ISTANBUL

Turkey's largest metropolis, Istanbul, no one dares to call it ordinary.

Among the cities of the world, only it is located on the territory of two continents at once. On the coast cut by the Bosphorus, Europe and Asia peacefully coexist. During its three thousand year history, Istanbul has managed to visit the capital of the greatest empires in the world - Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman - and was the religious center of Christianity and Islam.

Istanbul Travel Guide cannot be limited to either the historical or the modern part. The city, which combines high technology and luxury of the modern world with ancient oriental traditions, has more than 3000 monuments of cultural and architectural heritage and is famous for its endless nightlife.

Istanbul is sometimes called the Second Rome - like the Eternal City, it stands on seven hills. One of the largest covered markets in the world operates here - the ancient Grand Bazaar. The metropolis is about 1600 years older than Moscow and surpasses it in terms of the number of inhabitants. There are so many marriages in it that the city is second only to the American Las Vegas. The underground railway tunnel under the Bosphorus, known as the Marmaray Line, is recognized as the deepest of its kind in the world.

Besides the fact that Istanbul is one of the largest cities in the world, the epicenter of tourism and economy, many transport routes connect here. Therefore, you can come to the city in different ways, choosing the most optimal for yourself.

Istanbul is served by 3 main airports:

•  Ataturk International Airport - the oldest in the city. The most convenient option for arrival if you are in the central part of the city. As soon as you leave the arrivals hall, you will find yourself at the metro station. Just half an hour on the way - and you are in the heart of the historic district of Fatih. & Nbsp; 

•  Sabiha Gokcen International Airport is located far from the center, on the Asian coast. Air shuttles run from the airport, which deliver arriving passengers to key points in the city. The journey from the airport can take 1-2 hours depending on traffic conditions. This is where Pegasus and some other low cost airlines are most likely to arrive. & Nbsp; 

•  New airport , opened at the end of 2018, should completely replace Ataturk Airport in the future. So far, it only accepts Turkish Airlines flights from Moscow. It is the most remote airport in Istanbul. It is located 60 kilometers from the central Sultanahmet square. You can still get from the airport only by bus or taxi.

• By train

  

  Haydarpash Station

  Trains to Istanbul arrive at two main city stations:  Sirkeci  (accepts trains from Europe) and  Haydarpaşa  (lineups from Asia).

  Daily flight  Bosphorus Express  departs from cities such as Sofia, Bucharest and Belgrade. A trip, for example, from Sofia will cost about 25 euros in a 2nd class carriage, 35 euros - in a 1st class carriage with all the amenities. In connection with the reconstruction of access roads, all flights arrive at Istanbul Halkalı station, then a free transfer to the station is organized.

• Bus

  You can get to Istanbul by bus primarily from neighboring countries. Metro Turism operates flights from Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece. Alpar is from Germany, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

  Turkey itself has a well-developed bus network between different cities of the country. This is a favorite way of transportation for the residents of Turkey, since the buses can travel economically with whole families, without limiting themselves in luggage. The main airlines flying to Istanbul domestically are Metro, Kamil Koç, Pamukkale and others. The main  city bus station , which receives international flights - Esenler.