CARWIZ RENT A CAR İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen AIRPORT
Istanbul is a city unlike any other—a vast, vibrant metropolis where continents meet and centuries collide. Straddling both Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul has been the heart of empires for over two millennia: Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman. The result is a living mosaic of cultures, architecture, flavors, and spiritual traditions.
WHAT TO DO IN ISTANBUL?
At its historical core lies Sultanahmet, home to some of the world’s most iconic landmarks. The Hagia Sophia, once a Byzantine cathedral, then an Ottoman mosque, and now a mosque again, towers over the skyline with its majestic dome. Just across from it stands the Blue Mosque, adorned with thousands of blue tiles, and nearby is the Topkapi Palace, the opulent former residence of Ottoman sultans. The Basilica Cistern, an eerie underground reservoir, offers a uniquely atmospheric experience beneath the city's streets.
The Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar are sensory feasts—labyrinths of colorful shops selling carpets, lanterns, jewelry, and spices, echoing the city’s role as a hub of trade along the Silk Road. Modern Istanbul thrives across the Galata Bridge, where the lively district of Beyoğlu houses the bustling Istiklal Avenue, historic Galata Tower, and countless restaurants, cafés, and art spaces.
The city is also defined by its waters. A Bosphorus cruise offers a chance to sail between two continents, past palaces, fortresses, and elegant wooden mansions. Culinary traditions in Istanbul are rich and varied—try meze spreads, fresh fish, köfte, simit, and the city's signature street food, balık ekmek (fish sandwich), served by the water.
Istanbul is chaotic and calm, ancient and modern, familiar and exotic all at once. It’s not just a city you visit—it’s one you feel, taste, and remember forever.
