Discover Istanbul: Top 8 Fascinating Fun Facts That Will Make You Fall in Love with the City

1. The Grand Bazaar: Shopping's Olympic Heights

Who says shopping wasn't an Olympian sport in ancient times? Istanbul's Grand Bazaar would like a word with the naysayers: Constructed in 1455, this gigantic marketplace covers a whopping 30,700 m2 and boasts 61 covered streets filled with 3,000 shops, making it one of the world's first-ever shopping malls and one of the largest covered markets even today.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. İznik: The Tulip-Loving Tile Masters

Talk about "tulip mania": it seems the folks in 16th-century İznik caught it far before any Dutch trader, only their fixation was a smidge bit more long-lasting and just a tad more visible! Serious reveal: This small Turkish town, 85 miles southeast of Istanbul, went on to develop a booming tile industry that immortalized its love for tulips (among other flora like carnations and vines) by adorning countless mosques in Istanbul with their intricately crafted, botanical-themed glazed ceramic tiles.
Source => nationalgeographic.com

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=> Fun Facts about Dubai

3. Hagia Sophia: Architectural Identity Crisis

Who knew Hagia Sophia was having an identity crisis: This architectural gem has served as a Christian cathedral, a Catholic cathedral, a mosque, and a museum throughout its time! Reconstructed three times, finished by Byzantine emperor Justinian I in 537 AD, and holding the title of the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years, it's no wonder this emblem of Byzantine and Eastern Orthodox civilization is Turkey's most visited tourist attraction. While recent changes to its status have stirred some controversy, there's no denying the breathtaking beauty of Hagia Sophia's history.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. "Kedi": Istanbul's Cat Celebrities

Are you tired of cat videos on the internet? Well, Istanbul took it up a notch and showcased their feline charms on the silver screen for some purrfect entertainment: In the 2016 documentary "Kedi", director Ceyda Torun invites us into the dynamic lives of seven street cats - Sarı, Duman, Bengü, Aslan Parçası, Gamsız, Psikopat, and Deniz - who call the city streets their home and share a fascinating bond with their human neighbors.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Atatürk Airport: The Conga Line of Air Traffic

Once the reigning champion of air traffic jams, boasting queues of passengers longer than a conga line at a 90s wedding reception: Istanbul Atatürk Airport was the 11th-busiest airport in the world in 2015, serving over 60 million passengers, before it was closed to commercial flights in 2019 and now caters only to private and government aviation needs.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Simit: Bagel, Pretzel, and Anti-Pizza Lovechild

What do you get when you cross a bagel with a pretzel and remove any notion of pizza? The scrumptious simit, of course!: This sesame seed-studded circle of yum, popularly devoured for breakfast with cured meats and cheeses, is a favorite street food among Istanbul dwellers and lucky tourists strolling its picturesque streets.
Source => foodrepublic.com

7. Basilica Cistern: Twain, Bond, and Medusa's Hangout

What do Mark Twain, James Bond, and Medusa have in common? They all threw quite the underworld pool party at Istanbul's very own underground wonderland: Known as the Basilica Cistern, this ancient marvel boasts tall, slender granite columns—as described by Twain—and served as a thrilling aquatic backdrop in the 1963 Bond film "From Russia with Love." And let's not forget, the cistern is affectionately supported by the unmistakable, serpentine charm of Medusa's head on two of its columns!
Source => turkishtravelblog.com

8. Bosphorus: Matchmaker and Bluefish Babysitter

When the Bosphorus strait came to a fork in the road, it decided to take the one less traveled: becoming the ultimate matchmaker for European and Asian shores, and even playing a critical role in the love life of bluefish! Seriously though: the Bosphorus is the only sea route for bluefish traveling between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, and its unique qualities have led to the development of numerous significant settlements and cities throughout history.
Source => timesofindia.indiatimes.com