Istanbul is one of the world's most visited cities and, having been the capital of three empires (the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman), it's a city that no traveler should miss. Fall in love with the history of former Constantinople and its natural wonders, the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus.

Chaotic and serene at the same time, with more than 15 million inhabitants, Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey. And each and every visitor is left astounded by a city on the crossroads of two continents: too Eastern to be European and too Western to be Asian.

A journey into the past itself, touring Istanbul, you'll find yourself in a historic and lively city between two seas, The Sea of Marmara and The Black Sea; between two continents, Europe and Asia, and between two worlds, the traditional and the modern.

Istanbul Travel Tips

Essential travel information and Istanbul tips for your visit

• Time Zone: Istanbul follows the Eastern European Time Zone UTC+02:00.
• Currency: The currency operational in Istanbul is Turkish Lira.
• Electricity: In Turkey the mains voltage is 220 Volt. You may need a power adapter for all your electronic equipment, if in your country another mains voltage is used.
• Internet: Connecting to the Internet in Turkey is pretty easy and inexpensive. If you travel with your own laptop, tablet computer (iPad, etc.) or smartphone, most Turkish hotels, particularly the small and medium-sized ones—offer wireless Internet access (Wifi) in at least one public space, such as the lobby or lounge, and many have signal repeaters that make Wifi available in all the guest rooms as well.
• Language: The language spoken in Istanbul is Turkish but English, and sometimes German, is spoken at tourist sites and at hostels.
• Emergency Contacts: Ambulance: 112 (all over Turkey), Police: 155 (all over Turkey), Tourism Police: (0212) 5274503 (Istanbul only).
• The city does bask in glorious sunshine a lot of the time but its maritime location and prevailing weather patterns mean that drizzle, drops and plain old rain frequently interrupt a day’s sightseeing. With an umbrella you can carry on regardless until the clouds part and the sun comes out again.
• Bargaining is a must in Istanbul.
• Turkish baths, the famous feature of Istanbul’s tourism can also be a trap to mint money. The best ones are those used by locals, not exclusively by tourists and will be reasonably priced.
• Be careful of pick pockets. Keep your valuables safe.
• Dress modestly especially while visiting mosques in the city.
• Respect the Turkish flag when in the city. Disrespect to the flag would hurt the sentiments of the locals.