Information about Istanbul 2024: the Tale of Two Continents

2024-01-06

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Information about Istanbul 2024: the Tale of Two Continents

In this complete article, you can find information about the city of Istanbul that concerns the tourist, the investor, the resident, and the newcomer. It highlights the various aspects of life and the most important information about Istanbul, such as:

Istanbul's history, Istanbul's geography, Istanbul's municipalities, transportation in Istanbul, Istanbul's water canal, Istanbul new airport, Mall of Istanbul, Istanbul schools, Istanbul tourism, Grand Bazaar, Istanbul markets, Hagia Sophia, Sultan Ahmed ... and so many more important facts and information.

Istanbul over ages

If you mention history, you must mention it as a witness to history and still breathing until now, at an age that exceeds eight thousand and five hundred years.

If you study geography, you must study it as a lingering model of the present, which for centuries has been linked to its unique strategic position between the civilizations of the East and the West. 

Historical picture of the city of Istanbul
 

It is Istanbul, the biggest city in Turkey, its economic, tourist and cultural capital.

Historically known as Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul, and Islambol, it was called the Seven Hills City and the City of Minarets.

Where is Istanbul located?

Istanbul is located in the Marmara region in the northwest of the country, bordered to the north by the Black Sea, to the south by the Sea of Marmara, to the east by the provinces of Sakarya and Kocaeli, and to the west by the province of Tekirdağ; It is also characterized by the diversity of geographical terrain to extend its area on two continents!

 Imagine life in Istanbul in the past

Istanbul: Facts and figures

Istanbul is one of the largest urban cities in Europe, with a population of 16 million. The city is administratively divided into 40 municipalities, of which 27 are the central city, all known as Greater Istanbul.

Total area of the city 5461 km 2
Land area 5343 km 2
Central City Area 1830 km 2
Economically, Istanbul is the biggest industrial center in Turkey. It contributes to growth rates ranked the highest in the country, including:

Employment rate 20 %
Percentage of industrial production 38 %
Percentage of exports 55 %

A recent report by the American Insider Monkey website classified Istanbul as one of the cities favored by world billionaires in terms of the number of rich people living in it.

The life of luxury in Istanbul

Map of Istanbul and its administrative division

It is not easy to manage a city with the size of Istanbul and provide all the services needed for millions of residents daily. Thus, the city was divided according to an effective system which is the municipal system. The great Istanbul Municipality is the main municipality of Istanbul and the main nerve of the other municipalities. It was established in 1984 and coordinates, follow-up and supervises the other municipalities.

The following is a review of Istanbul's 40 municipalities:

 Istanbul Buyuksehir (Great)
European side Asian side
1. Esenyurt 26. Atasehir
2. Fatih 27. Uskudar
3. Esenler 28. Pendik
4. Arnavutköy 29. Beykoz
5. Avcilar 30. Cekmcekoy
6. Eyup 31. Tuzla
7. Basaksehir 32. Princes  Islands
8. Bagcilar 33. Sultanbeyli
9. Bahcelieveler 34. Sancaktepe
10. Besiktas 35. Sile
11. Bakirkoy 36. Ümraniye
12. Beyoğlu 37. Kadikoy
13. Bayrampasa 38. Kartal
14. Beylikduzu 39. Maltepe
15. Buyukcekmce  
16. Çatalca
17. Zeytunburnu
18. Sarıyer
19. Sultangazi
20. Silvery
21. Sisli
22. Gaziosmanpaşa
23. Gungoren
24. Kağıthane
25. Kucukcekmece
 
Istanbul Map of Istanbul
 

Istanbul Transport Revolution

The city of Istanbul is currently full of transport projects that are underway, and once completed, transportation will completely change in Istanbul!

The city's residents will be able to commute at a faster pace through a complex network covering the city, which will make the problem of transportation from the memories of the past. The following are all the means of transportation available in Istanbul:

الجنسية التركية انجليزي الجنسية التركية انجليزي

1. Istanbul Metro

In addition to the current lines, the Greater Istanbul Municipality is constructing and developing more than 18 new metro lines in Istanbul. The total length of the Istanbul metro lines is expected to exceed 1,000 km by 2023, and the infrastructure of the new railways is being continuously upgraded with using the latest driverless driving technologies. The following are some of the most important metro lines currently operating above and underground in Istanbul: 

  • M1 Metro line, this line connects the central Yenikapi station with Ataturk International Airport.
  • M2 metro line connects Yenikapi and Haciosman Station.
  • M3 metro line connects Kirazli station with Olimpiyatkoy Station in the Basaksehir area.
 

Metro lines in Istanbul

2. Metrobus: Istanbul Express Bus Line

With a line length of 50 kilometers and a passenger capacity of more than 800,000 passengers per day, the Metrobus has already contributed to reducing traffic congestion in the city and reduce emissions of harmful gases, making it an environmentally friendly means of transport that facilitates safe and fast commute to the rest of the city. Distinguished by a dedicated route that is not shared by ordinary cars, although it passes through the heart of one of Istanbul's most important roads, the E-5 highway. The most important feature of Istanbul's Metrobus is that it operates 24 hours without interruption! connecting night with day, and east with west... 

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Metrobus lines in Istanbul

The Metrobus line connects the two sides of city, from the European Beylikduzu district, the modern suburb of Istanbul to the Söğütlüçeşme station on the Asian side of the city through more than 45 stations, seven of them are in the Asian side and that’s in a record time not more than 90 minutes, compared to more than 3 hours by car for the same distance at peak hours!

3. Tramway: The electric train in Istanbul

Works through a network of rail spread on the ground, and helps to reach the most modern areas and historic districts in Istanbul. The number of tram and metro users in Istanbul reaches two million passengers a day. The most famous tramway line in Istanbul are:  

  • T1 tram line connecting Kabataş and Bagcilar.
  • T3 tram line connecting Kadikoy and Carsi.
  • T4 tram line that connects the Topkapi and Mescidiselam.
 

Tramway in Istanbul

4. Public buses in Istanbul

One of the most popular means of transportation in Istanbul. With more than 800 lines and more than 6000 buses, bus lines cover almost all regions and districts of Istanbul and are based on a modern and world-class payment system using Istanbul multi-purpose transport card istanbulkart. This system offers multiple price segments and offers special discounts and affordable prices by age group such as the elderly, professionals like students, teachers, monthly subscriptions, and other leading classifications in line with community values and requirements.

Foreign guests can also use machines to buy and recharge cards in most of the stations in their national languages, including Arabic, English, French, and Russian and Persian ... Special discounts are usually given when embarking again and using it for one hour for more than one bus.

A large proportion of buses and coaches, metro, Metrobus and tramways are equipped with free internet access for passengers and with suitable plugs for charging smart devices.

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Mobiett Application

With its two versions on Android and iPhone, the Mobiett application is the official application for Istanbul's transport. It is characterized by high accuracy in determining the arrival time of the bus. It can be tracked directly on the map in real-time. Hence, the application supports all means of transport in Istanbul.

5. Dolmus: Shuttle buses in Istanbul

A common medium and small size bus with a Shuttle transfer. The cost of transporting the passenger according to the distance and the station he or she wants to reach is calculated and is fast, with the ability to stop and go anywhere without being restricted to specific stops.   

6. Istanbul Taxi: Taxis

Taxis are spread throughout Istanbul, where each district has a point or several meet points, such as malls and large residential complexes, and cars can be easily requested.

Recently, the Greater Istanbul Municipality has launched an improved taxi service that includes cars with brands, modern models and distinctive turquoise color, with a special application for smartphones. However, it is easy to request taxis within the city from the application of iTaksi, which is a strong domestic rival for international applications such as Uber!  

Itaksi Istanbul is similar to uber

The cost of the trip can be paid in cash, or via Istanbul Card, or even with local and international credit cards.

7. Ships and Ferries: Maritime Transport in Istanbul

Istanbul is located on both sides of Asia and Europe and is surrounded by many water bodies, which makes maritime transportation a necessity for visitors.

Istanbul Municipality operates maritime passages within specific routes between several stations inside and outside the city. The regular shipping lines are with other cities such as Bursa, Yalova, Balikesir, Kocaeli, Gebze, and Eskihisar. These sea trips are easily booked through (Istanbul Ferries Company) ido.

Tourist trips take place every 20 minutes from small ports spread across the two European banks: Yenikapi, Avcilar, Eminounu, Besiktas; and Asian islands such as Princess Islands, Kadikoy, and Uskudar.

Ship of Istanbul

A number of modern real estate projects in Istanbul also offer private sea taxi service, such as Coral Marmara project in Beylikduzu, Residents and guests will be transported via fast sea routes, forgetting traffic congestion on the European side, and shortening hours of waiting on land routes at peak times.

Vital projects in Istanbul

1. Istanbul New Airport

The new Istanbul airport will connect between 60 countries. Passengers will also be able to travel from Istanbul to 66 countries in 5 hours!

This is the third airport in the city after Ataturk airport on the European side and Sabiha Gokcen Airport on the Asian side. Nonetheless, with these important airports, Istanbul becomes an airport for the whole world!  

Istanbul New Airport

2. Istanbul Water Canal: The Dream Project

Istanbul Canal project or the project of the era, one of the largest projects to be implemented in the 21st century not only in Turkey but internationally. The project aims to connect the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea, parallel to the Bosphorus.   

This will be a great opportunity for the real estate sector in the city. Real estate prices started to increase in the city even before the establishment of the canal, especially in areas such as Avcilar, Basaksehir, Kucukcekmece, and Arnaoutkoy. This has resulted in positive impacts like establishing a number of real estate projects in Basaksehir area, where it witnessed the construction of several commercial complexes, health facilities, gymnasiums, stadiums, and transportation networks. 

3. Eurasia Tunnel in Istanbul 

The tunnel links the two sides of Istanbul via a road below the seabed. It extends 14.6 km, 3.4 km below the bottom of the Bosporus Strait. It is also dedicated to cars and buses with small and medium-size, and it reduces the duration of trips from 100 minutes to 15 minutes to ease the congestion in the streets of Istanbul.

Eurasia Tunnel

4. Istanbul Third Bridge: Sultan Selim Bridge

Not a normal bridge but an architectural masterpiece as well. It passes over the Bosphorus Strait and connects the Asian and European shores. Consequently, a million and a half million passengers can travel through the two sides of the city of Istanbul. It also contributes effectively to alleviate the problem of traffic congestion in the city. 

The third bridge

Mall of Istanbul: The largest multi-purpose mall in Europe

Mall of Istanbul is distinguished by its huge size and it takes more than a day to discover all its secrets. It includes the latest international brands, the most beautiful and largest indoor games city in Europe. It consists of 7 towers and 4 major sections: 

  • Residential Complex: Mall of Istanbul apartments within 4 adjacent residential towers.
  • Hotel with hotel apartments: Mall of Istanbul hotel.
  • Commercial Offices: Offices of Mall of Istanbul.
  • Shopping Mall: Mall of Istanbul.

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Mall of Istanbul

International Schools in Istanbul

Arabian and international schools in Istanbul are a destination for the Arab community. Thousands of families who have decided to live and own properties in Istanbul wish to complete their children's education in the Arabic language.

These schools teach the curricula adopted in a number of Arab countries with interest in English, French and Turkish according to the needs of each family, which has led to rising demands for these types of schools recently. 

Arabic Schools in Istanbul

Tourism in Istanbul - distinctive in all seasons of the year

If only for one day of the year, the city of Istanbul cannot stop receiving its visitors from the lovers of tourism, who come from the ends of the world to witness with their eyes this unique combination that the city embraces between originality and contemporaneous.

Museums of Istanbul
 

Here are some wonderful Istanbul landmarks that will inevitably make you fall in love:

Istanbul Landmarks

1. Mosque of Hagia Sophia

One of Istanbul's most beautiful architectural and aesthetic monuments is Hagia Sophia. It was a cathedral. At the time of the Islamic conquest of the city, it became a mosque, but after the Ottoman rule of Istanbul, it becomes a historical museum.

Mosque of Hagia Sophia

2. Topkapi Palace

The palace where the Ottoman Sultan lived when Istanbul was the capital of the state. it was build in the year 1459 AD under the reign of Sultan Mohammed Al-Fatih. However, It is currently one of the famous tourist attractions in the city.

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Topkapi palace

3. Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque)

Built during the period between 1609 and 1616 under the supervision of the architect Mohamed Agha, one of the famous scholars of Sinan, during the reign of Sultan Ahmed I, known as the Blue Mosque because of its interior walls that were decorated with blue Iznik tiles. The reflection of the sun penetrates through the windows on the blue tiles giving it a distinctive beauty. 

Turkey is known as the country of mosques or the country of minarets for a large number of mosques, where the number of mosques according to the latest statistics reached 90 thousand mosques.

4. The Covered Market (Grand Bazaar)

The Grand Bazaar is a famous landmark, attracting nearly 400,000 visitors a day, with around 5,000 diverse shops spread across 60 streets.

Nobel laureate Joseph Brodsky described the Grand Bazaar in his book Journey to Istanbul as the heart, brain, and spirit of Istanbul, and described it as a city within a city built in the past.

Covered Market, Grand Bazaar
 

This market was built during the reign of Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih in 1461, and it took about four years to build, and then Sultan Sulaiman al-Qanuni expanded it in the sixteenth century. Unfortunately. this market was hit by an earthquake that damaged it and was restored in 1894.

Istanbul Tulip Festival: A paradise in a city

As for the beautiful nature of Istanbul, it is enough to follow the footsteps of tourists, especially in spring, to find yourself in colors reflected in gardens such as the garden of Gulhane, which is next to the Sultanahmet Square, the largest carpet of Tulips in the world every spring!

Gulhane Park, Sultanahmet Square
 

On a fixed date and for a full month starting from the beginning of April each year, the Tulip Festival moves between the outskirts of Istanbul to win its charm and attractive appeal.

Istanbul Properties: A sea of choices

The city of Istanbul is becoming more and more glamorous with its world-leading projects, not to mention the desire of the people to live and settle in apartments in Istanbul.

Istanbul Bridge
 

It is normal to see a variance in apartment prices in Istanbul, which opens the door wide for investment capitals at all levels and all budgets and entices the entry of new investment groups into the promising field of real estate. This all comes in light of the facilities and incentives provided by the Turkish government to the real estate sector, tax cuts , real estate residence permit, and granting Turkish citizenship in return for real estate investment.

Buy an apartment in Istanbul, buy an apartment in Turkey
 
 

Sources:
Anadolu Agency
Turk Press
New Arab Newspaper
Al Jazeera Net
Maaal financial newspaper
Greater Istanbul Municipality
Edited by: Imtilak Real Estate ©

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