Do you want to visit Istanbul and enjoy its beauty and rich history? Then you are in the right place, because we offer you everything you need to know about this beautiful city Istanbul is one of the most famous cities in Turkey, with its unique historical architecture, wonderful climate, and much more, and in this article, we will cover all the important information you need to plan your trip to Istanbul with confidence and comfort, so continue reading to find out more!
General information about Istanbul
Istanbul is the largest Turkish city in terms of population, where their number reaches more than 15 million people the city is the cultural and economic center of the country and the city spreads across 39 districts that form a mixture of rich cultures and diverse histories.
The city was founded as "Byzantium" in the seventh century BC and was known as "Constantinople" and "Alexandretta" later the city contained many famous monuments such as Hagia Sophia, Sultan Ahmed, the Blue Mosque, and others, as the city also features its traditional markets filled with artisans and merchants selling handcrafted Turkish products.
Transportation in Istanbul is developed and varied, as it uses means of transportation such as metro, buses, trams, and ferries to facilitate the movement of residents within the city Istanbul's new airport is one of the largest in the world, and reinforces the city's position as an important tourist destination.
Istanbul attracts many tourists from all over the world due to its diverse cultures and rich history and among the most famous tourist attractions in the city are the Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, and others.
Thanks to its privileged geographical location, Istanbul is an important center for international trade, and city municipalities sometimes represent independent economic powers themselves the Istanbul Canal project, which aims to encourage private investment and improve shipping connections between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, is one of the largest modern projects in the world.
The geography of Istanbul
Istanbul is located in northwest Türkiye and is the largest city in the country the city consists of 39 districts and covers an area of 5,343 square kilometers and it has a population of over 15 million, making it one of the most populous cities in the world.
Istanbul has an exceptional location at the merging point of the two continents of Europe and Asia, so the people in the city have a common culture and language between the two continents the metropolitan municipality of Istanbul consists of several districts, including Basaksehir district, Kadikoy district, and Sisli district.
Istanbul contains 540 historical landmark points, and while preserving its ancient heritage and modern development, its developed economy is one of the most important reasons for attracting tourists and investors.
The history of Istanbul
The history of the city of Istanbul dates back to 8,500 years ago, according to the archaeological findings of the excavations that were conducted in the Yenikapi area since its establishment, the city has developed under the rule of many countries in history, and has been the center of different cultures and the city also embraced a wide range of historical monuments, which include mosques, churches, palaces and fortified castles.
In the Byzantine period, Istanbul was known as Constantinople, after the famous Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, who chose the city as the capital of the Roman Empire than under the name "New Constantinople", then after the Ottoman conquest in 1453, it became under the name "Istanbul", and became the capital of the Ottoman Empire.
Over recent years, Istanbul has witnessed great development in all fields, and the city has become an economic, cultural, and historical center for Turkey and the whole world visitors can enjoy its vibrant streets, famous shops and restaurants, as well as its many wonderful historical and cultural attractions.
Transportation lines in Istanbul
Istanbul is famous for its extensive and integrated public transportation network, with buses, trains, metro, sea ships, and taxis available, allowing residents and visitors to move freely.
The metro bus line in Istanbul is one of the most important means of transportation, as it is the longest and fastest in the city, in addition to the fact that its buses are double in length and wide, and there are two lines available to go and return and it is not affected by traffic congestion.
Transport buses between neighborhoods in Istanbul are characterized by being an integrated network, and they are abundant to cover all parts of the city.
In addition to buses, there are a large number of taxis in Istanbul, and they are a popular and easy-to-use means of transportation in the city, as they can be easily found at stations and streets.
Istanbul municipalities
Many services are available in different municipalities, such as paving services, cleaning services, public lighting, and other services that serve all citizens and visitors, as municipalities also help in managing crises and providing financial and material support to those in need.
Among the most famous municipalities in Istanbul: is Fatih Municipality, located in the Fatih district, and is considered the oldest among the municipalities, as it hosts several mosques and heritage monuments..in addition to the municipality of Besiktas, which is north of Istanbul the most important tourist area, and is a destination for many tourists and visitors due to its presence in the modern area of the city.
The municipality of Beylikduzu is the second largest municipality at present, and it is characterized by its wide area possesses modern and luxurious residential areas, and provides many wonderful public services to the residents.
Municipalities improve many aspects of life in Istanbul, and each municipality has its unique features that make every place special in Istanbul and make traveling to the city a vibrant experience.
Read more about Beylikduzu Istanbul
Tourism in Istanbul
Istanbul is one of the most important and famous tourist cities in the world, as it combines history, culture, tourism, and shopping, and annually receives millions of tourists from different countries of the world the tourism tour in Istanbul includes visiting many famous tourist attractions, which are distinguished by their historical heritage, such as the Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia, Sultan Ahmed, Topkapi Palace, and others and tourists can also enjoy the scenic nature, stunning scenery, heritage markets, delicious foods and energetic nightlife in Istanbul and don't miss out on this beautiful city.
Hagia Sophia and Sultan Ahmed
The Hagia Sophia Mosque in Istanbul is the most important tourist attraction to visit its establishment dates back to the sixth century AD, and it was converted from a cathedral to a mosque into a museum, to announce at a later time that it would be converted back into a mosque.
Hagia Sophia is distinguished by its towering and impressive architecture, and it is known in the literature as "a group of civilizations that meet."
The Great Mosque, built by Sultan Ahmed I, is the only mosque with six minarets and it is called the Blue Mosque because of the intense and attractive decorative materials in decorating its internal and external facades.
The area around the Hagia Sophia Mosque and the Blue Mosque is one of the most famous shopping areas in Istanbul, as it includes many huge stores and shops.
A visit to the Topkapi Museum does not represent the strength of the Ottoman civilization contained in the dazzling porticoes and the amazing designs of the furniture, especially the indications of the ancient ownership of the magnates and rulers.
Among the other tourist places located in the Istanbul region is the Topkapi Palace, which was built in the fifteenth century, and includes a collection of wonderful paintings and a beautiful archaeological collection.
Gülhane Park is known for its stunning sea view, and it has many restaurants and cafes tasting unique Ottoman foods is one of the best travel experiences of the 16th century.
Grand Bazaar and Istanbul markets
The Grand Bazaar and Markets of Istanbul is the jewel of the Turkish city and Grand Bazaar is located in the heart of the old city and it is the perfect place to buy authentic Turkish gifts and tastes in addition, it includes other markets in Istanbul that are worth a visit, such as the Sultan Ahmed craftsman market and the strange-shaped fish market.
Istanbul's markets are famous for offering a wide range of unique local and international items, including handicrafts, carpets, and jewelry and shoppers can wander the air-conditioned corridors of the Grand Bazaar.
Moreover, Istanbul's oddly shaped Balik Bazaar and Sultanahmet's other artisan market a nice places to sit near the water and enjoy the local seafood and traditional markets.
The Turkish Bazaar and other markets in Istanbul offer an enjoyable shopping experience for tourists, where they can enjoy seeing local goods and learning about the city's eventful history those looking for more luxury and luxury, they can visit the Zorlu Center shopping center in Istanbul, which is a wonderful shopping center that includes many famous international brands.
Read about The Importance of the Covered Market in Istanbul
Mall of Istanbul
The Mall of Istanbul is one of the most important shopping centers in the city, and it is an attractive tourist destination for visitors the mall is the largest in the city and is located in a huge commercial complex that was established in 2014 and the complex consists of seven towers, including four residential towers, an office tower, a huge hotel building, and a large shopping mall and the mall has the products that tourists need, including clothes, electronics, food, and gifts, which makes it an ideal shopping destination. The mall extends over a wide area, and visitors may need more than a day to enjoy all the mall facilities.
Istanbul New Airport and Istanbul Water Canal
The Istanbul Water Canal is an important project in Turkey that aims to reduce congestion in the Bosphorus Strait, and to provide an alternative passage for large ships and tankers, as the length of the canal is 45 kilometers, its maximum capacity is 160 million tons annually, and its cost exceeds $10 billion.
Istanbul New Airport is an international airport in Turkey and it is the largest in the world in terms of area, and it operates with the help of modern technology and the main buildings of the airport include dozens of restaurants and shops, as well as lounges for rest, sleep and health emergencies.
Istanbul's new airport is characterized as one of the air stadiums specially designed to carry the largest possible number of passengers and various aircraft and the airport also includes innovative art exhibits distributed in its various branches.
One of the goals of Istanbul's new airport is to launch a car rental service at reasonable prices to facilitate internal movement in Turkey and to launch a service to deliver passengers to and from the airport using private cars, and this will help reduce traffic density.
The Istanbul Water Canal will reduce pressure on the Bosphorus Strait and increase navigation traffic for large ships and the project is expected to achieve many economic and tourism benefits for Turkey in the future.
The Istanbul Canal will be connected by railways, to facilitate transportation between the Asian and European sides of Istanbul.
The new airport in Istanbul is designed in a way that is compatible with the environment and reduces the effects of noise and environmental pollution and solar energy and recycling technologies are used for various purposes within the airport.
The Istanbul Water Canal will be a civilized bridge that contributes to raising the value of business and tourism in Turkey and transforming Istanbul into a global center for sea and air transport.
It is expected that the work of cafes, restaurants, and open-air shops will spread at the new Istanbul Airport, which will provide more convenient services for passengers and increase commercial traffic in the region.
The official operation of the Istanbul Water Canal is expected to start in 2027, and there will be services for passengers and freight from the Black Sea ports to other destinations in the region there will also be new urban development projects in the areas surrounding the canal.