Welcome To the e-travelguide to Hotels, guest houses and attractions in Istanbul

Make the most of your time in Istanbul, use the information provided on this web site by clicking on the links above to plan your visit.

Istanbul may not be Turkey’s capital but it is certainly the country’s largest, most prominent and most visited city. At the crossroads of Europe and Asia Istanbul embodies the notion of a city bordering two civilizations, combining Eastern and Western ideals in a melting pot of architecture, religion and culture. Throughout its history Istanbul has served as the centre of the Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman Empires. And in the present day the city is once again enjoying huge importance as a commercial, financial and cultural capital. Istanbul has been chosen as the joint European Capital of Culture for 2010, which should further increase the city’s profile. As Istanbul prepares to draw even more visitors it embraces a rich heritage and a dynamic modern presence.

Surrounded on three sides by water Istanbul is divided by the Bosphorus Strait, the estuary of the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara. The architectural landscape of the city has assimilated the influences of different cultures, Ottoman minarets, Baroque mosques, Roman monuments and Jewish synagogues stand side by side with gleaming modern skyscrapers. This is an urban landscape shaped by many communities. The historic Sultanahmet district is the Istanbul synonymous with travel guides and postcards. It is here that visitors will find the famous Haghia Sophia mosque, churches, museums and palaces. Galata, Beyoğlu and Taksim are the city’s modern financial heart where the headquarters of banks and international corporations are found. Thousands of hotels and restaurants across the city cater for the modern business or leisure traveller with a desire for contemporary luxury or traditional Turkish hospitality. Istanbul is a thoroughly modern city with millennia of history.

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