| - About ISTANBUL |
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This unique city, at the meeting point of Europe and Asia, located on both sides of the Bosphorus is described as a jewel by the famous French author Lamartine. Istanbul is a city of synthesis which realizes in an atmosphere of tolerance the uniting of the East and the West on the subjects of culture, art and religion, at the borders of two separate continents. The Bosphorus, which stretches out between the emerald-like slopes, the woods and the bays adorned with one thousand and one beauties, is unique. Halic Bay (Golden Horn), a horn-shaped bay located on the European side of Istanbul, is one of the most beautiful natural harbors in the world. The former capital of three successive empires, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman, Istanbul today honors and preserves the legacy of its past while looking forward to a modern future. Istanbul has recently received the title of the European Capital of Culture of 2010, as designated by European Union. Main Places to Visit Hagia SophiaNow a museum, this monumental church was built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian in the 6th century.Until the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks in 1453, when it was converted to a mosque, Hagia Sophia was the largest Christian church in the world.More than 2 million people visit Hagia Sophia every year. Blue MosqueThe immense multidomed Sultanahmet Mosque, dating from the 17th century, faces Hagia Sophia.It's better known as the Blue Mosque because of the 20 thousand handmade blue tiles decorating its interior.It's still an active place of worship.The HippodromeThe Hippodrome is one of the oldest sites in Istanbul. Built by the Romans around 200 AD for chariot races, the site was an important part of Byzantine public life for more than a millenium.Today, it's an inviting park next to the Blue Mosque, called Sultanahmet Square. Watch for the Egyptian and Walled Obelisks and the Serpentine Column in the park. Topkapi PalaceThis palace was the home of the Ottoman sultans and their harems for nearly 400 years.The complex, once occupied by as many as 4 thousand people, now houses a museum with hundreds of rooms and huge collections of precious artifacts, including jewels, illustrated manuscripts, and weapons. Dolmabahce PalaceThe Dolmabahce Palace was constructed as a more modern and luxurious replacement for the Topkapi Palace. Filled with gold and crystal, this palace was home to six of the last sultans.Ataturk, the founder of Turkish republic, spent the last days of his life here. Istiklal Caddesi (Independence Street)Holding onto its elegance in its days known as the Grande Rue de Pera, this busy pedestrian mall runs several kilometers from Taksim Square to Tunel, changing character along the way.It is packed with bars, eateries, clothing and book shops, the occasional diplomatic residences and neo-Gothic style churches like Saint Anthony. Galata TowerWhen the Galata Tower was built by Genoese colonists in the 14th century, it was the tallest building in the city. It served at various times as a lighthouse and fire watchtower, and remains a highly visible landmark with great views all around the top. Grand BazaarThe Grand Bazaar, or Kapali Carsi, is a vast maze of a covered market dating from the 15th century. It encompasses some 60 streets and several thousand individual shops.Famous for jewelry, carpets, embroidery, and antiques, the market draws customers from all over the world for a bargain. Kiz Kulesi (Maiden's Tower)A popular symbol of Istanbul in the film industry, this diminutive tower seems to float on the Bosphorus.It was also known as Leander's Tower during the ancient Greek and medieval Byzantine eras.It was used as a lighthouse for centuries, and now features a restaurant with fine views.Dating back some 2,500 years it has many romantic legends associated with it.BosphorusNothing beats a leisurely tour of the Bosphorus by boat to get a feel for Istanbul.With minarets, high-rises, and bridges embellishing the hills and Ottoman villas, fortresses, kiosks, palaces and restaurants lining both shores, the views are priceless. Princes' Islands The Princess Islands are a combination of nine islands off the Asian coast of Istanbul, in the Sea of Marmara. Regular or fast passenger ferries operate to the four of these islands from different parts of the city; from Bostanci, Kadikoy and Kartal neighborhoods on the Asian side, from Sirkeci and Kabatas neighborhoods on the European side. Motorists are not permitted on the islands except the ones belonging to the local municipality for public works, therefore you have to walk or rent a bicycle or horse-drawn carriage (fayton inTurkish), even a donkey. Many local people in Istanbul own or rent their summer houses, or just go there at the weekends for swimming in the tiny beaches and for picnicking. Shopping Introduction: Contact us for Istanbul Shopping FEST Tours 2011
Currency, Banking and VAT Immediately upon arriving in Istanbul, your first task will be to exchange your money for Turkey's official currency, the Turkish Lira (Türk Lirası). You can find exchange office in the airport, banks, and currency exchanges that are found throughout the city on major streets. You can acquire information about rates of exchange from the daily newspapers, banks, and currency exchanges. Turkey's official currency is the Turkish Lira (Türk Lirası, TL). There are 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 lira banknotes, and 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 kurush(Kr) coins, as well as a 1 lira coin. You should definitely request a bill of purchase or a written receipt of value for every item that you purchase in Turkey. Furthermore the amount of the added value tax (consumer tax) that you pay on an item should be indicated on the bill of receipt. It is either included in the price of an item, or indicated separately. According to the type of product or service, the added-value tax is generally between 8 and 12 percent of the price. Climate The vast city of Istanbul has different climate patterns which dominate the weather. For instance, on the shores of the Bosphorus, visitors will experience Istanbul's mild Mediterranean climate, with warm, dry summers and mild winters. The extremes are moderated by the Bosphorus Strait. In the west, there is a colder Balkan climate zone with cold winters and snow, and in the east, an Anatolian Continental climate brings hot summers and cold winters. It may rain in one part of the city while another part is sunny. Average summer day temperatures hover around 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). Winter brings temperatures of 10 degrees C (50 degrees F) with bitterly cold nights. Snow is not uncommon. Spring and fall are the best times to visit Istanbul because of the mild temperatures, ranging from 15 to 25 degrees C (59 to 77 degrees F). The city sees about 787 millimeters (31 inches) of rain a year, with most occurring in winter. Holidays January 1 (New Year's Day), April 23 (National Independence and Children's Day), May 19 (Ataturk's Memorial, Youth and Sports Day), August 30 (Zafer Bayram or Victory Day), October 29 (Cumhuriyet Bayram or Republic Day, celebrating Ataturk's proclamation of the Turkish republic in 1923), Seker Bayram, marking the end of Ramadan and Kurban Bayram as another important religious holiday. (Muslim religious holidays are based on the lunar calendar and will shift about 10 days backwards each year) Religion According to 2010 data on the world's Muslim populations, 71.1 million people in Turkey are Muslims or 98% of the total population. The majority of the Muslims are Sunni (85-90%) and a large minority are Alevi (10-15%), a community within Twelver Shi'a Islam, numbering from 7-11 million. The highest Islamic religious authority is the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Turkish: Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı), it interprets the Hanafi school of law, and is responsible for regulating the operation of the country's 75,000 registered mosques and employing local and provincial imams. Based on a nationwide survey in 2007 however, it showed 96.8% of Turkish citizens have a religion, while 3.2% are irreligious and atheists. Safety & Security The streets of Istanbul are considerably safer than their counterparts in the United States or Western Europe. Travelers should nevertheless take care of their valuables, as pickpockets, although not as common as in the U.S. or Europe, do operate in the major cities and tourist areas. The Tourism Police that is a unit offering service to tourism sector with its foreign language speaking staff provide the security of tourists visiting Istanbul. Tourism police Tel. (0212) 527 45 03 Working Hours The hours of business for official establishments, banks and private businesses are generally between 8.30 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. A lunch break occurs between noon and 1.30 p.m. Transportation Istanbul travel information focuses on public transport because it tends to be the best option for getting around.Taxis are easy to find. Particularly if you're traveling in a group, they're a good option for going medium distances. Cheaper minibuses and taxi-like vehicles called dolmus run between popular destinations, and passengers can disembark in between. Metro lines, light rail, buses, and passenger ferries serve busy corridors and are both frequent and affordable. One can see and experience a big part of the city just by traveling on the M1, T1 and M2 metro lines without any need for extra transportation. Larger ferries and ships, as well as intercity buses and trains, require purchase of a ticket.
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