Istanbul holiday travel

Istanbul makes an especially interesting holiday vacation, because this city is such a mesh of people, attractions, and cultures. Some of the uniqueness of the city can be seen at its Byzantine ruins, splendid palaces, ancient mosques and churches, Turkish baths, and exotic bazaars. You're sure to find enough to keep you busy and in wonder.

Where to stay - hotels

Istanbul is divided into three parts: the old city, the new city, and the Asiatic side. The old and new cities, which encompass the greater part of Istanbul, are located in Europe, while the Asiatic side is in Asia. Istanbul has numerous hotels in all three parts of the city. A useful starting point on your search for Istanbul hotels is DirectRooms.com - their web site is easy to use and features a convenient map search facility.

In the new city section of Istanbul is where you can most of the modern hotels, as the whole area filled with modern construction such as skyscrapers and shopping centers. To book a hotel in Istanbul at a good price, go online.

Hotel prices greatly vary in Istanbul depending on both the location of the hotel and the hotel itself. However, you're sure to find something that fits your budget. Search for Istanbul based hotels here.

What to do

Istanbul is home to world famous sites such as the Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar, which shouldn't be missed. Sultanahmet district is the place to go if you want to see some Ottoman mosques. Nearby, Aya Sofya (known as the Church of the Divine Wisdom) is an architectural gem from the Byzantine Empire, filled with fine mosaics and topped by a magnificent dome.

Eminönü is home to the massive Egyptian Spice Bazaar located on Eminönü Square. Some of the other fine attractions in the city include: the Istanbul Archaeology Museum, the Military Museum, the flower arcade, and the fish market.

Head to Istiklal Street to check out some trendy cafés, cozy bars, continental restaurants, cinemas, theatres, and exclusive shops.

What to see - by hire car

Driving around Istanbul is not recommended, since the traffic is quite scary. However, if you want to see a bit more of Turkey, traveling by hire car is the only real way to get around. You can reserve a hire car for Istanbul here.

There is plenty to see by hire car in Turkey. One day trip destination is the village of Polonezköy. This village has been designated as a national park and is only reachable by car. It is home to several restored Polish houses on a magnificent landscape of verdant rolling hills.

Alternatively, you can drive by hire car about 38kms southeast of Istanbul to Termal. Here you can find a natural hot spring, famous as a spa since Roman times. The main complex has an historic Turkish bath, an outdoor swimming pool, private rooms, and several hotels and restaurants. Good deals on Istanbul car hire can be found here.