Things To Do Istanbul

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Places To Visit In Istanbul

Istanbul Archaeology Museums

Istanbul Archaeology Museums is an incredible museum complex of 3 buildings that houses archaeological collections of more than 1 million items. It contains collections of items dating back thousands of years from ancient Mesopotamia, pre-Islamic Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula. This expansive museum provides an amazing perspective to the archaeological finds of the Ottoman empire. Divided into three separate museums, the exhibitions are really captivating. As soon as you enter, you'll come across the Museum of the Ancient Orient on your left. The artefacts include several statuettes, an inscription which is often regarded as the oldest love poem in the world, dating back to the 8th century BCE, the Yarkapi Sphinx, and the inscription of the Treaty of Kadesh, the oldest known treaty to man, among several other things. The main building of the museum is the large and magnificent Archaeological Museum, which houses the majority of the collection. It is home to a large collection of statuary and sarcophagi. It has several exhibitions on various regions of the Ottoman Empire, dating back to prehistoric times. The Alexander sarcophagus, the Sarcophagus of the Mourning Women and the Tabnit sarcophagus are some of the most popular pieces of art in the museum. And there are several more statues, artefacts, inscriptions, coins, and many other things from all periods of civilization. The Tiled Kiosk Museum is home to collections from the Seljuk and Ottoman empires when Islam established itself firmly in the region. It houses items very important to Islamic history such as the Tile Mihrab, the beautiful Candle Hanger, and several other artefacts decorated with patterns made from Iznik tiles. Read More

Isktiklal Caddessi or Istiklal Avenue is the busiest street in Istanbul filled with a long stretch of cafes, restaurants, shopping centres, bars, cinemas and galleries. Estimated to have been visited by over 3 million people on the weekends, it is the best way to experience the vibrant, hustling side of the city. Located in the heart of the city, the avenue houses so many recreational activities that it is a favourite place to visit by the residents of the city. Even a stroll along the avenue would fascinate you to the very end and leave you asking for more. The road stretches for 1.4 km from Taksim Square and finishes the Galata Tower, and a full day is needed to explore this crowded street. Hundreds of stalls and vendors line up along the street to serve to billions of people. Street food is favourite among everyone for its low cost and authentic flavours. Some of the most loved dishes include simit, durum, tantuni, mussels, pilaf and borek.Several restaurants and cafes are also located that are usually filled with people and you might witness a waiting queue. Some of the must try restaurants are : Lades Menemen Restaurant (popular for turkish breakfast)Fish and Meat House (seafood)Mandabatmaz (turkish coffee)Divan Brasserie360 IstanbulParole Cafe Read More

Miniaturk is a fascinating miniature model park of Turkish buildings. It is one of the largest such parks in the world. It is a representation of some of Turkey's most important buildings and has a total of 122 models, on a 1:25 scale. This innovative park was opened in 2003 to the public. Of the models in the park, 58 are from Istanbul, 52 from Anatolia and 12 others from old Ottoman regions now outside Turkey. Apart from that, the park also contains pools and waterworks of Turkey. It's truly a fascinating visit and is sure to keep you busy for a few hours, and if you couldn't visit any important building during your visit to Turkey, you can still get a picture with it! Read More

The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art is an art museum situated in the Fatih district’s Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul, Turkey. Located in the former palace of Pargalı Ibrahim Pasha, it is Turkey’s first museum to feature both Turkish and Islamic art together. The museum is filled with collections of manuscripts and inscriptions in calligraphy, Islamic paintings, traditional handwoven and detailed fabrics, and ancient artefacts. It is also famous for the best rug collection in the world, with some being rare 13th-century Seljuk carpets. Dating back to the 15th century, the museum building is one of the oldest surviving buildings to this date. The museum’s first floor is dedicated to traditional Turkish life and the second floor to Islamic art. It houses over 40,000 works of art from different parts of the Islamic world; they belong to different periods such as the Emevi, Abbasi, Timurid, Safavi, and Ottoman periods. There are about 17,000 manuscripts here, along with 3,000 Qurans, 2,50,000 early Quranic fragments from Damascus’ Umayyad Mosque as well as a large hall dedicated to ethnography which provides a glimpse into the daily life of 19th century Istanbul. It has other collections featuring Holy Relics, Islamic calligraphy, paintings, tiles, stone and terracotta artefacts, glassware, wooden carvings, metal and ceramic objects and more. Moreover, the museum’s terrace provides an excellent view of the Blue Mosque. Read More

The Suleymaniye Mosque is the largest mosque in Istanbul. It took 7 years to build till 1557 and is an iconic landmark of the city. The interiors of the building are simple yet breathtaking. The Suleymaniye Mosque is another imperial mosque in Istanbul. It was built by Mimar Sinan, widely regarded as one of the best architects of the era. The mosque complex has several buildings that were built to serve as hospitals, Quran and primary schools, public baths and others. It has a massive courtyard with 4 minarets on each corner, and the main mosque has a main dome surrounded by many smaller ones. The colonnade style is extremely pronounced, with marble, graphite and porphyry columns adorning the exterior of the mosque. The Iznik tiles are used minimally but enough to subtly add to the aura. The mihrab, like the other imperial mosques is made out of marble, and is extremely understated in it's beauty. The buttresses were incoporated into the walls, with colonnaded galleries which make the mosque more spacious. The woodwork too isn't over the top, and you can see the efforts put into making the mosque simplistic yet splendid. Read More

This huge and beautiful Sultan Ahman Mosque sits right opposite the Hagia Sofia and houses hundreds of thousands of detailed decorations. It is famous for its blue interiors and is also known as the Blue Mosque. It is Istanbul's most picturesque building, complemented by the breathtaking architecture inside. The mosque was built by Sultan Ahmed in 1616 as a show of Ottoman power. The mosque gets its unofficial nickname from the fact that it has more than 20,000 blue Iznik tiles adorning the interiors, displaying many stunning designs. There are upwards of 200 stained glass windows for natural lighting, all showcasing different patterns and works. The mihrab itself is beautifully carved out of marble. On the outside, the mosque has a collection of domes and 6 towering minarets. It has a huge courtyard which gives you a perspective of the grandeur of the mosque. The mosque is still commonly used for worship and is closed for tourists or visitors during the 6 prayer times in the day. Read More

The Topkapi Palace is a majestic building which served as the main residence of the Ottoman emperors for nearly 400 years. Today it serves as one of the most important museums in Istanbul. It contains some of the rarest items in the world. Though the complex has several hundred rooms, halls and chambers, only the most significant of them are open to the public This huge complex is divided into several sections and places of interest. Mainly, these are the First Courtyard, which you enter when you cross the Imperial Gate of the palace; the Second Courtyard, which has things like the Imperial Carriages, the Palace Kitchens and their collections, the Imperial Stables and Treasury, and the Gate of Felicity; through the Gate of Felicity you enter the Third Courtyard, which has the Miniature and Portrait room containing portraits of the Sultan, the Audience Chamber where the Sultan would meet and receive gifts from his subjects, and the Enderun Library, which was the library of Ahmed III, among other chambers; the Harem is perhaps the most important of these, it was the main area of residence of the Sultan and has 6 floors of which only one is accessible, and contains a ton of important chambers, courtyards and many rooms; and then there is the fourth and final courtyard, which has many pleasure pavilions and also a terrace restaurant. This huge complex is a great way to gain some perspective on the extravagant lives that the Ottoman rulers lived. Read More

Üsküdar is a region in the Asian side of the city with less of concrete and more of nature. The city is home to half a million people and surrounded by Beykoz on the North, Umraniye on the east, Kadikoy covering the south and Bosphorus on the west. All these surrounding cities are large metropolis, contrary to Üsküdar which is more like a country-side. The small empty streets, beautiful parks, less crowded markets and a collection of history, Üsküdar is the place for all the peace and nature lovers. So close to other touristy cities, yet so far from the metropolis culture, a visit to this place will definitely make you connect with the local cultures and make you view Istanbul in a different way. Read More

Also called Fortress of the Seven Towers and the Dungeons of the Seven Towers, Yedikule Fortress is one of the oldest forts of Istanbul. Located 3 miles south-west from Sultanahmet, it is quite popular among tourists for its dreadful history and fantastic views. Initially, the walls and four towers were created by Theodosius I and Theodosius II respectively during the Byzantine reign as the Golden Gate. The other three towers of the monument were built in the 15th century when Mehmet took over the empire of Constantinople. The seven towers were erected to serve as the place for treasury and archive, with the Sultan spending most of his time here. Several valuable goods of monetary importance were stored here such as golden and silver coins, preserved documents, military arms and other precious objects. The tall towers and the high gates and walls were created so as to avoid any attacks or theft. However, in the 16th century, the function of the treasury was passed on to the Topkapi Palace and the Yedikule fortress then served as a prison for acclaimed convicts. Several schools and quarters were built after it stopped functioning as a prison however destroyed over the course of time. An open-air theatre was built to attract cultural activities and performances. Read More

With over 180 stores and a parking space for 2,400 cars, the Capacity Shopping Center is located on Fişekhane Caddesi, nearby Paşabahçe Capacit. Situated near the airport, it is one of the most visited malls in Istanbul, with a variety of retail stores and a fantastic food court.