Istanbul[b] is the largest city in Turkey, straddling the Bosporus Strait, the boundary between Europe and Asia. It is considered the country's economic, cultural and historic capital.

Mar 27, 2025 · Discover the best things to do in Istanbul, Turkey, which include exploring the Hagia Sophia Mosque and Topkapi Palace and cruising down the Bosphorus Strait.

1 day ago · Istanbul, largest city and principal seaport of Turkey. Historically known as Byzantium and then Constantinople, it was the capital of the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire. …

Jun 27, 2024 · Whether you want to dig deep into Ottoman history, Turkish cuisine, contemporary culture or the Byzantine past – or simply take in its pulsing street life or gaze out at the …

Istanbul is a city that mixes old and new, and the best way to explore it is through its mahalles (neighborhoods). Get your history fix in Beyoğlu—it’s chock-full of 19th-century European …

6 hours ago · Pressed by reporters on who will represent Russia in Istanbul, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to say, stressing that Putin had outlined Russia’s position clearly enough.

Apr 26, 2025 · Istanbul writer Orhan Pamuk is a Nobel Prize Winner for Literature. Many of his works depict life in Istanbul in great detail. I recommend reading some of his books before …

Istanbul is more than just another big city. A mecca of Byzantine churches, colorful bazaars, Ottoman mosques and historic spice markets, Istanbul is a sensory overload of culture and …

The most populous city in Europe, Istanbul forms the financial and cultural center of Turkey and confidently straddles the borders between Asia and Europe as it has for millennia: this is the …

Explore Istanbul! Get inspired with Rick Steves’ recommended places to go and things to do, with tips, photos, videos, and travel information on Istanbul.