Istanbul must be visited at least once in a lifetime. The unique mix of Eastern and Western culture gives the city a unique identity. Its rich past integrates in modern life. Although no longer the capital of Turkey, Istanbul will always be the country's cultural and business centre.
The location of Istanbul is surrounded by water: the strait of the Bosphorus and the sea of Marmara are the natural borders between Europe and Asia. At first called Byzantium, then Constantinople and finally Istanbul, the city has been the capital of three Empires which each left their landmarks : palaces, castles, mosques, churches and and many more monuments which can can be seen at the corners of any street.
Though most visitors will concentrate on the "Sultanahmet area" (aka the Old Town) where landmarks such as the Hagia Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace and the Covered bazaar are located, Istanbul offers different attractions in other areas such as the Golden Horn and Eyüp, the Palaces of Dolmabahçe and Beylerbeyli, the Istiklal Street and the Galata Tower, the typical villages on the Asian shores such as Anadolu Kavağı, the nearest village to the Black Sea, the 15th century fortresses built by Mehmet II, Rumeli Hisari and Anadolu Hisari, the stunning wooden Ottoman mansions on the Bosphorus shores.

The Princes Islands are a world on their own : these charming islands offer picturesque sceneries of wooded hills, authentic Ottoman mansions. As cars are not allowed you can enjoy a trip in a horse and carriage to visit the Monastery of St. George.