Istanbul is located across two separate continents and is the only city in the world that does so. Its western half is in Europe while the remaining half sits in Asia. It's considered an Asian city by most despite this geographical detail. Contrary to popular belief, Istanbul's historic center is located primarily on the European side, not the Asian one.
Istanbul is quite famous for its "Golden Horn." The Golden Horn is a Western name given in place of the Arabic word "Halic," short for Halic-i-dersaadet. Halic literally translates into "The Bay of Istanbul," which is precisely what the Golden Horn is. This bay is a body of water that separates the "old" part of the European Istanbul from the "new" part. The Golden Horn is a beautiful site and served as the primary harbor for over 2,000 years. Many travelers make it a point to see Istanbul's Golden Horn.
Istanbul offers a number of delicious dishes that are full of unique flavor and may at first seem strange to a Westerner's palate. Some of its most popular foods include Lahmacun, a spicy, flat pizza, Hunkar Begendi, mashed eggplants with cream, cheese and lamb, and tavuk-gogusu, chicken with sweet rice pudding. Many people, whether residents or not, enjoy Turkish candy as well.
Istanbul uses the same currency as the rest of the Turkish Republic. It's referred to as the "lira" and is a very weak currency. In fact, it's one of the least valuable world currencies, likely a result of Turkey's struggling economy. Because of its low worth, the lira isn't used very often. Instead, most products and goods are listed in United States dollars, especially in areas that draw tourists. If you're traveling to Istanbul, keep in mind that travelers' checks are difficult to cash, but credit cards are widely accepted.
Many people are surprised to learn that Istanbul is actually home to the third oldest subway line in the entire world. It was built in 1875 after the London subway (1863) and the New York subway (1868). Its length stretches 573 meters and is located in the Beyoglue district in the Tunel neighborhood.
