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 is facing the Hagia Sophia. The two buildings are very close. You can complete the visit on the same day. The park in the middle is beautiful. You can sit and be tired. It is super comfortable! The murals in the mosque are beautiful, but there are many people. You need to take off your shoes when you go in. Many tourists go in with their shoes. The taste is a bit big. This is an important factor affecting the visit. So it is recommended to bring a mask. The smell of feet is still recommended to wash it next to you before entering. Or don't carry your shoes when you go in, and no one will take them in the cupboard next to you.
Taksim Square
携携Cheng携ChengStart of the pedestrian street We have to stay in Istanbul for two days, the first day is a group tour, the second day is a self-funded group or free travel. On the first day, we first came to Taksim Square. This square is a circular open space with some statues in the middle. But this square is also a relatively large square in Istanbul. There are a lot of pigeons in the square. Don't use others to feed, it is for money. Next to it is the pedestrian street, the square is the beginning of the pedestrian street. We arrived too early and many shops did not open. We came again the next day and went shopping. There are big shopping malls, small supermarkets, jewelry stores, Watsons, and various places to eat. The playability of the pedestrian street is still very strong.
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 Road previously said that the Grand Bazaar is the big alley of Istanbul, and the Independence Street is the Istanbul Riverside Road. On the first day, I came to Taksim Square with a group tour and left us only an hour to stroll around. Of course we didn't go shopping enough, so we all set the time here the next day. We took the bus from the hotel to this neighborhood (it is said that Istanbul taxis are expensive and blocked, because the blockage will be more expensive, so we chose to take the bus) We went to the rainbow ladder first, and then walked through a residential area to the nearby Carrefour. In the middle, I also went into a drug store. The boss was very talkative. He said that he had been to many places in China, and he had even been to Tianjin and Hohhot. It was a mistake to go to Carrefour first. I bought a lot of things, which caused us to carry these things behind us. After buying snacks and souvenirs, I came to Independence Street. This street 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 go shopping. There are large and small shopping malls, restaurants, jewelry stores, souvenir shops, clothing stores, and the types of shops are very, very complete. We went to Pandora, mado, St. Anthony Church, baked potatoes, regular restaurant barbecue, street stall barbecue shop, candy shop, many clothing stores, Watsons, two shopping malls... I don’t know if I didn’t say it all, I went shopping for a whole day, it was dark before I went back, I bought a bunch of things, Also ate local specialty barbecue. Although I arranged on this street for a whole day and didn't go to other places, the various eating, drinking and shopping on this street was really rich. Although I was a little tired, I had a good time. Free travel was much better than eating with the 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.