What is Istanbul like?

Travel Info
Have you ever been? What were your impressions? What is there to do and see there?

Is there enough to do there, to fill up a week?

Travel Tips

Firstly, i have to say, there are many places that you can spend all your time. one or two weeks might not be enough to visit every place in worth.

i will add a few things to Tanju's writing,

The Bosphorus might be thought as the most beautiful part of istanbul. It brings Asia and Europa together that there is approximately one or two km between these continents. There are two bridges which connect the continents. People who live in any side and go to work to the other side, alter their continent that they stand on 10 times a week :)

You can do many things in the Bosphorus. Let me tell you a few things; visiting the Palaces such as Beylerbeyi, getting into a boat for the Bosphorus trip or eating meal in Bosphorus restaurants near the sea, by listening the waves of the sea and watching the opposite continent! :)

There are many historical places, of course, too. Topkapi, Sultanahmet, Beylerbeyi Sarayi and so on... Istanbul is definitely a historical city. That's why, you wont see so many skyscrapers at the center of the city, but, in 4. Levent and in Maslak...

There are also many and big shopping centers in 陌stanbul;
Metrocity, Canyon, Cevahir, Profilo Shopping Center, Capitol (in Anatolian side), Metro, Carrefour (i dont know how many but there might be 3 or 4) these are big shopping centers that you can visit and enjoy but smaller ones cannot be written one by one. Cinemas, theaters, sport centers, etc, abstractly whatever you are looking for...

Furthermore, the islands, where you can get into a phaeton and sightsee the beauties of or go to the swimming in the summer, are worth to visit, too.

I almost forget Taksim which is accepted as the center of istanbul. Especially, if you wanna go to a night entertainment, there are pubs, bars, cafes, etc...

Of course, these are not all the places, but are a few places that u can go to. you may go somewhere in istanbul and like much more which is not written here. but, everybody finds a part from him/her.self in istanbul.

Finally, by coming to Istanbul, you only wont have seen istanbul, but also, feel and taste the difference by coming to a country which has reflections from both Europa and Asia.

by the way, dont forget to bring your camera which should have a few gigabites memory of disk, otherwise you will be regretful, i am sure :)) Source(s): this is the web version of the google earth (i suggest everyone use it);

http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=41049842&x=2...

these are a few pictures of the Bosphorus;

http://www.nato.int/pictures/2004/040626...
http://www.istanbulphotos.com/details.ph...
http://www.istanbulphotos.com/details.ph...
http://foto.mynet.com/onur_copur/83705/...
http://foto.mynet.com/dilbercik83/84208/...
http://www.saipem.eni.it/bluestream/imag...
http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/564/k...
http://www.cis.udel.edu/~arikan/100_0248...

Other Travel Tips
Nice place, too many Turks though..........

am joking ive never been but a friend of mine enjoyed it when she went.
Instabul, is HYGEEEEEE!Realy.And also very beatifull
i was born there it is beatiful when you go there you will be amazed
Hi,

First of all, I am living in Istanbul.

The city has had many names through its history and according to the culture, language and religion of its rulers. Byzantium, Constantinople and Stamboul are examples that may still be found in active use. The etymology of the names and an extended list of old names can be found under Names of Istanbul. It has also been nicknamed "The City on Seven Hills".

Today, Istanbul is one of the most important Tourism spots of Turkey. There are thousands of hotels and other tourist oriented industries in Istanbul catering to both vacationers and visiting professionals.

It is also one of the world鈥檚 most exciting conference destinations and is an increasingly popular choice for the world鈥檚 leading international associations.

Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) and Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Cami) are in Sultanahmet. They are best historical places.

If you want to shopping, you must visit Old Pazar (Kapal谋 Carsi). There are lots of historical and carpets goods.

And the last one Hidiv Kasri.
The prominent white tower on the hill above Kanl谋ca is Hidiv Kasr谋, built in 1907 as the holiday home of the Khedive of Egypt. Hidiv Kasr谋 is now a restaurant set in a very attractive park. Kanl谋ca and Anadolu Hisar谋 are pleasant villages with cafes on the waterfront to sit and take tea.

Regards

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/陌...
I live in Istanbul.

Here is great. It is very interesting, historical and lifeful.I have seen its historical places like Maiden Tower, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Bosphorus Bridge (I cross it twice a day), but not its lifeful places like discos, bars yet. I hope I will see them when I grow up :-)