Best things to do in the unique city of Istanbul8 min read
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Are you considering a trip to Turkey? You can’t go to Turkey and not visit its largest city – Istanbul – the capital of multiple ancient empires.
Here are the 10 best things to do in Istanbul, Turkey.
Hagia Sophia
The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque is a masterpiece in the history of architecture. This is the most important monument of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires.
If we look back at the Hagia Sophia history, it was built as a Christian church in the 6th century under the Byzantine emperor. Then it became a mosque, a museum, and a mosque again. You can still see the reflection of these religious changes on the building in the forms of minarets, inscriptions, and mosaics
Remember, this is an active place of worship. Visitors need to be mindful of the dress code. Make sure to cover your upper arms and legs. Women need to wear a headscarf before entering the mosque. Hagia Sophia is open to visitors every day from 09:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Remember to check the website for updated times and fee details before your visit.
Basilica Cistern
Just across the street from the Hagia Sophia, you can visit one of the largest ancient cisterns beneath the city of Istanbul. A cistern is nothing but an underground water container. But this is not any ordinary water container. It is considered an engineering marvel.
The Basilica Cistern went through the most comprehensive restoration to strengthen the city’s largest closed cistern against the possible Istanbul earthquake. It has a water storage capacity of 80,000 tons. There are 336 columns in the cistern with 12 rows containing 28 columns. While taking a stroll at this unusual tourist attraction, don’t forget to notice an upside-down Medusa head.
Basilica Cistern is open to visitors daily from 09:00 am to 11:50 pm. Visitors can purchase tickets online or from the museum counter. Check the website for updated information.
Blue Mosque
Located just a short walk from Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque is another iconic historical monument you can’t miss. This Ottoman-era mosque is known by its official name Sultan Ahmed Mosque. You will be mesmerized by its beautiful interior walls decorated with thousands of hand-painted blue tiles. It has six minarets which distinguish this mosque from any other Ottoman-era mosques. This is still a working mosque and therefore it is closed to tourists during prayer time. Remember to dress respectfully during your visit.
Topkapi Palace
Peek into the history of the Ottoman Empire with a visit to the Topkapi Palace Museum. Topkapi Palace hosted 20+ sultans and their families for 4 centuries. You can see all types of unique artifacts here like thrones, suits of armor, weapons, and precious gemstones. Don’t miss the legendary 86 caret Spoonmaker’s Diamond – the fourth largest diamond in the world.
Topkapi Palace is open every day except Tuesdays from 9 AM to 6 PM during summer and 4.45 PM during winter. You can buy your tickets online or at the entrance. Tickets come with an audio guide to help you understand the history and artifacts in the museum. Check the website for the latest information.
Bazaars of Istanbul – Grand Bazaar & Spice Bazaar
Do you know Istanbul is home to one of the world’s largest and oldest covered markets? Experience the chaos of the Grand Bazaar located in the heart of the city. You can easily spend a few hours here just strolling through the maze of thousands of small shops. You can’t resist making several stops along the way to look at Turkish rugs, colorful lanterns, and several types of antiques. Don’t forget to polish your bargaining skills before you visit Grand Bazaar.
Another market worth visiting during your trip to Istanbul is the Spice Bazaar, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar. Back in the day, this was the hub of incoming exotic spices from far-off places like India, and South-East Asia. Anyone who loves to eat or cook needs to visit this colorful and vibrant place for exotic spices. Some of the things you can consider buying here are different types of spices, teas, dried fruits, Saffron & Turkish Delight.
Galata Tower
Galata Tower- originally built as a lighthouse, now serves the best panoramic view of the city of Istanbul. This is another important historical architectural landmark in Istanbul representing the Byzantine and Ottoman architectural patterns with the reflection of medieval era craftsmanship. If you want a unique perspective on the beauty and heritage of Istanbul, a visit to this tower is a must.
Whirling Dervish Show
The ‘whirling’ ceremony also known as the Mevlevi Sema ceremony is a ritual performed to bring participants closer to God. This ritual begins with the recitation of Islamic prayer. The dervishes then remove their black cloaks and start spinning gracefully in their white skirts. They perform the seven-part Sema ceremony accompanied by traditional music. During the ceremony, they enter in a trance-like state spinning faster and faster. This is a religious ceremony, hence photography and videography are not allowed during the show. UNESCO has recognized this ceremony as the ‘Heritage of Humanity’. Book your tickets for one of these ceremonies for a unique experience.
Taksim Square – Istiklal Street
Hang out at Taksim Square where the Independence Monument stands tall celebrating Turkey’s Independence journey. Explore a bustling 1.4 km Istiklal street that begins at Taksim Square. You can hop on the vintage red tram to take a ride or stroll along the vibrant street to feel the Istanbul energy. This is also a great place if you are a foodie or love to do some shopping along the way.
Bosphorus Cruise
Escape the city crowd to sail and view the best sights along the Bosphorus Strait. Bosphorus Strait is a natural waterway connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It divides Istanbul into European and Asian sides. Cruising on the Bosphorus offers plenty of opportunities to witness the city’s several iconic landmarks, palaces, and waterfront mansions. Along the way, you will see Dolmabahce Palace, which was home to the Ottoman Empire after they abandoned the Topkapi Palace. This is a great way to just relax and take in Istanbul’s views.
Turkish Bath
A Turkish Bath is also known as Turkish Hamam. This is a form of public bathing that originated in the Ottoman Empire culture. The Hamam experience will usually start with a unique Turkish massage, followed by a steam experience in a hot room to prepare your skin. After spending 15-20 mins in a hot room, you will enter a bathing area where you lie down on a marble platform.
Your bath will begin with a full-body exfoliation using Kese – a special type of glove designed to remove dead skin from your body. At this stage, the attendant gives you a full body scrub. Accompanied by a body wash with soap foam and warm water to rinse off the lather.
Once the process is complete they will give you a clean pestamal (traditional towel) to wrap around your body. You will be offered some drinks in the resting area to keep you hydrated. Most of the Hamams have very beautiful interiors with spacious areas. Make sure to take some time out for this unique experience when in Istanbul.
3 Days Itinerary Istanbul
Here is how you can split these experiences into a 3-day trip.
- Day 1
- Hagia Sophia
- Basilica Cistern
- Blue Mosque
- Whirling Dervish Show
- Day 2
- Topkapi Palace
- Galata Tower
- Taksim Square – Istiklal Street
- Bosphorus Cruise
- Day 3
- Grand Bazaar
- Spice Bazaar
- Turkish Bath
