İstanbul

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What to know before visiting İstanbul

Istanbul formerly known as Constantinople is the largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, cultural and historic hub. The city straddles the Bosporus strait, lying in both Europe and Asia, and has a population of over 15 million residents, comprising 19% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul is the most populous European city, and the world's 15th-largest city. The city was founded as Byzantium in the 7th century BCE by Greek settlers from Megara. In 330 CE, the Roman emperor Constantine the Great made it his imperial capital, renaming it first as New Rome (Greek: Νέα Ῥώμη, Nea Rhomē; Latin: Nova Roma) and then as Constantinople (Constantinopolis) after himself. The city grew in size and influence, eventually becoming a beacon of the Silk Road and one of the most important cities in history. The city served as an imperial capital for almost 1600 years: during the Roman/Byzantine (330–1204), Latin (1204–1261), late Byzantine (1261–1453), and Ottoman (1453–1922) empires. The city played a key role in the advancement of Christianity during Roman/Byzantine times, hosting four of the first seven ecumenical councils before its transformation to an Islamic stronghold following the Fall of Constantinople in 1453 CE—especially after becoming the seat of the Ottoman Caliphate in 1517. In 1923, after the Turkish War of Independence, Ankara replaced the city as the capital of the newly formed Republic of Turkey. Over 13.4 million foreign visitors came to Istanbul in 2018, eight years after it was named a European Capital of Culture, making it the world's eighth most visited city. Istanbul is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and hosts the headquarters of numerous Turkish companies, accounting for more than thirty percent of the country's economy. -Wikipedia

General Info

Time Zone

GMT +03:00

Currency

Turkish Lira

1USD = 34.33 TRY

Best time to visit

June

July

Local Weather

JAN

2.9°
2.9°

FEB

2.8°
9.1°

MAR

3.9°
11.2°

APR

7.7°
16.5°

MAY

12.0°
21.4°

JUN

16.0°
26.0°

JUL

18.5°
28.4°

AUG

18.7°
28.6°

SEP

15.5°
25.0°

OCT

12.0°
20.0°

NOV

8.5°
15.3°

DEC

5.3
11.1°

Popular Activities

Explore the popular activities

Basilica Cistern

Basilica Cistern

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia

Sultanahmet Square

Sultanahmet Square

Topkapi Palace Museum

Topkapi Palace Museum

Galata Tower

Galata Tower

The Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque

Grand Bazaar

Grand Bazaar

Dolmabahçe Palace

Dolmabahçe Palace

Gülhane Park

Gülhane Park

Suleymaniye Mosque

Suleymaniye Mosque

Emirgan Korusu

Emirgan Korusu

Galata Bridge

Galata Bridge

Grand Mecidiye Mosque (Ortaköy Mosque)

Grand Mecidiye Mosque (Ortaköy Mosque)

Hagia Irene

Hagia Irene

Visit Istanbul

Visit Istanbul

Beylerbeyi Palace

Beylerbeyi Palace

Rahmi M. Koç Museum

Rahmi M. Koç Museum

Istanbul Archaeological Museums

Istanbul Archaeological Museums

Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts

Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts

Madame Tussauds Istanbul

Madame Tussauds Istanbul

SEA LIFE

SEA LIFE

Istanbul Aquarium

Istanbul Aquarium

Miniaturk

Miniaturk

Çiçek Pasajı

Çiçek Pasajı

Rustem Pasha Mosque

Rustem Pasha Mosque

Egyptian Bazaar

Egyptian Bazaar

Little Hagia Sophia

Little Hagia Sophia

Cistern of Theodosius

Cistern of Theodosius

Sent Antuan Kilisesi

Sent Antuan Kilisesi

Kariye Mosque

Kariye Mosque

Galata Mevlevihanesi Müzesi

Galata Mevlevihanesi Müzesi

Naval Museum

Naval Museum

The Walls of Constantinople

The Walls of Constantinople

Istanbul Sapphire observation deck

Istanbul Sapphire observation deck

The Aqueduct of Valens

The Aqueduct of Valens

Ural Ataman Classic Car Museum

Ural Ataman Classic Car Museum

Great Palace Mosaics Museum

Great Palace Mosaics Museum

Rainbow stairs

Rainbow stairs

Eyüp Sultan Mosque

Eyüp Sultan Mosque

Maiden's Tower

Maiden's Tower

Pierre Loti Hill

Pierre Loti Hill

Süleymaniye Hamamı

Süleymaniye Hamamı

15th of July Martyrs Bridge

15th of July Martyrs Bridge

Photography place

Photography place

Mother and baby statue

Mother and baby statue

Borusan Contemporary

Borusan Contemporary

Arter

Arter

Sultan Ahmet Meydanı

Sultan Ahmet Meydanı

İstanbul

İstanbul

Памятник паровозу .

Памятник паровозу .

Museum Of Illusions Istanbul - Anatolia

Museum Of Illusions Istanbul - Anatolia

Taksim Square

Taksim Square

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