What is Istanbul like?

Question

Have you ever been? What were your impressions? What is there to do and see there?

Is there enough to do there, to fill up a week?

Answer 1

Firstly, i have to say, there are many places that you can spend all your time. one or two weeks might not be enough to visit every place in worth.

i will add a few things to Tanju's writing,

The Bosphorus might be thought as the most beautiful part of istanbul. It brings Asia and Europa together that there is approximately one or two km between these continents. There are two bridges which connect the continents. People who live in any side and go to work to the other side, alter their continent that they stand on 10 times a week :)

You can do many things in the Bosphorus. Let me tell you a few things; visiting the Palaces such as Beylerbeyi, getting into a boat for the Bosphorus trip or eating meal in Bosphorus restaurants near the sea, by listening the waves of the sea and watching the opposite continent! :)

There are many historical places, of course, too. Topkapi, Sultanahmet, Beylerbeyi Sarayi and so on... Istanbul is definitely a historical city. That's why, you wont see so many skyscrapers at the center of the city, but, in 4. Levent and in Maslak...

There are also many and big shopping centers in İstanbul;
Metrocity, Canyon, Cevahir, Profilo Shopping Center, Capitol (in Anatolian side), Metro, Carrefour (i dont know how many but there might be 3 or 4) these are big shopping centers that you can visit and enjoy but smaller ones cannot be written one by one. Cinemas, theaters, sport centers, etc, abstractly whatever you are looking for...

Furthermore, the islands, where you can get into a phaeton and sightsee the beauties of or go to the swimming in the summer, are worth to visit, too.

I almost forget Taksim which is accepted as the center of istanbul. Especially, if you wanna go to a night entertainment, there are pubs, bars, cafes, etc...

Of course, these are not all the places, but are a few places that u can go to. you may go somewhere in istanbul and like much more which is not written here. but, everybody finds a part from him/her.self in istanbul.

Finally, by coming to Istanbul, you only wont have seen istanbul, but also, feel and taste the difference by coming to a country which has reflections from both Europa and Asia.

by the way, dont forget to bring your camera which should have a few gigabites memory of disk, otherwise you will be regretful, i am sure :))

Answer 2

I am English but live in Turkey .I often travel to Istanbul for a weekend break.I think it is must see place but I wouldnt spend a week there if I was a tourist.The first time I went I spent three days in Istanbul and then went on to Northern Cyprus and needed a few days relaxation on the beach after all the bustle ans very steep streets of Istanbul.There is plenty to see and if you can get an hotel in the Sultan Ahmet area it is handy for all the main sites.

Answer 3

Coveted by empires over the centuries, straddling Europe and Asia, Istanbul is one of many world's good metropolises an you can begin to discover with Hotelbye . The town was formally named Istanbul after the founding of the Turkish Republic and is liberally scattered with wonderful remnants of their extended and illustrious history, and the sightseeing here can impress even probably the most monument-weary visitor. The mosque Sultan Ahmet, also called the Blue Mosque isone of the one thing should see in Istanbul. Blue Mosque was developed between 1609 and 1616 and it caused a furore throughout the Muslim world when it was finished since it had six minarets. The mosque gets its nickname from their inside decor of tens of thousands of İznik tiles. The whole spatial and color effectation of the interior make the mosque one of many finest achievements of Ottoman structure and a location worth visit.

Answer 4

Hi,

First of all, I am living in Istanbul.

The city has had many names through its history and according to the culture, language and religion of its rulers. Byzantium, Constantinople and Stamboul are examples that may still be found in active use. The etymology of the names and an extended list of old names can be found under Names of Istanbul. It has also been nicknamed "The City on Seven Hills".

Today, Istanbul is one of the most important Tourism spots of Turkey. There are thousands of hotels and other tourist oriented industries in Istanbul catering to both vacationers and visiting professionals.

It is also one of the world’s most exciting conference destinations and is an increasingly popular choice for the world’s leading international associations.

Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) and Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Cami) are in Sultanahmet. They are best historical places.

If you want to shopping, you must visit Old Pazar (Kapalı Carsi). There are lots of historical and carpets goods.


And the last one Hidiv Kasri.
The prominent white tower on the hill above Kanlıca is Hidiv Kasrı, built in 1907 as the holiday home of the Khedive of Egypt. Hidiv Kasrı is now a restaurant set in a very attractive park. Kanlıca and Anadolu Hisarı are pleasant villages with cafes on the waterfront to sit and take tea.

Regards


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/İstanbul

Answer 5

I live here and love it. It is probably the most beautiful city in the world. Yes, plenty to do for a week, especially in nice weather. You could take a whole day doing a Bosphorus cruise with a nice fish lunch at the mouth of the Black Sea. And other day on the islands. Other people have given specifics of what else to see. Hit Taksim at night for a film and a club and sightsee in the day. It's fantastic.

Answer 6

A week is not enough for Istanbul I think.

Answer 7

istanbul is like an amazing sandwich that your every bite tastes from different the others and includes the richest stuff in it... believe me istanbul is like no other!!! in the world i dot believe that there is a city like istanbul that mixes the ancient ottoman culture and modern life...go ith the rhytm enjoy turkey and istanbul

Answer 8

permit the Turks call it istunbull or maybe though they prefer however the the remainder of the worldwide would desire to call it properly and that's Constantinople or Constantinoupolis. The Turks are additionally calling it Constantinople, they only pronuncing it incorrect and this blunders has been happening for a while. 'is tan bul' comes from the Greek 'is tin polin' meaning 'to the city'. As approximately 'could settle for lower back to the Greeks'... not something replace into ever given in background, the rustic who needs it, can combat for it. upload : that mama li turci particularly has some matters. upload : omit Skopian Sheep, replace into THESSALONIKI initially pronounced as 'SOLUN' ???????????????? THESSALONIKI IS ITS unique call ! What does this call mean on your bulgarian dialect ? the city replace into based around 315 BC by the King Cassander of Macedon, on or close to the region of the classic city of Therma and twenty-six different close by villages. He named it after his spouse Thessalonike, a nil.5-sister of Alexander the great (Thessalo-nik? potential the "victory over Thessalians" in greek).

Answer 9

Chaotic, and it is dying a little bit every day , because of the over population...But....the best city in the world.Because it combines the East with the West.All the civilisations,all the centuries..And always fascinating, keeping its elegant elements through the centuries..But if you want to enjoy it dont go in winter.I went in winter and it was raining...Go...and you ll never regret it...

Answer 10

I live in Istanbul.

Here is great. It is very interesting, historical and lifeful.I have seen its historical places like Maiden Tower, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Bosphorus Bridge (I cross it twice a day), but not its lifeful places like discos, bars yet. I hope I will see them when I grow up :-)