The Egyptian Obelisk that sits right next to both the Hippodrome and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul has had quite a long life: it has been erected in the city for more than years… and it was already pushing years old when it got there! And before there were the Ottomans, there were the Byzantines… and an Emperor Constantine, who gave Constantinople then known as Byzantium its second name.
From this piece of history springs forward the famous and intricate walls of Constantinople, which were said to be some of the most intricate and impressive barriers of their time. As the oldest surviving Byzantine cistern in Istanbul, the Basilica Cistern is definitely worth a visit! Combined, the museums house over one million objects related to world culture and history. Located in the middle of the Bosphorus Strait, this small, Byzantine-era tower is better known for its legends than any solid history.
As the legend goes, a sultan once heard a prophecy concerning his young daughter—that she would be bitten by a snake and killed on her 18th birthday. Then, on her 18th birthday, he paid her a birthday visit… and the snake he accidentally transported into the tower via a fruit basket filled with gifts bit and killed the girl. Today, you can visit the tower to enjoy beautiful views of Istanbul and to eat at the restaurant on the ground floor or cafe on the second.
The Roman Empire is well-known worldwide for its aqueducts, and that extended to Constantinople. Completed in the 4th century, the Valens Aqueduct is the largest surviving Roman aqueduct in the city. Home to more than 4, stores covering 60 streets, the Grand Bazaar most certainly lives up to its name. Open since and nearly constantly busy ever since, the Grand Bazaar is the perfect place to enjoy the hustle and bustle of Istanbul in a beautiful setting. Though shopkeepers will attempt to beckon you into their shops and call after you, we found the salesmen in the Grand Bazaar much less pushy than in many other similar markets around the world.
Will accepting an offer of tea, especially in tourist areas, up the pressure to buy something? Jeremy once had a delightful hour-long conversation with a shopkeeper who we dropped our laundry off with, and we went through a couple of cups of tea each in the camera shop we visited to purchase a new lens.
A food tour is a perfect way to start wrapping your head around the best foods in the city, and we recommend taking one as early in your trip as possible. That way, you can use your newfound food knowledge to inform your shopping and ordering choices for the rest of your time in Istanbul! Book your Istanbul food tour today!
The dish reminds us of rice pudding—when we first tried it, it was with tentative small spoonfuls just to say we had tasted it, but we ended up quickly devouring the whole plate!
Fresh fruit juice, simit essentially round pretzels covered in sesame seeds , corn on the cob, chestnuts, and kumpir loaded baked potatoes are all popular street foods in Istanbul , and tasting at least a couple of them should definitely make your list of fun things to do in Istanbul!
There are few things in this world more delicious than Turkish breakfast. Today, you can still buy a fish sandwich right under the Galata Bridge, wrapped in paper and ready for you to munch on it while you wander around the docks and admire the view of the Galata Tower and Bosphorus Strait. How often can you say that you had dinner between two continents?
If so, make your way to the Asitane Restaurant in Istanbul! For us, one of the highlights of Istanbul was shopping in the Grand Bazaar. Normally, shopping can be a drag for kids. But not in the Grand Bazaar. Even Tyler and Kara were excited about our return visits here. With its kaleidoscope of colorful lanterns, its friendly people, and its maze of hallways, the Grand Bazaar is a joy to explore. The Basilica Cistern is dark, chilly, and mysterious. See if you can find the two slightly creepy Medusa heads.
These mosaics portray the life of Jesus Christ. The Galata Tower was built in the mid 14 th century and was used as a fire tower, barracks, and a dungeon. From the top of the tower you get one of the best views of Istanbul.
The Topkapi Palace was the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. One of the best places to visit in Topkapi Palace is the Harem, where the mother of the sultan, his wives, and his concubines lived. Topkapi Palace is a beautiful spot in Istanbul. Room after room is covered in exquisite tile work. If you are here in the springtime, the gardens are filled with tulips and hyacinths.
Plus, the views of Istanbul from here are amazing. Included on the Museum Pass. Official website: For updated hours, pricing, and the full schedule of closing dates, click here.
Skip-the-Line Tour: If you want to take a guided tour of Topkapi Palace and skip the line, here is a tour that gets great reviews. This mosque gets our vote for the most beautiful mosque in Istanbul. It was renovated in , which accounts for its sparkling interior. This mosque is actually older than the Blue Mosque, but only by 60 years. Eminonu is a very busy, slightly chaotic spot in Istanbul. This harbor area sits on the Golden Horn, a famous waterway that runs through the city.
From Eminonu you can visit mosques, the Spice Market, famous restaurants, or catch a ferry that will shuttle you to any number of places in Istanbul. Take in the scene here. This is Istanbul in action, a hive of activity all day long. This bridge spans the Golden Horn, joining the older sections of Istanbul with the more modern neighborhoods. A walk across this bridge is a must while in Istanbul.
Rustem Pasha Mosque is a very small mosque that is famous for its Iznik tile work. Well, the tile work in this mosque is some of the best in Istanbul. While in Istanbul, try some of the local foods. Kofte are meatballs made with lamb or beef. Dolma are stuffed vine leaves or vegetables. Sis Kebabs, skewers of cooked meat, are delicious. Doner is a meat sandwich made from lamb, beef, or chicken. Turkish delight lokum and baklava are two delicious options for dessert. Istanbul is the only city to span two continents, Europe and Asia.
The Bosphorus River divides these two continents. If you have the time, a cruise on the Bosphorus River is a great way to see more of this city. The cruise leaves from Eminonu in the morning and travels north towards the Black Sea. Midday, have lunch in the small fishing village of Anadolu Kavagi.
From Anadolu Kavagi, walk fifteen minutes uphill to the Yoros Castle. From here, you will have excellent views of the Black Sea. By 5 pm you will arrive back at the Golden Horn in Istanbul. Saviour of Chora lay just outside old Constantinople's city walls.
The first Chora Church was probably built here in the 5th century, but what you see now is the building's 6th reconstruction as it was destroyed completely in the 9th century and went through several facelifts from the 11th to 14th centuries. The church was turned into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople and became a museum in In , it reconverted into a working mosque. The monument is rightly world-famous for its fabulously vibrant 14th-century mosaics, preserved almost intact in the two narthexes and fragmentarily in the nave, and the frescos along the walls and domes.
These incredible examples of Byzantine artistry cover a wide range of themes, from the genealogy of Christ to the New Testament stories.
Kariye Camii Map Historical. The carpet collection on display here is vast and is heralded by textile experts as the world's best. This is a prime place to come have a peek at the dazzling array of styles of Turkish carpets along with carpets from the Caucasus and Iran across the centuries before setting out on a shopping mission to purchase your own floor piece.
There are also exquisite ceramics, calligraphy, and wood carving exhibits ranging in date from the 9th century CE to the 19th century. Before Emperor Justinian built the Hagia Sofia Aya Sofya , he had to test out if the building would work structurally, so he built this miniature version first.
Its original name was the Church of Sergius and Bacchus, but the obvious architectural parallels with the Aya Sofya led to its long-held nickname becoming the building's official title. During the Ottoman era, the church was converted into a mosque and it still functions as a working mosque today.
Although its proportions aren't as grandiose as others in Istanbul, the building has been beautifully restored and is well worth a visit. The walk here, down narrow alleyways lined with tall Ottoman era buildings — some lavishly restored and others creaking their way into dilapidation — is a tranquil respite from central Sultanahmet.
Take the time to have a glass of tea in the Little Aya Sofya's peaceful garden to sustain you for further sightseeing exploits. Sure the Blue Mosque Sultanahmet Mosque may get all the glory, but it's here — covering both the exterior courtyard walls and the mosque interior itself — that you'll find the best examples of these gorgeously intricate hand-painted tiles in blues, reds, and greens. Even better, as it's less known, you're likely to be able to admire them up close without having to battle any crowds.
Finding the mosque adds to the fun as it's squirreled down a skinny lane lined with market stalls and always bustling with life, near the Spice Bazaar. Yedikule Fortress Yedikule Hisari. Although it's a bit of a schlep on the suburban train to get out to Yedikule Castle of the Seven Towers , this commanding fortress is well worth it.
Built in the 5th century by the Emperor Theodosius II, the fortress made up the southern section of Constantinople's defensive walls. The mammoth arch blocked up in the late Byzantine period was known as Porta Aurea Golden Gate , with doors plated in gold.
When the Ottomans conquered the city, they used the fortress for defense, and later as a prison and execution place. Yedikule has been restored in recent years, and you can climb up to the top of the battlements for superb views across the Sea of Marmara. Galata Tower. This tower overlooking the Golden Horn was built by the Genoese in the 14th century. Today it remains one of Istanbul's most recognizable landmarks. Standing 52 meters tall, the tower was Istanbul's tallest building for centuries.
The tower has been restored several times over the years due to being damaged by fire and storms. Today the observation deck at the top story, and its restaurant, is one of the best places to visit in Istanbul for taking in the iconic skyline views of the central old city.
View of Rumeli Fortress from the Bosphorus. For many visitors, a trip to Istanbul isn't complete without hopping aboard a Bosphorus excursion ferry and cruising the city's famed waterway, which connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara.
Istanbul's most iconic views are all from the water, and the Bosphorus excursion ferries are all about sitting back, relaxing, and taking in the scenery. Along the ferry cruise there are shoreside vistas of defensive fortresses, Ottoman-era palaces and mansions, and the Bosphorus' bridges. There is also a Short Bosphorus Tour option that operates daily two-hour afternoon sailings from spring to fall.
This return ferry cruise heads up the Bosphorus as far as Rumeli fortress before turning around. Mezze platters include pita bread with hummus, cacik, and tabbouleh salad. Main dishes include kebabs and believe it or not pizza!
The feast ends with Turkish delight and sweet tea. You can book many dining experiences in Istanbul and the best way is to spend time with a local family. In Istanbul, you will often meet friendly people that invite you for dinner. Our guide told us that Madonna and other famous celebrities love to party in Ortakoy. Once a fishing village, this district is now the area for upmarket chic looking for a place to party. The waterfront is filled with bars and clubs and this is where the hip young professionals of the city hang out.
Istanbul is home to both traditional and modern ways of life and the contrast between the two cities is immense. To really experience Istanbul you must spend some time in Ortakoy. If there is one thing that we wanted to try in Turkey, it was Turkish Coffee. Want to explore more food and culture? Istanbul Food and Culture Tour takes you on a walking tour through 2 Continents as you explore Turkish food and culture.
It was easy for us to do our daily walk across the Galata Bridge during our first visit to Istanbul. We were staying right near it in an apartment rental. Keep an eye out for rows of friendly fishermen who are happy to chat as families stroll across taking in the views. You must visit the Asian side of the city when visiting Istanbul. Book this Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Entertainment for an evening view of the city of Istanbul and a fun Turkish experience.
How often can you visit two continents in a matter of minutes and not even have to go through customs. We popped over to Asian Istanbul after a scenic cruise checking out the shores of both North and South. A good stop near the port is Kanlica, famous for its thick yogurt with honey.
Head underground to tour the Basilica Cistern. Cisterns were used to store water but today you can tour it. Located just a short walk from Hagia Sofia, there are art exhibits, a fortress of columns and two medusa heads acting as a base.
What is up with that? The game of choice is Backgammon and you must give it a try. This popular game dates back 5, years in the Persian empire and is going strong today in the city of Istanbul. Also known as Shisha or waterpipe, Hookah lounges are very popular in the city. Hookahs are flavored tobacco smoked through a water pipe. It became popular in Turkey in the 17th century and was a status symbol for those in the city. Dave and I are ardent non-smokers, but to visit Istanbul without giving a Hookah a try would be criminal.
You cannot visit Istanbul without experiencing the weird and wackiness of a Turkish Bath, also known as a traditional hammam. Be prepared to strip down to your birthday suit and have strangers vigorously bath and massage your entire body after a hot steam bath.
It can be painful, strange, and heavenly all at once. You may or may not like it, but I can tell you one thing for sure, you will never forget it. Istanbul is a busy and vibrant city and the best way to get around is by tram. We hopped on the tram to take us everywhere from the old city to Taksim Square, took Ubers and booked Transfer Expert from the airport. But in our opinion, the best way to discover Istanbul is on foot.
Lose yourself in Sultanahmet, explore the streets of Constantinople, and get lost in the Grand Bazaar. To get to and from the airport, we took TransferExpert. Their services were professional and friendly! It was nice to have a sign with our name on it waiting for us when we landed at the hectic airport. There are many great places for accommodation in Istanbul. These are three places that we stayed, but we also stayed in a few apartment rentals in Istanbul as well. And these are all the things to do in Istanbul that we recommend.
It is one of the most exciting cities in the world and if you get a chance to go, be sure to spend at least a week exploring both the old and new cities. There are so many things to do in Istanbul, you will want to go back again and again. What did we miss?
Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly. Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner.
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