Discover these places worth visiting in Istanbul and select a hotel nearby for ultimate convenience
Hagia Sophia
MMysterywandererWhen you enter the mosque it is majestic and filled with so much history with paintings dating back to the 12th Century. I enjoyed learning the history of the building an taking in the art and design of the building. Highly recommend to visit!
The Blue Mosque
馨馨宝很忙The Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia face each other. The two buildings are very close and can be visited on the same day. The park in the middle is beautiful. You can sit there when you are tired. It is super comfortable! The murals and patterns in the mosque are beautiful, but there are many people. You need to take off your shoes before entering. Many tourists go in with their shoes in their hands. The smell is a bit strong🤦♂️, which is an important factor affecting the visit. Therefore, it is recommended to bring a mask. If you have strong foot odor, it is recommended to wash it next to you before entering, or don’t carry your shoes when you go in. No one will take them if you put them in the cabinet next to you.
Taksim Square
携携Cheng携ChengThe starting point of the pedestrian street
We will stay in Istanbul for two days. The first day is a group tour, and the second day is a self-funded group tour or a free tour.
The first stop on the first day was Taksim Square. This square is a circular open space with some statues in the middle. However, this square is also a relatively large square in Istanbul. There are many pigeons in the square. Don't use others to feed them, because it costs money.
Next to it is the pedestrian street, and the square is the beginning of the pedestrian street. We arrived too early and many shops were closed. We came again the next day and had a good look. There are large shopping malls, small supermarkets, jewelry stores, Watsons, and various places to eat. The pedestrian street is still very playable.
Bosphorus
MM25***87The sunset view of the Bosphorus is very beautiful. It is recommended to go to Eminönü Pier to take a cruise of Turyol Company. You must buy the ticket for the sunset time 2 hours before sunset, and then go to the nearby restaurant to enjoy the food and wait. The most basic pure tour is about 90 minutes, the fare is 150 lira (about ¥30), you get on the boat by yourself, there is no performance, no explanation, no food and drinks, the boat is average. In fact, the most important thing is to take pictures and enjoy the sunset. There are many places of interest along the coast, and you must not miss the Suleymaniye Mosque and Dolmabahçe Palace.
Istiklal Avenue
携携Cheng携ChengIstanbul Riverside
I said before that the Grand Bazaar is the big alley in Istanbul, and Istiklal Street is the Istanbul Riverside.
On the first day, we went to Taksim Square with a group tour, and only had one hour to go shopping. Of course, we didn't go shopping enough, so we arranged our time here for the second day's free travel.
We took the bus from the hotel to this area (it is said that the taxi price in Istanbul is expensive and there is traffic jam, because the traffic jam will be more expensive, so we chose to take the bus). We first went to the Rainbow Stairs, and then walked through a residential area to the nearby Carrefour. In the middle, we also went into a drugstore. The owner was very talkative and said that he had been to many places in China, and even to Tianjin and Hohhot. He was very kind. It was a mistake to go to Carrefour first. I bought a lot of things, which caused us to carry these things behind me.
After buying snacks and souvenirs, we came to Istiklal Street, which may be the busiest pedestrian street in Istanbul. There were a lot of people on the day we went. It can be seen that not only foreign tourists came to visit, but also locals came to shop. There are large and small shopping malls, restaurants, jewelry stores, souvenir shops, and clothing stores on the street. The types of shops are very complete. We went to Pandora, Mado, St. Anthony's Church, a baked potato shop, a regular restaurant barbecue shop, a street stall barbecue shop, a candy store, many clothing stores, Watsons, two shopping malls... I don't know if I have said it all. I walked around for a whole day and went back when it was dark. I bought a lot of things and ate local special barbecue. Although I spent the whole day on this street and didn't go anywhere else, there are really a lot of food, drinks and shopping on this street. Although it's a bit tiring, I had a great time. The food is much better when traveling independently than when traveling with a group.
Historic Areas of Istanbul
PpopcornplusThe view of the old city of Istanbul is so spectacular it's almost laughable. The view of Istanbul from the Suleymaniye Mosque is particularly spectacular and highly recommended. You have to climb a little hill, but it's definitely a must-visit spot!!
Galata Tower
DDenizKandemirGalata Tower is the one place in Istanbul that you can see all the landmarks and also Bosphorus from the top. You can see Hagiah Sophia, Blue Mosque and Bosphorus bridge from the top of Galata tower and the views are truly amazing. The tower iself has a beautiful architecture and you will be amazed by the structures and lightning of the stairways. You can enter the building for free if you have museum card.
Grand Bazaar
CcimberlynafziThe Grand Bazaar in Turkey is a vibrant and exciting destination that’s perfect for anyone looking to experience the rich culture and history of Istanbul. With over 4,000 shops, it’s one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. As you wander through its maze-like alleys, you'll find everything from beautiful rugs and unique jewelry to spices, textiles, and Turkish delights. The lively atmosphere, combined with the colorful displays and the art of bargaining, makes it a truly unfor
Topkapi Palace
WwerduyA very beautiful old palace of Ottoman dynasty.Well maintained. Very big. Requires 5-6 hours tosee everything with kids. If you arrive early by 9:00am, no long wait.Plenty of sitting space and eateries. Photographyis the must.
Basilica Cistern
DDenizKandemirBasilica Cistern is a must see place in Istanbul Sultanahmet. In order to get in you probably wait in a line for a while but its totally worth it. The atmosphere and the views in the cistern are amazing. The light colors are always changing through soft and warm colors for creating a dynamic and interesting atmosphere.Also, you should walk all the way through the cistern in order tı see the famous Medusa head. Overall it is a great place to visit in Istanbul.