ABOUT ISTANBUL

 

The former capital of three successive empires Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman- the city is a fascinating mixture of the past and present, old and new, modern and traditional. The museums, churches, palaces, mosques and bazaars, and the sights of natural beauty seem inexhaustible. As you recline on the shores of the Bosphorus at the sunset contemplating the red evening light reflected in the windows and slender minarets on the opposite shore you understand, suddenly and profoundly, why so many centuries ago settlers chose to build on this remarkable site.

In addition to its unique historical and cultural background and innmuerable attractions, modern hotels, exclusive restaurants, nightclubs, cabarets, bazzars and shops make Istanbul a superb site for meetings, conferences and conventions.

Istanbul is fast becoming one of the most popular international congress and exhibition destinations. The Istanbul Lutfi Kirdar Convention & Exhibition Centre doubles the capacity of congress facilities in Istanbul and is ideally located in the modern district of Harbiye, at the centre of the city's business, cultural and commercial life, surrounded by some of Europe's top quality hotels.

Experience the exciting mixture that is Istanbul, a city where East meets West, the bridge between Europe and Asia, a thriving metropolis of millions of people-exotic yet distinctly western.

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BY AIR
Atatürk Airport International Terminal:
The most major gate of Turkey opening to the world.
Served by more than 50 airlines. Every major European airport is 2-3 hours away.
Airlines Servicing Istanbul – Domestic Carriers:
Turkish Airlines, Atlas Air, Fly Air, Onur Air, Pegasus Air.

BY ROAD
The road network throughout Turkey is extensive, with motorways, dual carriage ways and numerous three-lane highways. Drivers bringing cars into Turkey must show their registration documents and driving license at the point of entry. If arriving from Europe, visitors must have a Green Card (available from insurance companies) as well as appropriate insurance. Driving is on the right.

CITY KM CITY KM CITY KM
Athens 1136 Edinburgh 3562 Naples 1475
Amsterdam 2633 Frankfurt 2198 0slo 3475
Barcelona 2913 Geneva 2321 Paris 2658
Belgrade 839 Hamburg 2583 Prague 2019
Bergen 3957 Hannover 2445 Rome 1681
Berlin 2668 Helsinki 3631 Roterdam 2658
Bern 2150 Le Havre 2877 Sofia 560
Bonn 2367 Leipzig 2224 Stockholm 3466
Brussels 2608 Lisbon 4180 Stuttgart 2035
Bucharest 693 London 2912 Tirana 1003
Budapest 1227 Madrid 3530 Vienna 1610
Copenhagen 2887 Manchaster 3229 Warsaw 1909
Dover 2795 Milano 1874 Zagreb 1234
Essen 2452 Munich 1806 Zurich 2092

BY RAIL
There are two main stations in Istanbul: Sirkeci Station on the European and Haydarpaşa
Station on the Asian side. These historic station buildings are nostalgic gateways to the city.
Both stations are well equipped with restaurants, newspaper kiosks, waiting rooms and ATMs.

BY SEA
The Bosphorus Strait divides Istanbul’s Asian and European shores. Central Istanbul and the historic walled city are on the European shore, which is iitself divided by the natural harbour of the Golden Horn (Haliç).
The two largest quays, Eminonu and Karakoy, are on opposite sides of the Golden Horn and linked by the Galata Bridge.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

The Bus
Metropolitan buses in Istanbul are frequent, comprehensive, and economical.

The Dolmus
The main dolmus stands are located in Taksim, Sirkeci, and Aksaray, and connect to points all over the city.
Dolmus are often more direct than metropolitan buses and cheaper than taxis.

The Metro/Underground
The metro extension connecting the airport to town is now complete, providing access at Yenikapi.

The Ferry & Seabus
Commuter ferries and seabuses shuttle passengers across the Bosphorus between Europe and Asia, as well as to the nearby Princes’ Islands.

By Taxi
Taxis can be found at every street corner in the city. At rush hour, a taxi is the most comfortable means of transportation.