Istanbul, Turkey travel guide
Flying into the Asian side of the bi-continental city of Istanbul, the Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, SAW, is a space-aged sight to see. The facility is named after the fist female combat pilot in the world. Located just 35 km southeast of central Istanbul, the airport is a convenient distance from the city by Istanbul Airport car Hire.
Sabiha Gökçen Airport consists of three lounges, Europe's second largest Duty Free shopping area, a large food court with cafés, pubs and restaurants, and a reservations desk where they can help you reserve hotels or your car hire Istanbul Airport.
Istanbul is the only metropolis in the world situated on two continents. Historically it has also been known as Byzantium and Constantinople, and it has served as the capital of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Latin Empire, and lastly the Ottoman Empire. Discover all that this historically favored city has to offer.
- Local time in Istanbul, Turkey:
- GMT+2
- Population of Istanbul, Turkey:
- 12,782,960
Tourist attractions at Istanbul, Turkey
The Column of Constantine (Burnt Column)
Don't miss this monumental column constructed in 330 AD, and still mostly intact! The column does happen to be missing its focal point, where on the top stood a statue of Constantine as the god Apollo. Located on Yeniçeriler Caddisi in central Istanbul along the old Divan Yolu (the Road to the Imperial Council), next to Beyazit Square.
Surviving the centuries has shown this column quite a lot, including a fire in 1779 which destroyed the neighborhood, but only left the column with black scorch marks, earning it the nickname 'Burnt Column'.
The Galata Tower
Take the elevator up the nine story Galata Tower for the best view of Istanbul. From the top you can look out to an amazing panoramic of the historical sights of the city, a great place to plan your next Istanbul, Turkey car hire destinations!
This medieval stone tower is located just to the north of the Golden Horn, dominating Istanbul's skyline. At the top of the tower is a restaurant and café where you can enjoy a meal along with your view, and there is also a nightclub in the upper floors which hosts a Turkish show.
Hagia Sophia
Once an Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and today a museum, the "Holy Wisdom", may contain just that after all its heritage. Famous for its massive dome, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture. As buildings often do through change of management, this holy structure has seen its fare share of reconstruction and cover-ups before finally settling into a comfortable stance as a museum.
In 1934 the carpets were removed and the marble floor decorations saw the light for the first time in centuries, and plaster covering over mosaics was removed by expert restorers. No mater what you believe, this museum will bring you new faith to the preservation of historical places.
Recommended daytrips from Istanbul, Turkey
The Princes' Islands
Also known as Adalar, these are a chain of nine islands off the coast of Istanbul in the sea of Marmara. There are four larger islands, Large Island, Saddlebag Island, Antigoni, and Henna Island, which is the closest to Istanbul. There are also five much smaller islands, and all together the islands constitute one of the districts of Istanbul Province.
Compared to the city these islands are very peaceful, as you will quickly notice the lack of traffic aside from horse and cart. The Princes' Islands are most popular for daytrips during the summer months when the waters are more calm making it easier for the ferries to travel.
Kadiköy
Head over in your car hire Istanbul, Turkey to the most prominent neighborhood on the Asian side of the sea of Marmara. Here you will find numerous bars, cinemas, bookshops, and high fashion. Turkey's biggest food market is here with immense turnover of fresh foods and other products from all around Turkey. Stop there for your fresh fish or some bars of olive soap to bring home as gifts.
Topkapi Palace
The first human settlement on this site dates back to between the 13th and 11th centuries B.C., but the palace here today has only been standing since around 1460. For 400 years it was the official residence of the Ottoman Sultans, and at the hight of its royal period it was home to as many as 4,000 people.
After the end of the end of the Ottoman Empire in 1921, Topkapi Palace was transformed into a museum of the imperial era. The complex has hundreds of rooms and chambers, the most important of which are accessible to the public today. Packed with treasures of the Ottoman empire, such as large collections of porcelain, robes, weapons, shields, armor, Ottoman miniatures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts and murals, and jewelry.
You really will need a full day to enjoy everything this huge compound has to offer. Plan for a cheap car hire Istanbul, Turkey and head up the hill to this incredibly expansive and wondrous palace.
Hotels at Istanbul, Turkey
Taksim Square Hotel
Siraselviler cad. No:15 Taksim
Istanbu, Turkey
Tel: (212) 292 64 40
Fax: (212) 292 64 49
info@taksimsquarehotel.com.tr
Gulhane Park Hotel
Nobethane Street No:1 34112
Sirkeci / Istanbul / Turkey
Tel : +90 (212) 519 68 68
Fax: +90 (212) 519 68 69
info@hotelgulhanepark.com
Local conditions for Istanbul, Turkey
Thu, 24 May 2012 11:50:00 +0300
Thursday at 11:00 EEST:
N/A. N/A (N/A)
Temperature: N/A (N/A), Wind Direction: N/A, Wind Speed: N/A, Relative Humidity: N/A, Pressure: N/A, no change, Visibility: N/A
Weather forecast for Istanbul, Turkey
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Thursday
Sunny intervals, Max Temp: 23°C (73°F), Min Temp: 16°C (61°F)
Max Temp: 23°C (73°F), Min Temp: 16°C (61°F), Wind Direction: SSW, Wind Speed: 7mph, Visibility: very good, Pressure: 1010mb, Humidity: 52%, Sunrise: 05:38EEST, Sunset: 20:24EEST
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Friday
Thundery shower, Max Temp: 22°C (72°F), Min Temp: 15°C (59°F)
Max Temp: 22°C (72°F), Min Temp: 15°C (59°F), Wind Direction: WSW, Wind Speed: 10mph, Visibility: good, Pressure: 1009mb, Humidity: 74%, Sunrise: 05:38EEST, Sunset: 20:25EEST
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Saturday
Sunny intervals, Max Temp: 22°C (72°F), Min Temp: 14°C (57°F)
Max Temp: 22°C (72°F), Min Temp: 14°C (57°F), Wind Direction: NNE, Wind Speed: 8mph, Visibility: very good, Pressure: 1016mb, Humidity: 65%, Sunrise: 05:37EEST, Sunset: 20:26EEST
Airport Information
- Airport name:
- Sabiha Gökçen Airport
- Airport code:
- SAW
- Phone number:
- +90 216 585 50 00
- Fax number:
- +90 216 585 51 14
- Address:
- Sabiha Gökcen International Airport 34912 Pendik Istanbul / TURKEY
- Map:
- Javascript is required to view this map.
- Distance from airport to Istanbul:
- Istanbul city || 22 Miles / 35 km / 60 minutes by rental car from Downtown Istanbul
- Car Rental office location:
For car rental in Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport you will find a variety of car rental companies at the airport. The following companies offer car rental service in Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport:
- WRC WORLD RENT A CAR
- DECAR RENT A CAR
- HERTZ
- AVIS RENT A CAR
Booking your car hire vehicle for Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport in advance is the best way of getting the best deals and cheap car rental offers in 7 seater, 9 seater or any type of car hire vehicle you need for your stay in Istanbul, Turkey.
Airlines providing airport services to Istanbul, Turkey
- Air Arabia Maroc
- Air Urga
- Azerbaijan Airlines
- Blu Express
- Cham Wings Airlines
- Corendon Airlines
- Cyprus Airways
- Daghestan Airlines
- Dubrovnik Airline
- EasyJet
- Flydubai
- Freebird
- Germanwings
- Itali Airlines
- Jazeera Airways
- Jetairfly
- Jordan Aviation
- Kish Air
- Kuban Airlines
- Norwegian Airlines
- Pegasus Airlines
- Saga Airlines
- Saratov Airlines
- Sayakhat Airlines
- Sky Airlines
- Spanair
- Sun Express
- Taban Air
- Tailwind Airlines
- TRANSAVIA.COM
- Turkish Airlines
- Vueling
- Wataniya Airways
- Zagros Air
