ISTANBUL
Located in the center of the Old World, Istanbul is one of the world's great cities famous for its historical monuments and magnificent scenic beauties. Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. It is the only city in the world which spreads over two continents: it lies at a point where Asia and Europe are separated by the Bosphorus.
The commercial and historical centre is lying on the European side and about a third of its population is living on the Asian side. Istanbul’s total area is 5.343 sq kilometers (2,063 sq miles) and its population is more than 15 million (it has increased tenfold since the 1950s.) The city forms the largest urban agglomeration in Europe as well as the largest in the Middle East, and the sixth-largest city proper in the world. As a settlement place it has a story of over 12.000 years. It has been the capital of four different empires: Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman empires as well as the seat of Ottoman Caliphate. Approximately 12 million foreign visitors arrived in Istanbul in 2014, making the city the world's 5th most-popular tourist destination. The historic center, is partially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Istanbul is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan economies in the world. It hosts the headquarters of many Turkish companies and media outlets and accounts for more than a quarter of the country's GDP.
Old City
Essentially the Constantinople of the Roman, Eastern Roman/Byzantine, and much of the Ottoman periods, this is where most of the famous historical sights of Istanbul are located.
Galata & City Center
Housing many of the nightlife venues of the city, this district includes Beyoğlu, Istiklal Street, Cihangir, Karaköy and Taksim Square also its own share of sights and accommodation.
Golden Horn
Banks of Golden Horn, the estuary that separates the European side into distinctive districts of Eyüp with an Ottoman ambience, is located here.
Bosphorus
European bank of the Bosphorus dotted by numerous palaces, parks, water-front mansions, and bohemian neighbourhoods, such as Beşiktaş and Ortaköy.
Modern City
Main business district of the city with many modern shopping malls and districts such as Fındıklı, Taksim-Elmadağ, Nişantaşı, Zincirlikuyu, Etiler and Levent.
Western Suburbs
Western chunk of the European Side is the largest territory where the city is continuing to expand intensely. Bakırköy district is the most populous one in this territory.
Asian Side
Eastern half of Istanbul, with lovely neighborhoods at the Marmara and Bosphorus coasts. Kadıköy (Khalkedon) district is the most famous one with its prestigious avenue of Baghdad.
Princes' Islands
An excellent getaway from the city, made up of an archipelago of nine car-free islands—some of them small, some of them big—with splendid wooden mansions, verdant pine gardens and nice views—both of the islands themselves, and also on the way there.
Eastern Suburbs
Eastern chunk of the Asian Side is continuing to expand intensely through both Black Sea in the north and Marmara in the south. It is the way through the whole Anatolia.
