Visit Istanbul and discover the special history of the "Queen" of cities|mazi travel

Visit Istanbul and discover the special history of the "Queen" of cities

Between two continents and two seas, stretches Istanbul, the legendary lady of the Bosphorus. Historic, modern and traditional, the exotic orientalist with her westward gaze and lustful atmosphere, manages to evoke the strongest feelings in every visitor. The richness of its historical monuments, its natural beauties and the picturesqueness of its neighborhoods highlights its timeless grandeur and transforms Istanbul into the place where contrasts and differences were expressed in the most fruitful way. The queen of the Bosporus, has the air and the open spirit of all the cities by the sea, while, at the same time, she is constantly changing and renewing, through her role as a crossroad of cultures and peoples and a metropolis of religions and culture, elements that allow her to survive through its differences.

The city with the Byzantine churches and the legendary mosques, the Byzantine palaces and the modern skyscrapers, the noisy squares and the open-air markets, entices the visitor to a magical fairy tale. Every visitor can feel the heart and the pulse of the city

through routes of top aesthetic pleasure. From the Bosphorus waterfront to Fanari and from Pera Street to Taksim Square, monuments that recall glorious historical memories, nest in every corner of the city and wander the most demanding eyes. At every step, the crossroads of the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire are harmoniously illuminated in a peaceful cultural coexistence. Under the same sky coexist top monuments of Orthodoxy, (Hagia Sophia) with the dark silhouettes of windows and their minarets, (Blue Mosque, Topkapi) in an urban background of unsurpassed beauty. Crowded squares (Taksim) are centered in the heart of the city and covered bazaars (Kapali charsi) reveal the scents of the east in the humidity of the Horn Bay and the bridge of Galata. The city that was praised more than any other for its beauty, is a city that manages to uniquely activate all the senses and solemnly justify its title as City of Cities and city of our heart.

Food and local cuisine

Turkish cuisine is a rich cuisine, inspired by the East and is quite similar to Greek. Tourkish cuisine at its best is expressed through dishes rich in flavor and excellent quality raw materials (meat, fish and seafood). Tourkish cuisine emphasizes on spices, especially spicy ones. Enjoy dishes such as hunkar begendi, tavuk gogsu, kebap and lahmacun, imam bayildi and yiaprakia, accompanied by imaginative appetizers, as well as the incredible variety of Street food that

The city offers and do not forget to try the wonderful syrupy sweets (kunefe and baklava), samali and the amazing ice cream.

Best time to visit Instanbul

You can visit the city all year round. The intermediate seasons of spring and autumn are ideally recommended to avoid the great heat of summer and the bitter cold and fog of winter.

How to use transportation in Instanbul

Transfer from/to Instanbul

The city is served by air from two airports. Ataturk International Airport, the city's main airport, serves the European side and is located 40 km from the city center, in the Yesilkoy district. Thessaloniki and Athens have a direct air connection. From the airport the transfer to the city is done by metro (line M1A, red line), by airport shuttle bus or by public buses. Alternatively use a taxi. Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, serving the Asian side, is 45 km from the city center.

Public transportation

The city has a wide network of transport and public transport. Take the metro (for very specific distances) or city buses. The tram is emerging as the fastest moving. It crosses the city and reaches the suburbs, with stops in the central parts of the city. Alternatively choose the minibuses (dolmus) for the city and its suburbs, train, passenger ferries (traveling to the Horn and Bosphorus) and taxis (with the taximeter activated). Finally, the city is suitable for nice walking routes.