Information on Istanbul

About Istanbul

Istanbul offers an unforgettable experience with its colorful daily life and dynamic nightlife. It is also an attractive destination for international events with its world class accommodation and convention facilities.

Istanbul is a natural gateway spread over two continents, Europe and Asia, divided by the Turkish Straits. It is also a metropolis proud of its rich history of 8000 years.

The natural beauty, exciting sights building a bridge between the past and modern times, and the modern infrastructure of the city makes Istanbul a unique meeting place for international business congresses and meetings.
As Napoleon Bonaparte said, ’’ If the world was a single country, Istanbul would be the capital of it’’. Istanbul is also the capital of art and culture with a rich tradition in opera and ballet, theatres performing both Turkish and foreign plays, concerts, art exhibitions, festivals, auctions, conferences and ofcourse unique museums.

The city also boasts the country’s greatest and finest universities. Istanbul has been proclaimed European Capital of Culture for 2010; a recognition that can only further enhance its status as an exciting and intriguing meeting destination. As an imperial capital for 8000 years, Istanbul has acquired a highly original personality. At every turn in the city you are faced with Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman palaces, mosques, churches, monasteries, monuments, walls and ruins.

Istanbul is increasing its appeal for the international meeting industry every year as a result of its growing importance for international trade, commerce and industry, constantly improving infrastructure, international networking and active involvement of national associations and corporations and universities.

The city hosted many important and large scale international congresses and events within the past 10 years and became a preferred destination for international congresses.

Historic Landmarks in Istanbul

Topkapı Palace
Topkapi is the largest and oldest palace in the world to survive to our day. In 1924 it was turned into a museum at Atatiirk's request. Situated on the acropolis, the site of the first settlement in Istanbul, it commands an impressive view of the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara. The palace is a complex surrounded by 5 km of walls and occupies an area of 700,000 sq. m at the tip of the historical peninsula.
It consists of tree- shaded courtyards, each serving a different purpose and opening onto one another with monumental gates. Most of the objects exhibited in the palace today are unique masterpieces.
When it was used as a palace, it served more functions than one usually associates with royal residences. Although it was the residence of the Sultan, the sole ruler of the empire, it was at the same time the center of the administrative affairs, the place where the council of ministers met, and the treasury, mint, and state archives were located there. The highest educational institution of the empire, the university of the sultan and the state was also here. Therefore it was the heart, the brain, the very center of the Ottoman Empire. Much later, the harem (private quarters) of the sultans was moved here too.

Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is the one of the most visited museums and most prominent monuments in the world in terms of art and the history of architecture. It has also been called “the eighth wonder of the world” by East Roman Philon as far back as the 6th century. The current Hagia Sophia is the third construction, done in a different architectural style, even though it occupies the same location as the previous two. The original building was constructed by the most important architects of the period (527-565), Anthemios (Tralles) and Isidoros (Miletus), under the order of Emperor Justinianos. It is mentioned in the resources that during its construction period, the two prominent architects each had 100 architects working under them, who in turn had 100 workers each working under them.
It was used as a church for 916 years but, following the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmed, the Hagia Sophia was converted into mosque. Afterwards, it was used as a mosque for 482 years. Under the order of Atatürk and the decision of the Council of Ministers, Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum in 1935. Hagia Sophia is open for visit every day. The winter visiting hours for the Hagia Sophia are from 09.00 to 17.00, with the final entry being at 16.00. During the summer, the visiting hours are between 09.00 and 19.00, with the final entry being at 18.00. Passes are available at the box office in the museum.

Dolmabahçe Palace
The Dolmabahçe Palace, a blend of various European architectural styles, was built between 1843-1856 by Karabet Balyan, the court architect of Sultan Abdulmecid. The Ottoman sultans had many palaces in all ages, but the Topkapi was the official residence until the completion of the Dolmabahce Palace.
The three-storied palace built on a symmetrical plan has 285 rooms and 43 halls. There is a 600 m long quay along the sea and two monumental gates, one of them very ornate, on the land side. Well-kept, beautiful gardens surround this seaside palace. In the middle, there is a large ballroom with a ceiling higher than the other sections. The entrance section of the palace was used for the receptions and meetings of the sultan, and the wing behind the ballroom used as the harem section.
Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) in Istanbul is one of the largest covered markets in the world with 60 streets and 5,000 shops, and attracts between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. It is well known for its jewellery, hand-painted ceramics, carpets, embroideries, spices and antique shops. Many of the stalls in the bazaar are grouped by type of goods, with special areas for leather, gold jewellery and the like.
The complex houses two mosques, four fountains, two hamams, and several cafés and restaurants. A leisurely afternoon spent exploring the bazaar, sitting in one of the cafés and watching the crowds pass by, and bargaining for purchases is one of the best ways to recapture the romantic atmosphere of old Istanbul.