Sights in Istanbul: A City of History and Culture

Istanbul is a city with a rich heritage and a good deal of tradition. There are a variety of sights in Istanbul to see, and you are absolutely sure to locate anything that pursuits you.

It’s a metropolis that has been house to several unique cultures and religions above the centuries. This is a spot where East satisfies West. It’s a location in which you can locate classic Turkish society facet by side with modern-day Western influences.

Istanbul is the major city in Turkey and one of the most populous cities in the entire world. The metropolis has a inhabitants of additional than 14 million people, likely around 20 million.

The town is located on the Bosphorus Strait, which separates Europe from Asia. The strait also serves as a all-natural boundary in between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Istanbul has been inhabited considering the fact that Neolithic situations, but it was to start with settled by Greeks in all-around 1000 BCE who named it Byzantium soon after their king, Byzas. The city rose to prominence following it was conquered by Alexander.

Top sights in Istanbul

There are a variety of sights in Istanbul to see, together with the following:

Basilica Cistern – The Sunken Palace

The Basilica Cistern is a ought to-see in Istanbul. It is 1 of the city’s most common tourist sights, and it is simple to see why.

The Cistern is an massive underground drinking water storage technique that was crafted in the 6th century. It is a intriguing piece of history, and the ambiance inside is remarkable.

This subterranean framework was commissioned by Emperor Justinian and built in 532. The premier surviving Byzantine cistern in İstanbul, it was produced employing 336 columns, lots of of which were being salvaged from ruined temples and characteristic great carved capitals.

Its symmetry and sheer grandeur of conception are fairly spectacular, and its cavernous depths make a excellent retreat on summer months days. This underground construction is the major surviving Byzantine cistern in Istanbul, it was crafted with 336 columns, several of which are from destroyed temples and have finely crafted capitals. Its symmetry and monumental conception are spectacular, and its cavernous depths deliver welcome cooling on sizzling summer season days.

How very long does it consider to take a look at the Basilica Cistern? Visiting the Cistern requires about 45 minutes, and the price is all-around $20 USD. It is well worth shopping for a ticket on the internet or go for a guided tour, to skip the traces at the entrance.

The opening several hours are 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Is it worthy of to go to the Basilica Cistern? Of course, absolutely! The Basilica Cistern is an awesome spot, and it is properly worthy of browsing.

It reopened in summertime 2022 and there are a several artwork pieces set up. These, but particularly the shifting colours incorporate to the atmosphere. The paths are nicely put into the cistern, so that the people are not definitely in your check out when getting photos. And you’ll discover a lot of different angles to acquire new nice pics, and then in distinctive colors.

The Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque is one particular of the most iconic landmarks in Istanbul and is famed for its stunning blue tiles and 6 minarets. The mosque was built in the early 1600s beneath the rule of Sultan Ahmed I and is a primary example of Ottoman architecture. Visitors from all in excess of the environment come to marvel at the mosque’s grandeur and natural beauty.

The Blue Mosque is situated in the coronary heart of Istanbul and it is about 10km from Istanbul Ataturk Airport and it is close to 50km to Istanbul’s new airport Tayakadin, even more exterior of the town.

The Blue Mosque is open from 8:30am to 5:00pm, and it is finest to pay a visit to early in the morning or later in the afternoon to stay away from the crowds.

The mosque was constructed by Sultan Ahmet I in the early 1600s, When traveling to, be absolutely sure to gown modestly (address your shoulders and knees) and take away your footwear ahead of moving into. If you are traveling to Istanbul, be certain to add the Blue Mosque to your checklist of items to do. You will not be upset!

More tip: To get a comparable image, head to the roof terrace of the 7 Hills Restaurant (map), which you can pay a visit to for absolutely free. Just take the elevator to the top and then the more stairs to the rooftop.

Guide this Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia modest-group tour.

The Hagia Sophia

The Hagia Sophia is a previous Byzantine church that was transformed into a mosque. It is a person of the most iconic properties in Istanbul.

It was developed in the 6th century as a Christian church and later transformed into a mosque. It homes some of the world’s most precious Byzantine artifacts. The Hagia Sophia is recognised for its big dome and stunning architecture.

It was converted to a mosque in 1453 when the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople. The Sultan, Mehmed II, purchased that the Hagia Sophia be turned into a mosque and experienced the minarets constructed. For centuries, it remained one particular of the most significant mosques in Istanbul.

Hagia Sophia is open up to visitors. The iconic Byzantine cathedral, reopened as a mosque in May 2019 following almost 90 years. It is an UNESCO Planet Heritage Website, and visitors can investigate its attractive architecture and historical past.

More idea: To consider a very similar picture, head to the roof terrace of the Seven Hills Cafe (map), which you can check out for no cost. Choose the elevator to the prime and then the added stairs to the rooftop.

E-book this Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia compact-group tour.

The Topkapi Palace

The Topkapi Palace is one particular of the most legendary structures and sights in Istanbul. It’s acknowledged for its opulent architecture and its in depth gardens. In this blog site put up, we’ll take a nearer seem at the historical past of the palace and its position in modern Turkish tradition.

The Topkapi Palace was constructed in the 15th century by the Ottoman sultan Mehmed II. It served as the major home of the sultans for hundreds of years, and it was also the seat of federal government for the Ottoman Empire.

The palace is one of the most well-known vacationer locations in Istanbul. The Topkapi Palace is a image of Ottoman energy and luxury. It’s just one of the most frequented museums in Turkey, and it is also a well-known location for weddings and other specific events. If you’re arranging a vacation to Istanbul, be absolutely sure to insert the Topkapi Palace to your itinerary!

It is also known for its harem, its substantial gardens, and its lavish architecture.

The Palace is the topic of more intriguing tales than most museums in the globe. The lustful sultans, ambitious courtiers, wonderful concubines and crafty eunuchs who lived and labored in this article in between the 15th and 19th generations deliver a captivating glimpse into their life.

Ebook this Topkapi Palace skip-the-line with guide and audio information application.

The Grand Bazaar

The Grand Bazaar is one of the major and oldest coated markets in the earth. It is recognized for its hundreds of stores promoting all the things from spices to jewelry.

The Grand Bazaar is located in the heart of the town and is one of the city’s most legendary sights in Istanbul.

The marketplace dates back generations and is a bustling hub of exercise, with stalls promoting every thing from spices to jewellery. The marketplace is risk-free and effortless to navigate, and is a great location to uncover souvenirs and presents.

Good to know:

• When is the best time to go to the Grand Bazaar? The Grand Bazaar is open up each day from 8:30 in the early morning to 7:00 in the night. Having said that, throughout spiritual vacations, the suppliers are closed.

• How considerably time really should you expend in the Grand Bazaar? You require to devote at least 3 hours to check out the Grand Bazaar, like espresso and lunch crack. If you say I will skip lunch, say choose at the very least 1.5 hrs.

• Is there an entrance price to the Grand Bazaar? No, you do not pay out an entrance price when you take a look at the Grand Bazaar.

There are 22 gates in the Grand Bazaar. The most common ones are Beyazıt and Nuruosmaniye, since Kalpakçılar Street, the primary street of the bazaar, stretches amongst them. On the other hand, the other major gates are Çarşıkapı, Çuhacıhan, Jewelers, Mahmutpaşa, Örücüler, Sepetçihan, Takkeciler, Tavukpazarı and Zenneciler.

Each gate also has a selection. So I propose to select one particular of the big gates and remember its number, so if you need to get lost, you could meet up with up there once more.

Get more suggestions listed here: Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar: A Shopper’s Paradise

Dolmabahçe Palace

Dolmabahce Palace, constructed in the 19th century, is a single of the most impressive palaces in the earth. It was the administrative heart of the late Ottoman Empire and was house to the past of Ottoman Sultans.

At present, it is trendy for architects and critics motivated by the considerably less-is-much more aesthetic of Bauhaus masters to sneer at buildings these kinds of as Dolmabahçe.

There are plenty of matters to see in the palace, together with the stunning gardens and the grand interior of the palace.

You can take a look at the Ceremonial Quarters and Harem. The two are visited on a self-guided audio tour (included in ticket cost). Of the two, the Ceremonial Quarters are far more fascinating.

You can visit the palace by having a ferry from the European side of Istanbul. The palace is open from 9am to 6pm.

It’s a wonderful palace that is absolutely really worth observing.

E book this Dolmabahce Palace skip-the-line ticket with guideline and audio guidebook.

Istanbul has a lot of other sights as effectively, which includes parks, museums, and historic properties. It is a excellent city to investigate and we recommend to expend quite a few days here.