Vibrant Istanbul, straddling the blue waters of the Bosporus separating Europe from Asia, beckons with its skyline pierced by countless minarets, chaotic bazaars and a history redolent with harem intrigue and despotic Sultans.

Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey. It has a speciality unrivalled by any other city in the world, which is that Istanbul lies in between Asia and Europe. Some part of the city is in Asian continent and some part in Europe. There are bridges connecting both the continents.

Today, Turkey’s capital city is Ankara. However, Istanbul has served as the capital city in olden days for large empires like Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman. Since historical times, Istanbul is the largest and most populated city in Turkey.

Its area is 1539 square kilometres. Population is around 15 million.

Istanbul has still very fascinating old Turkish lodgings to offer and at very affordable prices. To organize your trip in Istanbul, (Turkey) there are many free and useful tools on-line, from city guide to ticket-bookers, to accommodations advices and flight reservations.

In the words of French poet Alphonse de Lamartine, if one had but a single glance to give the world, one should gaze on Istanbul. Indeed, this is a city of astonishing beauty.  Its architecture, cuisine, history and culture make up a fascinating tapestry of yesterday and very much tomorrow.

A metropolitan capital with an imperial history stretching back for over 1500 years, Istanbul is today the commercial, historical and cultural core of Turkey. But most of all, it’s a buzzing, living-breathing metropolis that is knocking at the doors of the European Union. It won’t be hard to find a suitable accommodation (there are many youth hostels for backpackers or travellers on a budget up to enchanting hotels featuring Turkish interior designs, typical pieces of furniture, mosaics, spa and thermal baths at affordable prices).

Facts about Istanbul:

Ø  Grand Bazar in Istanbul is the oldest shopping centre in the world and is very big. It has around 4,000 shops and 61 streets. 20,000 employees work in the Grand Bazar. It is visited by around 400,000 people on a daily basis.

Ø  The world’s fourth-largest diamond is housed in the Top Kapi Museum, Istanbul.

Ø  Istanbul has around 3,113 number of mosques.

Ø  99% of people are Muslims.

Ø  Istanbul’s subway which was built in the year 1875, is one of the oldest subways in the world.

Ø  Good cleanliness is observed. It is said that on a daily basis, the city administration collects 16,000 Tonnes of waste.

Ø  Istanbul had, in olden Ottoman days, 1,400 public toilets.

Ø  Hagia Sofia in Istanbul is one of the largest churches in the world. Yearly millions of people visit this church.

Ø  In the year 1502, Istanbul was recognised as the most populated city in the world at that time.

Ø  There are special vending machines available. If we put in plastic bottles, the vending machines deliver food and water to be fed to street dogs.

Ø  Istanbul is the birthplace of Tulips flowers, a symbol of Holland. Tulip flowers reached Holland from Istanbul.