Things to do in Istanbul: Vacations, Tourism, and Hotels

What to do in Istanbul

Labeled the “City of the World’s Desire” in a history of Constantinople, Istanbul, today, fuses the chic and secular with the sacred. It’s home to the world’s greatest Byzantine architecture (read: the Aya Sofya), the Grand Bazaar with more than 4,000 shops, opulent palaces like Topkapi, and a skyline pricked with minarets. The streets breathe traces of its Greek, Roman, Crusader, and Ottoman past. But there’s a hip, modern layer on top of it all: the city’s population has grown to 15 million and shiny skyscrapers taller than mosques have sprouted up. Still, the sidewalks pulse with locals drinking raki in taverns and vendors selling traditional sesame-coated breads. The women here—some in short shorts and carrying Prada bags, some wearing full chadri —capture the city’s contradictions best of all.

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Istanbul Travel Q&A

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When is it a good time to travel to istanbul

Asked on July 30, 2012 by krystle | 96 views

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what is the temperature inIstanbul like in September??

what is the temperature inIstanbul like in September??
Asked on June 28, 2010 by an anonymous user | 111 views

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Can you have a beer/wine in Istanbul?

Can you have a beer/wine in Istanbul?
Asked on June 05, 2010 by an anonymous user | 118 views

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