Istanbul Travel Guide

Istanbul is Turkey's most populous city, and its cultural and financial center.

Located on both sides of the Bosphorus, the narrow strait between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, Istanbul bridges Asia and Europe both physically and culturally. Istanbul's population is estimated to be between 12 and 19 million people, making it also one of the largest in Europe and the world.

Istanbul was one of three European Capitals of Culture in 2010.

Forget the stereotypical Istanbul image of a city of 1001 Nights situated in the desert amidst date palms.

Istanbul lies on the same latitude as New York City to which it bears many similarities in climate and vegetation, as they both do not enjoy warm sea currents such as the Gulf Stream unlike the Mediterranean cities of Naples and Barcelona which also lie on the same latitude and are therefore much warmer and... (more)

Istanbul lies on the same latitude as New York City to which it bears many similarities in climate and vegetation, as they both do not enjoy warm sea currents such as the Gulf Stream unlike the Mediterranean cities of Naples and Barcelona which also lie on the same latitude and are therefore much warmer and exotic in climate and vegetation than is normal for this latitude and for the very northerly Western Europe as well. And again unlike the stereotype it snows in the city, almost every winter -- and a lot occasionally, although the standard wintry precipitation is rain and sleet.

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