Written by Georgia Swift
So you’re on the fence about moving to Istanbul and want some compelling reasons to convince your family it’s the best city in Eurasia? Or maybe you’re sick of your friends asking you: “well what’s so great about Istanbul anyway?”. Check out this blog post for 10 of the best reasons to move to one of the most beautiful cities in the world!
1. World Heritage Sites
Thousands of years of history, and almost as many UNESCO sites. Over 650 hectares, in fact. Here’s a few of our favourite sites that you can’t not see!
Topkapi Palace
If you’ve heard of Istanbul, chances are you’ve heard of Topkapi Palace. It was built in the 15th Century by the Ottomans, and used to house the sultans. Now, it’s a museum. You’ll find weaponry from the Ottoman army, and 13th Century porcelain.
Hagia Sophia
The Hagia Sophia dates back to the 6th century. It was a basilica, then a mosque, then a museum. There are Byzantine mosaics, and memorials to Roman leaders like Emperor Alexander.
Walls of Constantinople
Back in the day, Istanbul was known as Constantinople. It was one of the most important cities in the world, and every empire wanted it as their capital. The Walls of Constantinople protected the city, making it more difficult for empires to attack. If you don’t mind an uphill walk, go check it out!
2. From Byzantium to Constantinople to Istanbul
The history of Istanbul spans almost three millenia, although people have lived there since 6700 BC. In 657 BC it was founded and named Byzantium. It was annexed into the Persian Empire around 150 years later, then captured by the Greeks, then the Spartans.
The Romans built on top of Byzantium in 324 AD and called it Constantinople. The Ottomans conquered it in 1453, and it became part of Turkey in 1923. It was renamed to Istanbul 7 years later.
So few cities have this much history!
3. Napoleon thought the same…
With so many empires wanting Constantinople for themselves, Napoleon had this to say:
“If the Earth were a single state, Istanbul would be its capital.”
We can’t argue with that!
4. Orhan Pamuk
Orhan Pamuk is Turkey’s best-selling author ever, and guess where he was born? You got it… Istanbul!
His works have been published in sixty-three languages (wow!) and he’s the first Turkish Nobel laureate. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2006. Inspirational!
5. Florence Nightingale, Ernest Hemingway, and Agatha Christie
You’ve probably heard of “the Lady with the Lamp”. What you might not have heard is that Istanbul is where Florence Nightingale earned her nickname. At night, she would walk with her lamp to check the wounded.
Istanbul is where Agatha Christie wrote ‘Murder on the Orient Express’. It’s a best-selling novel, and now a film too! Take a copy of the book and read it in the same places that Christie wrote it. It’s both immersive and humbling!
You can walk the same roads that Ernest Hemingway walked in the 1920s. Visit the hotels he visited. You’ll feel like a part of history as you think about all the famous people who have stood where you stood.
6. Famous films
It wasn’t just writers who spent their time here.
If you’re a James Bond fan, explore Istanbul and check out the sites where Skyfall and From Russia with Love were filmed. Two Bond films in the same city – what could be better?
More into the CIA than MI6? Istanbul has you covered! Taken 2 was filmed here, and so was Argo.
7. The Legend of Asena
In Turkish mythology, the legend of Asena is most prevalent. It tells of a boy, the lone survivor of his village. A wolf finds the boy and nurses him back to health. She then gives birth to 10 half-human, half-wolf sons. One of those is called Asena, and he becomes a great leader to the Turkish people.
Want to live in the land of the wolf? Then Istanbul is perfect for you!
8. Universal Healthcare
There are less fantastical things about Istanbul, too. Turkey has universal healthcare, so if you’re registered with Social Security (SGK) you can receive a lot of medical treatments free of charge. Talk about progressive!
9. Cost of living
Another great thing about Istanbul? The cost of living! If you hunt around, you’ll find apartments in the city centre for just a couple of thousand lira (around €400). You can’t beat prices like that!
Other than that, you’re in the clear. Groceries are much cheaper than elsewhere in Europe, and you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables at the bazaars. A loaf of bread costs 1.4 YTL – that’s only €0.28!
10. Sun AND snow!
You can’t talk about Istanbul without mentioning their fantastic weather.
In the summer it rarely rains, and it averages 24ºC – 28ºC. It also stays at around 19ºC at night. As a Brit, I’d say that’s perfect!
In the early months of the year, there’s also snow! You can enjoy a snowball fight outside the Topkapi Palace, then sled down the streets.
Istanbul has the best of both!
If all this won’t convince you, nothing will…
So what are you waiting for? Come and see for yourself what Istanbul has to offer! We’ll be waiting :) Spotahome can help you find your new home in the city.
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