These Wonderful Photos Will Explain Why Istanbul is Called the Pearl of Bosphorus

The United States isn’t the only well-known melting pot. Istanbul is located right on the border between Asia and Europe, so this city offers the incredible mixture of Islamic and Christian cultures, traditions and architectural styles. You won’t find another city like this anywhere in the world.

 

View from plane window

Sultan Ahmed Mosque or Blue Mosque

The Galata Tower

View from the Galata Tower

A rainbow staircase

Old-fashioned house

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Istanbul University

The Hagia Sophia

 

Ceiling of the Hagia Sophia

Bosphorus Bridge

Modern shopping mall

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Istanbul sunset landscape

A man selling balloons

Local fast-food

Turkish coffee

Tramway in snow

Tricky traffic lights

The Topkapı Palace

Tiles of the Topkapi Palace

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The Spice Bazaar

The Grand Bazaar

Vending machine for homeless dogs. People put in plastic bottles for recycling and dogs get food

Street protests

The Basilica Cistern

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Beautiful park

Guard posts on the street

Literary chairs

Ferry over Bosphorus

Abandoned building

‘1550 Chairs Stacked Between Two City Buildings’ is an installation by Doris Salcedo at Istanbul Biennial

And cool lazy cat

If you’re planning your European vacation, you should include Istanbul on your list. It’s like the modern world merged with the Aladdin’s Middle East.