Excursions from İstanbul

Istanbul is the largest Turkish city and one of the largest cities in the world. One in five citizens of Turkey lives in it. The city was founded in the 7th century B.C. In its long history, Istanbul has been the capital of several empires (Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman) which remained monuments attracting tourists from all over the world. From the 15th century onwards, Istanbul was the capital of the Ottoman Empire. The Sultan, who ruled the country, was simultaneously a caliph, the spiritual leader of all Muslims. As a result, there are more mosques in Istanbul than in any other Turkish city. The number reaches up to 3113 mosques in total. The best known and popular among travellers are Blue, Suleymaniye, Ortaköy and Aya Sofia. The Sultans extended their power throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. They were the richest men of their time. Therefore, Istanbul is famous for beautiful palaces: Topkapi, Dolmabahce, Yildiz, Beylerbay and others. Istanbul stands at the crossroads of trade routes. It is known for its oriental bazaars. One of the city’s main attractions is the Grand Bazaar, which has been open since the 15th century. It is the largest indoor market in the world, with 45,000 shops. Istanbul stands on the banks of the Bosphorus, a strait that separates Asia from Europe. Each year, 48,000 ships pass through the waterway. Under the Bosphorus there is the second deepest tunnel in the world called Marmaray. During daytime and in the evenings walking along the bay is popular among tourists of different countries