Istanbul Travel Guide | Lets Fly Cheaper

Christened as the world's hippest city and the City of the World's Desire, Istanbul is a place with a wealth of Ottoman mosques and historic buildings, galleries, restaurants, bars, and clubs. It is a city of energy and innovation that has come a very long way from a feeling of despair.

The main attraction and center for Byzantium life and Ottoman life in the past was the Hippodrome. Political dramas and chariot races occurred here where the Byzantine emperor could've lost his throne from a riot that stemmed from these chariot races. For the avid shopper, the center will definitely be the Grand Bazaar. It is geographically the center of Istanbul and has also been the business center for many centuries. It has over 4000 shops and lanes upon lanes of restaurants, workshops and mosques to see. Another shopper's Mecca is the Kapali Carsi where traders selling anything from spices to carpets are plentiful.

One of the city's unique landmarks is the Aqueduct of Valens. It is a limestone structure that rises above the busy lanes of the Ataturk Bulvari. While on the subject of structures, great sites to visit while in Istanbul are the Aya Sofia, the Galata Bridge, the Galata Tower, and the Mihrimah Sultan Camii among others. Also known as the Hagia Sofia in Greek, the Aya Sofia is the most famous monument in Istanbul. It was built on the site of Byzantinum's acropolis by Emperor Justinian. The view from the Galata Bridge and the Galata Tower is a sight to see especially at sunset. The tower was constructed in 1348 and is the tallest structure in Beyoglu. The Mihrimah Sultan Camii is one of the many mosques that Istanbul has. In honor of the Magnificent's favorite daughter, this was built by Suleyman in 1560.

. It is famous for the stained-glass windows and large interior space. To get educated on the history of Istanbul, one just has to choose from the many historical sites it is gifted with. There is the ruins of Anadolu Kavagi Kalesi which is a medieval castle built by the Byzantines that had eight towers on its walls. A tour of the Dolmabahce Selamlik or the Topkapi Palace opens a world of insight on Istanbul.

Climate: The weather is perfect and it is the best time to go to Istanbul during the months of April to May (Spring) and September to October (Autumn). At this time, the skies are clear and the temperatures are more moderate than the summer and winter months. Most of the art festivals and music events happen in spring and autumn and the Formula 1 Grand Prix occurs in June. From July to August when the days are extremely hot, a lot of Istanbullus head to the west and south and some businesses close.

Transportation: Modes of transportation in Istanbul are ferries, sea buses, trams, metros, metrobuses, buses and taxis. The most popular way to travel in Instanbul is by ferry and boat though. All you need to get around is a smart ticket which is a chip what you can buy credit for for a few Turkish liras.

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Travel Guide - Istanbul

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