About Istanbul | Print |  E-mail
 
Istanbul is one of the most beautiful cities in the world that spans two different continents, namely Europe and Asia. Istanbul is established on both sides of the Bosphorus which connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara and joins Asia and Europe.

    

Istanbul has always had a great geopolitical importance due to its location. Once being the capital city of two consecutive empires (the Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire), Istanbul is still the commercial, historical and cultural center of Turkey. Also, Istanbul is a cultural, political and financial center for the Balkan and Middle Eastern Countries and the Turkic Republics of Central Asia.


Around 7 million tourists visit Istanbul every year, and admire the historical and natural beauties of the city. Istanbul is a place where East and West, Asia and Europe meets, and different cultures and religions create a harmonious synthesis. The ancient mosques, palaces, museums and bazaars reflect its diverse history. Taksim is one of its several shopping and entertainment centers. The beauty of the Bosphorus, Princess Islands and parks provide a place of peace to the otherwise chaotic metropolis. The moderate climate and and the excellent Turkish Cuisine make it a place worth to visiting.
 


 "There, God and human, nature and art are together, they have created such a perfect place that it is valuable to see."   Lamartine’s famous poetic line reveals his love for Istanbul, a city that embraces two continents,  with one arm reaching out to Asia and the other to Europe... 

 

 

• With its magnificent history and beautiful sites, Istanbul offers a unique environment for hosting conferences and meetings. 

• The City has a number of international hotels with top meeting facilities. 

• Istanbul is the only city in the world standing upon two continents, Asia & Europe. Bosphorus is the name of the strait in between the two continents.  The City hosts more than 10 million visitors every year. 

• Istanbul has been the capital of two world-empires for over 2000 years, and thus is full of historic and cultural monumental buildings and masterpieces of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman art. 

• Istanbul is one of the cultural capitals of the world. It regularly hosts a number of International Festivals of Arts, Culture, Movies, Music, etc.

• From its old Bazaars from Ottoman Ages (15th-16th centuries) to the giant modern shopping malls, Istanbul is one of the shopping capitals of the world.

• Istanbul has recently been selected as one of the 8 Best Cities in the World, by Travel & Leisure Magazine.  The criteria used in this selection were art, culture, shopping, facilities, natural views, food, hospitality and people.  As a result, Istanbul was placed among the first 8.

• Istanbul Ataturk Airport has been recently renovated and enlarged with new facilities. 

• Istanbul is well-connected to the rest of the world by a number of daily flights from all continents.