Istanbul Information, Istanbul Facts



Hotels	Tours	Cruises	*Guide*

Home

Istanbul Hotels

Istanbul Tours

Istanbul Information and Facts

The ferry boat you see in the picture above and simit, a Turkish specialty food, oven cooked dough with sesame seeds, is the ultimate Istanbul to Turkish people.

Istanbul is dubbed by Turkish poets and Turkish people alike, the City of Seven Hills, like Rome. The city offers gorgeous views from not only some of these hill but also from seaside locations. You can read about some of these view/vista points in Things To Do in Istanbul.

History

The history of Istanbul goes back to neolithic ages and it was inhabited since then.

Byzance is the most important civilization before the Ottoman period which started with the conquest of Istanbul in 1453. Many Byzantine sites are landmark historic sites of Istanbul such as Hagia Sofia church, Chora Church, underground cistern. The remains of Istanbul Ancient Byzantine palace are still under Sultanahmet area. In fact there are many small tunnels in that regions that are closed to public access but were filmed as documentary.

There were some important very recent (2007- 2008) archeological discoveries due to excavation work for the Marmaray project, the undersea tram tunnel that will connect Asian and European sides of Istanbul. Both in Uskudar and Sarayburnu where Topkapi Palace grounds start ancient ports are discovered and the project is delayed to allow archeologists to uncover these sites. Documentaries detailing early finds were shawn in tv channels around the world. The finds are another proof that Istanbul is indeed an ancient city dating back to 1000 years B.C.

The most important monuments of the Ottoman rule are Topkapi palace, Sultanmet Mosque (Blue Mosque) and the work of the greatest Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan. His works are scattered around what was then the Ottoman Empire from Bosnia to Bagdad. However his greatest works are in Istanbul and Edirne.

Needless to say the most important historical figure who has lived in Istanbul is Mustafa Kemal Ataturk who has passed away in Dolmabahce Palace, a summer residence of the president at the time. Among other famous people who have spend time in Turkey or Ottoman Empire are Kaiser Wilhelm, Franz Liszt, Florence Nightingale, Gustave Flaubert, Agatha Cristie and Pierre Loti.

When To Come

Best time to visit Istanbul is from April until the end Of October except the hot months of July and August. The weather patterns are changing and August is getting cooler towards the end but one cannot be sure. Old guns of Istanbul assume that after August 15th the weather turns, the heat of summer leaves Istanbul. Once in a while you can come across summer rain which lasts less than an hour with little rainfall.

Beginning of July can be good for those who would like to attend music concerts and are not mindful of hot weather to enjoy balmy Istanbul nights by the sea. Daytime is certainly hot, though!

Health

No special precautions necessary. The most common problem if it ever occurs would be a diahrea, so eat at known places or simply look at the cleanliness of the shop and the profile of people who are eating there. If they are mid or upper class locals than there should be no problem. In case you need to to see a doctor there are many modern hospitals in Istanbul just inquire one at your consulate or hotel reception.

Just keep clear of stray dogs, though chances you will be bitten are extremely slim. In case of a dog bite contact a hospital immediately to seek medical assistance and rabies vaccination. If you have prescription medicines, keep a copy of your prescription while traveling in case you lose the medicine.

If you are traveling off the beaten track in the mountains or trekking in rural areas, tick bite is the dangerous as they may carry lethal diseases.

Mosquito and fly repellants are sold in most pharmacies which are marked with big red E signs, initial letter of Eczane, meaning pharmacy. in Turkish. Ambulance call number is 112.

Also Medical tourism is getting popular in Turkey as many Eureopans fly to Turkey to not only enjoy a vacation but also getting treatment and/or cure with Lasik eye surgery, plastic surgery, dental treatments and others.

Personal Safety

Watch out for pickpockets and muggers in Beyoglu Taksim district. There are many uniformed and undercover policemen in these areas to ensure safety but still such crimes happen, though in a lesser extent the last few years. You should have any bag strapped around and not hanging from one shoulder as the thief will pull the bag and run away. Stay vigilant in these populous neighboorhoods. At night avoid any side street when in Taksim Beyoglu area especially.

Visas

Visas may be necessary depending on your nationality. Please inquire before coming to Turkey, by checking Turkish Ministery of Foreign Affairs website or your own State Department pages. For Americans and many European country citizens visas may be bought at the airport if necessary.

Some interesting facts or happenings in Istanbul

April 23th is a very special day in Turkish life. It is the children's national holiday, the only national holiday in the world dedicated to the children.

But there is another celebration in Buyukada the largest of the Prince's islands: Turkish people visit Aya Yorgi church, a Byzantine Greek Orthodox church to make whishes. This was surprising even for the father of the church at the beginning as Muslim Turkish crowds would come to the church to make wishes so that they come true. Muslim scholars on that day would distribute free Kurans to inform Muslims to give up this superstition. Still, Turkish people would keep going there every year as they see it as a nonreligious activity in a church, simply a ritual to bring good luck. This was so interesting for Greek people who come to visit the church on the 28th of April that finally, a documentary movie was recently made about it: Bells, Threads & Miracles in 2009.

Bosphorus is where ordinary people go there fishing for food next to multimillion dollar sea side villasknown as yalis.

Turkish society have become a class society after 30 years of neoliberal economic policies. You have the bankers, people working or doing business with multinational corporations, people tied to the state and to the governing party "du jour". And all of them tied to Wall Street. Lots of debts and lots of glamour is built since 2001. If you see in guidebooks or internet sites phrases such as "Istanbul has become hip", In, or a Major capital, that's why.

Since 1990s there is a great tendency in the Western media and guide book writers that proponents of a secular Turkish state are elite, military or intellectuals. Nothing can be further from the truth. These people have not been here long enough or have known Turkey the last few decades or have not been in enough contact with the Turkish people.

Other Info on Istanbul

You can buy dollar beers in bars located in side streets of Istiklal street. Bohems, students go to these places. Go around 8-9, not too late, and never walk on a deserted street.

Nisantasi is a small time Soho, in case you want to try posh shops in Istanbul with streets decorated with fancy cobbles stones and lamp posts. That's the part of city center for high income people.

There are two funiculaires and cable cars in Istanbul. One over Macka park connecting Taksim and Macka offering nice vista of the Bosphorus over a park during a three minute ride. If you happen to be walking from Taksim to Nisantasi you can take the back side walk behind Taksim park and then get on the cable car. The other cable car is in Pierre Loti at Golden Horn.

The metro has now an extended service with two stops added, one at the end of Istiklal street in Tunel Sishane and the other end in Oto Sanayi which would be useful for business traveler so the city.

Also check Taksim Hotels, Sultanahmet Hotels, or back to Istanbul Travel Guide. Flights to Istanbul