Location
Tours
General Information
NEW - Concierge tour of Istanbul – click here to view the video
NEW - Interactive map of Istanbul – click here to access the Ceylan Intercontinental’s interactive map
About Istanbul
Istanbul – a fabulous city where East meets West, the bridge between Europe and Asia, a thriving metropolis of 12 million people – exotic yet distinctly western. Istanbul has been the seat of three great empires – Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman – and a meeting place for peoples of many religions and cultures who came together and learned to live in peace and harmony. Ultra-modern amenities, the splendours of the Ottoman past and the honoured traditions of Turkish hospitality combine to make Istanbul a fascinating city, one that will impress all visitors with treasured and lasting memories. Istanbul will reward you with the comfort of home while offering sights, sounds and smells that carry you swiftly to another culture, another time.
Istanbul is a treasure trove of sight seeing possibilities and has many wonderful places that should not be missed – for example Blue Mosque, St. Sophia, The Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, the Spice Market, Dolmabahce Palace, Rumeli Castle and other historic monuments of the city followed by a shopping trip in the Grand Bazaar or, perhaps, to experience a Turkish bathhouse adventure and catered moonlight excursion up the Bosphorus strait.
A map of Turkey
Tours
Click here to download a tour information packet.
Please send an email to ipta2009tours@flaptour.com.tr to arrange your tour.
General Information
Venue
The Askeri Museum
ValiKonagi Caddesi
Istanbul, Turkey
The Askeri Museum is ideally located in the heart of the city's business, cultural and commercial districts. The museum is dedicated to one thousand years of Turkish military history. It is one of the leading museums of its kind in the world.
Visas and Documentation
Please check with your local Turkish Embassy to see if your country of origin requires a Visa and/or additional documentation to enter Istanbul. For more details about Visa requirements and fees, please visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
Transportation
Click here to review local transportation information.
Metro map – click here
Rapid Transit map (rail)- click here
For additional information on the traveling by train – click here
Atatürk International Airport* (European side) is the closest airport to the Congress location. Visit www.ataturkairport.com for additional airport details. The following transportation services are available from the airport: taxis**, havas (shuttle), the metro, and car rental.
*located 28km from central Istanbul
**A taxi fare is approximately €45 to the city center
Local Time
The time in Turkey is 2 hours ahead of G.M.T.
Currency Exchange
The currency unit is the New Turkish Lira (YTL). Convertible foreign currency may be exchanged at the airport, hotels, banks and exchange bureaus at the current exchange rates. The rates are announced in the daily newspapers. International credit cards are widely accepted.
Banks
Working hours for most of the banks are from Monday to Friday, 08:30 – 16:30. They are closed weekends and on public holidays.
Electric Current
Electric current is 220 Volt, AC 50 cycles. Two-pin round plugs are used.
Shopping
Most shops in Istanbul are generally open from 09:00 to 19:00, Monday to Saturday. Big shopping centers are open every day of the week, usually from 10:00 to 22:00. In all shopping centers major credit cards are accepted and tax-free shopping is possible. A popular place to shop is the historical Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar, which are located in the Old City district.
