Oriental Tale: Istanbul in winter

 Winter in Istanbul is much more like a mid-autumn somewhere in central Russia. It is cool and wet, snow falls only occasionally and for a very short time. Usually around the green grass, blooming roses. The average daytime temperatures of +3 to +10 degrees. Only occasionally, a few times over many decades, the temperature dropped below zero. Often pouring rain, though usually not strong and short-lived, although there are exceptions. Therefore particularly warm clothes with you, you can not take it, but that's about comfortable shoes should take care necessary. The fact that the streets in the historic center of Istanbul paved with cobblestones and laid on the hillsides. Tourists often have something to climb, then descend. And if cobbles will still wet with rain, then a walk in uncomfortable shoes will become a real torture. So remember: no high heels. It is best to go to Istanbul in sneakers or leather shoes with flat soles.

Istanbul's main attractions, which should definitely explore - the former Hagia Sophia (now a mosque Hagia Sophia), the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Archaeological Museum, Maiden's Tower, Galata Tower, Basilica Cistern, the Dolmabahce Palace, Suleymaniye ensemble. The list can go on and on. For example, a person does not remain indifferent to see on the site of the ancient hippodrome perfectly preserved Egyptian obelisk. This historical monument of more than 4 thousand years. He was brought to Constantinople by the Emperor Constantine and well experienced many upheavals - both literally and figuratively (including earthquakes, causing great damage to the city).

In short, in Istanbul, there is something to see! And, of course, tourists will not pass by the world-famous Kapali Bazaar - Istanbul main covered market. It occupies a large area, being virtually city within a city. Every day the market, consisting of 4,000 outlets, visited by more than half a million people, many of whom are immigrants. The buyer can find there the goods for every taste and budget - from simple souvenir of Istanbul to the exclusive jewelry.