Travel guide Istanbul

Main Turkish statesman of the 20th century. Mustafa Kemal known as Atatürk (the father of the Turks) founded the Turkish Republic in 1923. He will modernize the country and establish the principles of secularism. His influence on the social life of the country is still very great, and it is difficult to ignore it so much his portraits, statues and photographs are present.

One of the oldest board games in the world, probably originating in Mesopotamia. In Turkey, every opportunity is good for playing. In some alleys filled with small tables for this purpose, Turks, while drinking their tea, click the dice on the wooden board. Mixing strategy and luck, this game is quickly addictive!

Istanbul is full of bazaars, each district has its own speciality (bazaar of fabrics, bicycles, light bulbs...). The best known are the Egyptian market (spice market) and the big bazaar with its 5,000 shops. Between ceramics, jewellery, carpets and copper objects, it is the ideal place to go shopping if you know how to bargain well.

About 40 kilometers long, the Bosphorus serves as a passage between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, marking the boundary between Europe and Asia. Its traffic is one of the densest in the world: 50,000 boats a year and more than a million Stambulans pass from one bank to the other every day. Three bridges and a tunnel cross it.

In the proper way, Turkish coffee should be slowly heated in sand over a fire to achieve a balanced aroma. The amount of sugar should be specified when ordering: sade (no sugar), orta (medium sweet) and şekerli (very sweet). After tasting, a falcı will be able to read the future in the pomace remaining at the bottom of the cup.

The term kebap, which means grilled meat, can refer to lamb, mutton, beef or chicken. There are many different kinds of kebap, which can be served as a dish with braised tomatoes and peppers, as a sandwich or rolled in a wrap. In France, the doner is best known for being cooked vertically.

Istanbul is known as the "city of seven hills and a thousand mosques". Today, there are 3,300 of them, some of which are pure jewels of Ottoman architecture. It is imperative to visit the Blue Mosque and the Süleymaniye Mosque, avoiding the prayer hours (5 times a day), especially on Fridays between 12 and 2 pm.

Made from glass paste, this ancestral talisman is found throughout the Middle East, particularly in Turkey. Hanging on the doors of houses, in offices..., it symbolizes the envious gaze of others that could cause various misfortunes to a person. This talisman would have the ability to absorb these bad energies.

Turkish national alcohol, aniseed-flavored, at 45 degrees, generally made from grapes, it resembles pastis or ouzo. It is drunk chilled as an accompaniment to long meals of mezzes and fish. A few rules to follow: the rakı is served first, the water and then the ice cubes. To be enjoyed in moderation, the rakı is strong!

Many restaurants, hotels, cafés, bars and nightclubs have a terrace. This asset is used to promote the establishment. Many of them have a beautiful view of the Bosphorus, but sometimes it is more a fashion effect and no panorama is on the horizon. Note that the fresh air is still pleasant.

Çay(tchay) in Turkish. An essential drink of Turkish culture, offered as a sign of hospitality, it is drunk everywhere and at any time, served in small glass cups. More bitter and stronger than the tea served in Europe, don't hesitate to ask for it açık(atcheuk) so that it is lighter. Turks usually have tea after a meal.

If you are told tulips, you may think of the Netherlands, but tulips come from the Middle East! It is a symbol of Turkey, and especially of Istanbul (Turkish lale). It took on its full importance in the 16th century, in the Ottoman gardens. It is found as a motif on ceramics. At the end of April, the tulip festival celebrates spring.