martin keane
A list of the "most-do" things in Istanbul + guides and other tips on sites, eating and accommodation. There is a lot to do, I've picked my favourite 10.
Istanbul - Topkapi Sarayi
The Palace housed the sultans from 15th- to 19th century, while also being the home of thousands of imperial servants. The Palace is located in the heart of the historic district and overlooks the city and sites including the Sea of Marmara, Golden Horn and Bosporus. Inside the palace it is possible to se the treasury jewels, tiled harem chambers and kiosk.
The spice bazaar in Istanbul is the best I've been. A lot of shops to buy a huge variety of spices. It is recommended to walk around and look for big shops which have the best quality and service. They even put in a vacuum sealed package to carry to your home country.
The Rüstem Pasha Mosque was designed by Ottoman imperial architect Mimar Sinan for Grand Vizier Damat Rüstem Pasha (husband of one of the daughters of Suleiman the Magnificent, Princess Mihrimah). Rüstem Pasha died in July 1561 and the mosque was built after his death from around 1561 until 1563.
Hagia Sophia is a great architectural beauty and an important monument both for Byzantine and for Ottoman Empires, Hagia Sophia Istanbul, Dan Brown Inferno
The Basilica Cistern "Sunken Palace", or "Sunken Cistern", is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul (formerly Constantinople), Turkey. The cistern, located 500 feet (150 m) southwest of the Hagia Sophia on the historical peninsula of Sarayburnu, was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.
The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts was the first museum in Turkey to bring together works of Islamic art. It was founded in 1914 as the Museum of Islamic Foundations and housed in the Imaret building of the Süleymaniye Complex, built by the great Turkish architect Sinan in the 16th century.
Labyrinthine market of more than 3,000 shops established in 1461 by Mehmet the Conqueror. More than 50 streets of jewelry, textiles, pottery, glazed tiles, bronze, leather, carpets. Head for the heart, İç Bedestan, once the area harboring the most valuable goods. Tip: Impress hospitable shopkeepers by requesting Turkish black tea (normal çay) instead of touristy apple tea.
Set atop a hill in Gülhane Park, just meters from Topkapı Palace, the Archaeology Museum Complex boasts one of the world's most stunning collections of ancient artifacts. At the height of its power, the Ottoman Empire stretched across major sections of Europe, Asia and Africa, so it should come as no surprise that countless treasures have found their way to Istanbul.
All about Suleymaniye Camii, the Mosque of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent in Istanbul, Turkey, and how to visit it, by Tom Brosnahan
Kariye Museum (The Chora Church), Istanbul: See 2,061 reviews, articles, and 569 photos of Kariye Museum (The Chora Church), ranked No.2 on TripAdvisor among 596 attractions in Istanbul.
During my stay in Istanbul I stayed at Radisson Blu Bosphorus Hotel, Istanbul. it's a stylish hotel located in bustling Ortakoy. For me the convenient location made it perfect for both the business I was doing and for sightseeing. In one week I managed to see the 10 location on this plus 2-3 other sites.
