Connecting Europe and Asia, the traditional East and the modern West, nestled on the shores of the Bosporus is the noisy and mysterious, fairy-tale and majestic Istanbul. This beautiful city has a long history, during which it has been the capital of four empires and changed several names.
Istanbul is a city of mixed times and cultures, it will lead you through tangled narrow streets and wide avenues, it will show its crowdedness of a bustling metropolis and offer you privacy and silence to contemplate the beauty and depth of the city from its many tiled roofs, where numerous cafes, restaurants and hotels are nestled. It is a city where everyone can find something interesting and leave a piece of their heart in it forever.
The city has 39 districts, one of which is located on a group of islands and those who come to Istanbul for the first time have a question: where to stay, in which part of the city – European or Asian? It seems to be a difficult question, given the diversity of the city, but in fact, if you know the purpose of the trip and what each of the districts is like, it is easy to make a choice.
Beyoglu
This area is chosen by those who need everything in one place and a lot. In this neighborhood, life is always bustling – on the famous Istiklal Street there are thousands of stores for every taste and pocket, and on every corner of the nightclub and on the street itself runs an old streetcar, which not only takes you for a ride, but also becomes an adornment of your photo album. If you’re a shopaholic or like to party hard, this is the place to be! There are also many places of interest in this area such as the Galata Tower where you can see the city from the bird’s eye view, numerous museums and functioning ancient Catholic churches, a beautiful embankment from which you can go on a cruise on the Bosphorus Strait and walk along the bridge which connects the European and Asian parts of Istanbul and where you will see hundreds of fishermen who catch fish in Bosporus and sell them there. By the way, under this bridge there are cafes where they will cook fish as you wish and you can try a popular dish Balık Ekmek – grilled fish served in the traditional Turkish bread with fresh vegetable salad.
Besiktas
This district is located in the European part of the city on the shores of the Bosphorus, from where hundreds of ferries a day sail to various destinations on the Bosphorus, including the Princes’ Islands. The luxurious hotels here offer stunning views of the Bosphorus. Here is the magnificent Dolmabahçe Palace, the most “non Turkish” of all Turkish palaces, which was built by Sultan Abdul Majid in the baroque style, in order to compete in beauty with the best palaces of the European rulers, and in this he achieved great success. There are also Ataturk Museum, Maritime Museum and Yildiz Palace with its pier, park and Ortakoy Mosque.
КKadykoy
What makes this neighborhood popular with tourists is the 14-kilometer Baghdad Street. This street is a real showcase for the local beau monde and a paradise for those who want to splurge money in expensive brand boutiques, as well as for those who like to hang out. This street is also a historically important place and connected the ancient Byzantium with the powerful cities of the Lycian Union. And it got its name after Sultan Murad IV managed to defeat the Persians and carry the captured Shah of Persia and his entourage along the stones of the Roman road to Istanbul and renamed the street Baghdad Jaddesi in honor of this victory. Today Kadıköy is considered one of the most Turkish neighborhoods: the colorful food markets and cozy cafes, picturesque historical Haydarpaşa Station, for the construction and decoration of which specialists from Germany and Italy were involved. All the beauty of this beautiful knowledge can be appreciated during a boat trip on the Bosphorus. This part of the city is one of the oldest and here were found artifacts dating back to 9000 years. Also a definite plus is the close proximity to Sabiha Gokcen Airport.
The Prince’s Islands
The archipelago, consisting of nine islands, got its name from the fact that royalty and members of royal families in disgrace were exiled here. Today this place is a popular destination for day-trips for hikers and bikers who want to explore the local sights as well as for those who simply want to lie on the beach in the golden sand.
Saryer
If you have heard about the annual Tulip Festival in Turkey, it is held here, in the famous Emirgan Park. Tulips are planted according to the designs of landscape designers from all over the world. Sarıer is one of the most beautiful places in Istanbul where you can watch the cityscapes and the private mansions of the Ottoman Empire surrounded by very beautiful nature. Here you can meet a real millionaire or a superstar and have a look at “Bugatti” or “Aston Martin” cars, but even back in the Middle Ages this place was popular with the Turkish elite where they used to go for picnics and rest. Later, in the 18th-19th century, this place began to be actively dotted with luxury mansions of foreign merchants and now this place is in great demand among Turkish pop stars, city authorities, where they have built or purchased rich villas.
Uskudar
Many travelers come here to see the real, un-Westernized Turkey. There is a famous fish market and many come here to visit it. Also the main attraction is the Maiden Tower, which is located in the middle of the Bosphorus on a small island. You can get here and take a closer look at the place by taking a ferry that runs regularly from the local pier. Another of Uskudar’s attractions is the Beylerbey Palace, which was built by order of Sultan Abdul Aziz and was built as a summer residence of Ottoman rulers in the 1860’s. While viewing the interior of the palace, pay attention to the lamps, most of them were painted by Aivazovsky.
Fatih
This district of Istanbul concentrates so many attractions that for many tourists a visit to this area alone will be enough. Here are all the most famous and symbolic sights – the Sultanahmet Square with the symbols of the city, the Blue Mosque and St. Sophia Cathedral, the fantastic Museum of Mosaics with decorative works from pagan Rome, the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art with the original handwritten Koran from the 15th-17th centuries BC and the Ottoman rulers’ decrees, fine lamps and ceramic sets, the Egyptian Market Ibrahim Pasha Palace and much more. The area has the highest concentration of hotels, with accommodation levels ranging from one for a padishah to a humble wanderer.
Shishli
This neighborhood does not have as many attractions as others, but it is notable and interesting because here modernity has replaced history and there are giant skyscrapers propping up the sky with dozens of shopping centers and luxury real estate. The landmark of Şişli is the funicular that connects it to Taksim Square in Beyoglu. At present Şişli is the business, shopping and cultural center of Istanbul. One of the largest shopping centers in the world, Cevahir Shopping Mall, is located here. There are about a dozen churches and two synagogues, the Military Museum and the Ataturk Museum, the Maslak Palace and much more.
The famous Bosphorus, stretching for 30 kilometers, divides Istanbul into two parts: European and Asian. There are many marinas crossed by ships from coast to coast and along the strait with sightseeing tours.
In addition to these sights, Istanbul has its own unique atmosphere, which will not leave anyone indifferent and you will have another friend who will always be happy and waiting for you to ride together on the Bosphorus under the cries of seagulls or stroll through any of a thousand cozy and romantic streets, warm up with hot coffee in the chilly evening and wake up in the morning with the smell of fresh bread and spices.
