Istanbul



Istanbul is a city unique on all points of views: a unique mixture of millenary traditions and modernity, the only city in the world lying on two continents, separated by the sumptuous Bosphorus strait. Istanbul offers incredible cultural, touristic, gastronomic and enjoyment opportunities.
Istanbul is surrounded on the north and the south by two seas, the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea. The western half of the city lies in Europe while the eastern half is situated in Asia. In between flows the Bosphorus strait joining the Black and the Marmara seas.

Due to its strategic location, Istanbul always played an important role in the history of humanity. Since the foundation of the Republic in 1923, and despite the administrative capital was transferred to Ankara, Istanbul continued to grow. Its current population of around 12 million people makes Istanbul the largest city of Turkey and one of the biggest of the world.



Istanbul is now one of the world top-five cities welcoming international events. The FIBA basket-ball worldcup in 2010, the UEFA cup final in 2009 were successfully played in Istanbul, which was the 2010 European Capital of Culture and the 2012 European Capital of Sport.
All the congress accommodations as well as the congress centre are located in the centre of Istanbul in its western part, in Taksim, the most bustling and lively area of the city, offering multiple occasions to eat, have fun, shop and, in a nutshell, take the pulse of the Turkish vibrant warmth.

In a nutshell, why, besides the scientific outstanding quality of each ICPP, one should be delighted of this opportunity to join Istanbul? The Turkish hospitality is legendary and real, with a warm tradition of welcoming visitors from everywhere. Istanbul never sleeps and offers cultural, musical, shopping and partying enjoyments for everyone' tastes.
Besides Istanbul, Turkey is a wonderful country, easy to travel in family. Turkish people love children and are, if possible, even more helpful and warm to them than with other visitors.

The Istanbul jazz festival takes place right after the congress and has incredible program that will be detailed on http://caz.iksv.org/en.

Shopping at the Grand Bazaar is a must and an excellent opportunity to perfect your bargain abilities.
Wandering smaller bazaars is always a colorful, tasteful and enjoyable experience.

Spiritual moment can be shared during an exhibition of the famous Dervish



Before, during or after the congress, everyone has the possibility to enjoy a warm Turkish bath with its massage!

Besides the famous Turkish coffee, Turkish delights and other baklavas, Turkish gastronomy is one of the richest of the world, with delicious meze. The word kebab means meat, and a large range of preparation is proposed. Each area of the countries has its own specialties, and a traveler will encounter various flavors and tastes all around the country.

Finally, Istanbul has the curiosity to offer many many different transportation means, including an old and a brand new funiculars and tramways, a cable car, the famous yellow taxis and blue minibuses, and of course the “vapor” connecting Asia and Europe.

A map of public transportation can help you to explore these different opportunities (download the PDF version)


For those who wish to extend their stay in Turkey, why not discover Cappadocia during a hot air ballooon trip? Trek in the Lycian path? Enjoy the fabulous Antalya, Bodrum or Marmara sea fronts? Dive in the Egean sea? Make a cruise between the islands of the Egean coast?