Dolmabahçe Palace is a historical palace located in the Besiktas district of Istanbul. It was built between 1843 and 1856 as a residence for the Ottoman sultans and served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire.
The palace is home to several important landmarks, including the Harem, a secluded section of the palace that was reserved for the sultan’s family and concubines. The palace also features a collection of European and Ottoman artwork and furniture, as well as a large collection of crystal chandeliers and clocks.
The palace was designed by the Ottoman architect Garabet Balyan and his sons. It has a total of 285 rooms, 43 halls, 6 baths and 68 toilets. The palace was also home to several famous Ottoman sultans, including Abdülmecid I and Mehmed V.
Today, the palace is a popular tourist destination, attracting an estimated 3 million visitors annually. It is also a popular spot for locals, with many shops, restaurants, and cafes located nearby.
The Galata Tower is a medieval stone tower located in the Galata district of Istanbul. It was built in 1348 as part of the fortifications of the Genoese colony in Constantinople. The tower stands at a height of 63 meters and offers stunning views of the city.
The tower has been used for various purposes throughout history, including as a watchtower, a prison, and a fire lookout. Today, it is a popular tourist attraction and features a restaurant and observation deck on its top floor.
Galata Tower has been a major tourist attraction in Istanbul and in recent years, the tower has undergone renovations and restoration work. In 2020, the tower was closed for restoration work and reopened in October 2020.It is an important cultural and historical landmark in Istanbul and is widely recognized as a symbol of the city. It is visited by millions of tourists every year.
1- Döner Kebab: Thinly sliced meat (usually lamb or chicken) cooked on a spit and served in a sandwich or wrap with vegetables and sauces.2- Lahmacun: A thin, round piece of dough topped with minced meat, vegetables, and spices.3- Köfte: Meatballs made from ground lamb or beef and spices, often served with rice or vegetables.4- Pide: A Turkish-style pizza made with a thin, oval-shaped crust and topped with various ingredients such as meat, cheese, and vegetables.5- Börek: A savory pastry made with thin layers of phyllo dough and filled with meat, cheese, or vegetables.6- Iskender Kebab: Thinly sliced lamb or beef served over pieces of pide bread and topped with a tomato sauce.7- Turkish Delight (Lokum): A sweet confection made with sugar, cornstarch, and flavorings, often served with a dusting of powdered sugar.8- Baklava: A sweet pastry made with layers of phyllo dough filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with honey or syrup.
Çamlıca Tower officially became the tallest building in Istanbul and all of Turkey after its opening in May 2021. It quickly became a popular tourist destination as a result of its fantastic location on a high hill with a stunning view of Istanbul. On the top floor, you can enjoy a cup of coffee in the restaurant.
Çamlıca Tower
2- Grand Çamlıca Mosque
Istanbul’s Grand Çamlıca Mosque is located at Çamlıca Hill, undoubtedly one of the most well-known and popular locations in the city. It is situated on the Asian side of the city. The view of the city’s other side, the European Side, is straightforward from the mosque’s terrace. Grand Çamlıca Mosque opened in March 2019 and currently, it is the largest mosque in Turkey with 63,000 worshipers at a time. Using public transportation, you can get to Çamlıca mosque from Kadıköy and Üsküdar.
Çamlıca Mosque
3- Galata Tower
The magnificent Galata Tower, one of Istanbul’s top tourist attractions and a constant feature of the city’s silhouette, is situated in the city’s center, you can go up to the tower to see the Golden Horn. You can take the M2 metro line, T1 tram line, or any of the city’s numerous buses to get to the tower.
Galata Tower
4- Pierre Loti Hill
The historic Eyüp Sultan Mosque and Cemetery in Istanbul’s top part is known as Pierre Loti Hill. A cable car departs from the area immediately outside of Eyüp Sultan Mosque and takes passengers to the hill from where they can view the city and the Golden Horn. One of the most popular tourist destinations is the hill with its numerous cafes and eateries.
Pierre Loti Hill
5- Süleymaniye
The best place to view historical Istanbul is Süleymaniye. It is one of the best places to observe the city and take pictures because of the Süleymaniye Madrasa, where the Süleymaniye Mosque is located, and its terrace. Using the M2 metro line or the T1 tram line will get you to the Süleymaniye Area.
Süleymaniye Mosque
6-Rumeli Fortress
One of the city’s castles, Rumeli Hisarüstü, is a great place to take in the city and the Bosphorus while also making some memories. For your photo shoots, the hill provides a panoramic view of the Bosphorus. By bus, it’s simple to travel to Rumeli Hisarüstü from Beşiktaş.
Rumeli Fortress
7- Sapphire Observation Deck
Sapphire, Istanbul’s second-tallest tower and the city’s tallest shopping center, also features a sizable viewing terrace. This is going to be an excellent choice for an Istanbul experience where you can feel the ground beneath your feet on the observation terrace on the 54th floor. To get to Istanbul Sapphire, you can take public transportation M2 metro line.
sapphire
8- Nakkaştepe Park
One of the highest points from which to view Istanbul is Nakkaştepe, which is situated in Kuzguncuk, the city’s historic district on the Asian side of the city. You can spend hours admiring the European side of the city, the Çırağan Palace, Yıldız Park, Ortaköy, and more. You can easily reach Nakkaştepe from Üsküdar.
After Mecca and Medina, the Eyüp Sultan Mosque in Turkey is one of the most revered places among Muslims.
The mosque is titled after Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari, whose tomb is located in the same place. He was one of the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Companions. The Place of the Grave was determined by Akşemsettin, the master and mentor of Mehmed the Conqueror, in 1453, right after the conquest of Istanbul and five years later, the mosque was built there.
Since its build, the mosque has maintained its significance. In the Ottoman era, the coronation ceremony took place here, and most sultans visited the Eyüp Sultan tomb as their final stop before engaging in combat. Today, both locals and tourists frequently visit the mosque.
Eyüp Sultan Tomb Visiting Hours and Days: The tomb is open to visitors between 09:30 and 16:00 every day.
Pierre Loti Hill: During your visit to Eyüp Sultan Mosque, there is a cable car and stairs that run from the Golden Horn’s shore to the top of the Pierre Loti Hill, and also by drinking a Turkish coffee and Golden Horn view you can get rid of your tiredness.
How to get to Eyüp Sultan Mosque using public transportation:
You can use 99A and 33ES bus lines (Eyüpsultan Stop) or T5 tram line from Eminönü.
You can take 55T bus line (Eyüpsultan Stop) from Taksim or 55 (Eyüpsultan Stop) bus line from Şişli.
Eyup Sultan Mosque Location:
Pierre Loti Cable Car Location:
Golden Horn – HalicGolden Horn – HalicEyup Sultan MosqueEyup Sultan MosqueEyup Sultan MosqueEyup Sultan MosqueEyup Sultan MosqueEyup Sultan Mosque
Ortaköy is one of the most popular districts in Istanbul. It also has one of the best views of Bosphorus Bridge. You can walk around Ortaköy Mosque and enjoy eating Ortaköy’s famous dish; kumpir (staffed baked potato) at the coast. We recommend walking the coastline towards Bebek.
Emirgan Park
Stroll along Emirgan Park. With its walking tracks, restaurants, picnic areas, playgrounds, festivals and an amazing Bosphorus view through centuries old trees, Emirgan Park has everything you need for a sunny Istanbul afternoon. The park is especially lively during annual Tulip Festival, held in April each year.
View from Camlica Hill
Çamlıca Hill is one of the highest hills in Istanbul and has a breathtaking view. If you want to spend a day in a calm and green atmosphere Çamlıca Hill is the great choice.
Maiden’s Tower
Üsküdar coast walkway offers a great view of the famous Maiden’s Tower.
Gulhane Park
If you have plans to visit Topkapı Palace, make sure to have a walk in Gülhane Park and Sarayburnu coast afterwards.
Spice Bazaar
Take a walk through the famous old bazaars of Istanbul in Eminönü district.
Istiklal Street
Walk down Istiklal Street to explore historical buildings like Narmanlı Han, Flower Passage…
Karaköy Galataport Project
Karaköy is one of the most historical districts in Istanbul. It is a popular destination for both locals and tourists with its third wave coffee shops, art galleries, restaurants and cool designer shops.
Istanbul Princes’ Islands
Princes’ Islands is the perfect destination when you want to escape hustle of the city. Since they are car-free, they make the best place in İstanbul to explore on foot.
Istiklal Avenue is one of the best places to see and feel the spirit of İstanbul. It is a pedestrian street located in Beyoğlu district; between Taksim Square and Galata and a great attraction for tourists and a favourite meeting spot for locals. That is why it is almost always filled with crowds.
With its modern shops located in 19th century Neo Classical and Art Nouveau buildings and nostalgic trams actively carrying passengers up and down the street all day; Istiklal is a spot where you can witness the fusion of old and new in İstanbul.
Here are some spots you shouldn’t miss:
Museum of Illusions, Madame Tussauds, Historical Çiçek (Flower) Passage, Saint-Antoine Church, Church of the Holy Trinity, Pera Museum, historic Atlas and Beyoğlu Cinemas. A ride on the Nostalgic Tram is also highly recommended. From art galleries, historical buildings and churches to lively cafes, restaurants, shops and cinemas İstiklal Avenue has it all. So make sure you make a visit and enjoy both the culture and liveliness of the city.
The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 3,000 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily.
Mahmutpasa Bazaar is a shopping street in Istanbul, Turkey. It is located in the area between The Grand Bazaar and Eminönü. This market area, with copious small shops on both sides of the main street, is a symbol of cheap shopping in Istanbul. The bazaar hosts 256 shops.
Grand Bazaar (Covered Bazaar)Grand Bazaar (Covered Bazaar)Grand Bazaar (Covered Bazaar)
The Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar)
The Spice Bazaar is one of the largest bazaars in the city. It is the most famous covered shopping complex after the Grand Bazaar. Spice Bazaar has a total of 85 shops selling spices, Turkish delight and other sweets, jewelry, souvenirs, and dried fruits and nuts.
Grand Bazaar (Covered Bazaar)Grand Bazaar (Covered Bazaar)Grand Bazaar (Covered Bazaar)
Eminönü
This is the heart of the walled city, the focus of a history of incredible richness. Eminönü covers roughly the area on which the ancient Byzantium was built. The Galata Bridge crosses the Golden Horn into Eminönü and the mouth of the Bosphorus opens into the Marmara Sea.
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