Visiting the Old City of Turkey, Istanbul

Located at the edge of Europe, Istanbul is a dream destination for anyone who craves for adventure. The beautiful Turkish city hides layers of history, culture and colors where everything tells a story: the architectures, nature and landmarks.

Here are five reasons why you should plan a trip to Istanbul right now:

1. City of contrasts

When visiting Istanbul, prepare yourself to be amazed by the perfect architectural fusion of east and west. Connecting the two continents, Asia and Europe, the city is a melting pot of ancient city and modernism.

2. Full of amazing landmarks

With over 2500 years of history, Istanbul is home to glorious and breathtaking landmarks. Among the most famous ones are: The world-renowned Blue Mosque, which sits across from one of the most visited museum in the city, Hagia Sophia, house of the Ottoman Sultans, Topkapı Palace and with its blue ceramics, the Sultanahmet Mosque.

3. Perfect mixture of authentic, traditional cuisine

Istanbul is also said to be a paradise of food, sweets and taste. The streets of the old Turkish city are packed with coffee shops, kebab places and cozy restaurants where there is a perfect mix of eastern and western dishes where you can enjoy traditional Turkish cuisine, modern western kitchen and amazing desserts.

4. Shopper’s Paradise

With streets filled with shops, bazaars and boutiques, Istanbul is a shopper’s paradise. When visiting Turkey’s metropolitan, the Grand Bazaars should be the starting point of choice for shopping with over over 3000 shops and stalls. Catering a number of shops, music stores, boutiques and art galleries, you can easily spend a day in shopping along the avenues of Istanbul. From antique shops to high-end fashion shops, visiting Istanbul also means shopping a storm.

5. Views

While Istanbul is a beautiful cosmopolitan city filled with historical sites, shopping malls and bazaars, the old city of Turkey is also blessed with natural beauty. Among the rush of the city, there are also places where you can relax and take a break, including parks where you can get away from the city buzz and leisurely enjoy the surroundings. Some of the most famous spots are the Yildiz Park, The Princes’ Islands and the oldest park which is the Gulhane Park.

Istanbul keeps getting chosen as one of the best travel destination for a reason, so leave all your stress behind and be enchanted by the beauty of the country and its people.