total. 16 themes and 1 rainforest. Activities like scuba training, sea diving, fish feeding hours
- Sea Life Aquarium : in Bayrampasha. Largest shark collection. 83m long underwater Ocean Tunnel, 270 degree panoramic viewing Sea Bed, 21 themed zones with 47 display tanks and more than 15,000 sea creatures.
Festivals:
International Istanbul Film Festival , in April
International Istanbul Theatre Festival , in May
International Istanbul Music Festival , in June
International Istanbul Jazz Festival , in July
Multiple art festivals organized by private institutions.
Parks :
- European side
- Belgrad Forest: A forest in the north of Istanbul in Sariyer
- Emirgan Park: A large park in Sariyer which overlooks the Bosphorus.
- Ataturk Arboretum : Collections of plants & trees, popular for nature walks & photos in Sariyer
- Asian side
- Kalamis Ataturk Park : Large park at the seaside
- Yogurtcu Park : Near the Fenerbahce football team Ulker Stadium
- Fenerbahce Park : In Fenerbahce Cape , Kalamis Bay.
- Goztepe Liberty Park
- Goztepe 60th Year Park
Airports:
- New Istanbul Airport: In Arnavutkoy district on the north of the European side. ( 54 kilometres north of the European city centre).
- Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in Kurtkoy district on the Asian side: ( 45 kilometres east of the European city centre).
Intercontinental Bridges:
- 15 July Martyrs Bridge
- Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge
- Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge
Telephone code:
Country code Turkey :+90 : Istanbul code : 212 ( for European side ) , 216 ( for Asian side) Example for a call in European side +90 212 123 45 ..
Weather:
Get Weather in Istanbul Best times to visit Istanbul. 5-day forecast and monthly temperature and precipitation data.
Istanbul Map
