Travel Tips Istanbul – An itinerary in Istanbul that includes the most famous sights and things to do. It is perfect for anyone traveling to Istanbul for the first time.
Istanbul is one of those amazing cities, you can easily spend days, weeks and even months exploring it. I never seem to have enough time for that. I can easily say, I have a secret love affair with Istanbul, as I have been there many times and I know it will never be the last time. But what are the things to do and see in Istanbul if you are traveling there for the first time?
Travel Tips Istanbul
Stay in a hotel somewhere in the Sultanahmet area (for amazing views of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia and a TOP location we recommend the Burcking Hotel), as you will be only a few steps away from the most impressive tourist attractions in Istanbul. This way you can walk through the most amazing sights every day.
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Use your first day to see Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Basilica of the Undersea Pit. If you have enough time, a great place to see is also the amazing Topkapi Palace, Gulhan Park and the Hippodrome. Don’t forget to also wander through the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar.
If you don’t mind walking, I definitely recommend you walk from your hotel to Galata Tower. This way you can see the daily life in Istanbul and its authentic atmosphere. Not to mention crossing the Bosphorus on the bridges is always interesting due to the many fishermen there.
You can see one of the best views over Istanbul from Galata Tower. Not far from it, is the famous Istiklal pedestrian street, leading to Taksim Square. This is actually a slightly more modern part of Istanbul, full of cafes, restaurants and shops, where the young locals like to hang out.
Book your day for a Bosphorus cruise. We recommend that you travel to Anadolu Kavağı Station, where you can walk up to Yoros Fortress, which offers great views of the Bosphorus and the Black Sea. Try the popular fish sandwich and continue the day by boat, reaching the Ortokai district, famous for its mosque and a popular hangout for locals. If you are interested in the life of the Sultan and Atatürk, you might also want to visit Dolumbaca Palace.
Istanbul Travel Tips Even For The Experienced Traveler
Enjoy the evening somewhere around Sultanahmet – for a nice spot with great views and to see the lively evening life, go to the park between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.
Use your last few hours on this trip and itinerary to Istanbul to shop for souvenirs in the bazaar, where you can try your hand at bargaining. If you are into history and still have enough time, I would go see the archeological museum to know more about the history of the city. And in between, don’t forget to treat yourself to traditional Turkish food.
If you are visiting the city for the first time following this Istanbul itinerary will take you to the best things to do in Istanbul. But if you’re like me, you’ll absolutely fall for Istanbul, which is sure to mean you’ll be back for more—and your next visits will be perfect for all the other sites and attractions, including some hidden gems.
You can read more about things to do in Istanbul here. Don’t even miss the Istanbul travel guide with our tricks and tips.
Charlotte Plans A Trip » Must Read Before Visiting Istanbul: Highlights & Travel Tips Istanbul!
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If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this site you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Probably one of the most beautiful ancient cities in Asia Minor, Istanbul is the crown jewel of modern Turkey filled with beautiful architecture and rich history. All the way back to the 7th century BC when the Greeks settled in the settlement and called it Byzantium.
Insider’s Guide To Istanbul
Due to its strategic location right between the mighty continents of Asia and Europe with the Bosphorus strait dividing it into two parts, the city has been the subject of many conflicts for centuries.
The city went through many phases and iterations as it passed from one conqueror to another, changing its name from Byzantium to Constantinople under the Ottoman Empire and eventually Istanbul.
With such a rich and expansive history, of course, you’ll find all kinds of beautiful relics from its past, from the amazing church that became the Hagia Sophia Mosque to the ancient cistern that lies beneath Istanbul and that’s what we’re going to help you discover in this travel guide.
Without further ado, here are the 11 best things to do in Istanbul, Turkey. Let’s start first with a list of the best things to do, all laid out on the map below:
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Hagia Sophia is probably one of the most anticipated places for me in Istanbul. I have always wanted to see with my own eyes the interior of the beautiful architectural wonder that is the Hagia Sophia and when I saw it, it did not disappoint.
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Hagia Sophia is the crown jewel of the city. It was first built around 532 – 537 AD by the Byzantine Empire as the main church for its capital city before it was taken over by the Ottoman Empire and converted into a mosque in 1453.
After the Ottoman Empire collapsed, the Turkish government decided to convert the mosque into a museum and began major restoration work until 2020, where it was finally converted back into a mosque with great fanfare.
Back when it was a museum, you had to pay about 100 TRY to enter, but now it has been converted into a mosque for regular service, you are now free to enter as you wish and this is a welcome change despite all the heated discussions around the world about it. conversion.
As soon as you enter, you will be surrounded by a breathtaking corridor with a huge dome all painted in yellow and 8 calligraphic circles in Arabic, huge round wooden panels bearing the names of Allah, Muhammad and his grandsons; Hassan and Hussein, and four caliphs.
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I have been to Hagia Sophia several times and every time I see the inside of it, my mind is always amazed by the fact that they managed to build such a massive structure before the industrial revolution. You can easily spend an hour here, just looking around, exploring all the murals and intricate little details you can find there.
Hagia Sophia is open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm every day of the week, but since it is now an active mosque, the place is closed during prayer times, which you can follow here for your visit. The good thing about turning Hagia Sophia into a mosque is that you no longer have to pay the entrance fee.
You can even visit Hagia Sophia until late at night and enjoy some quiet time among the amazing architecture in your own comfort as I often did every night. One downside of it being a mosque is that you no longer have access to the second floor balcony and some pictures of Jesus are covered for religious purposes. Besides, Hagia Sophia is as beautiful as ever and now that it’s free, it’s much more accessible than ever.
The Blue Mosque is another impressive piece of architectural wonder in Istanbul that is not too far from the Hagia Sophia. The mosque was built by the Ottoman Empire in the 17th century as an imperial mosque for the capital and is now one of the most visited tourist sites in the city.
Planning Your Trip To Istanbul
The Blue Mosque consists of a large central dome with 8 secondary domes surrounded by 6 tall narrow minarets and inside the mosque, you can
