Istanbul Convention & Visitors Bureau

Istanbul Ticaret Odasi Resadiye Cad. 7 Eminonu 34112

Why Choose Our Destination?

Istanbul is a city of unparalleled historical and cultural richness that is as fascinating and historical as it is dynamic and modern.Serving as the capital of three mighty empires and set squarely between two continents,Istanbul has cultures and traditions that blend east with west and Mediterranean with Anatolian. The world's only city on two continents has been a crossroads of trade, culture, learning and art for over 3,000 years as well as the capital of three of the greatest empires the world has known. It is no accident that Istanbul was the city the Eastern Roman emperors, the Byzantine dynasty and the Ottoman sultans chose to call home. Because the city offers a unique combination of accessibility, variety and natural beauty. And to that natural beauty, those empires added their own artistic and architectural masterpieces, making Istanbul one of the world's great cultural treasure houses. The names themselves conjure up exotic visions. Haghia Sophia. The Grand Bazaar. The Blue Mosque. The Basilica Cistern. Topkap> Palace. These are complemented by the masterpieces of hospitality and versatility that are Istanbul's hotels, convention centers and exhibition facilities. Award- winning. State-of-the-art. Experienced. Elegant. Comfortable. Flexible. Expansive. Unique. You've certainly heard of Istanbul, you may have even visited. But now ICVB invites you to discover a conference and incentive destination that truly is Historically Dynamic. The City has 7 convention centers and 3 exhibition centers where more than 30.000 delegates can be hold. In 2011 and 2012 & 2013 Istanbul also scored first in the category of conferences 500 and more delegates. JOY OF APPETITE WITH TURKISH CUISINE: Istanbul is the junction point of world and Turkish cuisine’s mulch-colored traditional traits. Hence Istanbul provides a wide range of food choices originated from all around the world. With the magical touch of many civilizations and cultures, Turkish Cuisine offers to its visitors a very rich fusion. Foods, beverages and their consumption rituals are Turkey’s one of the most important cultural projections and Istanbul is the junction point of world and Turkish cuisine’s multi-colored traditional traits. Offering Turkish tea is a proof of hospitality and many restaurants serve it after meal with no charge. Take Turkish coffee: the old idiom says that one cup of Turkish coffee is the answer of 40 years of friendship. The climatic, cultural, and ethnic diversity of Anatolia have deeply influenced the nomadic Turkish cuisine. This diversity is reflected in an unusual wide range of ingredients – both meat and seafood, olive oil and grains, and much more. Some popular food and beverages in Turkish cuisine are introduced below; “Kebap” offers authentic Turkish flavors that originated mainly in eastern Turkey and eventually spread throughout the country. “Döner Kebap” is a Turkish specialty that originates from Bursa and is widely served all over Istanbul. The Mediterranean region’s greatest contribution to Turkish cuisine has been olive oil based cold vegetable dishes. Istanbul, through whose waters pass so many of the world’s finest fish, is truly a city for those who love seafood. The fish restaurants along the Bosphorus, in particular, offer dinners the finest seafood in the world. The areas of Kumkapı, Sahil Yolu (Shore Road), and Haliç (Golden Horn) are also good options to visit for a good restaurant specializing in fish and seafood dishes. Turkey is the homeland of yogurt, that well-known milk product eaten all over the world. Kanlıca yogurt is recommended in Kanlıca, the Asian side of Istanbul, and it is served with a sprinkling of powdered sugar. Another popular accompaniment to Turkish cuisine is pickles. Simit is a Turkish staple, a twisted ring roll coated with sesame seeds and generally eaten with cheese and tea at any time of the day.

Awards

Venue Highlights

Cvent's 2023 Top Meeting Destinations

See Cvent's full list of 2023 Top Meeting Destinations.

Distance from airport

  • Istanbul Ataturk International Airport (IST)

    11.81 mi. from city center

  • Sabiha Gokcen International Airport

    31.69 mi. from city center


Local Attractions

Whole Day Alive Nightlife

Nightlife
Istanbul is the city that never sleeps and it has 7 days 24 hours alive nightlife. The sun goes down and the city is ready for an ultimate entertainment with its various bars, nightclubs and concert halls. Nişantaşı, Taksim, Bebek, Ortaköy, Bosphorus on the European side and Caddebostan, Kadıköy, Çubuklu on the Asian side; music and nightlife go on at every corner of the city. All in European side and with marvelous views; Reina, Sortie, Sunset, 360 Istanbul and Anjelique are famous nightclubs where celebrities, artists and sports people flock to enjoy the night until the dawn comes. Jolly Joker, Bronx, Hayal Kahvesi, Babylon, Indigo, Line, Mojo entertain their guests with local and ethnic musicians from all over the world for live performances. Frankie’s, Nardis Jazz Club, Q Jazz in the Park are where the jazz lovers gather together. In the summer time Park Orman is a fresh open air area between the forests where live concerts take place. To get a taste of the Turkish folk and pop music Nispet, Keops are a must to go. “Meyhane” are the local restaurants playing Turkish music with traditional instruments and serving mezes. These places are some popular places of the lot. All these are a few of the reasons why Istanbul is the ultimate dining, shopping, music and entertainment capital of Turkey.

Shopping in History and Modernity

Shopping
Shopping in History and Modernity: Shopping in Istanbul like tradition and modernity. Istanbul’s shopping variety with its traditional and modern products in almost 200 modern shopping malls makes the city an attraction center for any kind of shopping lover. Grand Bazaar: Oldest shopping mall of the world is famous “Grand Bazaar”. A huge bazaar built in the 15th century located in the middle of Istanbul’s historical center; 553 years old Bazaar features many beauties of the Ottoman and Turkish “arts & crafts” including carpets, ceramics, fabrics and famous Iznik and Kütahya tiles. The Grand Bazaar looks like a gigantic labyrinth with its vast area that exceeds 31,000 square meters, 61 streets, over 3,600 shops and 18 gates. The Grand Bazaar, where approximately 25,000 people work and is visited by over 250,000 people daily. Mısır Çarşısı (The Spice Market): It was “the international trade center of the Ottoman.” Herbs from all over the world are sold in the Spice Market; it is a colorful and authentic bazaar famous for its herbalists.

City of Festivals

Istanbul is also popular city with festivals. Multilayered structure blending the past, present and the future in Istanbul transforms the whole city to one big center for different and various events from cinema to opera; traditional festivals to modern performing arts. Istanbul Shopping Fest, is an annual shopping fest held in Istanbul. Established in 2011, the mission of the Festival is to make Istanbul the shopping, culture and entertainment center of the world. The festival especially attracts foreign tourists as the shops offer tax free shopping. It has been in progress between 7th and 29th June, 2014.

Original Hammams

Recreation
Original Hammams: known as “Turkish Baths” all over the world, are among Istanbul’s rich inventory of historical monuments. It is a unique experience to tour these hammams, some of which are about 500 years old; a visit to Istanbul cannot be complete without experiencing the historical hammams within Sultanahmet surrounding.

Enjoy and Educate Kids in Istanbul

Recreation
Istanbul offers many options where the kids can spend quality time filled with education, while the parents enjoy their own tastes. The city features a wide range of workshops, museums, aquariums, and even a dinosaur park.

Galata Bridge

Historical landmark
Galata Bridge is one of the three bridges that today connect Beyoğlu are with the historic peninsula across the Golden Horn. It is located at Karaköy, the historical port of the city, which is home to many characteristic Istanbul buildings. The Galata Bridge and surroundings offer unique sunset views over the Golden Horn.

Miniaturk Park

Park
The models of historic buildings 25 times smaller than the originals in Miniaturk Park offer a quick tour of Turkey. Several important cultural edifices from the world are also displayed here; a typical tour of Miniaturk is a good and enjoyable way of discovering the history. At the far end of the Golden Horn, the district of Eyüp is situated. “Pierre Lotti Café” is located in the area; the place is admired its location and the panorama is breathtaking while sipping your Turkish coffee enjoy the view.

Galata Tower

Historical landmark
Galata Tower, one of the most important symbols of Istanbul, has been offering a 360-degree panoramic view of the Bosphorus and Golden Horn for over 650 years and is a unique spot for watching the marvelous sunset on the Golden Horn.

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Additional Information

In addition to the various sweet pastries that may be found in an Istanbul patisserie, salty pastry with meat constitutes one of the basic elements of Turkish cuisine. Many different types of pide (pitta), lahmacun and börek are prepared by rolling the dough very thin and seasoning it with various contents and then baking usually in wood-fired ovens. Bread has a sacred significance in Anatolian culture. Various kinds of local bread enrich the Turkish cuisine. Rakı, a liqueur flavored with aniseed, has been the most important alcoholic beverage in Turkey from Ottoman times to the present day. Melon, white cheese, meze (a selection of appetizers) and seafood are the usual dishes to enjoy while drinking rakı. Turkey played a pivotal role in the early history of wine and has been one of the earliest wine producing regions of the world. Many Turkish wines are exported all over the world. Some of the native Turkish varieties include the Yapıncak and Papazkarası grown in Thrace; the Sultaniye of the Aegean coast; the Öküzgözü and Boğazkere of Eastern Anatolia and the Çalkarası of the Denizli Province in Western Anatolia. Tea is an important part of the Turkish culture and can be enjoyed in every social context. The eastern Black Sea coast of Turkey is renowned for its high quality black tea. Unlike in other countries, tea in Turkey is prepared using two pots. The tea is stepped in a pot that sets on top of a larger pot of boiling water. The vapors aid the steeping process of the tea. Offering tea is considered a sign of friendship and hospitality. Boza is a winter beverage made with fermented barley or corn and boiled and pounded wheat. It is recommended in the famous Vefa Bozacısı. Ayran is the most common cold beverage of Turkey which is made from yogurt. Sahlep is a winter beverage like boza and it consumed hot. It is produced from the ground root of a wild orchid of the same name, mixed with milk and cinnamon. The most well known Turkish dessert is baklava, made from many thin layers of flaky pastry and filled with nuts. The best place to eat baklava is Karaköy Güllüoğlu Baklavacısı, where many of the dozens of baklava varieties are served. https://www.facebook.com/İstanbulcvb https://www.twitter.com/istanbul_cvb https://www.instagram.com/İstanbulcvb https://www.pinterest.com/istanbulcvb

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