All About Istanbul
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Let your self experience a great city where the Continents meet.

Latest News

New openings in 2023-2024

The Byzantine cistern (Yerebatan), Blue Mosque, Maiden's Tower (Kizkulesi), Treasury at Topkapi Palace, Anatolian Fortress, and Upper Galleries at Hagia Sophia re-opened after restorations.

Entrance fees in 2024

As of 1st of March 2024, many State museums will charge in Euros, or its equivalent in Turkish Liras.

Museum Pass

You can buy the "Museum Pass" for foreigners which is valid for 5 days in various museums of Istanbul.

Museums open 7 days

Many State museums in Istanbul operate 7 days a week, except Topkapi Palace.


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Interesting facts on Istanbul

Did you know these facts about Istanbul?

  1. Istanbul (ancient Byzantium) was founded on Seven Hills, like Rome.
  2. Istanbul is the only city in the world which is both in Europe and Asia, geographicaly.
  3. Istanbul is one of the biggest cities in the world, with around 16 million population, which is more than 177 countries around the world.
  4. Istanbul was the most crowded city of the world in 1502, then London took this title in 1840.
  5. Istanbul was the capital city of three major Empires: Eastern Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, and Ottoman Empire during their rule.
  6. Blue Mosque is the Ottoman only mosque in Istanbul with six minarets, which is the maximum number you can have in a mosque.
  7. There are three suspension bridges on the Bosphorus Strait connecting Europe to Asia.
  8. At the moment there are two tunnels under the Bosphorus connecting Marmaray rail system between Europe and Asia. The second one, called as Eurasia Tunnel, is for motor vehicles. There are plans to build other underwater tunnels in the future.
  9. There are two international airports; one on the Asian side one on the European side.
  10. Istanbul has the third oldest subway in the world, built in 1875. It's 573 meters long and located in Tunel neighborhood at Beyoglu district. London subway was built in 1863 and New York subway in 1868.
  11. Grand Bazaar is the biggest old covered bazaar in the world, with over 3.000 shops.
  12. Hagia Sophia was the largest church in the world for about 900 years.
  13. Istanbul was the European Cultural Capital City in 2010.
  14. Biggest light house of Turkey is in Sile district on the Black Sea coast. It's 19 meters (62 feet) high and 1,1 meters (3,6 feet) wide.
  15. Four bronze horses which are decorating today San Marco Cathedral in Venice, were taken from Istanbul (Constantinople back then) by the Crusaders in the 13th century.
  16. First traffic accident occured in 1912 at Sisli district, when the driver of the Italian Embassy hit a pedestrian and tried to run away from the scene.
  17. Sapphire skyscraper at Levent district is the tallest (261 meters - 856 feet) building between Dubai - Frankfurt on the world map. Second tallest building in Istanbul is Is Kule owned by Is Bank, 181 meters (594 feet) high.
  18. Camlica TV Tower on Camlica Hill is 369 meters (1210 feet) high and is taller than Eiffel Tower in Paris (300 meters - 984 feet).
  19. Over 18 thousand tons of garbage (as of 2023) is collected each day by the Municipality.
  20. During the Middle Ages in the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul had over 1.400 public toilets in the city meanwhile there weren't any even at the palaces in France and other European cities.
  21. Agatha Christie wrote her famous novel "Murder on the Orient Express" at Pera Palas Hotel in Istanbul.
  22. There are 564 cemeteries in Istanbul (as of 2018); 497 of them are for muslims and 67 for non-muslims.

Hope to see you soon in Istanbul.



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