What to See in Istanbul

What to see in Istanbul? Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Chora Church, Galata Tower, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Dolmabahce Palace, Little Aya Sofya is some of them

Galata Tower

Exploring Istanbul is a great experience but to see it from up high is something completely different.

The best place to do this is Galata tower, a landmark that dominates the skyline.

While drinking your coffe at Galata tower you will see Istanbul like a bird over the sky.

Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace is one of Istanbul’s most popular tourist sites. Serving as the main residence to the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years the palace is today part of Istanbul’s UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Topkapi Palace was the house of the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire, who were once ruling over lands spanning 3 continents. It was built during the reign of the sultan who conquered Constantinople, Sultan Mehmed II; used as the headquarter of the empire until the Dolmabahce Palace was built, and converted to a museum in 1924.

The palace museum was visited by over 3.3 million people in 2013, making it the most visited site in all of Istanbul.

Hagia Sophia

Once a church, then a Byzantine cathedral, later a mosque and now a monument, this iconic building is a national treasure.

The Hagia Sophia has had a history as complex as Istanbul itself. Starting its life as the Hagia Sophia Church (Church of Holy Wisdom), it was turned into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest and is now a museum.

Facts about Hagia Sophia

30 million gold tesserae (tiny mosaic tiles) cover the church's interior
The Hagia Sophia is the most-visited site in Turkey
The Hagia Sophia was the largest church ever built until St Peter's Basilica was constructed in Rome 1,000 years later.
The stone cannonballs outside the entrance to Hagia Sophia were used by Mehmet the Conquerer in 1453 to save the city

Blue Mosque

The Sultan Ahmet Camii or Blue Mosque, this fantastic building is one of the most majestic Ottoman mosques in all of Turkey.

The Blue Mosque was built between 1609 and 1616, by the architect Mehmet Aga, instructed by Sultan Ahmet I. It was designed as an imperial show of strength to complement the imposing Hagia Sophia, which faces it across Sultanahmet Square.

The mosque is most famous for its six minarets, accompanied by one large dome and eight smaller domes.

The 20,000 blue tiles adorning the interior were made in Iznik, an area that was famous during the Ottoman Empire for its expert production of ceramic tiles. These tiles also gave themselves to the name of the mosque.

Maiden's Tower

The Maiden's Tower, also known as Leander's Tower since the medieval Byzantine period, is a tower lying on a small islet located at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus strait from coast of Üsküdar in Istanbul.

To look at the beautiful Bosphorus, savour a cup of coffee at the Maiden’s Tower, located on a small islet between Europe and Asia.

Grand Bazaar

If you like to buy things like rugs, tiles, water pipes, ornaments, then the place is Istanbul Grand Bazaar.

The Grand Bazaar four thousand shops in the world’s oldest shopping mall what fun!

Istanbul Grand Bazaar is the place you can find fantastic things. Likes silk rugs, spices, meerschaum, antiques, pottery, jewelry and more...

Spice Bazaar

It is located in Eminonu, Istanbul. The Spice Bazaar, also known as the Egyptian Market is also one of the most popular covered bazaars in Istanbul where visitors may find variety of quality spices.

In the Bazaar you will find an immense selection of spices like saffron, oregano, mint, cinnamon, natural henna colorant for the hair, special Turkish spices for meat, different kind of peppers....

Dolmabahce Palace

The largest palace in Turkey, the Dolmabahce palace is situated between the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara. the sultans used it as a palace.

Go into the palace and discover eye-popping rooms that once hosted sultans and their royal guests. Walk to marble rooms and gaze up at twinkling crystal chandeliers.

Miniaturk Park

The Miniaturk Park is a kind of park that you can find all historical place miniatures of istanbul. You will feel like walking over the Istanbul. Also you can find all informations about historical places. If you have short time to travel Istanbul you sholud definitelyvisit Minaturk Park.

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