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Istanbul owes its historic importance & its amazing cultural & architectural heritage to its perfect strategic location, straddling the Bosphorus straits which separate Europe & Asia Minor. Istanbul has a foot in each, celebrating the best of both heritages. As Byzantium, Constantinople & finally, Istanbul, it has been the capital of three Empires, each leaving their mark in the form of stunning palaces, castles, mosques, churches & monuments. The legacy of its chequered past can be seen on every turn of the modern city. Istanbul is a city of contrasts, bustling with the cacophony of 21st century life, & is yet achingly beautiful. Through most of its 2,500 year-long history, the city has been a cultural melting pot... |
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Ataturk Airport (European Side) Ataturk Airport caters to nearly 300 airlines from around the world. In a city where airport operations play a vital role Istanbul Ataturk Airport provides modern & exemplary service with its domestic & international terminals. A major modernization was completed in a year & the 25 year-old domestic terminal was transformed into a facility that represents Istanbul well not only because of its appearance but for its advanced technological systems. In addition to being Turkey's largest airport Ataturk Airport has a car park with the distinction of being the largest parking lot in Europe under a single roof. The CUTE automation system which connects the world's airlines to each other through common software saves passengers from checking in baggage at each transfer point. Information desks are available 24 hours a day to provide directions, advice & announcement services. Information is available from an individual manning the desk or over the phone. There are two information desks in the international terminal - 1 is on the arrivals level & the other is on the departures floor. There is another information desk available in the international terminal just after passport control. There are two information desks in the domestic Terminal - one on the arrivals level & one on the departures level. The distance between the 2 terminals is approximately 5 minute walking distance & within easy access by using the travelators. The purchase of mobile phones & phone-cards from a Vodafone agent can be done on the arrivals floor at the international terminal. There is a visa office located at the transit area on the arrivals level of the international terminal just prior to the passport check points & are open on a 24 hour basis. The Airports Shuttle service is operated by Havas, the backbone company of Turkey’s airport ground handling services. The shuttles run every half hour to Taksim Square, Kozyatagi, Aksaray, Yenikapi & Bakirkoy, & every two hours to Etiler Akmerkez. www.havas.net / www.ataturkairport.com Sabiha Gokcen Airport (Asian Side) Istanbul has two international airports - Ataturk International Airport & Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (named after Ataturk's adopted daughter, the worlds 1st female combat pilot). The vast majority of flights are through Ataturk Airport with Sabiha Gokcen handling cargo and domestic - international charter flights mainly from Europe & the Middle East. Being 55 km's away from the city center on the Asian side of Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport is developing the necessary infrastructure to meet the air transportation needs of Istanbul in the near future. Located on the Asian shore of Istanbul at Pendik / Kurtkoy about 40 km from Kadikoy, 12 kilometers from Pendik & 55 kilometers from Taksim. It is only 1.5 kilometers from the connection to the TEM motorway. This airport is the first step towards the Advanced Technology Industrial Park project which shall serve the country in numerous fields such as transportation, foreign trade, aviation & technology. It is Turkey's newest international airport having opened in 2001. The new state of the art terminal complex occupies some 320,000 square meters with a 4,500 square meter duty free shopping area. www.sabihagokcen.aero Istanbul Rail Systems Traffic problem is undoubtedly one of the biggest problems that the city of Istanbul & its people face. Istanbul Transportation Corp. (Istanbul Ulasim A.S.), an enterprise of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, was established in 1988 with the objective of contributing to the solution of the city’s traffic & environmental pollution problems, the company was given the duty to alleviate the city traffic congestion by operating rail transport systems & engaging in all transportation activities within the city. At present Ulasim A.S. operates two railway systems. One is a light metro line, running through the districts of Aksaray, Otogar, Yenibosna. The other is a tram line, running through the districts of Eminonu, Aksaray, Topkapi, Zeytinburnu. At these two lines the company carries 450 000 passengers daily. Metro: The 7.6 km long line runs through the districts of Taksim, Osmanbey, Sisli, Gayrettepe, Levent, 4. Levent. There are 6 stations at these points. The journey time between the two main stations (Taksim - 4.Levent) is 12 minutes, with services departing every 5 minutes. Passenger capacity is 70,000 persons/hour-one way. The metro system constitutes the most important part of the rail transport system in the city, since it runs underground & thus does not upset the texture of the city. Neither does it cause noise & environmental pollution. Taksim - 4.Levent metro line contributes to the solution of traffic & public transportation problems of these commercially intense districts. The Taksim -Yenikapi line is 5.3 km long & connects to the existing light metro system. The Light Metro: The existing light metro system connecting the major districts of Aksaray - Otogar -Esenler - Yenibosna is 18 km long with 15 stations. The first phase of the line was opened in 1989 & subsequently the current extensions have been made. The journey takes 26 minutes & the trains depart every 4 minutes. The maximum passenger capacity is 34 000 an hour - one way. 510 journeys take place between 06:00 a.m. & 24:00 p.m. This service between Istanbul Airport & Aksaray runs through some main areas of the city on the European Thrace such as the intecrcity bus terminal (otogar). The Tram Line: The tram line between Eminonu & Zeytinburnu districts is 11.2 km long & has 20 stations. Departures are every 2.5 minutes, totaling 450 departures daily. The journey between the two main stations takes 40 minutes. The tram runs between 05:30 a.m. & 24:00 p.m. Number of passengers carried daily is apx. 200 000. Because the tram runs within the road traffic, there is a signalization system with clearance priority for the former. The operation of the tram is managed from the command center. Istanbul Sea Transport Without a doubt, Istanbul’s city ferries offer the easiest, most affordable, & most enjoyable way of traveling between the city’s two sides. For longer trips, the sea buses offer quicker service. Ferry lines Ferries run between the following harbours: From Karakoy to Kadikoy & Haydarpasa Station; from Eminonu to Kadikoy, Haydarpasa, Uskudar & Bostanci; from Besiktas to Kadikoy & Uskudar & from Kabatas to Uskudar & the Prince Islands. From the Asian Side: from Kadikoy to Eminonu, Karakoy, Besiktas & the Prince Islands; from Uskudar to Eminonu, Besiktas & Kabatas; from Bostanci to Eminonu & the Prince Islands; Haydarpasa Station to Karakoy & Eminonu. Furthermore, ferries make trips up & down the Bosphorus during the summer months, stopping at Anadolu Kavagi, Rumelihisari, Sariyer, Emirgan, Kanlica, Anadoluhisari, Bebek & Arnavutkoy. Sea buses Istanbul’s sea buses (ships that are smaller than the ferries, & sail more quickly) run between the following locations: From Eminonu to Kabatas, Kadikoy, & the Prince Islands; from Kabatas to Bostanci & the Prince Islands; from Karakoy to Bostanci, Pendik, & Kartal; from Kadikoy to Bakirkoy, Eminonu & the Prince Islands; from Bostanci to Bakirkoy, Yenikapi, Karakoy, Kabatas, Kadikoy & the Princes' Islands. Sea buses are also an ideal way to reach resort destinations near Istanbul such as Yalova, cinarcik, Avsa Island & Armutlu. These sea buses leave from Bostanci on the Asian Side & from Yenikapi on the European Side. They go to Avsa Island, Marmara Island, Yalova, cinarcik, Mudanya & Armutlu. There are also regular routes to Yalova from Kadikoy & Kartal, both on the Asian Side. Wireless Internet connection is also available in these routes. Marinas Kalamis Marina The Setur Kalamis Marina is located in Kalamis - Fenerbahce, one of the most charming neighborhoods in Istanbul. This marina has 1197 yacht capacity, & has a blue flag. The marina includes a yacht store, number of shops, a parking garage with 375 vehicle capacity & a variety of restaurants & bars. Should you need a barber, a laundry mat, a bank, or other such services, you can find them in the neighborhood just next to the marina. Furthermore, yacht services such as docking, removing yachts from the water, returning them to the water & cleaning are offered. Other services available include battery-charging, bilge checking, ventilation, motor work & every type of winter sheltering & periodic examinations. Atakoy Marina The Atakoy Marina is located in Atakoy, just beside the Bakirkoy Sea Buses. The marina is eight kilometres from Sultanahmet Square, 13 kms from Taksim Square & 4 kms from Ataturk Airport. Atakoy Marina has the distinction of being the first five star marina in all of Turkey. Among the many conveniences found in the marina are laundry services, showers, a clinic, a hotel, cafes & bars, an entertainment center, a night club, an internet cafe, a car park, yacht sale & rental offices & a sports salon. A variety of fairs & racing events also take place on the marina. The marina houses 700 yachts on water & a 100 more on land & is able to remove & return yachts of up to seventy tons to & from the water.For more detailed information about travel, ticket prices, & routes: Istanbul city ferries: www.ido.com.tr |
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Divanyolu Caddesi No:34 Sultanahmet - Istanbul /
TURKEY 34122 |
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Association of Turkish Travel Agencies TURSAB Member No: A1855 |
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