Cheap Flights to Istanbul with Jazeera Airways

Archaeology Museum
The museum is one of Istanbul’s much-treasured attractions. Here you can follow the history of the city exhibit, wonder at the carvings portraying Alexander the Great in battle or look in awe at the superb collection of Ottoman-era tiles.

Blue Mosque
Get your camera out… this is every tourist’s wish, resplendent with its domes and half-domes, held together by six magnificent minarets. The artistic interior glows with blue Iznik tiles from where the mosque gets its name.

Hagia Sophia
Built over a 1000 years before the Blue Mosque, this is by far one of the most prestigious religious buildings in the world. Popularly known as the Aya Sofya (Church of the Holy Wisdom) this giant domed basilica was the frontrunner for several Ottoman-era mosques. Gleaming with gold mosaics, this building takes Byzantine architecture to a completely new level.

Topkapi Palace
This was the court of the Ottoman empire between the 15th and 19th centuries and the topic of several colourful stories.A visit to this unique place with its luxurious pavilion and sprawling harem will give you a hint of their fascinating past.

The Bosphorus Cruise
The best way to unwind after a hectic day of city sightseeing and shopping is to take a boat trip on the Bosphorous. See the best of both worlds from the deck of your boat, the shoreline of Europe on the left and Asia on the right. Gaze in awe as the boat glides underneath the massive spans of two intercontinental suspension bridges. End your trip with a delightful fish lunch at Anadolu Kavağı, a rustic fishing village.

Dating back to the 15th century, and the venue of nearly 4,000 shops, the bustling Grand Bazaar is the best place for visitors to start their shopping tour. The bazaar has an abundance of oriental shops selling practically everything from Turkish carpets, traditional gold jewellery through to local crafts.

If you’re a carpet enthusiast head for Sultanahmet. Şişko Osman’s in the Grand Bazaar is a renowned shop with a wide range of quality flat-weaves and tufted carpets. Or pick up a ‘pestemel’ a traditional yet affordable Turkish bath towel. They work wonderfully as wraps, throws or beach towels.

Also worth exploring is the Spice Bazaar, situated down on the Golden Horn. Its speciality are herbs and spices, aesthetically presented. A popular shopping destination for locals IsIstiklal Caddesi in Beyoglu. It has both local and international stores. The city has its fair share of malls -- the most popular being Kanyon in Levent, the Zorlu Centre and City’s Mall in the upmarket Nişantaşı suburb.

If you’re in town on a Wednesday, don’t forget to prowl around Fatih district for the Çaraşamba (Wednesday) market. It’s a delightful sight to see the local men and women shop for olives, cheese, bread, yoghurt, fruit and vegetables.

Istanbul boasts of some delectable dining options -- from traditional Ottoman restaurants to authentic taverns in the Old City, next to Sultanahmet and Kariye Museum. There’s food for every budget and occasion, made more appetising with the use of fresh seasonal ingredients. The cooks’ skills at grilling meat and fish goes back for centuries. Be it fresh bluefish, lamb kebabs, meze (starters) or pistachio-filled baklava, there’s dishes to suit every taste.

As far as restaurant’s go, Giritli is the place to be. A walking distance from Sultanahmet, this is the place to spoil yourself with a meyhane (tavern) style meal. In particular, the hot fish starters excellent and grilled main courses are superb. The Yeni Lokanta (New Restaurant) in bustling Beyoglu is another favourite with tourists and well-known for its exceptional unusual meze like the bulgur wheat with sour cherries, followed by the sea bass mains with cheese and rocket salad. Asitane Restaurant celebrates Ottoman favourites such as the tender stew of lamb served on puréed aubergine. Asitane is a swanky period restaurant with a traditional courtyard garden, overlooking the fabulous Kariye Museum.

Istanbul caters to everybody. You can dine in a classy rooftop restaurant, or relish a doner kebab from a modest street vendor. Kebabs are the best option for fast and cheap food. The entrance to Istiklal Street is lined with doner restaurants, most open around the clock.

The ferry is a pleasant way to get around town, up and down the Golden Horn and Bosphorus. The ferries are efficient and affordable.

Or take the bus which is quite a good service although be prepared for traffic congestion. You will need an İstanbulkart to travel on one. The most useful bus lines for travellers are those running along both sides of the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. If you’re looking for adventure hop aboard a ‘dolmuş’ or shared minibus. You’ll see them at specified stops and they are usually packed and follow a fixed route. There are two funicular railways and two cable cars in the city. All are short trips and İstanbulkarts can be used.

The other option is the Metro service which depart every five minutes between 6am and midnight. One line connects Yenikapı with the airport whilst the other connects Yenikapı with Taksim. Istanbul is full of yellow taxis but make sure you agree on rates before you hop in. The tramvay (tramway) service is excellent and runs from Bagcılar, in the city's west, to Zeytinburnu. This connects you to the metro from the airport onwards to Sultanahmet and Eminonu

Visa are not required for some nationalities; most other nationalities can obtain a 90-day visa electronically at https://www.evisa.gov.tr. The full list of countries is listed there.

Your passport must have at least six months' validity remaining, or you may not be admitted into Turkey. See the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (https://www.mfa.gov.tr) for the latest information

10 Kuwaiti Dinars (KD) is equivalent to roughly 125 Turkish Lira (TRY)

Turkey's electrical system operates on 220 volts, 50 Hz, with round-prong European-style plugs that fit into recessed wall sockets. You will need a voltage converter, and plug adapter in order to use appliances made in the U.S.

Istanbul is influenced by a continental climate, with hot and humid summers and cold, wet and occasionally snowy winters. Late spring (late May to early June) and early autumn (late September to early October) are the best times to visit. During these periods it is temperate, pleasant and sunny, though the nights can be chilly, and rain can be expected.

Summer is generally hot with averages around 27ºC during the day and 18ºC at night. Humidity can be high and hence uncomfortable, and temperatures can go up to 35° C for the hottest days of the year. Winter is cold and wet, averaging 2ºC at night and 7ºC during the day. However, the humidity levels and the chilly winds makes it feel even colder. Snowfall can be common between the months of December and March.