Located in the heart of Turkey, Istanbul is one of the world’s great cities famous for its historical monuments and splendid scenic beauties. It is the city which spreads over two continents, lying at a point where Asia and Europe are separated by a narrow channel known as Boshphorus. It has a history of over 2,500 years and ever since its inception, the city has been a center of trade. Few centuries ago, Istanbul was a home to the Elite of the era who ruled the world from there. It has been the capital of three great empires of its time, The Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. No city has such historic value than Istanbul.
Istanbul is full of masterpieces of Turkish art, the great mosques of Sultans and the magnificent historic places. From the Blue Mosque and Aya Sofya to the Topkapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern, it’s amazing structures are full of history and are breathtakingly beautiful. The city presents an exquisite and majestic view from all directions.
In cultured Istanbul, you’re never far away from an arts, film or music festival. It may be opera in the cavernous Atatürk Cultural Centre in Taksim Square or summertime jazz in Cemil Topuzlu open-air theater in leafy Harbiye. Beyoglu is where Istanbul’s revelers head to sip cocktails at fashionable rooftop bars or join friends at outdoor cafés with a tulip-shaped glass of tea. At funky Babylon club, catch the latest Balkan fusion band, or join football-mad fans on the terraces to cheer on Besiktas. Undoubtedly, Istanbul is a happening city. At first, the city can appear to be expensive and a bit overwhelming, but once you walk a few steps away from the tourist areas, you’ll discover an entire world of local eateries and shops, shisha cafes, bars and a lot more, all at a very reasonable prices.
Istanbul is surely the city for shopping. The Grand Bazaar has been serving shoppers since the mid-fifteenth century with more than 3000 stalls to look around. The traditional Turkish carpets and antique jewelry are one of the many things that catch the eye of tourists. Turkey is officially a Muslim country, but they have a vibrant party scene. Taking advantage of its beautiful location, Istanbul’s night-life is one thing tourists enjoy the most. Many of its best bars are on the Bosphorus waterfront or on its soaring rooftops. There’s a reason why Istanbul is quickly becoming many travelers’ favorite city.
Intercity travelling for tourists is reasonably easy. Istanbul is full of taxis, it has an extremely efficient bus system, regular trams and plenty of ferries. All you need is a travel card and you can easily find these in the many news stands.A ferry ride is a great way to see the famous Bosphorus that separates Asia from Europe, with some of the best city views in the world.
It should be no surprise that Istanbul is the kind of city that tourists feel the desire to return to over and over again. After all, one visit simply isn’t enough to properly explore all that this amazing destination has to offer.
Sijal Raza is a graduate in Mass Communication who loves travel and culture; working as a content writer at Kluchit.com
