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Sightseeing in Istanbul - what to see. Complete travel guide

East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet... wrote Rudyard Kipling in one of his poems. However, there is a place on Earth, where this wise statement simply doesn’t work, and where East and West not only meet, but also co-exist peacefully. This place is Istanbul, which lies literally on the border between Europe and Asia. Istanbul is one of the oldest cities in the world. This is the city with a rich history. During different periods of time the city was the capital of three empires - Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman. Its past is depicted in numerous monuments of history and culture, which are so numerous and widespread in Istanbul.
Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Eyup Sultan Mosque, Dolmabahce Palace, Grand Bazaar, Beylerbeyi Palace, as well as many others, they all become the world's cultural heritage objects and remain as iconic monuments for Istanbul … Open
Topkapi Palace.
Topkapi is a palace complex located on the cape bordering the Bosporus. This fact guarantees that visitors will be amazed with wonderful panoramic views. Inner premises of the palace are used to exhibit collections of several museums. The most interesting among them is the Museum of Archaeology. In addition to numerous wonderful items the museum exhibits sarcophagi, pottery, and other valuable artifacts of the Ottoman period. The main building of the complex also hosts a museum, the collection of which consists of war trophies, gifts and everyday use items. The palace’s harem can be entered only with a guide. Even though the entrance to the palace is paid, you will not be disappointed. All the buildings in the complex were created in the XV century. There is a large park around them. In this park visitors are welcome to stroll, enjoying unhurried walk under the shade of old trees.
Basilica of Hagia Sophia.
The construction of Basilica of the Divine Wisdom or Hagia Sofia was carried out in accordance with the order of Emperor Justinian in the VI century. This decision was made after the previous church, which once had stood there, was destroyed during a rebellion. Allegedly, Justinian was the one who said the famous words during the official opening of the basilica, "I surpassed you, Solomon!". Initially, Hagia Sophia was an Orthodox church. However, later it was used as a mosque. Approximately 20 years after the completion of all the construction works, the dome of the basilica was ruined in 558 due to wrong calculations of the project. The pay for this error was very costly – the architects were beheaded. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
It is hard to find a more flamboyant oriental city than Istanbul. This amazing place is also perfect for a family vacation. Children will be fascinated with numerous interesting landmarks … Open
The current dome was installed in 563. This is a true piece of an architectural art - the perimeter of the building has windows, so it looks like the dome stands on air. Over 900 years Hagia Sophia was the main cathedral of Constantinople (the former name of Istanbul). In 1453, by order of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror, the Orthodox basilica was converted into a mosque. Several minarets were attached to the building, and the mosaic featuring Byzantine saints was concealed under a thick layer of plaster. Because of this the mosaic has survived till our days.
Istanbul Ataturk was a great supporter of the idea of church and state separation. Therefore, in 1935 he made a decision to turn Hagia Sophia into a museum. This is when the plaster was removed. Arabic inscriptions dominate in the basilica, but you can find several Christian icons here, including the mosaic depicting Saint John Chrysostomos. The north wing of the building is the location of a special column made of marble and bronze. According to an old legend, the holy water trickles from the column.
Zoe Teras Lounge & Bar & Club is surely one of best restaurants devoted to national cuisine. Its tables are placed on a large outdoor terrace. The restaurant is open until late in the … Open
Sultan Ahmet Mosque.
Blue Mosque, or, as it is also called, the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet is an Islamic response to Hagia Sophia. Its architect, Mehmet Aga Sedefkar, wanted to surpass the grandeur of the Orthodox basilica, and many people believe he managed to do it. Blue Mosque was built between 1609 and 1617, almost 1100 years after Hagia Sophia. Its central dome is 33 meters in diameter and is surrounded by smaller domes.
Ortakoy Mosque of Istanbul Blue Mosque has as many as 6 Mosque minarets. Their number was supposed to symbolize the wealth of the sultan, but the fact that the number of minarets coincided with the number of minarets of the Grand Mosque in Mecca outraged the Muslim world. The sultan solved the problem by adding a seventh minaret to Blue Mosque. Inner premises of the mosque are decorated with 20,000 small tiles of blue, green and red-brown colors. The tiles were made in the town of Iznik. Blue tiles are found primarily on the protrusions and in the courtyard of the mosque. Do not forget to pay attention to the beautiful prayer niche, mihrab, carved in the wall facing Mecca. Travellers should keep in mind that the mosque is closed for visitors during prayers (5 times a day).
Residents of Istanbul have several distinct national characteristics. In Istanbul, as well as in any city in the country, the natives have great respect for religious customs and traditions. … Open
Galata Bridge.
Famous Galata Bridge is a popular place for fishing. Every day the bridge attracts tens and sometimes even hundreds of fishermen. Besides its beauty, the bridge has an important role – it connects the center of the city with the quarter of Sultanahmet, which is home to many tourist attractions. The Grand Bazaar is one of them. This is one of the largest covered markets in the world. For many tourists a visit to the Grand Bazaar is the most memorable event of the whole stay in the city. This is the place where you can find jewelry, spices, carpets, fake designer clothes. In other words, the market is able to meet the needs of any customer. There are more than four thousand shops here in total. Every day the Grand Bazaar is visited by approximately 250 - 400 thousand people. Hookah smoking is also one of the most popular tourist pastimes here.
The bulk of the massive New Mosque in Istanbul Marine excursions.
You will see numerous boats near Galata Bridge. They offer to take visitors to a boat ride to the Bosporus which flows through Istanbul and links the Marmara Sea and Black Sea. Even more importantly – the Bosporus separates Europe and Asia. The strait is rather wide - its bottleneck is 640 m in width, and the length of the strait is 32 km. The majority of excursions last approximately two hours. The boats run along the European and Asian sides of the strait, providing visitors with an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful buildings of the city from the waterside.
Istanbul - guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

City tours, excursions and tickets in Istanbul and surroundings

Reference information
Map of all shopping areas
Shopping streets in Istanbul
♥   Shopping area ' İstiklal Avenue' Istanbul, 2.1 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Shopping area ' Abdi İpekçi Avenue' Istanbul, 4.1 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Map of all castles
Survived castles around Istanbul
♥   Castle 'Rumelihisaru' , 10.7 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Anadoluhisaru' , 11.1 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Castle 'Yoros Castle' , 20.9 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Map of all art museums
Art galleries in Istanbul and around
♥   Art museum 'Rezan Has Museum' Istanbul, 0.9 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Art museum 'SALT (institution)' Istanbul, 0.9 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Art museum 'Museum of Turkish Calligraphy Art' Istanbul, 1 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Art museum 'Tiled Kiosk' Istanbul, 1.6 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   Art museum 'Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum' Istanbul, 1.6 km from the center. On the map   Photo

Sights around Istanbul from our guide 'Extreme places on Earth'

Bosporus Waterfront

From the series “The Most Beautiful Waterfronts and Embankments”
The Hekimoğlu Ali Pasha’s fountain also has to be emphasized among the other outstanding landmarks, located at the embankment. It was built in 1732. It is rather big and doesn’t look like the modern fountains. Those who like to relax in the picturesque places will like the nearby Fındıklı Park. There you will see not only spreading trees but also wonderful sculptures. The park is one of the coziest places at the embankment. People come here to read a book in a tree shade or to relax with children. … Read further

Bosphorus bridge

From the series “Unbelievable and Magnificent Bridges and Viaducts”
The importance of the Bosporus Bridge as a traffic intersection can not be assessed as high enough. More than 600,000 people travel daily across the Bosporus. Actually, the bridge connects the European and Asian parts of Istanbul. It was the first bridge to be built over the Bosporus. The only way to enter the bridge - visit the city on the day of the Istanbul Marathon. Part of the marathon path stretches across the bridge. Annually, the bridge is closed for the car transfer for one day. On the ordinary days can only drive over the bridge. The trip over Bosporus Bridge is subject to a fee. … Read further

Istanbul Cevahir

From the series “12 Largest Shopping Centers Worldwide”
The "Istanbul Cevahir" is the best place for relaxing romantic events. On the six store there are 12 exclusive restaurants with various cuisines. From their windows you will see a magnificent panoramic view of the city. There you can make a romantic evening for two or to organize a splendid banquet. Several times a year the mall changes various decorations. At the New Year’s Eve in the central hall you can see a huge artificial fee tree. If you are looking for reasonable prices, you ought to visit this mall. The prices are lower than in other shopping malls and even in nearby towns. … Read further
Car rental on OrangeSmile.com Rentals in Istanbul

Preferred to Open 9 New Hotels in 2022

In September 2022, the Sommerro hotel in Oslo will start operating in a carefully restored 1930s Art Deco building. This building is a true landmark of Frogner, a historic neighborhood of the Norwegian capital. A multi-million-dollar renovation carefully turned the largest preservation project in Norway into a modern hotel with 231 rooms, including 56 residences. Preferred will open five more hotels in 2022, namely, The Wall Street Hotel in New York, Amrit Ocean Resort & Residences on Singer Island (Florida, the US), TOA Hotel & Spa in Zanzibar, Pendry hotel in Washington, and Pendry Park City hotel in Utah. Read this

19.03.2024

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Sightseeing in regions nearby Istanbul

All about Istanbul, Turkey - sightseeings, attractions, touristic spots, architecture, history, culture and cuisine. Prepare your trip together with OrangeSmile.com - find out the 'must see' things in Istanbul, which places to visit, which excursions to take, where the breathtaking views are waiting for you. Planning your trip with this travel guide will help your to get the most out of Istanbul in few days.
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