The first thing you’ll experience as a traveler in this city is the sight of lush green trees everywhere.

As you head towards your accommodation, your eyes will be delighted with greenery all around. Despite being a developed city full of buildings and skyscrapers, the oxygen pumped by the trees brings vitality and joy to your soul.

If your hotel, hostel, or accommodation is in a busy area like Taksim or Beyoğlu, you will still feel refreshed in the narrow streets because just a few steps ahead, the sea will embrace you. Undoubtedly, you will feel this is the most beautiful spot in Istanbul.

However, the more you travel to different parts of Istanbul, your opinion may change because you won’t be able to rank one place over another. Although districts may vary widely in terms of cost, for a foreign tourist every corner of the city is equally attractive.

Most historical sites are located on the European side of Istanbul. For those who love history and human mysteries, visiting these places is like turning on a time machine.

Spending just a few minutes in each historical site will connect you to the spirits of those who once walked these paths, played music, and performed daily tasks just like you.

Everything there is filled with the energy of those who, although passed away, seem to revive at the sight of eager visitors, telling their stories. At these places, you feel as if you merge with the walls, paintings, and dozens of artifacts that carry the soul of historical ancestors.

Although Istanbul hosts many immigrants, the majority population and main hosts are Turkish people, known for their warm-hearted nature.

Smiling and helping foreigners find directions are prominent habits of Istanbul residents. These people are so warm that they can never behave indifferently or coldly toward their surroundings or others.

If you get anxious or nervous — for example, if you lose your travel companion or for any other reason — a local person will undoubtedly approach and ask if you need help.

Therefore, you can confidently start your trip to Istanbul even alone because with these people you will never feel loneliness or homesickness.

People of Istanbul, like anywhere else, have their own cultural habits. One habit is saying **“Afiyet olsun”** (meaning “Bon appétit”) even in restaurants and public dining places, which brings positive energy.

Another cultural habit is addressing unknown women as “sister” and unknown men as “brother.” Sometimes young ladies are called **“hanımefendi”** (meaning “lady” or “miss”) and young men **“ağa”** (meaning “mister” or “sir”).

So, if someone calls you **“abla”** or **“abi”** (sister or brother), don’t be surprised, as it is a cultural custom in Turkey.

Istanbul is a transcontinental city — part of it lies on the European side close to the borders of Europe, and the other part is in Asia. This unique feature has made Istanbul famous worldwide.

If you live in this big city for a while, you will notice the mixed culture of its people. Although their characteristics and customs are mostly Eastern, you will also sometimes observe Western cultural influences in store decorations, building architecture, and other indicators.

European Istanbul refers to the western part of the city, characterized by a modern and new texture and the largest population.

Tourist attractions here range from historical to recreational places. Therefore, you can find all kinds of accommodations, from fancy hotels to budget hostels.

Most major tourist spots — like Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı), Galata Tower, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Spice Bazaar, Istiklal Street, Taksim Square, Modern Art Museum, Balat district, Emirgan Park, and dozens of other attractions — are located in this part, so most tourists choose to stay in European Istanbul.

The Asian part of Istanbul is located in the eastern section and is also known as **Anadolu (Anatolian) Istanbul**. It features older and more traditional architecture.

The Bosphorus Strait connects the Asian and European parts. The hustle and bustle here is not as intense as in European Istanbul, making it a calmer area, mostly residential and cultural rather than commercial and touristic.

Anadolu (Anatolia) is a broader term that refers to the entire Asian part of Turkey. In everyday speech, people sometimes informally call the Asian side of Istanbul“Anadolu Yakası” (Anatolian side).

One of Istanbul’s biggest tourist attractions is its food diversity. Few tourists are unaware of the colorful street foods and varied restaurant menus.

Whether you prefer Eastern vegetarian dishes or protein-rich meat meals, it’s almost impossible not to fall in love with several dishes. Here are some of the most famous foods and desserts to try once you arrive.