Travel to Istanbul

Istanbul is the place to go for some stunning architectural, cultural, and historical sites. This city, part of it in Europe and part in Asia, is truly a marvel. It has many attractions, some world-famous. Istanbul promises to be an exciting vacation spot for all. More on Istanbul tourist attractions here.

Istanbul Hotels

Istanbul is split into three parts, old, new, and Asiatic. Thus, there are plenty of hotels to choose from in each part. If you want to stay on the Europe side, you can pick a hotel in the old or new sections. If you prefer Asia, you can stay in the Asiatic part. More on Istanbul hotels here.

The new part of the city is much more modern and has the majority of modern, classy hotels. However, there are many different types of hotels all over the city and many price ranges as well. For the best deals, it's recommended you book your hotel in Istanbul online.

Highlights

• The cathedral of Aya Sofya, also known as the Church of the Divine Wisdom, now a museum, is an architectural masterpiece.
• The Blue Mosque makes a popular tourist draw card with its impressive interior of hanging crystal chandeliers and intricate mosaics.
• Topkapi Palace contains impressive buildings and gardens as well as Imperial display rooms which hold sultans’ kaftans, Chinese porcelain, and glittering jewels.
• Near the city walls are the Kariye Camii, containing the city's finest surviving Byzantine mosaics and frescoes.
• A massive Egyptian Spice Bazaar located on Eminönü Square makes a fun day out.
• At Istiklal Street you can find plenty of bars, cafes, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, and shops.

Day trips by hire car

Inside of Istanbul, it might be a little dangerous to drive a car. However, there are several attractions outside of the city that are worth seeing and are only really accessible by hire car. More on hiring a car in Istanbul here.

One such destination is Termal. Located about 38 kms. by hire car from Istanbul, Termal is a natural hot spring, famous as a spa since Roman times. Here you can enjoy a historic Turkish bath, an outdoor swimming pool, private rooms, and several hotels and restaurants.

A bit farther out to the south is Bursa, known as the ‘green city’. This is great destination to reach by hire car. It occupies the verdant northern slopes of Uludag, an extinct volcanic peak which is Turkey's chief winter sports spot. The thermal springs in the suburb of Çekirge have been popular since the 16th century. The town includes masterpieces of early Ottoman architecture such as the Grand Mosque, and its colourful bazaar is one of the largest in Turkey. Reserve a hire car for Istanbul at a good price here.