The City

" There, God and human, nature and art are together, they have created such a perfect place that it is valuable to see."

Lamartine's famous poetic lines reveal his love for Istanbul, describing the embracing of two continents, with one arm reaching out to Asia and the other to Europe.

Istanbul's beauty lies in its ability to embrace its contradictions. Ancient and modern, religious and secular, Asian and European, mystical and earthly all co-exist here.

Mother of All Cities:
With it's history dating back to 658 B.C., Istanbul has been in uninterrupted existance forming the cross-roads of creative exchange between Europe and Asia. This spectacular city with it's diverse identities has given rise to many legends and inspired countless works of art.

Two Empires - Two Capitals:
Istanbul has been the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, leaving behind a multicultural sediment of civilisations and faiths in the forms of aquaducts, cisterns, palaces, churches, sinagogs, mosques and above all, cultural tolerance and harmony.

Istanbul in Numbers:
Surface Area : 5.512 km²
Population : 15.000.000 (approximately)

Modern Touristic Establishments and Conference Facilities
Istanbul today is the focal point of industry, commerce and cultural life in Turkey. It has many internationally acclaimed hotels, congress centers and offers state-of-the-art meeting facilities. The city is connected to the world by two international airports, international harbours, railways and Trans-European-Motorway.

As meeting destination Istanbul is one of the world's most exciting conference destinations and is an increasingly popular choice for the world's leading international associations and meeting planners. Istanbul is home to numerous members of the ICCA, the International Congress and Convention Association, which is the most extensive and prominent meetings organization in the world. According to ICCA statistics, Istanbul ranked 24th in market share by number of international meetings per city worldwide in 2007. In 2007 Turkey ranked 25th in the number of meetings per country and 17th in total number of participants to international meetings. Istanbul's outstanding infrastructure, including modern, luxurious accommodations, state-of-the-art conference and exhibition venues and experienced conference professionals, makes it a logical choice for organizers.

When combined with the city's fabulous history and stunning natural beauty, cultural richness, exciting shopping, sophisticated cultural life and world-class dining, it's not hard to figure out why top associations choose Istanbul and enjoy exceptionally high attendance.

Delegates can enjoy luxurous, comfortable and affordable accommodations and Istanbul's 3500 years of history as well as attending a high quality and productive meeting planned precisely from the plenary session to the closing ceremonies in facilities equipped with the latest technology. Under these circumstances, it would not be exaggeration to point out that delegates can naturally expect a remarkable event in a definitely outstanding city.

Entertainment & Night Life & Shopping
From the ubiquitous sounds of live, traditional Turkish music and dancing in restaurants throughout the city to cultural and artistic events, international festivals, and glitzy clubs and bars on the Bosporus, Istanbul is a city that knows how to entertain the seekers of all kind.

There's so much to do, from theatres and exhibitions to museums, historic and architectural tours and cruises.

If you're looking for any kind of event whether with artistic purposes or for mere entertainment, you need no more plan than to take a walk down "Istiklal Caddesi " in " Taksim” ( city center), the throbbing heart of modern Istanbul, a street that is always vibrantly alive with music, shops, restaurants, bars, galleries, theatres and of course crowds. No matter whether you are looking for family entertainment, artistic events, or just for a night out, Istanbul offers a wide range of choices.

From the water - front modern art museums to street bars where one can mix with the different local worlds of the city's inhabitants in the globally satisfactory atmosphere of endless places where the town's social life is produced.

Being one of the cheapest cities of Europe, it is a shopping paradise. Ranging from oriental tastes of Grand Bazaar to outstanding shopping malls, Istanbul offers a wide variety of choices.

Bosphorus is not merely a strait dividing two continents but also a crown that adds a Mediterranean flavour to this breathtaking city by it's seaside cafes and fish restaurants. Istanbul also offers a vibrant night-life with its outstanding night-clubs and bars.

Some of the Historical Places to Visit in Istanbul

Museums

Hagia Sophia Museum
Archeology Museum
Topkapi Palace Museum
Rahmi Koc Industry Museum
Small St.Sofia Mosque
Ss. Sergius and Bacchus Church
St. Irene (Aya Irini)
Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum
The Great Palace Mosaic Museum
Kariye (Caria) Museum
Museum of Turkish Carpets
Yerebatan Sarnici (Cistern)
Aviation Museum
Maritime Museum
Atatürk Museum

Palaces

Topkapi Palace
Dolmabahce Palace
Ciragan Palace
Beylerbeyi Palace
Yildiz Palace

and many more historical places and natural beauties to discover ...

Foreign Languages
English, French, German, Italian and Spanish are widely spoken foreign languages in Istanbul.

Currency
The monetary unit is the Turkish lira (TL), which comes in bank notes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200. In Istanbul, traveler checks are rarely accepted. ATMs can be found in even the smallest Turkish towns. Most international credit cards or bank cards are accepted (a strip of logos is usually displayed above the ATM). ATMs have a language key to enable you to read the instructions in English.

Fine & Dine
The Turkish cuisine, which is one of the richest in the world, appeals to the eye as well as to the taste. Turkish food that is found today in Istanbul is truly a living synthesis of Eastern and Western and enjoys a very traditional background, enriched both by the sophisticated cuisine of the imperial palaces and the everyday eating practices of the common people.

In addition to the many restaurants that serve traditional and international menus to satisfy the varied tastes of their guests, many nightclubs, cafes and bars offer fine menus along with a wide range of entertainment choices.

Working Hours & Holidays
Banks are open weekdays from 9 AM until noon and from 1 PM to 5 PM in the afternoon. Museums are generally open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 AM to 5 PM and closed on Monday.

Palaces are open the same hours but are closed on Thursday. In Istanbul shops and bazaars are normally open Monday through Saturday during the day, and closed all day on Sunday. But most stores in shopping malls and in common streets are open seven days a week. You can find restaurants or cafes open virtually at any time of the day or night during the week.

Communications
Public phones operate with cards which are sold at post offices and some street booths. Some public phones have access to AT&T and some other telecommunication networks. Fax messages can be sent from major post offices and hotels. Cellular telephones can be hired.

Mailing
The central Post offices are open Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 9 PM, Sunday from 9 AM to 7PM. Smaller ones are open Monday through Friday between 8:30 AM and 5.00 PM.
Time Zone Turkish Time is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +2)

Electricity
The electrical current in Turkey is 220 volts, 50 cycles alternating current (AC); wall outlets take Continental-type plugs, with two round prongs.

Weight & Measures
Turkey uses the metric system for weight and measures.

Driving License
Most international driver's licenses are recognized in Turkey. Car rental companies require for a valid national or international license. Remember to keep to the right-hand side of the road and wear your seat belt at all times.

VAT
The value-added tax, here called KDV is almost always included in quoted prices. Certain shops are authorized to refund the tax (ask).

Health Services
There is no serious health risks associated with travel to Istanbul and to Turkey. No vaccinations are required for your travels to Turkey.

Safety & Security
Turkey is a safe and secure country. The streets of Istanbul are considerably safer than many of its counterparts in the world.

June in Istanbul
June and July are one of the best season in Istanbul with a warm climate approximately 25-30 degree Celcius during the day.