Istanbul Sport & Leisure
The International Istanbul Music Festival is one of the most prominent events on Istanbul's calendar and one of the most important musical events in Europe. A dazzling blend of opera, ballet, classical, traditional and contemporary music, it attracts famous performers from around the world and is held in various locations throughout the city. In October, the Contemporary Art exhibition invites artists from all over Turkey to Istanbul to showcase their contemporary creations.
Hailed "the greatest track ever built" by Bernie Ecclestone, Istanbul Park is host to the Turkish Formula 1 Grand Prix. The annual Bosphorus sees over 1,000 athletes swim the 4.3 mile long Bosphorus Straight - essentially from Asia to Europe. Far more than just a sporting event, The Bosphorus brings musicians, dancers and artists to complement the event.
Istanbul is home to several superb football teams, each named after parts of the city from which they originated. Many people visit Turkey to watch the football, and Turkish people themselves are fanatical about the sport, meaning the atmosphere in Istanbul is electric on match days.