ISTANBUL

Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul... Three names that span three thousand years of history and two of the greatest empires the world has ever seen. The only city set on two continents, imperial Istanbul symbolizes the continuity of civilization over the millennia. The seat of power for two world dynasties - Byzantine and Ottoman - the city melds the splendor of nobility with the charm of local folklore. A confluence of peoples, religions and cultures, the city has always been at the crossroads of civilization - the meeting place of East and West.
There’s so much to do that you will never know where to start and you will never see it all!

Set in one of the most beautiful natural surroundings in the world, the city stretches along both shores of the Bosphorus, the channel that separates Europe from Asia. Royal palaces, sumptuous villas and picturesque villages dot the shores of this majestic waterway. Also it has a year-around mild climate.

Napoleon once remarked that if the world were a single state, Istanbul would be its rightful capital. Today the city is enjoying a massive revival, thanks to a deft mix of old and new. It is Istanbul’s variety that fascinates its visitors. Museums, churches, palaces, great mosques, bazaars and sights of natural beauty seem inexhaustible. Driving toward the city center from the airport, you pass through 5th century walls built by Emperor Theodosius II. Downtown, masterpieces of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman jostle next to trendy clubs and restaurants.

A safe, clean, and modern city...

Istanbul is remarkably safe... And for those who might have known the city in the past amazingly clean. Recently a report from a UN agency which deals in crime statistics reported that the safest cities in all of Europe were Helsinki, Vienna and Istanbul!
Istanbul is home to civilizations and has unique cultural heritage. Istanbul offers traditional Turkish hospitality and Turkish people genuinely welcome foreigners.
Excellent deluxe accommodations and easy accessibility via all major airlines make Istanbul a great destination.

Dining is reason enough…

The great French writer-gourmet Brilliant-Savarin wrote that the Turkish table along of course with the French and Chinese make up the finest cuisines of the world. In Istanbul the choices are endless: grand traditional restaurants with elegant European-style service; unpretentious typical “lokantas” with their home-cooked vegetable dishes; seafood restaurants where the fish on your plate looks as if it just jumped out of the water. A classy evening meal can also be enjoyed at a renovated building which dates from the 6th century, or at a minimalist chic serving up award winning fusion cuisines, or a modern styled restaurant, overlooking the Bosphorus or located in of the tiny roads of historical Istanbul.

And of course there is shopping…

An Oriental dream, the Covered Bazaar is its own universe, an entire city of shops. One can find anything and everything here from fine silk carpets and leather bomber jackets, to Ottoman cushion covers and silver Russian samovars. The 15th century Spice Market, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar, is an amazing cornucopia of oriental spices and exotic food. The city also has modern shopping malls where you can find all international brands, locally made luxury items and fashion clothing.

ISTANBUL IS A WORLD CLASS SURPRISE!!!