Orientation in Istanbul
Istanbul is a city of hills and water – a striking combination. It is bound to the north by the Black Sea, and to the south by the Sea of Marmara.
It’s most beloved feature though is the very serpentine Straits of the Bosphorous, a 16 mile (26 km) watery divide that snakes through the city and separates the European and Asian sides. The narrow channel of sparkling blue stands out against the greenery of the hills on either coast, and makes a striking picture on a sunny day.
The two continental land masses of Europe and Asia are connected by two graceful suspension bridges, which have become as much icons of Istanbul as the silhouettes of the palaces and minarets.
The Bosphorous runs north-south and has several housing options along its shores and in the hills above its shores. The shores of the Bosphorous are also dotted with cafés, restaurants and nightclubs, although some of these can be rather expensive.
To the West of the Bosphorous is Europe, and to the East is Asia; the East-West city limits are about 75 miles (120 km) apart. Istanbul is probably the only city in the world where you can live in Europe and commute to Asia every day to work!
To the North of Istanbul is the Belgrade Forest and then the Black Sea.
Istanbul has a good network of highways and ring roads connecting various parts of the city; despite this, traffic at rush hour is bad.
It’s most beloved feature though is the very serpentine Straits of the Bosphorous, a 16 mile (26 km) watery divide that snakes through the city and separates the European and Asian sides. The narrow channel of sparkling blue stands out against the greenery of the hills on either coast, and makes a striking picture on a sunny day.
The two continental land masses of Europe and Asia are connected by two graceful suspension bridges, which have become as much icons of Istanbul as the silhouettes of the palaces and minarets.
The Bosphorous runs north-south and has several housing options along its shores and in the hills above its shores. The shores of the Bosphorous are also dotted with cafés, restaurants and nightclubs, although some of these can be rather expensive.
To the West of the Bosphorous is Europe, and to the East is Asia; the East-West city limits are about 75 miles (120 km) apart. Istanbul is probably the only city in the world where you can live in Europe and commute to Asia every day to work!
To the North of Istanbul is the Belgrade Forest and then the Black Sea.
Istanbul has a good network of highways and ring roads connecting various parts of the city; despite this, traffic at rush hour is bad.
