Europe.qxp:Layout 1 19/01/2010 13:39 Page 48
GMT: +2 hours.
FLIGHT TIME: 3 hours 50 minutes.
CURRENCY: Lira or Euro.
CLIMATE: In summer it is hot and humid, with temperatures between
June and September averaging 28°C. Summers are
relatively dry, but rain does occur all year round. During
winter it is cold, wet and often snowy. Snowfalls tend to
be heavy, but temperatures rarely drop as low as
freezing point. Istanbul also tends to be a windy city.
ISTANBUL
DINING
The only city in the world to be built on two continents, Istanbul is It's worth going to Istanbul just to eat. At 360 Istanbul, amazing 360-
Turkey’s exotic maritime capital with a history that stretches back degree views of St Antoine's the Bosphorus Strait and the rooftops of
more than 2,500 years. Alongside ancient palaces and ornate Beyoglu are served up with a fantastic fusion menu.
mosques are glamorous European-style bars, hotels and shops.
CULTURE
Istanbul’s greatest sight is the stunning Blue Mosque, the only
mosque in the world with six minarets. The Ottoman-era Topkapi
Palace is within walking distance. Water-café culture is everywhere.
A trip up the Bosphorus takes you past yalis, wooden waterfront
‘stately homes’ to the point where the Black Sea runs into it.
SHOPPING
In Istanbul, buzzing shopping centres – Harvey Nichols included -
and centuries-old markets stand side by side. Chic boutiques line
Baghdad Avenue on the Asian side. A short taxi ride away to the
northeast of Taksim Square is the neighbourhood of Nisantasi, the
city's fashion hub.
GETTING AROUND
Transport in Istanbul is cheap, modern and easy. The metro only
covers the European half of Istanbul but ferries shuttle passengers
across the Bosphorus all day, and link up with buses on the other side.
48 | EUROPE To book your Pure Luxury holiday call our travel ambassadors on 0844 493 0020 or visit your local travel agent
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