The Top 12 Things to Do When Traveling in Istanbul

Topkapi Palace is a massive complex, which contains of kiosks and pavilions. Once you visit Topkapi Palace, you would be impressed with the look of the lush green courtyards. According to historical records, a large number of Sultans have lived in Topkapi Palace. Hence, you will be able to see their work that spans across multiple generations. Topkapi Palace can also be considered as one of the best places available in Istanbul for the people to visit and get a better understanding about the lives of Sultans. You can get a first-hand experience about their lives during the journey.

It is possible for you to see few underground attractions in Istanbul as well. Out of those attractions, Basilica Cistern has received much attention. Dimmed light and classical music transforms Basilica Cistern to a unique destination. It can also be considered as one of the most romantic destinations available for you to experience. Hence, you can think about travelling to Basilica Cistern along with your loved ones. The experience you gain at Basilica Cistern would be an unforgettable one and it would remain in your memories for a lifetime.

Out of museums that you can find in Istanbul, Hagia Sophia has received much attention. However, it is important to keep in mind that Hagia Sophia is a mosque in the past. It has recently been transformed into a museum. During the transformation process, a lot of restoration activities were conducted to make it look better.Archelogy that you will be able to see in Hagia Sophia is impressive. Due to this reason, it is considered as one of the greatest archeological achievements that you can find on this planet as well.

You can find a large number of museums scattered across Istanbul. Among those museums, Archaeology Museum holds a prominent place. In fact, people call it as one of the hidden gems that can be found in Istanbul as well. That’s because the Archaeology Museum offers a rich collection of antiques for you to experience. You would love the time that you spend in this museum among antiques. Out of products that are available for display at Archaeology Museum, the first surviving peace treaty can be considered as the most popular one. People who value the history and archelogy tend to visit Archaeology Museum because of its value.

This is another prominent museum available for you to visit and enjoy during your journey to Istanbul. This attraction has become much popular when compared to the other attractions that you can find around the world. You have to visit the destination, which is formerly known as Ibrahim Pasa Palace to enter Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts. At this museum, you will be able to see a large number of rooms. All these rooms focus on different aspects of the Islamic world throughout the history. Hence, you will be able to get a better understanding about Islamic arts and the history of it by visiting this museum. More than 40,000 items are available for display at the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts as well. Therefore, you will be able to spend one full day among the collectibles.

Istanbul can be considered as a paradise available for shoppers as well. You can shop till you drop at Istanbul. Out of shopping destinations that you can find in Istanbul, Grand Bazaar has received much attention. It is extremely popular among bargain hunters. Grand Bazaar is also known as one of the oldest markets to exist in the world as well. It has remained at this place for more than five centuries, while catering the needs of people. However, it is important to keep in mind that Grand Bazaar is a crowded marketplace and you will need to be ready for it while you are visiting. It is located in a large area, which covers over 60 streets. Therefore, you will be able to find more than 5,000 different shops in Grand Bazaar. It can deliver a fascinating shopping experience to you.

Most of the people who visit Bosphorus Cruise tend to go ahead and take part in a ride within the Bosphorus Cruise. This ride will provide you with the opportunity to experience the entire city with a unique viewpoint. In addition, you will be provided with the ability to explore a large number of palaces and mansions while you are roaming around within the Bosphorus Cruise. At Bosphorus Cruise, you will be provided with different options for your cruise journey and it is up to you to go forward with the best option based on your preferences.

Istanbul is a city that is blessed with a rich nightlife. Therefore, you can keep yourself awake throughout the nights while you are spending your time. A large number of events take place at Istanbul throughout the year. You can grab your favorite drink and join these events. Most of the events run till late night or early mornings. Therefore, you can keep yourself awake the entire night. It is possible for you to find plenty of open air venues and they accommodate most of the night events and concerts that take place in the city.

From the recent studies, it has been identified that Süleymaniye Mosque is another major tourist attraction that can be found in Istanbul. Among the mosques that you can find in Istanbul, Süleymaniye Mosque is the nicest and most impressive one. Hence, it attracts thousands of visitors into the city. Süleymaniye Mosque is located in a massive building. In this building, you will be able to find a hospital, kitchen as well as a school. Therefore, it would at least take half of your day to explore Süleymaniye Mosque. The time you spend in here is well worth because of the knowledge that you can acquire.

Chora Church is located in close proximity to the old city of Istanbul. It is an iconic religious building that you can see in Istanbul. The walls and ceilings that you can find at Chora Church would impress you because of the beautiful images. These images depict mosaics and frescoes. The images have been well-preserved along with time and you will be able to get a clear view of them. Chora Church is an important landmark available for the Christians to witness and enjoy, hence you would love spending your time here at Chora Church.

If you want to get stunning views of Istanbul city, Galata Tower is the ideal place to visit. By climbing to the top of Galata Tower, you will be able to get a 360 degree view of Istanbul. However, you are encouraged to select a bright day for visiting Galata Tower because you will be able to get a better visibility. In fact, people who climb to the top of Galata Tower on bright days will be able to witness Prince Islands as well. There is a restaurant, which serves delicious dishes located on the 9th floor of Galata Tower.

The best fruits and vegetables harvested in Istanbul and surrounding areas can be purchased from the local markets. Therefore, you can think about visiting these local markets during your journey to Istanbul as well. Many different food items are available to be purchased from the local market. All these food items are fresh. Therefore, you just need to spend your time to go through the available products and purchase the best ones out of them. The stallholders at local markets are friendly and they will help you with your shopping activities.