Get to know Istanbul in 3 minutes

There are only a handful of places on the planet earth that can lay claim to the unification of the civilizations of both the Eastern and Western hemispheres. Yet, Türkiye is one such country that proudly delivers both ends of the East and West through its beautiful natural landscapes of immense geopolitical significance. Rich in architectural and cultural heritage handed down by the oldest permanently settled region in the world, it comes to no surprise that in 2022 according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Türkiye was ranked as the 4th most visited country in the world, with over 50.5 million tourists annually.

Falling in love with Istanbul

If you visit Türkiye, then Istanbul is the first door you shall open in order to embrace this glorious country in an in-depth manner. This important capital, Türkiye’s largest city, has a history dating back over 2 millennia. Again, it is one of the few cities in the world with area covering both continents in Europe and Asia, while being separated in the middle by the blue waters of the Marmara Sea.

Your Istanbul travel program comprises of a scenic boat trip that navigates both sides of the water from the perspective of two continents. As you cross the Bosphorus Strait, both sides of the bank will feature a line of buildings and former homes of locals, aristocrats and ancient royal palaces of the great Ottoman Empire – the aforementioned residences have all gone through a transformation in the guise of 5-star luxury hotels such as the neo-classic Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Sultanahmet at the Bosphorus and the Ciragan Palace Kempinski.

The old city section, the Sultanahmet Square area is the ultimate destination upon arriving at Istanbul. This historic place is the mecca of important historical sites such as the Hagia Sophia, once a magnificent Christian church from the Byzantine Empire dating back over 1,500 years, which later was turned into a mosque of the Islam faith during the Ottoman Empire and as faith would have it, finally transformed into a museum of great socio-cultural value and keepers of history and serving the masses as a mosque once again.

Towering opposite the above is the Sultan Ahmed Mosque or Blue Mosque, adorned with its beautiful blue Iznik tiles and the Topkapi Palace which is located on a high hill, where the remaining treasures of the great Ottoman Empire are kept inside.

Within the vicinity of the nearby area are places to shop for local products such as the Spice Market and the Grand Bazaar, home to local eclectic delicacies and much sought-after products such as hand-woven carpets, Iznik pattern tiles, spices, tea, coffee and the famous Turkish Delight amongst other famous flavorful Turkish desserts to choose from.

Folks, this is just the beginning part of getting to know Istanbul. There are a plethora of tourist attractions and many other interesting cities within the Ottoman Empire of Türkiye just waiting to be unveiled by basing Istanbul as the central point of your journey.

Travel Tips

• The best time to visit Türkiye is all year round. However, from a weather standpoint, springtime from mid-March till May is optimal because it is neither too cold nor too hot. April in Istanbul features the Tulip Festival which literally brings out the city’s brightest colors to life.
• Thai Airways provides convenient 10-hour non-stop flights from Bangkok to Istanbul.
• The national currency is the Lira which is equivalent to approximately 1.3 Baht to 1 Lira. In addition, US dollars and the Euro can be exchanged into local currency as well.

Inspired to plan your trip to Istanbul? Fly there with Thai Airways!