Istanbul is Turkey's most popular city, and its cultural and financial centre.Located on both sides of the Bosphorus, the narrow strait between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, Istanbul brdiges Asia and Eurpoe both physically and culturally. Istanbul's population is estimated to be betweeon 12 and 19 million people, making it also one of the largest in Europe and the world. In 2010, Istanbul was one of three European Capitals of Culture.
With its long history at the centre of empires, Istanbul offers a wealth of historic and religious places to take in. The bulk of these ancient monuments, dating back to Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods, including the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque), and Basilica Cistern are located around the Sultanahmet Square, while some others are dispersed throughout the peninsula of old city, such as the Church of St Savior in Chora, whose entire inside is covered by mindblowing frescoes and mosaics. An impressive section of mostly intact Theodosian walls, which mark the full length of the western boundary of the peninsula, is right next to this particular church.
North of the peninsula of the old city, across the Golden Horn, is Galata, crowned by the Galata Tower. Istanbul Modern, with its exhibitions of comtemporary Turkish art, is on the nearby waterfront of Karakoy. Further north is the Istiklal Avenue, Istanbul's prominent pedestrian street running from near Galata Tower to Taksim Square, the central square of the whole city.
North of Taksim Square is New Istanbul, the main business district of the city. If venturing out to this direction, don't forget to check out Military Museum, where Ottoman military music concerts are held every afternoon. Most of the skyscrapers of the city are located in the north of this district, around Levent and Maslak, with a totally different skyline from that of the old city. 
Across the Bosphorus to the east is Asian Side, centred around the historical districts of Kadikoy and Uskudar, and perhaps best symbolised by Maiden's Tower, located at about the halfway between these districts. Bosphorus and Marmara coasts half of this city and is characterised by quite picturesque neighbourhoods, overlooked by Camlica Hill, one of the highest hills of the city which has a view of much of the rest of the city as well, with a cafe and a pleasant park on its summit.  
Southeast of the city, off the southern coast of the Asian Side are the Princes' Islands, an archipelago of nine car-free islands, characterised by stunning wooden mansions and pine groves. 
Istanbul is a happening city and these days, there are more happening restaurants, bars, galleries and clubs around town than there are exquisite Ottoman mosques (and that's a lot). The international fashion and design press have been talking up Istanbul, but the most significant thing about the accolade 'World's Hippest City' is that Istanbullus themselves have come to believe it. The crepping sense of decrepitude that has fallen like a pall over their once-all-powerful home town has vanished, replaced by a sense of energy and innovation not seen since the days of Suleyman the Magnificent. 
The city's over-adundance of important historic buildings and exciting new art galleries and museums provides visitors with more than enough to see during the day, but it's at night that the place swings into high-velocity, mega-stylish action. Locals are flocking to see and be seen at an ever-growing array of bars, clubs and restaurants, bringing with them an infectious sense of joie de vivre and a discerning ability to judge these places on their standard of service, drinks, music and food as well as their position in the what's-hot-and-what's-not stakes. 
That's not to say that the locals are turning their backs on much-loved city institutions such as the raki-soaked tavern or tranquil tea garden, because they wouldn't dream of doing anything so foolish. They know, after all, that such institutions are one of the reasons that their home is - and always has been - rightfully dubbed the 'City of the World's Desire.' 
Put quite simply, Istanbul has something for everyone!

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Information courtesy of: http://wikitravel.org/en/Istanbul & http://www.lonelyplanet.com/turkey/istanbul