Unique city in the world built on two continents. At the crossroads of civilizations and with a known history of nearly 2,000 years, Istanbul is also the proud guardian of the invaluable remains of the three world empires, the capital city of which uninterruptedly continued to be from nearly its foundation to the first decades of our century. It is here that the chime of church bells mingles with the mystical call of the muezzin and sights and scents combine to overwhelm the visitor. With the skyline of minarets and noisy, crowded bazaars on one side, and skyscrapers, modern shopping malls on the other, Istanbul remains to be a unique link between East and West, the Past and the Present, majestically spanning the fabulous Bosphorus of all times.

A stay in Istanbul is not complete without the traditional and unforgettable boat excursion up the Bosphorus, the winding strait that separates Europe and Asia. Its shores offer a delightful mixture of past and present, grand splendor and simple beauty. Modern hotels stand next to yalı (shorefront wooden villas), marble palaces abut rustic stone fortresses, and elegant compounds neighbor small fishing villages. The best way to see the Bosphorus is to board one of the passenger boats that regularly zigzag along the shores. You embark in Eminönü and stop alternately on the Asian and European sides of the strait. 

The Golden Horn is the horn-shaped estuary which divides European Istanbul. One of the best natural harbors in the world, the Byzantine and Ottoman navies and commercial shipping interests were centered here. Today, lovely parks and promenades line the shores where the setting sun dyes the water a golden color. In Fener and Balat, neighbourhoods midway up the Golden Horn, whole streets of old wooden houses, churches, and synagogues date from Byzantine and Ottoman times. The Orthodox Patriarchy resides here at Fener. Eyüp, a little further up, reflects the Ottoman style of vermicular architecture. Cemeteries sprinkled with dark cypress trees cover the hillsides. Many pilgrims come to the tomb of Eyüp in the hope that their prayers will be granted. The Pierre Loti Cafe, atop the hill overlooking the shrine is a wonderful place to enjoy the tranquility of the view. 

Princes' Islands - Hardly at an hour's distance from the center of the city providing a most pleasant ferry trip on the sea, an archipelago of altogether nine islands offers beautiful pine wooded scenery. Walks or tours with horse-carriages through the streets of these islands, restaurants and cafes in this peaceful atmosphere provide the daily visitor with utmost relaxation. All nine islands together form a municipality, the mayor being in "Buyukada", the largest of them all. During Byzantine days, the islands collectively formed a religious center with many monasteries. The Ottomans, however, did not pay them the same interest and they were somewhat neglected.