Sitting astride the continents of Europe and Asia, Istanbul truly is a place where East meets West, ensuing in a fascinating and uniquely vibrant city.

From the charming cobbled streets and the domed skyline of the old quarter to the colorful modern-day Beyoglu district, this is a metropolis with something for everybody.

Initially established by the Greeks in the 7th century BC, this city, previously referred to as Constantinople, became capital of both the Byzantine Christian world and the Ottoman Empire and there are nonetheless lots of relics to find out. But this booming metropolis is also experiencing a 21st century golden age with a booming populace of over 14 million people.

What to see

See a number of the city’s must-see conventional attractions in a single hit by heading to the compact Sultanahmet district. In this area you’ll locate the Byzantine church of Aya Sofya (Church of the Holy wisdom) and the Blue Mosque, each equally stately and splendid, in addition to the ornate pavilions of the Topkapi Palace.

The Grand Bazaar, certainly one of the biggest and oldest covered markets in the world, is likewise not to be overlooked. Just walk about to enjoy the surroundings of this sizeable warren of streets inside the Fatih district, or pick from the exquisite array of products on offer, such as hand-loomed textiles, pottery, and fantastically fragrant soaps.

Go to the Beyoglu district to look at modern-day Istanbul in full swing, from the busy shopping strip of Istiklal Caddesi to the bustling Taksim square.

With a lot of activities in Istanbul, in case you bored with sightseeing and shopping you could just hit the beach and take in the crystal blue waters of the Sea of Marmara located in the south of the city.

Flights to Istanbul from the USA

Air Tickets offers cheap flights to Istanbul from all major American Airports.