Istanbul Travel Guide Download

The only city worldwide that remains in both Asia and Europe, Istanbul likewise straddles the ancient and modern-day worlds.

The very best way to experience Istanbul is to enable unscheduled wandering in between visits to historical sites and museums. Rise early enough to engage of the prominent Turkish breakfast. And ride the ferryboats, often. They're not simply a way to obtain from here to there; on a ferry you can rest feet tired from sightseeing, drink tea, or eat a grilled-cheese sandwich and take in the best views of throughout the city.

The ghosts of marauding Crusaders and marching janissaries haunt the city's historic alleyways-- but this is no museum: the Bosporus is still a buzzing artery for maritime trade, and the sounds of structure construction play a constant counterpoint to the shouts of street hawkers and the call of the muezzin. There are a number of reasons visitors return consistently: the setting is extraordinary, right on the Sea of Marmara and astride the busy Bosporus Strait. And Istanbul's horizon is a stunning mélange of domes, turrets, medieval towers, and istanbul guide office buildings looming over low-rise residential structures.

Today the cultural and financial center of Turkey, Istanbul has actually been the capital of three empires-- Byzantine, Roman, and Ottoman. Our Istanbul travel guide combines the best of Istanbul old and new.