The Turkish Grand Prix is the seventh Grand Prix in the 2010 Formula 1 World Championship season and is due to take place on the weekend of the 28th to the 30th of May 2010 at the Istanbul Park circuit. If you’re planning to go to Turkey to see the race, here is some information about the circuit and some of Istanbul’s other attractions.
Istanbul Overview
Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and is situated in the north-west of the country, on the Bosphorous Strait. Originally known as Byzantium and later as Constantinople, the city was the capital of the Otoman and Byzantine Empires and is an intriguing mixture of the historic and the contemporary.
Getting to Istanbul
Istanbul has two international airports: Atatürk International Airport and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport. The largest of the two, Atatürk International Airport, is located to the west of the city centre and many major airlines operate international flights to this airport. The smaller airport, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, is situated to the east of the city centre, close to the Istanbul Park Circuit, and is used by a number of low-cost international airlines.
If you are staying in Istanbul and travelling by hire car, it will take you about 30 minutes to drive to the city centre from Atatürk International Airport and about an hour and a half to drive there from Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.
Istanbul Park Circuit
The Istanbul Park Circuit is situated just outside of Istanbul, close to Sabiha Gökçen International Airport. It was constructed in 2005 and the first F1 Turkish Grand Prix was held there in August of that year.
The circuit was designed by Hermann Tilke and is 3.317 miles long. The drivers race for 58 laps, anti-clockwise, and the circuit features two long straights and 14 corners.
Istanbul Hotels
There many hotels in Istanbul, so you should be able to find something to suit your budget.
If you can afford to splash out, try the Hilton Istanbul, the country’s first 5-star hotel. Situated on Istanbul’s European side (the western side of the city), about 15 minutes walk from Taksim Square, the Hilton Istanbul is close to the Istanbul Circuit and offers beautiful views of the Bosphorous Strait. It has 499 rooms and suites, several restaurants and bars, a health club and an outdoor swimming pool.
Other hotels in Istanbul include the Ritz-Carlton Istanbul, the Radisson Blu Bosphorous Hotel, the Hotel Ramada Plaza Istanbul and the Best Western Acropol Hotel.
Attractions in Istanbul
Istanbul is a beautiful city with many attractions, so if you’re travelling there to see the F1 Turkish Grand Prix, it’s worth extending your stay so that you can explore the city.
One of Istanbul’s most famous landmarks is the Hagia Sophia (or Aya Sofya). Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a museum, the Hagia Sophia was originally constructed as a church and later converted into a mosque. It is considered to be one of the most important examples of Byzantine architecture still to be in existence and is particularly known for its huge dome.
Other must-see attractions in Istanbul include:
- the Blue Mosque, which was constructed during the early 17th century in the Ottoman architectural style;
- the Topaki Palace, the official residence of the Ottoman Emperors between the years 1465 and 1856, which is now a museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- the Dolmabahçe Palace, the official residence of the Ottoman Emperors between 1856 and 1889, and again between 1909 and 1922.
- the Basilica Cistern, also known as the Sunken Palace Cistern, which lies beneath the city and supplied the palaces with water. It was used as a location in the James Bond movie “From Russia With Love” (1963).
- the Covered Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı), also known as the Grand Bazaar, is one of the world’s largest markets. More than 250,000 visitors head into its streets to buy the jewellery, spices, carpets, clothes and other goods in its 5,000 shops. There are also cafes, restaurants and two mosques on the site.
Essential Information
Istanbul is two hours ahead of the U.K. The currency used there is the Turkish Lira. The main religion in Istanbul is Islam, so it is important to remember to dress appropriately.
Image: Homonihilis
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