Istanbul has served as the capital of three major empires making it one of the worlds most unique cities. Located on the Bosphorus Strait that divides Europe from Asia, this has been truly where east meets west over the centuries. Located in Europe as well as Asia, Istanbul is the worlds only city in two continents.
Founded in the 7th century BC, as the Greek colony of Byzantium it Became the capital of the Eastern Roman empire under Constantine the Great in 324 CE. Renamed Constantinople it then served as the capital of the Byzantine empire until the Ottomans ceased it in 1453. It was the capital of the Ottoman empire until after its decline at the end of WW I. When the new Republic of Turkey was established in 1923 it was renamed Istanbul.
All this heritage makes Istanbul one of the worlds most unique cities. It’s rich culture, architecture and beauty set it aside from many other cities. It is a must see city for any serious traveler.
Regions of Istanbul…
Sultanahmet/Faith
Galata
New City
Bosphorus
Golden Horn
Princes’ Island
Asian Side
Western Suburbs
Points of Interests in Istanbul…
Name | Type | Class | Area |
---|---|---|---|
Haydarpaşa Station | Transportation | Train Station | Asian Side |
Maiden’s Tower | Landmark | Tower | Asian Side |
Sabiha Gökçen Airport | Transportation | Airport | Asian Side |
Atatürk Arboretum | Attraction | Arboretum | Bosphorus |
Dolmabahce Palace | Landmark | Palace | Bosphorus |
Galata Tower | Landmark | Tower | Galata |
İstiklal Caddesi | Landmark | Pedestrian Street | Galata |
Taksim Square | Landmark | City Square | Galata |
Eyüp Mosque | Landmark-Religious | Mosque | Golden Horn |
Atatürk Museum | Museum | History | New City |
Military Museum | Museum | Military | New City |
Nişantaşı | Neighborhood | Art Nouveau | New City |
Princes’ Islands | Natural | Islands | Princes’ Islands |
Ahrida Synagogue | Landmark-Religious | Synagogue | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Basilica Cistern | Landmark | Mosque | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Chora Mosque | Landmark-Religious | Mosque | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Column of Constantine | Landmark | Column | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Dimitrie Cantemir Museum | Museum | Moldavian prince home | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Egyptian Bazaar / Spice Market | Attraction | Shopping | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Fatih Camii | Landmark-Religious | Mosque | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Fethiye Mosque | Landmark-Religious | Mosque | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Golden Horn | Natural | Water inlet from the Bosphorus | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Grand Bazaar | Attraction | Shopping | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Gülhane Park | Natural | City Park | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Hagia Irene | Landmark-Religious | Mosque | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Hagia Sophia | Landmark-Religious | Mosque/Cathedral | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Hippodrome | Landmark | Old Center of Constantinople | Sultanahmet/Faith |
History of Science and Technology in Islam Museum | Museum | History | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Istanbul Railway Museum | Museum | Railways | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Koca Mustafa Pasha Mosque | Landmark-Religious | Mosque | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Little Hagia Sophia | Landmark-Religious | Mosque | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Millon | Landmark | Ancient Pillar | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Museum of Archaeology | Museum | Archaeology | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Rüstem Mosque | Landmark-Religious | Mosque | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Soğukçeşme Street | Landmark | Historic Ottoman Street | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Sokollu Mehmet Pasha | Landmark-Religious | Mosque | Sultanahmet/Faith |
St Stephen Church | Landmark-Religious | Church | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Süleymaniye Mosque | Landmark-Religious | Mosque | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Sultanahmet (Blue Mosque) | Landmark-Religious | Mosque | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Theodosius Cistern | Landmark | Historic | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Tombs Museum | Museum | Sultan Tombs | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Topkapı Palace | Landmark | Palace | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Valens Aqueduct | Archeological | Ancient Aqueduct | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Valens Aqueduct | Landmark | Roman Ruin | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Walls of Constantinople | Landmark | City Walls | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Yedikule Fortress | Landmark | Old Triumphal Gate | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Zeyrek Mosque | Landmark-Religious | Mosque | Sultanahmet/Faith |
Aviation Museum | Museum | Aviation | Western Suburbs |
Istanbul Airport | Transportation | Airport | Western Suburbs |
Istanbul Halkali | Transportation | Train Station | Western Suburbs |
Sea Life Istanbul | Attraction | Aquarium | Western Suburbs |
Day Trips from Istanbul…
- Anadolu Kavağı
- Black Sea
- Ağva
- Şile
- Bursa
- Çanakkale
- Edirne 🏛
- Gallipoli Peninsula
- Kilyos
- Princes Islands
- Troy 🏛
Transportation in Istanbul…
✈️ Airports
With two major airports, Istanbul is on the western European side and Sabiha Gökçen is on the eastern Asian side. The new Istanbul replaced Attaturk airport in 2019 is located 30 km northwest of the city
IST Istanbul Airport – Located 30 km northwest of the city it is where most of the international flights arrive. Turkish Airlines runs daily non-stop flights from 10 US cities.
SAW Sabiha Gökçen Airport – Located 30 km east of the city center on the Asia side it has the majority of domestic flights within Turkey.
🚊 Public Transportation
Suburban Train: İETT, TCDD (rail system map)
Marmaray Train line, Gebze Halkali
Light Rail / Tram: İETT (tram lines map)
T1 line, Kabataş ↔ Bağcılar
T4 line, Mescid-i Selam ↔ Topkapı
T5 line, Eminönü ↔ Alibeyköy Coach Staion
Metro / Subway: Metro Istanbul (metro lines map)
M1A line, Yenikapı ↔ Atatürk Airport
M1B line, Yenikapı ↔ Kirazlı
M2 ine, Yenikapı ↔ Hacıosman
M3 line, Kirazlı ↔ Metrokent–Olimpiyat
M4 line, Kadıköy ↔ Tavşantepe
M5 line, Üsküdar ↔ Çekmeköy
M6 line, Levent ↔ Boğaziçi Üniversitesi/Hisarüstü
M7 line, Mecidiyeköy ↔ Mahmutbey
City Bus: İETT
783 lines
Ferry / Boat: ido
Bicycle: Isbik
Funicular: Tünel funicular
F1 line, Taksim ↔ Kabataş
F2 line, Karaköy ↔ Beyoğlu
F3 line, Seyrantepe ↔ Vadistanbul
F4 line,
Aerial / Cable:
TF1, Maçka ↔ Taskisla
TF2, Eyup ↔ Piyerlotí
Transit Cards / Passes: Istanbulkart