Istanbul
Turkey
About Istanbul
Istanbul straddles two continents and offers one of the richest concentrations of historic monuments in the world, including the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar. Cruise ships dock at Galataport in the Karaköy district, steps from the historic Beyoglu neighborhood, with the old city of Sultanahmet a short tram ride away. The Bosphorus strait, visible from much of the city, separates Europe from Asia and adds to Istanbul's singular geography.
Highlights
A city spanning two continents, with Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar at its heart.
GoCruiseTravel Port Data
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Read before you go
Istanbul
Orhan Pamuk
Nobel laureate Pamuk's memoir of growing up in Istanbul — melancholy, beauty, and the city's layers of Ottoman and modern identity.
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Birds Without Wings
Louis de Bernières
A Turkish village torn apart by WWI and the birth of modern Turkey — epic, humane, and devastating.
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The Bastard of Istanbul
Elif Shafak
Two families — one Turkish, one Armenian — connected by a secret across generations in modern Istanbul. Bold, funny, and important.
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Before you sail — hotels in Istanbul
Arrive a day early and explore Istanbul before boarding