Turkey Facts

In 640 BC, for the first time in history, coins made of electrum were used by the Lydian king Croesus in Sardis, in Aegean region of Turkey.

Turkey Articles

A dolmus on a street in Turkey.

Taking the Dolmus

Istanbul

Area: 5.712 km²

Population: 7.309.190 (1990)

Traffic Code: 34

Districts: Adalar, Bakirkoy, Besiktas, Beykoz, Beyoglu, Eminonu, Eyub, Fatih, Gazi Osman Pasha, Kadikoy, Kagithane, Kartal, Kucukcekmece, Pendik, Sariyer, Sisli, Umraniye, Uskudar, Zeytinburnu, Buyukcekmece, Catalca, Silivri, Sile, Avcilar, Bagcilar, Bahcelievler, BayramPasha, Esenler, Gungoren, Maltepe, Sultanbeyli, Tuzla.

Sites of Interest:

  • Silivri
  • Kumburgaz
  • Bosphorus
  • Kumkoy (Kilyos)
  • Sile
  • Princess Islands
  • Belgrad Forest
  • Abrahan Pasha Grove
  • Emirgan Grove
  • Yildiz Park, Camlica Hill and Gulhane Park
  • Tuzla mineral springs
  • Istanbul city walls
  • Bozdogan (Valens)
  • Binbirdirek and Yerebatan Cisterns
  • Aya Sofya
  • Aya Irini
  • Bodrum
  • Fenari Isa, Fethiye, Imrahor, Kalenderhane, Kariye, Yeni Imaret and Zeyrek mosques
  • Bukoleon and Tefkur Palaces
  • Cemberlitas
  • Dikilitas
  • Yilanli Sutun
  • Kiztasi
  • Maiden Tower
  • Galata Tower
  • Fatih, Bayezid, Sultan Selim, Haseki Hurrem Sultan, Suleymaniye, Sokullu Mehmed Pasha, Kilic Ali Pasha, Yeni Cami, Semsi Pasha, Sultan Ahmed, Koprulu Mehmed Pasha, Corlulu Ali Pasha, Amcazade Huseyin Pasha, Laleli and Damat Ibrahim Pasha mosque complexes
  • Rustem Pasha and Gazanfer Aga old theological schools (medrese)
  • Anadolu and Rumeli Fortresses
  • Maglova Arch
  • Ahmed III and German Fountains
  • Topkapi, Dolmabahce, Beylerbeyi, Ciragan and Yildiz Palaces
  • Sale, Malta and Cadir Pavillions
  • Aynalikavak, Kucuksu (Goksu), Tophane and Ihlamur mansions
  • Eyub Sultan, Firuz Aga, Sinan Pasha, Nuriosmaniye, Beylerbeyi, Selimiye, Musretiye, Dolmabahce, Ortakoy, Pertevniyan Valide Sultan and Cerrah Pasha mosques
  • Covered Bazaar
  • Egyptian Bazaar
  • Simkeshane, Buyuk Valide, Balkapani, Vezir, Cebeci and Cuhaci Inns
  • Silivri, Buyukcekmece, Kucukcekmece, Cobancesme, Haramidere and Bostanci bridges
  • Dolmabahce Clock Tower
  • Koprulu, Suleymaniye, Nuruosmaniye and Municipality Libraries
  • Istanbul Archeology, Istanbul Topkapi Palace, Istanbul Turkish and Islamic Works, Ottoman Classical (Divan) Literature, Istanbul Art and Sculpture, Arasta Mozaic, Ayasofya, Yerebatan Palace, Turkish Caligraphic Arts, Military, Navy Tanzimat, Asihan (Edebiyat-i Cedide) and Sisli Ataturk museums

Camping

  • Atakoy Mocamp, Atakoy / Istanbul; Telephone: (212) 559 60 14
  • Londra Camping, Bakirkoy / Istanbul; Telephone: (212) 560 42 00
  • Mistik Camping, Kilyos / Istanbul; Telephone: (212) 201 10 77
  • Turban Kilyos, Kilyos / Istanbul; Telephone: (212) 201 14 80
  • Akkaya Camping, Sile / Istanbul; Telephone: (216) 727 70 10
  • Kumbaba Camping, Sile / Istanbul; Telephone: (216) 711 50 38
  • Fener Camping, Sile / Istanbul; Telephone: (216) 711 28 24
  • Imren Camping, Sile / Istanbul; Telephone: (216) 727 72 08

Cultural Resources and Organizations

  • Provincial Cultural Directorate, Telephone: (212) 518 18 03, 04, Fax: (212) 518 12 79
  • AKM (Ataturk Cultural Center), Istanbul AKM Mudurlugu, Taksim, Istanbul; Telephone: (212) 251 56 00, Fax: (212) 243 32 61
  • Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra, Ataturk Kultur Merkezi, Taksim, Istanbul; Telephone: (0 212) 243 10 68, Fax: (0 212) 251 05 07
  • Istanbul State Modern Folk Music Ensemble, Ataturk Kultur Merkezi, Taksim, Istanbul; Telephone: (0 212) 243 10 68, Fax: (0 212) 251 05 07
  • Istanbul State Classical Turkish Music Choir, Ataturk Kultur Merkezi, Taksim, Istanbul; Telephone: (0 212) 243 61 65
  • Istanbul Historical Turkish Music Ensemble Directorate, Altunizade Ord. Prof. Fahrettin Kerim Gokay Caddesi, No: 54, Uskudar, Istanbul; Telephone: (0 216) 339 24 69 - 325 54 62
  • Istanbul State Turkish Music Ensemble Directorate, Yildiz Sarayi, Kaskat Odasi, Besiktas, Istanbul; Telephone: (0 212) 225 99 54
  • State Fine Arts Gallery Directorate, Istiklal Caddesi No: 209/49, Beyoglu, Istanbul; Telephone: (0 212) 243 30 53, Fax: 518 12 79

Museums

  • Archeology Museum, Address: Osman Hamdi Bey Yokusu Gulhane, Istanbul; Telephone: (212) 520 77 40, Fax: (212) 527 43 00
  • Ayasofya Museum, Sultanahmet Meydani, Istanbul; Telephone: (212) 528 45 00
  • Ottoman Classical Litereature (Divan) Museum, Galipdede Caddesi 15, Beyoglu, Istanbul; Telephone: (212) 245 41 41
  • Carie Museum, Edirnekapi, Istanbul; Telephone: (212) 523 30 09
  • Mosaic Museum, Sultanahmet Arastasi, Istanbul; Telephone: (212) 511 97 00
  • Rumeli Fortress Museum, Yahya Kemal Caddesi No: 42 Hisaronu, Istanbul; Telephone: (212) 263 53 05
  • Anadolu Fortress Museum, Beykoz, Istanbul; Telephone: (212) 263 53 05
  • Mausoleums Museum, Atmeydani Sultanahmet, Istanbul; Telephone: (212) 517 05 44
  • Turkish - Islamic Works Museum, Ibrahim Pasa Sarayi Sultanahmet, Istanbul; Telephone: (212) 518 18 05, Fax: (212) 518 18 07
  • Topkapi Palace Museum, Topkapi, Istanbul; Telephone: (212) 522 44 22
  • Yildiz Sarayi Museum, Besiktas, Istanbul; Telephone: (212) 258 30 80, Fax: (212) 258 30 85

Palaces

  • Aynalikavak Pavilion
  • Beylerbeyi Palace
  • Dolmabahce Palace
  • Filizi Mansion
  • Florya Ataturk Marine Mansion
  • Hereke Silk Fabric And Carpet Factory
  • Ihlamur Pavilions
  • Kucuksu Pavilion
  • The Maslak Royal Lodges
  • Yalova Ataturk Mansions
  • Yildiz Porcelain Factory
  • Yildiz Palace

Significant Weeks

  • 3rd Monday of March: Tourism Week, Istanbul
  • 3-7 April: Forest Week and Tree Festivities, Istanbul
  • 10-16 May: Week of the Disabled, Istanbul
  • 18-24 May: Museum Week, Istanbul
  • 29 October-November: Red Crescent Week, Istanbul
  • 2nd week of October: Ahi Culture Week, Istanbul
  • 10 December: Human Rights Week, Istanbul

Local Days of Celebration

  • 4 April: Commemoration Day for Navy Martyrs, Istanbul
  • 10 April: Police Day, Istanbul
  • 10 April: Commemoration day for Maresal Fevzi Cakmak, Istanbul
  • 15 May: Commemoration Day for Air Force Martyrs, Istanbul
  • 29 May: Conquest of Istanbul, Istanbul
  • 30 May: Commemoration Day for First Mayor Hizir Bey, Istanbul
  • 23 July: Commemoration Day for Freedom Martyrs, Istanbul
  • 27 September: Preveze Victory and Barbarossa Day, Istanbul
  • First Monday of October:  World Children's Day, Istanbul
  • 6 October: Freedom Day of Istanbul, Istanbul

Festivals

  • 25 June-20 July: Istanbul Festival, Istanbul
  • 6-11 July: International Yesilkoy Folk Dance Festival, Yesilkoy
  • 5-11 October: Atakoy Folklore Festival, Atakoy

Festivities

  • 1 May-30 August: Gulhane Festivities, Istanbul
  • 12-18 May: Istanbul Puppet Festivities, Istanbul
  • 29 May: Fatih Festivities, Istanbul
  • 1-7 June: Marmara Folklore Festivities, Istanbul
  • 1 July: Maritime and Cabotage Day, Istanbul
  • 1-9 July: Kartal International Culture and Art Festivities, Kartal
  • 14-15 July: Culture Festivities, Istanbul
  • 26-28 July: Traditional Sile Fabric Celebrations, Istanbul

Expositions

  • 4-12 November: Book Exposition, Istanbul
  • 27 October- 5 November: International Antiques and Art Exposition, Istanbul