Location

Istanbul
Istanbul, capital city of three successive empires with over 2,000 years of history and fabulous turquoise blue water fronts, welcomes you to share this amazing experience on the crossroads of Europe and Asia.
Istanbul is the only city on earth located on two continents. “There God and human, nature and art are together, created such a perfect place that it is valuable to see.” Lamartine’s famous poetic line reveals his love for Istanbul, describing the embracing of two continents, with one arm reaching out to Asia and the other to Europe.

Istanbul, once known as the capital of capital cities, has many unique features. It is the only city in the world to straddle two continents, and the only one to have been a capital during two consecutive empires – Christian and Islamic. Once capital of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul still remains the commercial, historical and cultural pulse of Turkey, and its beauty lies in its ability to embrace its contradictions. Ancient and modern, religious and secular, Asia and Europe, mystical and earthly all co-exist here.

Location
Istanbul is at Northwest of Turkey, where Europe meets Asia… Just a narrow waterway, Bosphorus, passing through Istanbul, divides the city into two and Black Sea lies on the North side where inland Marmara Sea lays on the South.

Istanbul functions as a bridge from Europe to Asia, thus sometimes it has functioned as a barrier from Asia to Europe as well. The city has stood between religion, culture, and imperial powers for almost 2,500 years.
Istanbul has an area of 5712 square km, bigger than the Benelux countries and with a population of over 10.000.000, is one of the largest cities in the world.

A world center of great value in the past as well as in the present, Istanbul embraces Asia on the one hand and Europe on the other.
Istanbul, with its historical peninsula, numerous scenic and historical beauties is a magnificently unique city that has been capital to many civilizations from past to present and still continues to be home to residents from all over the world. This rooted city, with a history dating back to 2000 BC, constitutes a mosaic of many civilizations and cultures combined.
One may come across legacies and monuments of thousands of years behind any door or around any corner in Istanbul. Whether you take a tour in Istanbul or visit any of the 39 districts nearby, you will catch various historical and natural wonders in any given minute.
You may begin your Istanbul tour at the Grand Bazaar that will enchant you with its bright and pleasant environment while a sense of peace and security will wrap you tightly in Hagia Sophia. A tour of the pearl of the Bosporus, Ortaköy, Beşiktaş and Kabataş will let you enjoy the delightful views along the deep blue coast.
With the Black Sea in the north, the Marmara Sea in the south and the Istanbul Strait running in all its glory through the middle of the city, you will experience great moments in Istanbul and witness the unique combination of the Mediterranean and Black Sea climates.
Watching the flying seagulls at Eminönü by the time the rising sun illuminates the city, you will notice the docked boats rocking gently as if to greet you. What’s more, you won’t be able to resist the fresh scent of the city when the first ray of lights illuminate the shimmering fishes swimming around the fishing twines.
The setting sun illuminates the city like a painting every evening. The candle-like silhouettes of the mosques rise above the historical peninsula to greet the city while the sun and the moon salute each other as the day turns into night. Right at that moment you will feel like a sultan in the cradle of civilizations.

Bridging two continents, this unique city, where one can encounter people from different countries and witness diverse cultures merging in harmony, will awaken completely different feelings in you.

Airport Information
There are two international airports in Istanbul, Istanbul Ataturk airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW). The first and biggest one is the new modernized Istanbul Ataturk airport (IST). All major international flights are landing to Ataturk airport. And the other one, which works as a sub terminal on the Asian side, is Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW).

Hotel Location
Swissotel The Bosphorus is a luxury hotel, beautifully situated in the center of Istanbul. This 5-star property is surrounded by large gardens and offers spectacular views of the Bosphorus.

The hotel has spacious, elegant guest rooms, many of which offer fantastic views of the historic city and the Bosphorus. The rooms are decorated in a traditional European style and are complimented with luxury bathrooms.

A 20-30-minute drive from the hotel will take you to Istanbul’s historic area with Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar and Blue Mosque. Istanbul’s prestigious district of Nisantasi is a short walk away and is full of designer shops, exclusive restaurants and lively bars. Taksim Square is just over a kilometer away.