A unique city steeped in polar cultures, traditions and architectural styles, beautiful Istanbul is one of the most interesting on the planet. During its long history, the metropolis has been the capital of several states. Each new government started a grandiose construction, each new era gave birth to its outstanding architects, and the architectural collection of the city was replenished with amazing monuments that can be seen during tours to Istanbul from Moscow.
He leads his chronicle from 658 BC. Then it was called Byzantium, and in Russian literature - Constantinople. At the turn of the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, it became part of the Roman Empire and became Constantinople. And after the capture in 1453 by Sultan Mehmed II, the city acquired its modern name - Istanbul. The capital of the Ottoman Empire, stretching from Algiers to Basra and from Budapest to Mecca, was the center of the entire Islamic world and gave impetus to the creative flourishing of Koji Mimar Sinan, the author of 360 magnificent mosques, madrasahs, palace complexes and other structures.
Today Istanbul is the most populous and shopping center Turkey, which carefully preserves its museum treasures. They are located right under the open sky and generously give their beauty to all travelers who buy tours to Istanbul.
Treasures of three eras
Istanbul is the only city in the world connecting Europe and Asia. The European half of the city is cut by the Golden Horn Bay. Eminonu - Old city- and today it breathes the Middle Ages, which you can also feel during sightseeing tours to Istanbul in the cramped streets and in ancient mosques. Beyoglu - New town- includes a commercial port area, as well as a business and cultural center. A smaller part of Istanbul is located on the Asian side - Uskudar. Communication between areas on different banks of the Bosphorus is carried out by means of ferries and bridges.
In the Sultanahmet area, the density of attractions exceeds all wildest expectations. Going on tours to Istanbul for the weekend, you are unlikely to have time to see even half. All three eras - Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman - chose them as a place for the construction of luxurious buildings. The uniqueness of Hagia Sophia lies in the fact that it was originally built as a Christian temple, but after the conquest of Constantinople, it was supplemented with minarets, mosaics and panels with Arabic script, after which it turned into a mosque. Nearby is the Blue Mosque, open to tourists, the only religious Muslim building in the world with six minarets. Between them lies the area of the ancient Hippodrome, and in a twenty-minute walk, the largest and one of the most ancient bazaars in the world, Kapala Charshi, rustles.
Istanbul tour operator "Vand" also advises you to visit the Topkapi Palace with a rare collection of treasures, the Church of St. areas. And be sure to take a look at history Center cities from observation deck Galata Tower, which is located on the shores of the Golden Horn Bay.
ocean of entertainment
Before the holidays, many people think about where to spend these few free days. And then tours to Istanbul for 3 days become a real find. The absence of a visa, a short flight, a large selection of air carriers and hotels will also be nice bonuses.
Istanbul is a boring city in every way. So if you decide to buy tours to Istanbul for the New Year, you will have an ocean of opportunities to spend time in a way that will be remembered for a long time. For example, splash in the Aqua Marina and Aqua Dolphin water parks, admire the frolicking marine life in the Istanbul Dolphinarium or the representatives of the terrestrial fauna in the Baromoglu Zoo. At any time of the year, guests are invited by the Ice Museum - Magic Ice. You will pass a thematic route more than a kilometer long from the Black Sea to the Pacific Ocean in the Istanbul Aquarium, and you will see dinosaurs in the Jurassic Land Amusement Park.
You can have an unconventional time by fishing on the Galata bridge, taking a boat ride along the Bosphorus in the evening, or wandering around Nevizade and Istiklal streets, where you will not only see a lot of interesting things, but also make very profitable purchases. And by all means devote the evening to the study of Istanbul nightclubs, narghile and jazz cafes. It’s also a good idea to celebrate the New Year in Istanbul with a visit to the famous Turkish hammam.
A separate topic in Istanbul's history is the Princes' Islands, which are reached by sea ferry. Cars are prohibited here, so it is always quiet, clean and fresh. While relaxing in Istanbul, you can sunbathe here, rent a bicycle or ride in a horse-drawn carriage.
Discover and fall in love with this ancient and at the same time unusually modern city. In the metropolis from which the Christian faith came to us, at the junction of Europe and Asia, everyone will be able to sort out his soul and understand what remains a mystery for many forever.
Trip for the New Year - 2020 to Istanbul: how and where to note, what is the weather and prices, what to do and what to see. List of the best restaurants for New Year's Eve and reviews of tourists about last year's trips here for the holidays.
Traditionally, a stream of tourists arrives in Istanbul, eager to celebrate the New Year in the city. And although mass festivities are not accepted in the Turkish outback to celebrate the New Year, festive programs are prepared in restaurants and hotels, rooms are decorated with garlands and Christmas trees are put up. The European fashion for the New Year holidays in the former Constantinople has slowly spread to us as well, and many factors contribute to this: acceptable weather conditions, delicious cuisine, magnificent sights and good Turkish service.
Weather in Istanbul for the New Year
By Russian standards, the winter here is mild: the average daytime air temperature in December-January is +10...+12°C, rarely drops to +6...+4°C, it is especially warm when the sun is shining. It gets cool at night and in the evenings, the temperature can drop to +4 °C, in January there can be frosts of 0...−2°C.
In December, the number of sunny and rainy days is approximately the same, the weather is very changeable, it can be just overcast, sometimes it rains. So our tourists feel quite comfortable in an ordinary autumn jacket, but you shouldn’t undress too much either - it can be cold by the sea due to strong winds. However, the Turks take care of their guests: special heating devices work in restaurants, warm blankets are issued, in extreme cases, for the prevention of acute respiratory infections, you can drink local vodka - raki. In general, the weather in Istanbul for the New Year is usually good and tourists do not complain.
How and where to celebrate the New Year in Istanbul?
There are many options for meeting the new year 2020 in Istanbul, but most tourists in their reviews recommend meeting it on Galata bridge. This is a bridge across the Golden Horn Bay, connecting the new and old parts of the European side of the city. People come here to admire the festive fireworks. There are many fish restaurants on the lower floor of the bridge where you can book a table in advance.
Area Taksim and street Istiklal- the heart of the night city. There are many shops, bars, nightclubs, the doors of which do not close until the morning. According to tourists, here you can try the most delicious food, and for this you don’t have to go to an expensive restaurant, fast food is also very tasty. IN new year's eve it is necessary to book a place in advance, as prices skyrocket. Young people will like this pastime more.
Another option for celebrating the New Year in Istanbul is to take boat trip, drink champagne with light snacks and enjoy the views of the night city in lights, cutting through the waters of the Bosphorus. In general, you will not have a question what to do in Istanbul for the New Year - you will not be bored in this city.
(Photo © nedim.chaabene / flickr.com / CC BY 2.0)
The best restaurants and hotels to celebrate the New Year
How else to celebrate the New Year in Istanbul? Rent a room in a luxury hotel and order dinner in a restaurant with a view of the city! So, in the Taksim district, the Intercontinental Istanbul hotel is located, its restaurant Safran has won numerous awards for Turkish cuisine. A magnificent panoramic view will be a great addition to the general festive atmosphere.
A wonderful dinner, fireworks, cocktails and a disco - this New Year's scenario is offered by The Marmara Hotel in Taksim. For vacationers with children, it's a good idea to stay and celebrate the holiday at the Marti Istanbul Hotel - they have a special children's menu.
The five-star Four Seasons Hotel at the Bosphorus is located in the Besiktas area. Restaurant Aqua he treats his guests with truffles, foie gras and other delicacies, plays live music, disco until the morning.
One of the oldest hotels Pera Palace Hotel invites guests to meet the New Year in jazz style: great food and live music, ladies in evening dresses and men in tailcoats.
(Photo © www.fourseasons.com)
Prices for the New Year in Istanbul in 2020
As tourists note in their reviews, prices for the New Year in Istanbul jump significantly - 2020 will not be an exception. Hotels for the period of New Year's celebrations usually raise prices by 2-3 times, a standard 3 * hotel room for 3 nights - from 200 to 400 dollars. In this case, it is advantageous to book rooms for promotions on the hotel search engine Roomguru.ru, which finds the best price among several booking systems.
Prices in restaurants can be compared with European establishments: a good dinner for two without wine will cost the same 70-100 dollars. Street food is affordable, mainly Turkish fast food: doners, shawarma, fish in baguettes, etc. Such treats cost an average of $ 3 and are sold at every step.
According to the reviews of tourists who celebrated New Year's Eve in Istanbul, for a modest gala dinner in a restaurant, you will have to leave $ 75-100 per person. As a rule, the menu includes fish and meat starters, beer, champagne and local drinks. Some establishments allow patrons to bring their own alcohol.
In nightclubs in the Taksim district, prices are high on New Year's Eve - from at least $ 100 to $ 600-700 in status establishments. There are a lot of people, so it's better to take care of entrance tickets in advance. Some clubs set a paid entrance fee of 30-50 dollars per person, for this money you can watch a show program, but you will have to pay separately for drinks and snacks.
A New Year's Bosphorus cruise on a champagne boat will cost $150 per person.
(Photo © Avatarmin / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0)
What to see on holidays in Istanbul?
In winter, exploring the city is much more pleasant than in summer, as there is no sultry heat and crowds of tourists stepping on their heels. You can safely see the locals: visit the Hagia Sophia, climb the Galata Tower, which offers a panorama of the whole of Istanbul, admire the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque), wander around the Topkapi Palace, walk along Istiklal Street and ride a retro tram.
Oriental shopping lovers can look at the Grand Bazaar and the Egyptian Bazaar. You should definitely book a walk along the Bosphorus if you didn’t want to go on a cruise on New Year’s Eve. The city from the water will give an unforgettable experience, and such a trip will not cost much.
Tours to Istanbul for the New Year - 2020
The cost of tours is highly dependent on the time of booking and travel dates - tours for winter holidays, of course, are more expensive. Common price for tours to Istanbul from Moscow - from 60 thousand rubles for two for 5-8 nights.
Now let's see how much tours to Istanbul for New Year's dates currently cost. We are considering vouchers for two people with a departure from Moscow. For search cheap tours according to the required parameters, we use the services and. Prices for tours are current at the time of publication.
You can still find great deals at low prices. For example, tours with a departure on December 30-31 for 4-5 nights cost from 70 thousand rubles(breakfast included, 3-4 star hotels with good guest ratings). Packages for 7 nights are only slightly more expensive - from 80 thousand rubles for two.
New Year holidays in Istanbul can cost even less if you fly not to meet the night there from December 31 to January 1, but go there on the following days - for example, from 50 thousand rubles there are tours with a departure after January 4, 2020 (5-7 nights). A good option for those who want to celebrate the holiday at home and only after that go on vacation.
(photo © Tim Moffatt / flickr.com)
Consent to the processing of personal data
I hereby, being the Customer of the tourist services included in the tourist product and an authorized representative of the persons (tourists) specified in the Application, give my consent to the Agent and his authorized representatives to process my data and the data of the persons (tourists) contained in the Application: surname, name, patronymic, date and place of birth, gender, citizenship, series, passport number, other passport data indicated in the passport; address of residence and registration; home and mobile phone; E-mail address; as well as any other data relating to my personality and the identity of the persons specified in the Application, to the extent necessary for the implementation and provision of tourist services, including those that are part of the tourist product formed by the Tour Operator, for any action (operation) or set of actions ( operations) performed with my personal data and data of persons specified in the Application, including (without limitation) collection, recording, systematization, accumulation, storage, clarification (updating, changing), extraction, use, transfer (distribution, provision, access), depersonalization, blocking, deletion, destruction of personal data, as well as the implementation of any other actions provided for by the current legislation of the Russian Federation, using automation tools, including in information and telecommunication networks, or without using such tools, if the processing of personal data without using such funds corresponds to the nature of the actions (about transactions) performed with personal data using automation tools, that is, it allows, in accordance with a given algorithm, to search for personal data recorded on a tangible medium and contained in file cabinets or other systematized collections of personal data, and / or access to such personal data, and also for the transfer (including cross-border) of these personal data to the Tour Operator and third parties - partners of the Agent and the Tour Operator.
The processing of personal data is carried out by the Agent and his authorized representatives (Tour operator and direct service providers) in order to fulfill this agreement (including, depending on the terms of the agreement, for the purpose of issuing travel documents, booking rooms in accommodation facilities and with carriers, transferring data to consulate of a foreign state, resolving claim issues when they arise, providing information to authorized state bodies (including at the request of courts and internal affairs bodies)).
I hereby confirm that the personal data transferred by me to the Agent are reliable and can be processed by the Agent and his authorized representatives.
I hereby give my consent to the Agent and the Tour Operator to send me e-mails/information messages to the e-mail address and/or mobile phone number provided by me.
I hereby confirm that I have the authority to provide personal data of the persons specified in the Application, and I undertake to reimburse the Agent for any costs associated with my lack of appropriate authority, including losses associated with the sanctions of the inspection authorities.
I agree (to) that the text given by me of my own free will, in my interests and in the interests of the persons specified in the Application, consent to the processing of personal data is stored electronically in a database and / or on paper and confirms the fact of consent to the processing and transfer of personal data in accordance with the above provisions and take responsibility for the accuracy of the provision of personal data.
This consent is given for an indefinite period and can be revoked at any time by me, and in terms of a particular person, the subject of personal data specified in the Application, by the specified person, by sending a written notification to the Agent by mail.
I hereby confirm that my rights, as a subject of personal data, have been explained to me by the Agent and are clear to me.
I hereby confirm that the consequences of withdrawing this consent have been explained to me by the Agent and are clear to me.
This Consent is an annex to this Application.
Consent to the processing of personal data
I hereby, being the Customer of the tourist services included in the tourist product and an authorized representative of the persons (tourists) specified in the Application, give my consent to the Agent and his authorized representatives to process my data and the data of the persons (tourists) contained in the Application: surname, name, patronymic, date and place of birth, gender, citizenship, series, passport number, other passport data indicated in the passport; address of residence and registration; home and mobile phone; E-mail address; as well as any other data relating to my personality and the identity of the persons specified in the Application, to the extent necessary for the implementation and provision of tourist services, including those that are part of the tourist product formed by the Tour Operator, for any action (operation) or set of actions ( operations) performed with my personal data and data of persons specified in the Application, including (without limitation) collection, recording, systematization, accumulation, storage, clarification (updating, changing), extraction, use, transfer (distribution, provision, access), depersonalization, blocking, deletion, destruction of personal data, as well as the implementation of any other actions provided for by the current legislation of the Russian Federation, using automation tools, including in information and telecommunication networks, or without using such tools, if the processing of personal data without using such funds corresponds to the nature of the actions (about transactions) performed with personal data using automation tools, that is, it allows, in accordance with a given algorithm, to search for personal data recorded on a tangible medium and contained in file cabinets or other systematized collections of personal data, and / or access to such personal data, and also for the transfer (including cross-border) of these personal data to the Tour Operator and third parties - partners of the Agent and the Tour Operator.
The processing of personal data is carried out by the Agent and his authorized representatives (Tour operator and direct service providers) in order to fulfill this agreement (including, depending on the terms of the agreement, for the purpose of issuing travel documents, booking rooms in accommodation facilities and with carriers, transferring data to consulate of a foreign state, resolving claim issues when they arise, providing information to authorized state bodies (including at the request of courts and internal affairs bodies)).
I hereby confirm that the personal data transferred by me to the Agent are reliable and can be processed by the Agent and his authorized representatives.
I hereby give my consent to the Agent and the Tour Operator to send me e-mails/information messages to the e-mail address and/or mobile phone number provided by me.
I hereby confirm that I have the authority to provide personal data of the persons specified in the Application, and I undertake to reimburse the Agent for any costs associated with my lack of appropriate authority, including losses associated with the sanctions of the inspection authorities.
I agree (to) that the text given by me of my own free will, in my interests and in the interests of the persons specified in the Application, consent to the processing of personal data is stored electronically in a database and / or on paper and confirms the fact of consent to the processing and transfer of personal data in accordance with the above provisions and take responsibility for the accuracy of the provision of personal data.
This consent is given for an indefinite period and can be revoked at any time by me, and in terms of a particular person, the subject of personal data specified in the Application, by the specified person, by sending a written notification to the Agent by mail.
I hereby confirm that my rights, as a subject of personal data, have been explained to me by the Agent and are clear to me.
I hereby confirm that the consequences of withdrawing this consent have been explained to me by the Agent and are clear to me.
This Consent is an annex to this Application.
