Istanbul is an ancient majestic city in Turkey that is situated in two continents–Asia and Europe. With its rich history as a melting pot of Eastern and Western cultures, Istanbul makes a beautiful travel destination. Because of the hundreds of places to see and visit in Istanbul, a one-day trip is honestly not sufficient. That’s why if you will be there for a short period of time we recommend you to look for Istanbul hotel booking at best rates, as well as a list of tourist destinations you definitely shouldn’t miss. From historical mosques to large bazaars, Istanbul has indeed a lot to offer! To make your travel easier, we have made a list of recommendations on the best places to visit in the city to maximize your travel time and to make your tour unforgettably special.
Blue Mosque
Built in the 17th century by Sultan Ahmet, Blue Mosque is one of the most photogenic and most famous buildings in the city of Istanbul. This mosque with fascinating architecture features six minarets, five huge domes, a large courtyard, and a number of other smaller domes. Get ready to be allured by the beautiful tilework and ornate details inside and outside the mosque! This place is still an active place of worship to date so make sure that you don’t visit during the daily prayer times for Muslim. Entrance is free, but visitors must pay respect by removing their shoes and covering their hair (for women) upon entry.
Hagia Sophia Mosque-Museum
Hagia Sophia (“Holy Wisdom”) Mosque-Museum is one of the main attractions in Turkey. Meaning to say, your visit in Istanbul would not be complete without seeing it! Having been built 1,500 years ago, it was considered as the largest Christian church and one of the biggest buildings in the world for a thousand of years. It also served as the city’s main Ottoman Mosque for so many years. In 1935, Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum. For 60 TL, visitors can see the interweaving of religious influences inside the buildings, go to the Wishing Column, and enjoy the wonderful history of the mosque through its ancient mosaics and majestic interior.
Istanbul Archaeological Museum
The Istanbul Archaeological Museum consists of 3 museums in different buildings: the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Islamic Art, and the Museum of the Ancient Orient. Together, they exhibit over a million of ancient artefacts from different time periods that reveal so much about the development of Istanbul and the country of Turkey in general. For a fee of 36 TL per head, you’ll get to see the fascinating history of Istanbul through material remains.
Grand Bazaar
Dating back to the 1400s, the Istanbul Grand Bazaar is one of the oldest markets in the world. It also houses 5,000 shops which makes it the largest indoor marketplace in the world. After mosque and museum hopping, you can go here and find just everything under the sun. From local souvenirs, hand-painted ceramics, jewellery, spices, Turkish teas, to antique furniture, you can find almost everything in this bazaar for a cheap price.
With all these recommended places to visit in Istanbul, I know you will be inspired to catch the latest plane and consider Istanbul as your next travel destination once the travel restrictions wear off. So, if you’re planning to experience the Turkish culture, a Turkish Airline flight ticket is not that expensive, and visiting this great place is an experience you won’t regret and forget.
