The only city in the world located on two continents, Europe and Asia, Istanbul extends along the banks of the Bosphorus, where the waters of the Black Sea mix with those of the Sea of Marmara. The European part of the city is in turn divided in two by the famous Golden Horn. This position was the very reason for its existence and here Istanbul preserves the precious testimonies of the three empires of which it was the capital (Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman), revealing to the visitor an extraordinary fusion between East and West, between past and present. Istanbul is multiple and boundless: museums alternate with ancient churches, palaces with mosques. Don't miss the famous attractions of the Sultanahmet district, with the Ayasofya Museum (Hagia Sophia), Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar; as well as the Beyoglu district, where the Genoese district with the Galata Tower is located and along which Istiklal Caddesi runs, a pedestrian avenue entirely dedicated to shopping, whose narrow streets are full of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants, which reaches all the way to Taksim Square. But there is so much more to see in Istanbul: a tour of the Bosphorus by boat, the Galata Bridge, the picturesque villages of Ortakoy and Bebek which are now an integral part of the city, the Dolmabahce Palace, the Istanbul Modern Museum… It is impossible to see everything in one trip! Istanbul is not only rich in history, but it is also a beautiful metropolis, lively and full of charm. Perhaps today few European metropolises (and not only) can offer so many opportunities for leisure, relaxation, fun and entertainment as Istanbul. And it is no coincidence that in 2010 Istanbul was chosen as the European Capital of Culture, offering a very high quality program that attracted millions of tourists for the occasion. [extract from Turkish Office of Tourism]