Why Travel to Istanbul

The magnificent city of Istanbul, as a place where the continents of Asia and Europe are connected, has a rich culture and history, and each region has its own special features. This city with a 2500-year history, beautiful nature, and attractions such as a diverse and wonderful foods and numerous shopping centers annually encourages domestic and foreign tourists to travel to Istanbul.

Traveling to Istanbul

With a unique combination of historical and modern attractions, Istanbul is one of the world's most amazing cities and tourist destinations. Therefore, sightseeing in this city is like traveling in time due to its many historical monuments, and it is a great place to spend a vacation due to its wonderful natural attractions. In addition to these features, the variety of different delicious foods in Istanbul, the hospitality of the people of this city, and the old and modern shopping centers are among the reasons for traveling to Istanbul, which will be mentioned further.

GoToSafar offers comprehensive car rental in Turkey, giving tourists the freedom to explore at their own pace. Whether you want to visit remote historical sites or shop in the bustling streets of Istanbul,

1.      Istanbul, a City with a Rich History

One of the most important reasons for trips to Istanbul is the unique historical scenery of this city, and since its history dates back more than 2600 years, it has been the capital of four great empires: Rome, Byzantium, Latin, and Ottoman. Therefore, at every corner of it, you can easily see the buildings of the mentioned civilizations and the architectural works left over from them. At the same time, the contrast of this style of architecture with modern architecture and buildings, which have good harmony, has multiplied the beauty of Istanbul.

2.      Amazing Natural Attractions in Istanbul

Istanbul has amazing natural attractions that make this city more and more popular with tourists. In this regard, the Marmara Sea and the Bosporus Strait, which divide Istanbul into two Asian and European parts, are not only are they geographically important, but they are also known as natural attractions. Also, the following natural attractions provide excellent opportunities for recreation and relaxation in the heart of nature for travelers and tourists to have a peaceful and pleasant experience.

·       Beautiful beaches

·       Beach parks

·       the forests

·       water cities

·       Hot springs around it

3.      Various Cuisines of Istanbul

Istanbul's diverse cuisine is one of the most important reasons for various tourists to visit this historic city; because its cuisine has been influenced by different cultures in Central Asia, the Middle East, the Mediterranean Rim, and the Balkans, and this has led to unique and delicious foods.

For this reason, if we say that there are several types of kebabs in Istanbul, we are not exaggerating, but in addition to kebabs, they also have a variety of other dishes, appetizers, sweets, and desserts in this city that have unique textures, flavors, and aromas. Also, there are various street foods such as stuffed oysters, simit bread, hamburgers, and fish sandwiches (Balik Ekmek), which can be enjoyed in every corner of the city.

4.      Shopping Centers in Istanbul

The bazaars and shopping malls of Istanbul are one of the most attractive parts of this city, and many tourists travel to this beautiful city every year for shopping. It should be noted that Turkish people have been traders and craftsmen for a long time, and for this reason, there are many historical bazaars in Istanbul, which, along with them, also include modern and stylish shopping malls. Hence, while you can buy handicrafts, various spices, and local products in the old bazaars, you can also find a variety of domestic and foreign brands by going to large and luxury shopping malls.

The most important shopping centers in Istanbul, including historical bazaars and modern shopping malls, are:

·       Palladium Mall (Palladium Mall)

·       Zorlu Center

·       Jewelry Shopping Mall (Cevahir AVM)

·       Forum Istanbul Shopping Mall

·       Olivium Shopping Center (Olivium AVM)

·       Istanbul Grand Bazaar (Kapaliçarşi)

·       Egyptian Bazaar or Spice Bazaar (Misir Çarşisi)

·       Kadikoy Historical Bazaar (Kadikoy Çarşisi)

·       Bakircilar Bazaar (Bakircilar Çarşisi)

·       Mahmutpaşa Bazaar (Mahmutpaşa Çarşisi)

5.      The Wonderful Architecture of Istanbul

The architecture of Istanbul, which has been influenced by history and diverse cultures throughout history and dominates this city, is known as one of the important tourist attractions and one of the reasons for traveling to this city. Various architectural works in Istanbul are often related to previous civilizations and empires, for example, churches such as Chora Church (Chora Kilisesi), and also attractions like the Blue Mosque, gardens, reservoirs, and aqueducts were among the works left over from the Byzantine period.

At the same time, most of the palaces in this city, such as "Topkapi Sarayi," are a symbol of the remains of the Ottoman era, which are also world-famous. In addition, Istanbul, with its suspension bridges over the Bosporus, presents the aesthetic aspects of modern architecture; finally, this unique combination and balance between traditional and modern architecture has made Istanbul an attractive destination for history and architecture enthusiasts.

6.      Istanbul, a Combination of the Traditional and Modern Worlds

One of the reasons for the popularity of Istanbul for travel is the excellent combination of traditional and modern atmosphere in this city; historical buildings with a history of a thousand years, such as Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern, are located next to luxurious and modern skyscrapers, which are a sign of the development and progress of the city. In other words, visiting historical attractions such as mosques, churches, and synagogues, along with modern buildings and fashion galleries, makes it possible to experience two completely different worlds in one city.

On the other hand, the location of Istanbul between the continents of Asia and Europe has made aspects of tradition and modernity more prominent, as well as the contrast of Eastern and Western cultures, which have increased the attractiveness of visiting this city.

7.      Istanbul Museum and Art Galleries

As was said before, the city of Istanbul has been a host to various civilizations and empires throughout history due to its strategic location, and for this reason, there are many historical monuments in this city. Therefore, the museums and galleries of this city are also very rich, and in addition to amazing historical works, they have exhibited many works of famous domestic and foreign artists; for this reason, many people interested in art and history choose to travel to Istanbul to visit these museums and galleries.

Among the most famous museums and art galleries in Istanbul, we can mention the following:

·       Pera Museum

·       Sakip Sabanci Museum

·       Rahmi M. Koç Museum

·       Arter Modern Art Museum

·       Odunpazari Modern Art Museum

8.      Lively Nightlife

Thanks to the unique geographical location of Istanbul, there are a large number of nightlife entertainment options, especially along the Bosporus Strait and İstiklal Street (İstiklal Caddesi), in this city; these nightlife entertainment places, which are located in other areas such as Kadikoy, provide people and tourists with different tastes the opportunity to enjoy a variety of entertainment. Based on this, you can choose your favorite option from going to exciting amusement parks to traditional cafes and famous restaurants that provide the opportunity to taste delicious Turkish food while enjoying live music.

9.      Turkish Baths in Istanbul

Turkish baths are one of the most special tourist and recreational attractions in Istanbul, which were built in ancient times to clean the body and relax the mind. These baths, inspired by Roman baths, include a place to rest, hot and cold bath, and services such as washing, massage, spa, beauty and therapy are provided in them; therefore, if you want to enjoy relaxation and tranquility in a traditional atmosphere, it is recommended not to forget going to Turkish baths.

10.  The Hospitality of the Turkish People

Turkish people have long been among the warmest people in the world and are very famous for their hospitality, and for this reason, they do not hesitate to do anything to welcome their guests. Not only do they consider family visits important, but many times, they also invite strangers to their homes to get to know them. Also, Turkish people believe that to respect their guests, they should prepare a lot of diverse foods, which they enjoy doing so much. This behavior is attractive to tourists, especially Europeans, and they mention it as one of the reasons for their travel to Istanbul.

The Cost of Traveling to Istanbul

In general, traveling to Istanbul is less expensive compared to most Asian, European, and American cities, which includes the costs of: booking ticket, booking hotel, accommodation rental, buying food and drink, transportation in the city, car rental, visiting tourist attractions, and so on. These costs, which can be reduced by methods such as traveling in seasons other than high-seasons, visiting attractions without entrance (such as the Hagia Sophia Mosque), etc., are examples of ways to reduce the cost of traveling to Istanbul.

Also, by renting a car in Istanbul, you can save a lot of money; in fact, you can rent a car for a whole day and go to several routes at the same cost that you pay for just one route by taxi, for example, from Sabiha Airport to Maidan.

Another way to reduce costs when traveling to Istanbul is to rent a furnished house and apartment in Istanbul because, in addition to benefits such as more privacy and dedicated space, the existence of many amenities, and the lack of common restrictions in hotels (such as bringing a pet), have a more reasonable price.

Translated by: