Istanbul

Istanbul is the most populous city of Turkey. It is also the cultural and economic center of the country. As the historic peninsula, the oldest part was built on seven hills; the city is nicknamed "The City on Seven Hills". The city became the third capital of the Ottoman Empire in 1453. When the Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923, the capital was moved from Istanbul to Ankara. It is also the capital of Istanbul Province. Although the city was captured by the Turks in 1453, Istanbul was an imperial capital for 1610 years. The city extends both on the European and on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, making it the only metropolis in the world that is situated on two continents.

Area & Location: Located on the Bosphorus strait, encompassed by Golden Horn, the natural harbor in the northwest of the country, Istanbul is situated at 41º00' Latitude North and 29º00' Longitude East. The western portion of the city is in Europe and the eastern portion in Asia. It covers a total area of 1,538.77 sq. km. The city has an elevation of 100m. Around 10.034.830 people reside in the city.

Tourist Attractions: Museums, monuments and other architectures entice the tourists from every nook and corner of the globe, making the city a tourist destination.

Transportation: The city is a hub of road, air, rail and water traffic. Two international airports- Ataturk International and Sabiha GOkCen Airport serve the city. The railway stations in the city link the city with other regions. The Marmaray project, which is on the anvil, will connect the rail system with an interchange station that will again connect the metro system. The Bosphorus Bridge and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, provide the Bosphorus Strait passages for two highways. The Istanbul port is another important commutation facility in the city.

Hotels: The Istanbul hotels provide traditional food items to its guests according to their requirement. Situated near the airports and railway stations, the hotels are quite comfortable and convenient for the tourists. Best Western The President Hotel, Garden House Istanbul, Megara Boutique Sultanahmet, Star Holiday Hotel, Swissotel The Bosphorus Istanbul and Hotel Grand Star are the hotels that offer world-class reception to its guests.

Places of Attraction: In addition to the skyscrapers, malls and metros, the historical mosques, churches, synagogues and palaces represent the city. Arap Mosque, Fatih Mosque, Kilic Ali Pasha Mosque, OrtakOy Mosque, Rustem Pasha Mosque, Sultanahmet Mosque or Blue Mosque and Suleymaniye Mosque are the famous mosques where pilgrims from far and wide gather. Anadoluhisari- a fortress, Beylerbeyi Palace Dolmabahce Palace, Kucuksu Palace, Tekfur Palace, The Gates of Galatasaray Lisesi and Imrahor Monument are the significant monuments often visited by tourists. Bulgarian St Stephen Church is also visited by tourists. Various museums in the city are also favourite for those coming from abroad. Fethiye Museum, Istanbul Modern Art Museum, Mosaic Museum, Istanbul Archaeology Museum, Little Hagia Sophia Museum, Istanbul Aeronautics Museum, Sadberk Hanim Museum, Sakip Sabanci Museum, Rahmi M Koc Museum, Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum and Yedikulehisar Museum are some of them.