Istanbul
Istanbul stretches towards the sky. Even on the cab ride from the airport to the metropolis of 16 million people, it becomes clear that the city's inhabitants have a special connection to the firmament. Hundreds of slender minaret towers try to scratch the clouds. The people of Istanbul themselves like to imitate the muezzins and often go to the highest heights. If a restaurant that is not located on the waterfront does not have a roof terrace, it can close again immediately. It is understandable that the people of Istanbul are in love with their view: When they look out over the sea of lights in the evening hours, the hustle and bustle of the city falls away - and so does their blood pressure. From an eagle's eye view, they watch the Bosphorus as it meanders between the European and Asian parts of the city. The Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque stand brightly illuminated in all their splendor. But it's not just the view that guests of top restaurants such as "Mikla" and "360" enjoy. Chefs such as Mehmet Gürs have set about reinterpreting Turkish cuisine. They create fine delicacies such as anchovy toasts with lemon sauce and lamb confit with cranberries.
New luxury hotel boom in Istanbul
A lot has also happened in the upscale hotel industry in recent years. Stylish luxury hotels are springing up like mushrooms. They all focus on that certain something extra: at the "Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus", guests can relax on one of the longest terraces on the strait. The Asian-inspired massages at the "Sofa Hotel" awaken many reflex points on the body in a very gentle way. In the Starwood Group's "W" Hotel, Istanbul's trendsetters also meet in the stylish bar for a raki mojito. Most of the hotels also flirt with their glittering past: in the executive floor of the Park Hyatt, golden Art Nouveau chandeliers hang from the ceiling in a way that could not be more beautiful in an Ottoman palace. The "Tranquility Floor" in the "Sofa Hotel" feels like an intimate harem. Only the splashing of a water installation can be heard in the rooms overlooking an inner courtyard.
Volatile history versus modernity
Anyone who visits Istanbul will never cease to be amazed. There are the winding alleyways in the old town of Sultanahmet, through which Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Turkish feet have walked over the centuries. Visitors encounter their remains at every turn. During construction work on the new part of the "Four Seasons Sultanahmet", a magnificent Byzantine palace was discovered. The gold leaf may be peeling off in some places in Topkapi Palace - but this in no way diminishes the patina it has acquired over 600 years. Magnificent, elaborately embroidered silk caftans adorn the showrooms. Sultans have dressed up in them over the centuries. The robes of their odalisques have not survived the centuries. Thousands of women may have led a cramped life in the harem of the Topkapi, but you will search in vain for their artifacts. So there is no Sisi myth for Turkey. Instead, the aroma of the Orient wafts from the hundreds of years old market hall around the spice bazaar. Colorful mountains of ground turmeric, coriander and curry pile up. The finest caviar from Iran is sold loudly by the traders. They have even processed hazelnuts with pomegranate juice to make wine-red Turkish honey. They praise walnut-filled figs as Turkish Viagra. The Grand Bazaar is also a hive of activity. Visitors are already preparing for next winter and dressing up in leather jackets lined with soft lambskin. Sneaker tourists stock up on deceptively similar Hermès imitations. We cross the Galata Bridge from the old town to the European part. Hundreds of fishermen hang their lines in the Bosphorus on this bridge every day. Crowded together, they watch the water. But once again, it won't be enough for more than a few small fish.
Beyolu is home to the hippest neighborhoods. The traffic-calmed Istiklal Caddesi shopping street is lined with pretty stores for young people. Ortaköy on the northern edge of the city is Istanbul's artists' quarter. Here, pleasure-seeking Istanbulites sit on the street late at night and puff on their hookahs. From the trendy restaurants and the neighboring Radisson Blu hotel, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the local mosque on the waterfront. It stands glistening white in the evening light in front of the Blue Bridge.
Nisantasi - Istanbul's Beverly Hills
The city's chic crowd lives here in renovated Art Nouveau apartment buildings. Alongside European luxury brands such as Gucci and Armani, the crème de la crème of the Turkish creative scene also show off their skills. When Gisele Bündchen stays in the city, she stops by Arzu Kaprol in Abdi Ipekci Street. The "Beymen" department store is Istanbul's answer to London's "Harrod's". Nobel Prize winner Orhan Parmuk set the events of his latest novel "Time of Innocence" on Tesvikiye Street in Nisantasi. A millionaire's son loves his unattainable and poor cousin for many years. The two characters in the novel symbolize Istanbul: here the European-oriented bon vivant, there the poor, beautiful relative. Neither the readers nor the visitors can escape the magic of both worlds.
Karin Hanta (2008)/ updated 2017
Minarets, Ottoman palaces, art deco or art nouveau and modern buildings with chic roof terraces in between. This is how the former Constantinople presents itself to visitors today. Some are fascinated by the dazzling history, others love the newly built hotels with picturesque views over the Eurasian straits of the Bosporus.
! Photo: © H-J Spengemann / pixelio.de!
DIPLOMATISCHE VERTRETUNGEN
in Germany
Embassy of the Republic of Turkey
Tiergartenstraße 19-21, 10785 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +09 30 275850
Fax: +49 30 27590915
E-mail: botschaft.berlin@mfa.gov.tr
berlin.emb.mfa.gov.tr
in Austria
Embassy of the Republic of Turkey
Prinz-Eugen-Straße 40, 1040 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +431 5057338
Fax: +43 1 5053660
E-Mail: botschaft.wien@mfa.gov.tr
www.vienna.emb.mfa.gov.tr
in Switzerland
Embassy of the Republic of Turkey
Lombachweg 33, 3006 Bern, Switzerland
Phone: +41 31 3597070
Fax: +41 31 3528819
E-mail: botschaft.bern@mfa.gov.tr
www.bern.emb.mfa.gov.tr
Lage
Türkei
Fläche
783.562 km² (Istanbul 1.539 km²)
Bevölkerung
74,93 Mio (Istanbul 14,8 Mio)
Sprache
Türkisch, Kurmandschi (ca. 10 Mio, indogermanische Sprache des iranischen Zweigs)
Hauptstadt
Ankara
Religion
99 % of the Turkish population is Muslim. Of these, around 80 to 85 % are Sunnis and the remaining 15 to 20 % are Alevis
Weather
Es herrscht mildes, feuchtes Klima. Die durchschnittliche Jahrestemperatur liegt bei 14 °C. Der wärmste Monat ist der Juli mit durchschnittlich 23 °C, der kälteste der Januar mit 5 °C im Mittel. Im Sommer kann es durchaus heiß und schwül sein. Der Winter ist wechselhaft.
Beste Reisezeit
Mai bis Oktober
Klima
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Max. Temperaturen | 9 | 9 | 11 | 16 | 21 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 21 | 25 | 11 |
| Min. Temperaturen | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 18 | 20 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 5 |
| Sonnenstunden | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| Regentage | 18 | 15 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 17 |
| Wassertemperatur | 8 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 10 |
Zeitverschiebung
UTC +2 Std
Währung
Türkische Lira
Visa
Reisende aus Deutschland und der Schweiz brauchen kein Visum. Österreichische Staatsbürger erhalten ein Visum für 25 Euro bei der Einreise. Nähere Informationen bei Ihrer Botschaft.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations for entry into Turkey are generally not necessary, but you should ask a tropical institute, your family doctor or your health insurance company about preventive measures before your trip.
Food in Istanbul - Ottoman kitchen treasures
Istanbul's cuisine offers a wide variety of
tasty delicacies. Fresh fish, such as bluefish, sardines, turbot,
squid or mullet, is one of the staple foods in Istanbul, but pasta and
but pasta and dairy dishes are also popular. Breakfast does not play
Byzantines do not attach great importance to breakfast; they are content with a few slices of
white bread with olives, sheep's cheese and tea. Even at lunch, the Byzantines tend to
Byzantines also tend to keep to themselves at lunch, but you can always find people from the
the inhabitants of the neighborhood at lunchtime, who are enjoying their lentil or tomato soup
tomato soup and eating chicken with rice as their main course. In Istanbul
people do not eat before 8.00 pm. The meal is always carried out according to a certain
ritual: First, high-proof drinks such as raki or aniseed schnapps are served.
aniseed schnapps are served first, followed by cold starters and preparation for the hot
and prepare for the hot entrees. Only after a while is the main course
main course is ordered, which consists of either meat or fish. The
desserts have an Arabic-Persian influence and are usually very sweet,
although the Turks also like to eat fresh fruit for dessert. At the end
of these delicious specialties is followed by a strong coffee to round off an enjoyable evening.
evening to a close.
Istanbul nightlife - pure night feeling
Istanbul knows how to turn day into night. As soon as it gets dark, the numerous streets and squares fill up with clusters of people who all want to get a place in the bars, clubs and discos. If you prefer to take it easy in the evening, you can spend a few relaxing hours in a cinema or theater - the choice in Istanbul is huge and unique for culture fans.
Wellness in Istanbul - an oasis of relaxation
Thanks to its numerous thermal springs, Turkey has always been a
oasis for what is understood and known today as "wellness". The history of the
traditional Turkish bathhouse, the hamam, dates back to the Middle Ages
Middle Ages and many of the hamams still in operation in Turkey today are well over a hundred years old. Most of the hamam buildings are quite simple on the outside, but the inside
inside, visitors can expect a magnificent
marble furnishings. Today, there are over 100 traditional hammams in Istanbul alone, where strict gender segregation
and hygiene regulations prevail.
Sights in Istanbul - art and culture
Turkey is a real treasure trove for history lovers. Although there is an abundance of archaeological sites and historical monuments to see, the world-famous museums are a particular highlight.
If you want to understand how people in this country have been able to live together with different religions for centuries, then visit the places of worship and their surroundings. You may need to use some imagination as many sites have deteriorated over time.
However, when talking about art and culture, one must not forget to mention the plethora of great festivals that take place throughout the year. Art galleries are the best places to follow Turkish modern art - cultural centers offer fantastic exhibitions of artists from abroad and are not to be sneezed at.
Shopping in Istanbul - Our shopping tips for Istanbul
Istiklal Caddesi is the most famous and probably busiest shopping street in Istanbul and tempts you to spend tempting days shopping. In the wealthy districts of the city you can also find exclusive stores for upscale shopping.
Hotels
