Istanbul

A world center of great value in the past as well as in the present, Istanbul embraces Asia on the one hand and Europe on the other. Istanbul, with its historical peninsula, is a magnificently unique city that has been capital to many civilizations. Istanbul is a mosaic of many civilizations and cultures.

You may begin your Istanbul tour at the Grand Bazaar that will enchant you with its bright and pleasant environment, then you can feel a sense of peace in Hagia Sophia. A tour of the Bosporus will let you see the amazing views along the coast.

The weather in Istanbul is hot and humid in the summer and cold and snowy in the winter.

Istanbul had been getting more expensive in recent years, but the Turkish Lira has come way down again so it’s reasonably cheap again. Istanbul is full of exotic-feeling temples, markets, mosques, and other sights. It is a huge metropolis that is changing rapidly and yet it’s still quite unlike the rest of Europe.

When you visit Istanbul you’ll find that staying on a very low budget is quite easy. For food try the street stalls where food is as tasty as it is cheap. Cheap accommodation is a bit more difficult to find, but Istanbul has hostels and hotels to suit everyone's budget and taste.