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Destination

Top Reasons to Visit Istanbul: A City of Timeless Charm

20 Nov 2024

This city at the end of Europe has had more historic events than similar cities in Europe or the Middle East. Today it is among the most visited cities in the world, attracting millions of tourists from the East and the West. This city was the capital of different empires for a millennium and a half, though Turkey chose Ankara as its capital after it became a Republic. Today it is an important cultural and economic center in the country, apart from being the largest city. Most people come here to admire the architectural wonders of the past, though it has a modern impressive skyline too. A lot of people also come to see the point that divides Europe and Asia, the Bosporus Strait, which has a few bridges over it offering wonderful views all around you.

History leaves its marks

The old name of the city was Constantinople and it was the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. This means that you will find plenty of old churches here, though there are not many followers of Christianity here. These attract many European visitors who wish to see what their co-religionists did here centuries ago. By the time the Ottoman Empire became powerful, most locals had converted to Islam and here you will find many large mosques, with architecture unique to this part of the world. There are plenty of old buildings spread across the city with a few large palaces. You can always catch a cruise ride taking you over the Bosporus Strait, choosing the one that offers the sights of the sides of the city you wish to see.

Beyond the city limits

There are a few islands that are part of the city, most of which are part of the Princes islands. You have the option of traveling with a large ferry with many other passengers or for a private tour with you and your group. You can walk through the streets here to admire the views of everything around you. You can also choose to go to the villages or mountains close to the city. You can go for rides with vehicles suitable for the terrain or try zip lining. There are even cable cars to take you up the mountains and once you reach a good height you will have marvelous views to admire all around you.

Culinary adventures of the Turkish kind

As you will expect from a city at meeting points of different cultures, the cuisine here has been influenced by the contact of the locals with the outside world apart from what is grown around here. There are fine dining options here but if you are not able to reserve your table on time, there are plenty of street food vendors. You will find rolls and pies with plenty of meat in them. Then there are the sweet dishes like the Turkish delight and baklava. You will even find items that look like a pizza but taste very different and burgers with ingredients that you may not be used to. If all this interests you, there are the cooking classes to learn about how all these are prepared. While you are here, you should try the drinks like the Turkish tea.

Traveling around Istanbul

This city has a good network of roads, as a city of its stature deserves, so you can hire a cab and see all the important landmarks in a day unless you prefer the cheaper option of riding buses for the same purpose. There are buses just for the tourists too or you can hire a bike and ride around at leisure. There are trams which will allow you to see a large part of the city from a different angle or you can try the metros stopping close to the tourist attractions you wish to see. All this will allow you to see 2 continents in a day.

A culture on the edges of Europe

You may or may not have heard of dervish dances, but these are something that you will definitely enjoy if you have always wanted to see something exotic. The Sufi dances are always accompanied by traditional music. This city even has some old libraries, with amazing insides and amazing books, though these may not be in the languages that you would understand. The markets, known as bazaars come with items that you will want to fill your living room with. As you walk through the city streets, you may find cats lying around and parrots flying over you. Falconry is still popular here and you find some people willing to share their birds with you.

Conclusion

Istanbul has something for you, no matter what month of the year it is. While summer offers you closeness to the water, the winter comes with snowfall, offering you the opportunity to skate. There is the old city for the history buffs and the modern half for those looking for something unusual. Whether you are after a solo adventure or a family adventure, you will be able to plan an interesting itinerary for you or your group. To travel from the USA to Istanbul, you can book cheap flights to Istanbul Airport (IST), which serves as Turkey's main international hub. Several airlines, including Turkish Airlines, Delta, and United, offer direct or connecting flights from major U.S. cities like New York (JFK), Chicago (ORD), or Los Angeles (LAX). Nonstop flights are commonly available from New York via Turkish Airlines.

By FlightsChannel Team
Category
Featured Blog
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