Voyage au cœur d’un trésor vivant…

Travel to the heart of a living treasure …

Istanbul

Cradle of civilizations and crossroads between the East and the West, Istanbul seduced by its singular charm and its multimilly inheritance. It is in this city with a thousand faces that we had the privilege of participating in an exceptional cultural trip, organized on the initiative of the Turkish Ministry of Culture, in partnership with the Turkish Development and Tourism Promotion Agency.

This stay, placed under the sign of discovery and intercultural dialogue, took place under the enlightened leadership of Dunya Gürsoy, passionate and warm guide. The logistics of the trip was provided by the company Pegasus Airlines, which took care of the transport of the group of Algerian journalists towards Istanbul, a support which is part of its strategy of rapprochement with the Algerian market, now at the heart of its regional ambitions.

Pegasus Airlines: a new Turkish dynamic on the Algerian sky
Turkey continues its opening to North Africa with a clearly turned strategy towards Algeria. Pegasus Airlines, Turkish Low-Cost company founded in 2005, illustrates this ambition by strengthening the Turkish air presence on the Algerian market. Already served by well -established actors, Algeria is now emerging a new dynamic player, carrying accessible connections and a vision turned towards the future.
Thanks to direct flights between Algiers and Istanbul, attractive prices and an optimized supply of correspondence, Pegasus is not limited to a simple network expansion. She intends to play a structuring role in the revitalization of tourism between the two countries, in particular by addressing a curious Algerian clientele and in search of rich cultural experiences, which transported 37.5 million passengers in 2024.
The active participation of Pegasus Airlines in a recent trip where the Algerian press was invited to Istanbul, goes beyond a simple logistical support. It is a clear message: the company put on the Algerian market.
Present in the country for barely two months, it already operates regular and competitive links between Algiers and the Turkish metropolis with a fleet of the largest aircraft with an average age of 4/7 years (March 2024): 9 Boeing 737-800, 6 A320ceo, 46 A320neo, 58 A321neo.
Emre Pekesen, director of sales and network planning at Pegasus Airlines, underlines this desire for anchoring: “Algeria is a country with cultural richness and impressive diversity. We firmly believe in its tourist and economic potential. Our ambition is to strengthen our flight frequencies and, ultimately, to open new roads. The support of the Algerian authorities is precious, and this partnership lays the basics of lasting links between our two peoples ”.

Trade
Strong growth:
CAP on USD 10 billion
During the 3ᵉ session of the Algerian-Turkish planning commission, held in April 2025, the Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the National Community abroad and African Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, praised the solidity of the partnership between Algeria and Turkey, qualifying their relations as “historic, global and complementary”.
In his opening speech, the head of Algerian diplomacy welcomed the unprecedented level of trade, which reached $ 6 billion in 2024, while expressing a clear desire to go further. “We aspire to further strengthen these exchanges to achieve the objective set by the leaders of the two countries, namely $ 10 billion,” he said, calling for an intensification of bilateral efforts to concretize this ambition.

Discovering Istanbul,
This open -air museum
Between Orient and West, sea and mountains, modernity and millennial traditions, a land extends, rich in contrasts and stories. It is in Türkiye that our journey begins. A country at the crossroads of civilizations, where each street, each stone, each smile tells you a story of several centuries.

A theater of civilizations
Impossible to set foot in Istanbul without feeling a thrill of wonder. Here, the minarets rub shoulders with contemporary art galleries, the scented bazaars compete with the star restaurants, and the ferrys slide on the bosphorus, linking two continents to the speed of a legend. Capital of Empire yesterday, a vibrant metropolis today, Istanbul is not just: it is lived.
In the alleys of Beyoğlu, the heart beats to the rhythm of the red tram. Avenue İstiklal, starting point of our journey, iconic artery of the city, unrolls its pavement under the steps of strollers, between historical theaters, bookstores and places of centuries.
Nearby, the imposing Saint-Antoine church, which welcomes you in the filtered light of its stained glass.

In the footsteps of the past: between legendary hotels and exceptional museums
At the bend of Tepebaşı, the Pera Museum invites you in another time. In the rooms of the old Bristol hotel, orientalist paintings, ceramics and rare objects weave a striking artistic fresco. Right next to it, the legendary Pera Palace Hotel, inaugurated in 1895, deploys his neoclassical splendor. In its walls slept Agatha Christie, Hemingway, and even Atatürk.
Lower, Galata rises and opens his arms to us. Its 62 -meter around 62 -meter tower, a 14th century stone sentry, offers a breathtaking view with an exceptional 360 -degree fields of vision. Day and night, she watches over the city, a motionless witness of a perpetual bubbling.

From underground to sea:
the other Istanbul
Under the visitor’s feet, the basilica core reveals its hidden world. Forest of columns emerged from water, silent echoes of a Byzantine Empire, this bewitching place fascinates as much as it intrigues. Nearby, Holy Sophie deploys its domes and mosaics, in turn basilica, mosque, museum, and again mosque. A monument among the monuments, it embodies the composite soul of Istanbul.
A stone’s throw away, the big bazaar offers an unrivaled sensory shock. More than 4,000 stalls, shimmering carpets, spices, goldsmiths and rare objects form a labyrinth of emotions where bargaining is an art.
On the seafront, Galataport, brand new, gives life to the old quay of Karaköy. This ultra -modern cruise terminal hides its underground infrastructure, releasing a luxurious walk lined with renowned cafes, museums, and restaurants. Not far away, Istanbul Modern, reinvented by the architect Renzo Piano, hoists the colors of contemporary Turkish art.

Balat, the Bohemian soul
On the edge of the golden horn, Balat seizes your heart. Its pastel colors, stone staircases and small shops breathe another time. The iron church and the Ahrida synagogue bear witness to a plural past, a historical cohabitation of cultures and confessions. In trendy cafes, young artists cross the ancients, between nostalgia and renewal.

Turkish gastronomy,
A rising star
Also on the plates, Turkey shines. Since 2022, Istanbul has been in the Michelin guide, soon joined by Izmir and Bodrum. Today, 132 restaurants – starred, gourmet bib or engaged in sustainable development – embody the richness of a kitchen between tradition and innovation.
Bold chefs, seasonal products, a table culture transmitted with pride … The country is a global gastro-desigination.

Towards sustainable tourism
Turkey does not stop there. It is the first country in the world to sign a government agreement with the World Council for Sustainable Tourism (GSTC). Objective: to make the country a responsible destination, where each hotel, each site, each actor in tourism engages in the preservation of the environment and heritage. Nearly 2,000 establishments have already been certified. By 2030, everyone will have to meet international standards.

Algerians and Türkiye, a shared passion
Among visitors from around the world, Algerians occupy a special place. Attracted by historical ties, the warmth of the reception and the diversity of experiences, they are hundreds of thousands to discover Turkey every year. Istanbul and Antalya remain their favorite destinations, combining culture, beach, shopping and unequaled hospitality.

In Türkiye, every day
is a trip
A mixture of past and present, minarets and skyscrapers, souks and art galleries. The country is not content to be visited, it is printed in memory.
From our special envoy to Istanbul
Sofiane Gassouma