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Whether you need to know local public holidays or highlights through the seasons, we hope you will find the facts gathered below useful tools for your travel planning. Please feel free to contact us if we can assist you further.

General information

A fusion of age-old glories and a cool, contemporary 21st-century culture, Istanbul has survived two millennia of extraordinary history. The city holds appeal for all interests – architecture, art, culture, nightlife, cuisine and more.

Straddling the 32-kilometre (20-mile) Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul (formerly known as Byzantium, and then as Constantinople) is frequently described as the crossroads of Europe and Asia. Fought over time and again, the city became the centre of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Its historic heart – Sultanahmet and the bazaar quarter, with its great mosques, opulent palaces and Byzantine ruins – offers a fascinating glimpse into those tumultuous times.

Encompassing three land masses – two on the European side of the Bosphorus, divided by the Golden Horn, and the Asian shores – Istanbul is best explored neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Four Seasons guests enjoy the combined advantage of staying at the city’s most exclusive hotels, perfectly located for exploring everything Istanbul has to offer.

Time zone

GMT +2 hours
Eastern Europe Time

Language(s) spoken

Turkish. English is widely spoken as well.

Electrical system

Local voltage is 220–240 volts AC. Adapters available; please request through the Concierge.

Shopping hours

Daily 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

Working hours

Monday to Saturday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

Time and distance to shopping

Nişantaşi: 10 minutes/5 kilometres (3.1 miles)

Old Town: 12 kilometres (7.5 miles)

Akmerkez Shopping Mall: 20 minutes/8 kilometres (5 miles)

View in–depth travel advice from Frommers.com

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Seasonal highlights

May

The International Istanbul Theatre Festival – featuring some of the year’s best Turkish plays and performances by famous companies such as Britain’s Royal Shakespeare Company – is held every other May. Most of the plays are performed in the city’s various cultural centres, while a few are staged at venues such as the Rumeli Hisar fortress.

June–July

The International Istanbul Music Festival, the most prestigious event of the city’s cultural calendar, offers performances of orchestra and chamber music, dance and ballet in stunning venues, including Haghia Eirene. The festival runs through June and July.

July

In July, the two-week International Istanbul Jazz Festival, which has featured the likes of Keith Jarrett, Dizzy Gillespie and Wynton Marsalis, is one of the best music festivals in the country.

September–November

The International Istanbul Biennial presents more than 80 artists from over 40 countries.