Land where Europe meets Asia. Istanbul Airport, one of the largest and most modern in the world, opens onto a city that has been a crossroads for two thousand years.
About the city
Istanbul is the only city in the world spread across two continents, and it wears that history openly. Byzantine mosaics, Ottoman domes and glass towers stand within sight of one another, and the Bosphorus carries ferries between them all day long. Walk from Hagia Sophia to the Blue Mosque in ten minutes, lose an afternoon in the Grand Bazaar, then cross to the Asian side for tea by the water.
For Turkmen travellers the city is familiar ground — shared Turkic language, cuisine and custom make it one of the easiest first steps into Europe. For everyone else, it is one of the great connecting points between East and West.
Good to know
- —Istanbul Airport sits on the European side, around 40 km from the historic centre; the metro connects it directly to the city.
- —The Turkish lira is the local currency; card payment is accepted almost everywhere.
- —Our Istanbul sales are handled locally — see Offices & Agents, and the dedicated Turkish sales site.