The spacious and open  locality  in “Sultanahmet” is  dwelling  to the Hippodrome, the space in which the Byzantines held their chariot  rushes  and other sports events. Today the  residual  monuments that graced the  rectangle  in those years are the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine. The 18th  100 years   timber   dwellings  in the environs of the Hippodrome -especially those on Sogukcesme (cold well) Street are  decisively  worth seeing. Now  refurbished,  one of these  dwellings  is being  actually   utilised  as a library while the  other ones  function as  little  hotels. The Fountain of Sultan Ahmet HI is  established  in front of the  entry   barrier  to the Topkapi Palace.
Maiden’s Tower
Built in 1828 by Sultan Mahmut II, the Beyazit Tower was constructed as a blaze look-out tower. The Bozdogan-Valens Aqueduct was initially constructed in 368 by the Byzantines and then augmented in subsequent years by the Ottomans; both empires utilised these aqueducts as a means of conveying water into the city. Also renowned as Leander’s Tower, the Maiden’s Tower is one of the most charming emblems of Istanbul. The subject of many legends and myths, the tower was first constructed in the 12th century. Today’s tower designated days to the 18th century. The one time impregnable town partitions are seven kilometers long, extending from the Marmara Sea to the Golden Horn. These 5th 100 years partitions were constructed by the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius II. The partitions and their environs are listed on the United Nation’s heritage heritage list.

Sultanahmet Mosque furthermore renowned as Blue Mosque. The mosque became renowned in the west as the Blue Mosque because of the predominantly azure tinting of paintwork interior the mosque. Blue Mosque was constructed between 1609 and 1616 by alignment of the Sultan Ahmed I, after who it is named. It is besides Hippodrome of Constantinople (Sultanahmet Square) and Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya). Blue Mosque is the only mosque in Turkey with six minarets. Its architect is Sedefkar Mehmet Ağa. The central of the Blue Mosque characteristics a huge dome sustained by four impressive pillars, five metres (16ft) in diameter and are renowned as elephant feet, as well as attribute Ottoman tile patterns and brightly-coloured windows.

CITY OF ISTANBUL

iStamboul is a cosmopolitan city situated inwards the concentrate of the Old World-wide, inward the northeast of the Anatolian Peninsula between the Inglorious and Aegean Seas, gasing for a vast and glorious history and splendid scenic beauties. Istanbul is the unequalled city In the global built on two continents divided up away the Bosphorus strait.

Istanbul done its history was the capital, sequentially, of three of import empires of the Sure-enough worldwide, The Easterly Papist Empire (324-476), the Tangled Empire (476-1453) and the Ottoman Empire (1453-1922) during each stop the city acquired different names as Byzantium, Constantinople until take its real gens. Today Istanbul is a huge urban center connecting continents, cultures, and religions counterpointing its nonpareil heritage with the modernity.

Recent population census made in Turkey shows that Istanbul has a population of about 12 million people, from which almost 65% are inhabitants of the Asiatic side but with few remains and attractions to take care. In contrast, the European side is the commercial-grade and ethnical middle, farther shared out into two districts by the Gilt Horn; the Honest-to-god City and the New downtown. Both utmosts of the city, the European and Asian can equal extend toed by two bridges, the Bosphorus Bridge, peerless of the world-wide’s longest hanging bridge overs and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge Over. The Honest-to-goodness City and the Modern City IN the European side isolated by the Aureate Horn; a born canalize 7km long, are affiliated aside two bridges, the Galata Bridge and Atatürk Bridge.

The majority of diachronic monuments are placed in the Onetime part of the city in the European side. The most notable are St. Sophia, Blasphemous Mosque, Hippodrome, The Wall of Theodosius, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Cloak-and-dagger Cisterna, St.Eirene, St.Saviour in Chora, Archaeological Museum, Princely Bazaar and the Spice Market; patch Indiana the raw piece can personify apprehended the innovative face of the metropolis with its skyscrapers and luxuriant shopping middles, and at the like clock, visitors could be delighted by the wooden houses delimitationing the Bosphorus and historic sites such as Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, Galata Tower, Nusretiye Mosque, Clock Loom and many others more than.

Although the Asiatic side of the city, has no much to offer to see bears a mixture of New domiciliates, lovely wooden Doroteo Arangos equally good as some historic web sites such as Anadolu Fortress, Beylerbeyi Palace, Leanders Tower, Cinili Mosque, etc.

Undoubtedly Istanbul has too much to offer for visitors enjoying with its historical legacy.

ISTANBUL

Istanbul is placed in the north-west Turkey extending into the Marmara region and encircled by the provinces of Tekirdag to the west, Kocaeli to the eastward, the Negro Sea to the north and the Sea of Sea Of Marmora to the south.

Stamboul famous for its history and its importance for the country Eastern Samoa unrivalled of the most chief commercial centre today is a immense ecumenical metropolis connecting continents , cultures, religions and internal of around of twelve millions of inhabitants. The Bosphorus (Bogaziçi) Strait divides the province in two parts: the European side and the Asiatic side, and that is why Istanbul is described as “the crossroads of European Community and Asia”.

Istanbul along its history was the majuscule of three consecutive empires: Popish, Convoluted and Ottoman. Today Istanbul even maintains continues of its splendid past times which contrasts with the development of the region and the modernity. Turkey is deserving to visit and where travellers leave non embody frustrated.

Attractions Istanbul, Turkey

Since Istanbul a huge and very complex city, you should begin to explore a city tour. Unfortunately, the survey of the various attractions for most round trips too short. But it already receives a first impression of Istanbul. This is known then what was particularly impressive and can these parts of the city again later in peace anschauen.

For an overview of Istanbul to get, one can climb the Galata Tower. From there you can above the city with its beautiful buildings overlook well. Very nice and commendable is also a boat ride on the Bosphorus. This might give you the bank is close to churches and palaces at a leisurely drive through Istanbul chart. Galata Tower - Istanbul
Galata Tower

The southern European part of Istanbul should be to walk to the historical buildings in peace to be able to. Especially impressive are the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi the Seraglio and the Süleiman mosque. In any case, you are also the main commercial street Isticlal to entlangschlendern Galata tower to get a sense of colorful goings in Istanbul. Precisely for this reason also includes a visit to the Grand Bazaar is a must Istanbul programme of each trip.
Hagia Sophia
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Hagia Sophia, Turkey
The Hagia Sophia, how they can be admired today, already comes from the 6th Century. Even before this period stood at this point, a church, but was destroyed. Emperor Justinian was then 530 to the Hagia Sophia was built. This almost 1,500 years old building is the most beautiful and most famous landmark in Istanbul.

In the Hagia Sophia was the time of the Byzantine Empire, the coronation of the emperor. Moreover, the Hagia Sophia was the main church before in the Ottoman Empire was used as a mosque. Since 1934 the Hagia Sophia is now a museum.

The Hagia Sophia is its huge dome. It spans a large square room. On this mid-divided several side rooms, which also überkuppelt, the dominance of the main dome but subordinate.

As to the Hagia Sophia mosque has been transformed, they got the four distinctive minarets at the corners of the square construction. This was her today so striking silhouette. Hagia Sophia - Istanbul
Hagia Sophia

Address: Sultanahmet Square

Topkapi Palace / Topkapi Serail
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Topkapi Palace / Topkapi Serail, Turkey
As Istanbul still belonged to the Ottoman Empire, the Topkapi Palace (or Topkapi Seraglio) as a residence for the Sultan Mehmed built. The following sultans lived here with their harem. Each of them advanced the palace, so that now many buildings belong to the Topkapi Palace, like a labyrinth linked.

With the founding of Turkey was the Topkapi Palace into a museum. In the palace, you can use a lot of wealth and treasures of the sultans chart.
Address: Topkapi Palace Museum, Sultanahmet Square
Tram: Sultanahmet
Süleiman mosque
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Süleiman mosque, Turkey
The Suleiman mosque was from 1550 to 1560 built and is similar in their style of Hagia Sophia. As the Hagia Sophia, the main square area of the mosque by a huge dome covered. The side buildings are smaller domes covered me. To the mosque arcades are arranged. In addition, the Süleiman mosque with four minarets surrounded.

During a visit should also take the time and a small walk across the courtyard of the mosque Süleiman. Only then can the beauty of the area around the experience and has still a fantastic view of Istanbul. Sueleyman mosque - Istanbul

Sueleyman mosque - Istanbul
Süleiman mosque

Blue Mosque
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Blue Mosque, Turkey
The Blue Mosque is located opposite the Hagia Sophia and their style is copied. It was at the beginning of the 17th Century. The name received the Blue Mosque because of the blue tiles with which the mosque is decorated. Blue Mosque - Istanbul
Blue Mosque
Address: Hippodrome, Sultanahmet Square
Tram: Sultanahmet
Grand Bazaar (Kapali carsi)
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Grand Bazaar (Kapali Çarsi), Turkey
You should not miss the Grand Bazaar. This is the largest market of its kind in Turkey. Not only to shop, including the stroll through the many thousands of shops, cafes and restaurants is highly recommended, as you will the typical oriental flair experienced market Schreier, haggling, the smell of oriental spices and crowds.

Of course, there is everything to buy what the famous bazaars of Turkey are: carpets, gold, silver and jewellery, leather goods, oriental spices and much more. As for the prices should absolutely vigorously. Look at this, nor our best side to go shopping in Turkey!

Also on the small bazaar, which is not far away, you can find many things, especially imitations of branded products of all kinds also well attended, the book market.

Istanbul Holiday Guide

Istanbul - Constantinople - Byzantium. City on the Bosphorus, between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, City on two continents. Officially 9 million, unofficially 14 million inhabitants. Boundary between Asia and Europe, between Orient and Occident. Mosques and bazaars, western lifestyle and Anatolian tradition. The reason for our 4-day stay in Istanbul, however, was the operation of Vivien (see link below). Since it looks again without glasses and contact lenses, like an eagle!
Already on the journey from the airport into the city, we were enchanted by the silhouette, with its myriad dome and minarets fascinated. Again and again we went on parts of the 21-km-long massive walls along.
The Bosporus, the strait between Asian and European continent by a 1 km long, free-floating bridge spans and offers next to the hellish traffic, beautiful views of the two banks of the Bosphorus. A boat trip or a long walk along the shore you should not miss.

Sultanahmet Camii, owes its Beinahmen the “Blue Mosque” of the decoration with blautonigen tiles and 6 with its minarets, instead of the usual 4, the most impressive buildings next to the Hagia Sophia. During the prayer hours, hundreds of Muslims come here to pray, an impressive experience.

In addition to the traditional parts of the city, offers Istanbul, around the Taksim Square, even a completely modern, western city centre pedestrian zone along with the usual international shops and restaurants. Only the historic tram recalls the old days. Away from these miles are still Local and traditional tea gardens with a wide range of local cuisine.

Another dominant structure is the Galata tower at the northern end of the same bridge. From up here you have a wonderful overview of the entire city. At night you can see a show and dinner Folklore-/Bauchtanz- visit, but at astronomical prices € 60, –/Pers. We renounced it.

With most “experienced” man Istanbul at a stroll through the great bazaar. His gigantic proportions of nearly 31 ha and nearly 4000 stores in a labyrinthartigen covered Gewölbebau make the visit a unique experience. Spices, gold, carpets, ceramics, copper, brass, leather goods, etc. everything is in abundance exists and will loudly by the merchants. It is traded and haggled, just typical oriental and for us always fascinating.
Topkapi Sarayi, the centuries-old Ottoman Sultan’s palace is situated in a beautiful park and one of the main attractions of Istanbul. The view from here on top of the Bosporus, the Golden Horn and the city are unique. We enthusiastic but especially the architecture and the equipment of different premises. A fairy tale palace as from Thousand and One Nights. Before louder photographing and amazed, we missed time in the harem to go, because already at 16.00 clock close to its gates. Schade, the tickets we had purchased thus free.

Despite the partly already widely west dominated lifestyle, there is still the old traditions. Verschleierte women and provides traditional craftsmen still everywhere in the roads. The company is pure men almost everywhere.

Our trip to Istanbul was not only in relation to the operation successful. The whole city with their different ways of life, the grandiose buildings and the lively street life has us very much. Istanbul is in any case worth a visit.

Ankara may have replaced Istanbul as the capital of Turkey , but the old imperial capital will never be replaced in the affections of the populace. A pride in the city plays a part in the consciousness of locals of every age ,race and creed. Its feeling summed up best by novelist Yasar Kemal , whose book, The Sea-Crossed Fisherman , contains a loving evocation of the pulsating city :

Its buses , cars , horsecarts, its ships , steam launches , fishing boats , its hamals sweating under their loads of heaped crates , its streets and avenues overflowing, its apartment buildings, mosques, bridges, all surging, interlocking in a furious turmoil…

But while the traditional sights and ancient buildings may always be there, the romantic veneer of the Ottoman city may not, Istanbul has one of the youngest populations in Europe and , as  Turkey begins to reform its once rigid conservative society as it seeks to gain entry into the European, the city’s youth increasingly demands the same recreational pastimes as their European counterparts. Where they once met over a cup of apple tea and a backgammon board , today’s rich and bright young things enjoy the bars and nightclubs that have flourished since the late 1990s , where they can drink alcohol freely and dance until 5am. Shopping malls featuring international brands cater to young people sporting belly rings and tattoos, Hard Rock Café T-shirts and DVDs are for sale amongst the trinkets in the covered bazaar and there are reputedly more branches of McDonalds in the city than in NewYork.

Whether yours in the Istanbul of the Blue Mosque and The Topkapi Palace, or the downtown dance clubs and swish Bosphorus coctail bars, the city takes time to get to know. Three to four days is enough to see the major historical sights in Sultanahmet and take a ferry trip out for the afternoon on the Bosphorus. But plan on staying a week , or even two , if you want to explore fully the attractions off the usual tourist trail in the outlying suburbs and islands.

ORIENTATION

Istanbul is divided in two by the Bosphorus, a narrow thirty-kilometer strait that runs roughly southwest between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, separating Europe from Asia. Feeding into the southern end of the strait from the European side is the Golden Horn, an inlet of water that starts as two small streams about 7km from the mouth  the Bosphorus. The quarters along the Golden Horn are dominated by light industry, while the majority of İstanbul’s residential suburbs are located along the shores of the Seo of Marmara and on the hills above the Bosphorus.

Istanbul effectively has two city centres, separated by the Golden Horn but both situated on the European side of the Bosphorus. The Sultanahmet district is the historical core of the city while Taksim lies at the southern end of an extensive business district. The two can easily be made out from the water.

Topkapi , Aya sofya , Sultanahmet Camii , the Museum of Turkish and Islamic art, and The Kapali Carsi (Covered Bazaar) , Downhill from Sultanahmet is Eminonu , one of the city’s major transport hubs, where trams connect with the citys largest ferry terminal and the main train station. This district is handy for the Misir Carsisi (Mısır Çarşısı) and Galata bridge , gateway to the Golden Horn.

West of the covered bazaar is the student district of Beyazit – stretching to the crown of one of the city’s seven hills – where İstanbuls university and the impressive Suleymanie Camii are situated . Further west from Beyazit , down main road of ordu caddesi , is the commercial district of Laleli and the transport hub of Aksaray. Beyond lie the overtly Islamic, mosque-studded , districts of Fatih and Zeyrek.

Running between the Sea of Marmara ant the Golden Horn, about 6 km from Topkapı Palace, the greater part of Theodosius II’s city walls are still standing. Its simple enough to get out here bay bus or train for a walk on the fortifications at Yedikule and a visit to the spectacular frescoes and mosaics of the Kariye Museum, Further out, Eyup is home to one of the most important mosques in the islamic world.

From Sultanahmet and Eminönü , you are most likely to cross the Golden Horn by the Galata bridge , entering the port area of Karaköy and then continuing up the steep hill to Galata , an area as old as Constantinople itself. Not far from the northern end of the bridge is the entrance to the Tunel, the French-built underground funicular railway , which takes eighty seconds to whisk up to Beyoglu , the City’s graceful nineteenth-century European quarter. From the upper Tünel statilon , an antique tram runs the length of Beyoğlu’s main boulevard Istiklal Caddesi to Taksim Square, the twin focal points of the modern citys best hotels, bars ,clubs and restaurants.

Istanbul,Sultanahmet Videos,istanbul info,travel,istanbul guide , sultanahmet , turkey information.

Sultanahmet
Most short-stay visitors spend all their time in Sultanahmet, home of Istanbul’s main sightseeing attractions: the Topkapi Palace, heart of the Ottoman Empire; the Sultanahmet Camii (better known as the Blue Mosque); and the greatest legacy of the Byzantine Empire, the church of AyaSofya. Here also are the ancient Hippodrome, the Museum of İslamic Culture (housed in the former Palace of İbrahim Pasa), the Yerebatan underground cistern and the Kapali Carsi, the largest covered bazaar in the world. The monumental architecture, attractive parks and gardens, street-side cafes, and the benefits of a relatively traffic-free main road (courtesy of the tramline) combine to make this area pleasant for both sightseeing and staying.
On the negative side, large numbers of persistent hustlers gather around the Hippodrome and Divan Yolu Caddesi, badgering new arrivals to visit their carpet shop or offering to act as a guide. İgnore them in a friendly but firm manner, otherwise you’ll end up spending more time (and money) on carpet shopping than you dreamed possible.
AyaSofya
For almost a thousand years AyaSofya, or Haghia Sophia (daily except Mon 9am–6pm, upper galleries close at 5.30pm; 15YTL), was the largest enclosed space in the world, designed to impress the strength and wealth of the Byzantine emperors upon their own subjects and visiting foreign dignitaries alike. Located between the Topkapi Palace and Sultanahmet Camii on the ancient acropolis, the first hill of Istanbul, the church dominated the city skyline for a millennium, until the domes and minarets of the city’s mosques began to challenge its eminence in the sixteenth century.
Considering the vicissitudes undergone by the building over the centuries it’s perhaps surprising to find Aya Sofya still standing at all. As it is, after years of work, the restored interior of the dome has finally emerged from its scaffolding, while restorations have also improved its formerly neglected brick-and-stonework exterior.

Topkapi Palace
The Topkapi Palace (daily except Tues 9am–5pm) was both the symbolic and the political centre of the Ottoman Empire for nearly four centuries, until the removal of the imperial retinue to DolmabahCe, by Sultan Abdülmecid İ in 1853. İt is a beautiful setting in which to wander and contemplate the majesty of the Ottoman sultanate, as well as the cruelty exemplified by institutions like the harem and “the Cage”.
Originally known as Sarayi Cedid, or New Palace, Topkapi was built between 1459 and 1465 as the seat of government of the newly installed Ottoman regime. İt was not at first a residence: Mehmet the Conqueror had already built what would become known as the Old Palace on the present site of Istanbul University and even after he himself moved, his harem stayed on at the old site.
İn accordance with İslamic tradition, the palace consists of a collection of buildings arranged around a series of courtyards, similar to the Alhambra in Granada or a Moghul palace in İndia. Although this creates an initial impression of disorder, in fact the arrangement is meticulously logical. The first courtyard was the service area of the palace and open to all, while most of the second court and its attendant buildings were devoted to the Divan, or Council of State, and to those who had business with it. The pavilions of judges were located at the Orta Kapi (the entrance to the palace proper, between the first and second courtyards), in accordance with the tradition that justice should be dispensed at the gate of the palace.
The third courtyard was mainly given over to the palace school, an important imperial institution devoted to the training of civil servants, and it is only in the fourth courtyard that the serious business of state gives way to the more pleasurable aspects of life. Around the attractive gardens here are a number of pavilions erected by successive emperors in celebration of their victories. Here, the glorious views and sunsets could be enjoyed in privileged retreat from their three- to four-thousand-member retinue.
The various adjustments made to the structure and function of the buildings were indicative of the power shifts in the Ottoman Empire over the centuries. During the “Rule of the Harem” in the sixteenth century, for example, a passageway was opened between the Harem and the Divan, while in the eighteenth century, when the power of the sultan had declined, the offices of state were transferred away from the “Eye of the Sultan” (the window in the Divan through which a sultan could monitor proceedings) to the gateway that led to the palaces of the Grand Vezir known as the Sublime Port.
The entrance to Topkapi Palace is to the right and behind Aya Sofya, up Babihümayun Caddesi. There is no fee to enter the first courtyard. The entry fees for the Palace (12YTL) and the İmperial Treasury (10YTL) are paid at a ticket booth located to the right of the middle gate that leads through to the second courtyard. Another ticket booth is located at the entrance of the Harem, where you can pay a further 10YTL for a guided tour of the Harem.

Sultanahmet Camii: the Blue Mosque
On the southeastern side of the Hippodrome is the Sultanahmet Camii, or Blue Mosque. İts instantly recognizable six minarets, imposing bulk and prominent position on the İstanbul skyline combine to make it one of the most famous and visited monuments in the city. Despite this, many architectural historians are scathing about the Blue Mosque’s aesthetic merit.
Before construction began, in 1609, objections were raised to the plan of a six-minareted mosque. İt was said to be unholy to rival the six minarets of the mosque at Mecca, and perhaps more pertinently it would be a great drain on state revenues. The true cause of the objections, however, probably had more to do with the need to destroy several palaces belonging to imperial ministers to make way for construction.
From the outside, the building is undeniably impressive, particularly on the all-important approach from Topkapi Palace. Above the level of the courtyard the mosque is a mass of shallow domes and domed turrets, hardly broken by a single straight line. The courtyard, best approached from the attractive and graceful west portal, is surrounded by a portico of thirty small domes and has the same dimensions as the mosque itself.
You can enter through the courtyard, despite signs in English and German asking visitors to use the side entrance facing Aya Sofya. Lone tourists, as opposed to groups, will not create ill-will by entering here as long as they are suitably covered (limbs for men and women, heads for women) and do not intrude on worshippers. At the side entrance, you will invariably encounter large crowds.
İnside, four “elephant foot” pillars (so called because of their size) of five metres in diameter impose their disproportionate dimensions on the interior, appearing squashed against the outer walls and obscuring parts of the building from every angle. But it’s the predominantly blue colour of the internal decoration that is the biggest draw, from which the name “Blue Mosque” is derived. The tiles – over twenty thousand of them – constituted such a tall order that the İznik kilns were practically exhausted. Still in evidence are the clear bright colours of the best period of İznik ware, including flower and tree panels as well as more abstract designs.
At the northeast corner of the Sultanahmet complex is the richly decorated and elegant royal pavilion, approached by ramp and giving access to the sultan’s loge inside the mosque – the ramp meant that the sultan could ride his horse right up to the door of his chambers. The royal pavilion now houses a Museum of Carpets (Hali Müzesi; Tues– Sat 9am–4pm; 2YTL), which traces the history of Turkish carpets through the ages and includes some ancient, priceless pieces.
Between May 1 and September 30 there is a free sound and light show conducted from the small seating area in the park between the Blue Mosque and Aya Sofya. İmages are projected onto the surrounding buildings to a musical and spoken accompaniment – performed in English, French, Turkish and German on alternate evenings from 7.30pm onwards. Unfortunately, the event attracts a large number of hustlers.

Arriving in Istanbul can come as a shock. You may still be in Europe - with tree-lined boulevards and chic cafe bars in many areas - but step away from the main drag and most likely you will find you have entered a completely ailen environment. Traders with handcarts , hamals (stevedores) carrying burdens of merchandise twice their own size and weight , limbless beggars and shoeshine boys all freuquent the backstreets around the city centre , loudly proclaiming their busines until late at night. Men monopolize the downmarket public bars and teahouses while women scurry about their business , heads often covered and gaze ever downcast. In summer , dust tracks take the place of pavements, giving way in winter to a ubiquitous slurry of mud. Where there are pavements ,they are punctuated at intervals with unmarked pits large enough to swallow you without trace. And this is before you even begin to crosss any bridges into Asia.

Yet istanbul is the only city in the world to have played capital to consecutive Christian and Islamic empires. Their legacies are much in evidence , newhere more prominently than in the cultural centre of the city , where the gerat edifices of Ayasofya and Sultan Ahmet Camii glower at each other across a small park. The juxtaposition of the two cultures would be fascinating enough in itself but it is made more so by the fact that the transition between them was a process of assimilation and adoption. Mehmet the Conqueror , and most of the citys churches were reconsecrated as mosques - not least Aya Sofya itself , which was a constant source of inspiration to Islamic architects.

Monumental architecture aside, the very confusion of sights and sounds initially so alienating soon becomes one of Istanbuls greatest fascinations. Even if the city did not have such a varied and vivid history , it would still take any number of return visits to begin to discover the source and meaning of the cacophony. Exploration reveasl ancient bazaars which still function as they have done for centuries , including the largest covered bazaar in the world, the Kapali Carsi. The modern city, located around vast emptiness affords to some a feeling of relief after days spent in crowded , dirty backstreets , and at night Taksim and the adjacent Istiklal Caddesi take on a new lease of life as a centre of friendly bars and clubs while the area between Taksim and Galata offers some of the citys best restaurants. The Bosphorus - the straits dividing Europe and Asia - should be visited as often as possible during the course of a trip , since howmuch you enjoy Istanbul may well depend on how often you can escape to its shores. The coastal villages offer incredible views as well as some of the citys more interesting historical sites , parks and esen open forestland , and the best fish restaurants in this part of the world. The Princes Islands , traditional refuge from political turmoil on the mainland , are worth visiting for their unspoilt natural beauty and for the possibility of finding a secluded beach an hours ferry ride away from Eminonu.