Istanbul

Istanbul, also historically known as Constantinople, had been the seat of power for both Romans, Byzantines and the Ottomans. It is where old traditions try to survive as the fast pace of city life takes over. Filled with historical sites, lavish restaurants, great museums and lively nightlife; the city has a lot to offer.

What Makes It Special?

Historically the city is known as “The City of the World's Desire”, which emphasizes the strategic importance of its location. Turkey or ancient “Anatolia” being a crossroads in between the three continents of the “Old World”, was a hub of commercial activities as traders from wherever they were had to pass through here to reach the other “side”. Anyone who controlled Constantinople, also controlled the only passage into the Black Sea.

The old name of the city “Constantinople” derives from Constantine the Great, the Roman emperor who brought religious tolerance towards the Christians. The city, arguably, is most famous for Hagia Sophia, a church that was converted into a mosque after the conquest of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. Both Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque (named after its blue tiles) now reside where used to be the Hippodrome of the Romans. This region of the city named “Sultanahmet” or “The Old City” is where one can also visit the Palace of the Ottomans, “Topkapi”.

During the Ottoman era, the city had a mixed population of Muslims, Christians and Jews, therefore, many mosques built by the Sultans or churches and synagogues (some of which are still active) built by the non-Muslim traders and artisans can be found in the city.

Very much like other big cities in the world, most of the venues for concerts and plays of the country are located here, as well as some of the biggest museums such as the Istanbul Archaeology Museum. Of course with such a huge history, museums of every kind can be found in Istanbul.

Location & Climate

Istanbul is located to the northwest of Turkey; a city along the shores of Marmara Sea, between the Black Sea and the Aegean. Although the city is mainly thought to be the capital of Turkey, it is not, but definitely is the capital of economy and cultural activities of Turkey. More than 14 million inhabitants make it the largest city in Turkey.

The temperatures in Istanbul average around 80-90 Fahrenheit (25-33 Celsius) during the humid summer months (June,July,August), and could be as low as 40-52 Fahrenheit (4-11 Celsius) during the winter (December, January, February). It is also quite common to see fog set in. Be prepared for rain in the spring, or snow during the winter.