Istanbul City Breaks, Istanbul Hotels and Istanbul Flights:

Istanbul is an utterly bewitching city – a mesmerising, schizoid medley of sumptuous palaces, domes and minarets, cobble-stoned streets, old wooden houses, squalid, graceful art nouveau apartments, international fashion shops, bazaars and beggars, street vendors, the boats of the Bosporus and the promise of the Orient.

A city has been here since year dot, bridging the gap between Europe and Asia. Over the centuries, it has been the capital of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires and undergone three name changes – Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul. After the Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923, it was replaced by Ankara as the capital, but, with its awe-inspiring heritage, Istanbul remains Turkey’s cultural and economical centre.

Istanbul straddles the Bosporus Strait, looking towards Europe but with its soul firmly rooted in Asia. On the European side, the city is divided once more, north and south of the Golden Horn inlet. In the south are the superb World Heritage sites of the Blue Mosque, the magnificent 15th century Topkapi Palace, and Ayasofya – the “mother of churches”, a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. Here too is the Grand Bazaar, Kapali Carsi, a vast labyrinth of narrow covered passageways selling everything from cheap tat to carpets worth thousands. Only a few minutes walk is Suleymaniye Caami, a spectacular Ottoman Mosque, and, further west, the old city walls and the beautiful Kariye Camii.

North of the Galata Bridge, there is a magnificent 14th century Genoese landmark, Galata Kulesi, with a fantastic view. From here, the city takes on a distinctly European guise. The main boulevard, Istiklal Caddesi – lined with superb fin-de-siecle architecture – leads up to Taksim and the impressive Monument of the Republic.

Everywhere you turn in this compelling city, you stumble over the melancholic remains of a magnificent imperial past – neglected, ignored bits of history. Istanbul enchants the traveller with haunting memories – the breathtaking interior of the Blue Mosque, the smells and clatter of the fish market, the tiny boats vying with huge tankers in the Bosphorus – apparently fleeting impressions that remain forever.

Istanbul Temperature Chart :

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Temp °C	6	6	7	11	16	21	23	23	20	16	12	8

Average daily temperature °C

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Disclaimer:
By its very nature much of the information in our destination guides is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they are relying with the relevant authorities. Corona Holidays [UK] Limited cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.

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