In the early eighteenth century the Ottoman poet 'Nedim' wrote in praise of Istanbul:
Bu sehr-Istanbûl ki bî-misl-ü behâdir,
Bir sengine yekpâre Acem mülkü fedâdir.
This city of Istanbul, priceless and peerless!
I would sacrifice all Persia for one of your stones!
“There, God and mankind, nature and art altogether have created such a magnificent place on earth that it is worth a visit,” Lamartine
Blue Mosque is one of the most famous, most visited and also most admired monument in Istanbul. This imperial mosque is an example of classical Turkish and Islamic art architecture. Visitors are required to abide with the dress code that open shoulders and knees need to be covered. For this, no need to worry to bring your own stuff as you will be helped at the entrance by the mosque's caretakers.
The visitors can visit at any time of the day except the prayers hours which vary in respect to local time and these are displayed at the entrance.
Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya) was built by two master engineers in the reign of Emperor Justinian (527-65 AD) in 537 AD. After the conquest the young sultan Mehmet the Conqueror proclaimed it a mosque soon after his conquest of the city 29th May, 1453.
After the establishment of the new Turkish Republic Atatürk, had this awe-inspiring edifice proclaimed a museum, as it is now.
The opening hours is from 9 am to 4:30 pm but closing time may be extended up to 7 pm in high seasons.
Topkapi Palace has served as home for the Ottoman sultans for almost 400 years, from the conquest of Istanbul up to the time when the dynasty moved to Dolmabahce Palace. The name 'Topkapi ' originates from the presence of a Cannon at the entrance, so Palace of the Cannon Gate. The palace was the heart of the Ottoman Empire ruled vast territories in three continents. It was the home not for only the sultans but hundreds of concubines, servant girls, pages, white and black eunuchs.
Treasury in the 3rd courtyard and the Harem entry from the second court yard attract more visitors than the other sections. To avoid crowd you may give them your first priority. Topkapi Palace tour will take about 1.5 hrs for a casual visit. After your tour you may sit for some drinks at the cafe in the 4th court yard facing Bosphorus.
The visitor entries is from 9 am to 4:30 pm but closing time may be extended up to 7 pm in high seasons.
Chora Museum is located very close to the main city walls on the 7th hill over looking the Golden Horn. The mosaics and frescoes found here are world famous pieces of classic art. These superb art dating 14C AD reflect the magnificent heritage of Byzantine Empire. If you have time it is well worth to include a visit to Chora Church to your Istanbul daily tour schedule.
The The easiest way to get there is to take a taxi.
Dolmabahce Palace is a European-style elegant water front palace built on the Bosphorus mouth served imperial family from 1856. The opening hours is from 9 am to 4:30 pm.
Be warned: closed on Mondays and Thursdays read more
The Boshorus is one of the most popular highlights of Istanbul. Beautiful settings and plesant constant breeze add to the pleasures of a boat trip. You can take a public ferry trip and sail up the Bosphorus for about one hour and 45 minutes. Having a luch stop at one of the water-front restaurants is a reward for those who have a special taste for fish.
The ferry goes all the way right up to Anadolu Kavagi, a village on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, and after a stop of 1.5 hours it turns back to Eminonu where it has started. If you do not want to take the same ferry back you can take a local bus. This is a recommended option if you wish to visit some of the interesting sites on the Bosphorus such as Rumeli Hisari (European Fortress).
Be warned Rumeli Hisari: closed on Wednesdays read more
Princess Islands are a group of islands off the coast of Marmara Sea. Nine islands: Buyukada (Prinkipo) , Heybeliada, Burgaz, Kinali, Sedef, Kasik, Sivriada, Yassiada and Tavsanadasi, together with the sunken member Vordonisi, seem to have the most promising contribution to highlights of Istanbul. On the islands 899 registered monuments comprised of architectural master pieces devoted to Islam, Christianity and Judaism . The lively presence of water and the indigenous “Islander” identity from centuries past have been providing inspiration for famous poets, writers and artists. Princes’ Islands, once a popular destination – along with Galata, Pera (Beyoglu) and the Bosphorus – to wealthy Istanbulites and foreigners during the Westernization era of the Ottoman Empire, will soon recover its reputation to become a famous destination for discriminating travelers.
Public ferry boats depart from Kabatas ferry dock or Sirkeci, the nearest ferry boat docks to Topkapi Palace, at 9: 30 every day for 1.5 hrs trip. read more
Grand Bazaar or Covered Bazaar ( Kapali Carsi) is ever popular shopping center in Istanbul. It was first constructed in 15th AD and is reputed to have more than 4000 shops. A Grand Bazaar tour serves well for fun and game. The bazaar is within the walking distance of Blue Mosque.
Hippodrome of Constantinople was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. Today it is merely a square named Sultanahmet Meydani (Sultan Ahmet Square) in the Turkish city of Istanbul, with only a few fragments of the original structures surviving. It is also called Atmeydany (Horse Square) in Turkish.
Monuments decorating the Hippodrome at present include the 3500-year-old Egyptian Obelisk of Theodosius, brought to Constantinople by Emperor Theodosius in 390 AD. You'll also see the spiral bronze base of a three-headed serpent sculpture brought from Delphi in Greece. During a visit in 1901, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany erected an elaborate temple-like fountain as a gift to the sultan and his people.
Istanbul Archaeology Museum consists of three museums. These are the main Archeology Museum, the Old Eastern Works Museum and the Enameled Kiosk Museum. The complex houses over one million objects that represent almost all of the eras and civilizations in world history.
The museum established as Imperial Museum was first opened to public on June 13, 1891. Besides its importance as the “first Turkish museum” it still holds its outstanding place in the World’s biggest museums with its exhibits more than a million belonging to various cultures and civilizations, from Balkans to Africa, from Anatolia and Mesopotamia to Arab Peninsula and Afghanistan the regions bordering Ottoman Empire. Be warned: closed on Mondays
Spice Market is located close to water front nearby the New Mosque. This is a bazaar where you can find numerous kind of spices, dried fruits, nuts and seeds and also many other things.
Be warned: closed on Sundays
Istanbul is not only the most populous city in Turkey but cultural and financial center as well. The old city is set on the first hill and the rest stretches mostly around the coastal belt of the sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus strait, and the natural harbor named Golden Horn. The city is famed for being the only metropolis in the world which is situated on two continents and also enjoys being the capital city of two greatest empires, the Eastern Roman Empire (330-395), ( later continued under the Byzantine Empire (395-1204 and 1261-1453), the Latin Empire (1204-1261)), and the Ottoman Empire (1453-1922).
Suleymaniye Mosque is the largest mosque in Istanbul . It was built between 1550-1557 AD during the reign of Sultan Suleyman I
Suleyman the magnificent ordered the great architect of Ottoman empire Koca Mi‘mar Sinan Aga, (April 15, 1489 - July 17, 1588)
to built a mosque appropriate to his title, whereupon the construction of the present mosque was begun on third of the seven hills, dominating the Golden Horn. The visitors can visit at any time of the day except the prayers hours which vary in respect to local time, and these are displayed at the entrance. read more
Turkish and Islamic Art Museum is housed in the Ibrahim Pasha Palace, which is often claimed to be bigger and more impressive than Topkapy Palace. The palace has witnessed many weddings, feasts and celebrations as well as rebellions and turmoil, and also has been used by Ibrahim Pasha himself and other grand viziers of the time.
The carpet section forms the richest collection not only in Turkey but also the world at large. Besides very rare Seljuk and Ottoman carpets there are prayer and animal figured rugs belonging to 15th and earlier centuries. You will see the carpets produced in Anatolia between the 15th - 17th centuries, known as "Holbein Carpet" in the West.
Be warned: closed on Mondays
The Beylerbeyi Palace is placed on the Asian side.
Be warned: closed on Mondays and Thursdays
I S T A N B U L D A I L Y T O U R
sample itinerary
This is just a sample itinerary. If wished customized
itineraries can be prepared to suit your time and interests.
At 8:30 we start the day from your hotel and visit the places in the order as numbered, unless wished otherwise.
1. Roman Hippodrome, the political and recreational heart of the Roman and Byzantine Constantinople.
2. Blue Mosque the most beautiful mosques in the city, adorned with six minarets and graceful interior tiles. You are advised to visit the Blue Mosque first then the Hippodrome because the mosque gets very crowded with the cruise ships groups, and remember also time restrictions due to prayers hours. Be warned: dress code !
These two places will take about three quarters of your time. For the mosque entry please remember that you have to abide with the dress code rules. Next on the list we have the two most important museums of Istanbul, namely Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace .
3. Hagia Sophia, the greatest achievement of the East Roman architects. With Hagia Sophia they changed the dimensions and the style of the Roman Architecture. The monument remained unrivalled for almost 1000 years. You are advised to start with the upper gallery first. Be informed: closed on Mondays !
If you wish we sit for refreshments at a lovely Ottoman styled cafe before the next visit.
4. Underground Cistern , another master piece of the East Romans. Be informed: open 7 days a week
At about 1: 30 we sit for lunch at one of the authentic restaurants in the area.
5. Topkapi Palace, residential and administrative palace of the Ottoman Dynasty for almost 400 years. After the mid 19th C the dynasty moved to Dolmabahce Palace, one of the newly built waterfront palaces which housed the imperial family and its administrative offices. Be informed: closed on Tuesdays !
After Topkapi Palace we will have completed the museums part of our tour.
6. Grand Bazaar, next is the leisurely city walking and shopping. We may visit the ever popular Grand Bazaar (closed on Sundays). City walking may be extended to cover the Spice Market or another interesting highlight in the city. After absorbing so much you may need the peace and tranquility of an authentic water-pipe cafe (nargile place) where you will find some living traces of the Ottoman social life.
Following options are available for those who have extra days in Istanbul
Bosphorus, this should be one of the musts of Istanbul visits. Sailing along the Bosphorus, viewing 19th C palaces and Ottoman-Victorian villages is well worth.
Dolmabahce Palace one of the most elegant palaces of Europe. Be warned: closed on Mondays and Thursdays !
Also you need to make reservations in advance.
Suleymaniye mosque, larger and more impressive than the Blue Mosque. Be warned: Closed to visitors due to restoration works.
Princess Islands, resort islands off the coast of Istanbul in the sea of Marmara. These islands are only one hour boat trip away from the city. They are characterized by Victorian-era houses and are free of motor vehicles. So walking, cycling, or taking a horse-driven carriage tours are among the popular activities.
Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum, a treasure-house of 1000 years of fine art. Located facing the Blue Mosque on the Hippodrome side.
Seven Towers, a group of medieval towers integrated with the Theodosian walls, used as prison in imperial times.
Beyoglu, all time popular district of Istanbul. It still reflects the romance of 19th-century Istanbul.
Rumeli Fortress, a massive fortification commanding waters of the Bosphorus, built in 1452 before the conquest.
Be warned: closed on Wednesdays ! opening hrs. 09:30-16:30
Camlica Hill, where you can have an excellent panoramic view of the whole city.
Pierre Loti Hill, a popular site where Pierre Loti often visited, a very good view of the city
I S T A N B U L C I T Y T O U R
