Istanbul (Constantinople) is Turkey's most populated city on the Bosporus strait, in the northwest of the country. In 1985, they have added the "Historical Areas of Istanbul" to the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is located both on the European (Thrace) and on the Asian (Anatolia) side of the Bosporus, therefore the only city in the world which is situated on two continents. The climate of Istanbul is Mediterranean, with mild winters and sunny, warm summers. There are many tourists visiting the city each year with low cost air lines, and there is a wild range of cheap hotels as well.

Among the many sights that are worth visiting in Istanbul, there are the Topkapi Serai, the Sultanahmet Jami (Blue Mosque) and the Kariye Müsei, with its world famous frescos and mosaics. You also have to make a visit to the covered bazaars, which has more than 400 stands, with huge variety of spices, teas and Turkish sweets. If you are planning a longer holiday in this fabulous country, you can also rent a car and make a trip into the central or coastal parts, for example Ankara, the capital city or Antalya, one the most beautiful resort places of the Mediterranean. You can find cheap hotels in Istanbul and the best offers for low lost flights at Liligo.com.

The entry fees for the mosques and museums are usually around €10 for adults, and you can also take part in an exciting boat trip on the Bosporus, which costs €20 per person. The visa you can get at the airport, so don’t have to worry about that afore, but it might be a god idea to ask for some vaccination against Hepatitis A and B, and maybe Typhoid as well. The currency in Turkey is Turkish Lira, 100 Lira costs around £40 in an exchange office. So, haven’t you booked your low cost flight and cheap hotel yet? Then go to Liligo.com now, and have a good time in Istanbul!

Some things to take care of when planning your trip

To have a holiday without setbacks, it helps a lot to take into consideration what simple measurements can be done that would save you many bad shots.
First of all, always check your documents that will be requested at the entrance of your destination country, consult the competent government agency, and even if you do not leave the country, keep in mind that it is obligatory to carry along your identification papers. Moreover, many accommodations request documents at registration. You may also want to rent a car, so you'll have to take your driver's license with you (get informed about the international driving license, too). Do not forget your travel insurance, your health insurance card (we strongly recommend you to take your health card). There are some countries where a visa is required to be allowed to enter the country at all. But do not worry, in most countries you can enter and stay without visas or special permits for some months (usually 90 days).
A good tactic is to photocopy important documents you might need, so in case they get lost or stolen, it will be really useful. Furthermore, it is also a good idea to carry along two extra passport photos.

Thanks to the Schengen agreement, one can freely cross the borders of ‘Schengen countries’, so EU travellers travelling within this area won’t be asked to identify themselves. Even so, you should always carry along identity documents, because police might ask for identity checks, any time. The following countries form part of the Schengen Agreement:
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Iceland (non-EU), Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway (non-EU), Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland (non-EU).
EU countries that do not belong to this agreement are: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, UK and Romania. Citizens outside the EU will need to apply for visas and documents to enter the Schengen area. The maximum length of stay for travellers is 3 months.
Bear in mind that some documents and visas are not that easy to get, one has to wait for them. Therefore it is recommended that you plan the travel and learn about these documents well in advance.

In addition to paperwork, when travelling within or outside the borders of the EU or the Schengen area, don’t forget to be informed of the required or recommended vaccinations in certain countries. If you know exactly the health care situation of the country which you plan to travel to, you can avoid many unpleasant surprises.
Again, please note that some vaccines require more than one dose, sometimes with large temporary spaces between them, so it is advisable to act well in advance. Be cautious with consuming food, especially fruits, and for your security, drink bottled water only.
Also, the maximum weight of your luggage is usually around 20 kilos –depending on the airline-, so it might be a good idea to make a list of most necessary things before packing your suitcase. Your passport (and anything fragile) is best to be guarded in your hand luggage that you bring along into the cabin.
Note that you can’t have scissors (or any kind of cutting or stabbing tools) with you, nor liquids of any kind (water, tee, juices and all types of cosmetics), or at least only a small amount.

Unfortunately, sometimes it happens that your luggage gets lost. In this case it might be helpful to have some clothes with you in your hand bag, until your luggage is found.

Further information:

Foreign and Commonwealth office

European Health Insurance card

Healthcare abroad