Istanbul is a truly cosmopolitan city combining races, cultures and religions. The city is a great place to visit to experience traditional Turkey and is a hot spot for business trips and meetings. It is a great place for a cultural city break.
Things to do and see:
- Beyazit Tower – This famous tower was built in 1828 and is made of wood – a real fire hazard you may think. This is indeed the case and so it is advisable to check this piece of history out as soon as possible to be sure not to miss it.
- Open Air Museums – Visit The Rumeli Fortress or the Yedikule (seven towers) to see some of the great historical landmarks in Istanbul. The Yedikule is the city gate and one of the main entrances to the city whist the Rumeli Fortress was built to protect the city from intruders.
- Tour – Take a tour to Prince’s Island in which modern transport is banned and people travel via horse and cart. Visit for the day or spend the night in one of the island’s hotels.
- Nature – Although a city, Istanbul has a lot of natural areas to be found, try heading into the Belgrade Forest or the Beykoz Woods.
Getting there: Ataturk International Airport is located 14 miles from the city centre of Istanbul. You can board a metro from the arrivals gate which will take you to the city or you can catch a bus or take a taxi.
Location and weather: The climate of Istanbul is hard to categorise and as such there are said to be 4 seasons – hot, cold and two transitional stages. The hottest months are July and August.
Top tip: Check out one of the many Bazzars Istanbul has to offer to pick up a bargain.
|
