Istanbul
Being one of the oldest cities in the world, Istanbul, which is a bridge connecting Europe and Asia, is a cultural tourism capital that served as the capital of the Roman, Byzantine,
and Ottoman Empires, respectively. Stone tools, which were found to be 400 years old and found during the excavations carried out in recent years, are evidence of Istanbul’s claim to be the capital of civilizations.
Again, after the last excavations on the Anatolian side, traces of 5.5 BC were found, indicating that the oldest communities living in the Marmara and Aegean regions emerged during these dates. Istanbul, one of the oldest settlements in the history of humanity, is the 7th city with the densest population in the world even today and is still shown as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
HISTORY OF ISTANBUL
Istanbul is a world city located at the intersection of the continents of Europe and Asia, with a history of 8500 years, an urban history of approximately 3,000, and a capital of 1600 years, in line with the harbor found during the excavations in Yenikapi, the settlement date of which was last done. It has hosted different civilizations throughout the ages and has taken a unique form throughout history by preserving its cosmopolitan and metropolitan structure where people from various religions, languages, and races lived together.
Istanbul has five major periods with its historical outlines;
- Prehistoric times
- Establishment Period and Byzantine Period
- Constantinople Period
- Konstantiniyye Period
- Istanbul Period
WHEN TO GO TO ISTANBUL FOR HOLIDAY
There is no season or time to visit Istanbul because it is a city that lives 24/7, 365 days a year. As the city can be visited in every season of the year due to its 24/7 living structure, you can embark on a different holiday adventure in Istanbul every season. We recommend you visit the holiday themes we have prepared for Istanbul. However, if you have time to take a day trip, you can also make a nice Istanbul getaway by choosing a suitable address for yourself in the continuation of our article.
HOW TO GET TO ISTANBUL?
Istanbul by road
If you want to go to Istanbul by road and use a bus, it is possible to reach the city by bus from any city in Turkey. However, what you should pay attention to here is which part of Istanbul you will go to. If you want to go to the Anatolian side, you should use Harem, Dudullu, and Kurtkoy, or if you want to go to the European side, you should use Esenler or Alibeykoy bus station.
Istanbul by Air
Being a city that receives thousands of domestic and international flights during the day, Istanbul has Sabiha Gokcen Airport on the Anatolian side and Ataturk Airport which is now Istanbul Airport on the European side. You can easily use public transportation vehicles such as metro, bus, and taxi at both airports.
Istanbul by Railroad
It is possible to make nostalgic trips to Istanbul from many points by rail. During your domestic travels, you can travel to Istanbul via Sirkeci or Pendik stations, both domestically and internationally. You can reach Istanbul by rail from Eskisehir, Ankara, Konya, Gaziantep, Kars, and Van in the country, and you can travel to Istanbul by rail in the cities of Vienna, Munich, Thessaloniki, Budapest, Aleppo, Moscow, and Bucharest abroad.
Seaway
It is possible to reach Istanbul port from anywhere in the world by sea. In Turkey, you can reach Istanbul by ferry or sea bus from Bursa and by ferry from Bandirma and Izmir.
PLACES TO SEE IN ISTANBUL
Whether you are going to Istanbul for a business trip or for a holiday, look at the content we have created for you, valuable Woxx Travel users, about some of the must-see places in the city. Although there are dozens of holiday themes in Istanbul, we have divided them into two parts for you.
- Istanbul Cultural Tourism
- Istanbul Entertainment Tourism
CULTURAL TOURISM IN ISTANBUL
The Historical Peninsula is the region surrounded by the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara and known as the place where the City of Istanbul was first established. The city walls from the Byzantine period form the western border of the peninsula, and since the Ottoman period, this area is also called the inside of the city walls. However, another reason for giving this name is that there are countless palaces, mosques, churches, fountains, obelisks and residences from the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. The places you must see in the historical peninsula;
Hagia Sophia
Known as the Hagia Sophia Museum, Church, and Mosque, it is the most famous structure in the history of Istanbul. In fact, Hagia Sophia, which was a basilica built in the old city center by the Byzantine emperor Justinian I between 532-537, was converted into a mosque by Fatih Sultan Mehmet after the conquest of Istanbul by the Ottoman Empire. The place, which served as a museum from 1935 until 2020, was given the status of a mosque again after 2020. Hagia Sophia is a domed basilica type building that combines the central plan in terms of architecture and is considered an important turning point in the history of architecture with its dome passage and carrier system features.
The features that distinguish Hagia Sophia from other works are;
- It is the oldest cathedral in the world As of the period it was built, it was the worlds largest cathedral for a thousand years.
- It is the fastest (in 5 years) construction cathedral in the world.
- For 15 centuries, it has been one of the longest places of worship in the world.
- It has the fourth most impressive dome design in terms of dome diameter
Sultan Ahmet Mosque
Sultan Ahmet Mosque was built between 1609 and 1617 by the Ottoman Sultan Ahmet I on the historical peninsula in Istanbul. It is known as the blue mosque because of the European guests due to the green and white colored Iznik tiles used in the interior decoration of the mosque. Since Hagia Sophia was converted from a mosque to a museum in 1935, it became the main mosque of Istanbul. The design of the Sultan Ahmet Mosque is also the pinnacle of the 200-year-old synthesis of Byzantine church architecture. The fact that it contains some Byzantine influences from its neighbor, Hagia Sophia, is one of the world-class works that has a great meaning in terms of the brotherhood of religions.
Topkapi palace
It is the place where the sultans and their subjects stayed, used as the administrative center of the state for 400 years by the 600-year-old Ottoman Empire. Topkapi Palace was built by Fatih Sultan Mehmet in 1478 and has been the administrative center of the state for 380 years. Topkapi Palace, which was opened to the public by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on April 3, 1924, started to serve as a museum after this date. The palace, in which there are relics such as Hirka-i Saadet, welcomes hundreds of thousands of local and foreign visitors today. The interior structure and sections of Topkapi Palace are as follows; Palace of Imperial and inner palace, Sultanate Gate, I. Courtyard (Regiment Square), Selam Gate, II. It is known as the courtyard. Topkapi Palace, where you can find a lot of information about Ottoman culture, history, and architecture, is one of the places you should go during your Istanbul holiday.
Dolmabahce Palace
It is a building that amazes those who see it with its unique decorations, baths, architectural processes, gardens, and hand-woven carpets. The palace, which consists of three floors and has a symmetrical architecture; Almak Rococo is one of the works made during the period when the Ottomans tried to modernize, in which art movements such as Italian Renaissance, French Baroque, and English Neo-Classicism were tried to be brought together.
Other Palaces in Istanbul;
- Star Palace
- Ciragan Palace
- Beylerbeyi Palace
SHOPPING IN ISTANBUL
There are many options for shopping enthusiasts in almost every part of Istanbul, which offers many opportunities for shopping to its guests. The stores located in districts such as Taksim, Besiktas, Nisantasi, Kadikoy or the big shopping malls located all over the city have a wide range of products from textiles to souvenirs. It is also possible to find a market in Istanbul every day of the week.
It is the center of attention of visitors as well as Istanbulites, with its variety and affordable prices, which do not match the stores and shopping malls… The Saturday Market in Besiktas and the Tuesday Market in Kadikoy are among the most popular neighborhood markets.
If your preference is for more authentic and antique items, the shops around the Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, and Sultanahmet are also ideal. Horhor Bazaar in Aksaray is also an attractive place for antique lovers.