Istanbul,a city with old walls, makes a triangle between Europe, the peninsula, and Asia. Bosporus, Golden Horn, and the Sea of Marmara are the three seas of water on the peninsula. Istanbul is entirely a beautiful place to visit, with a lot of fun things to do in Istanbul, from its compelling (and long) history to its thriving society with delicious food and its distinct neighborhoods.
Istanbul has something for you, whether you are a history buff, a foodie, or an architecture lover, as well as merely a traveler who adores travelling through lovely neighborhoods. It is a place for all kinds of visitors and has something for everyone’s interest. Some of the places to visit if you are in Istanbul are as follows:
Whirling Dervishes
The Whirling Dervishes is a tourist attraction, a place for real worship service for followers of Mevlana. During the ritual, the Dervishes, through a trance caused by prayer, become a link between God and humans. Although high on the to-do list of tourists in Istanbul, in the end, individuals often skip this because seats get sold out. Don’t make that mistake, and book your seats well in advance.
Hagia Sophia
This wonderful church-turned-mosque-turned-museum is among the most significant architectural accomplishments in the world, making it one of the best things to do in Istanbul. The Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya) is finally scaffold-free after years of restoration work, allowing you to absorb the splendor as it was intended to be.
Standing in the middle of the breathtaking vast nave under the 43-meter-long dome, 65 meters over your head, defies belief and physics in that way. Climb the spiral ramp to the gallery and gaze at the beautiful Byzantine mosaics, like Christ flanked by Emperor Constantine IX and Empress Zoe, his wife.
Topkapi Palace
Topkapi Palace (TopkapiSarayı) is a sight you cannot afford to miss, among things to do in Istanbul, and rightly so. These kiosks and pavilions, located in lush green gardens, are where, for almost half a century, generations of sultans had their main residence.
At the top is the Topkapi Palace, where the Harem, the decorated’ cage’ of the sultan’s daughters, the treasury holding the crown jewels (including the famous Topkapi dagger), and the room of the arms enhance the fine craftsmanship of an Ottoman even though it came to making swords and arches. Don’t forget to walk to the end for amazing views of the Marmara, Bosphorus, and Golden Horn Sea.
GRAND BAZAAR
A short walk down the street will take you to a grand bazaar to experience the most thrilling shopping you will ever have. The Grand Bazaar contains more than 5,000 shops, occupying 60 avenues. It is an important center of trade that dates back to the 15th century. I can only guess how it was once, with merchants coming in from Asia and Africa and taking their exotic merchant products out of Europe to peruse. In the vast labyrinth that contains mosques, cafes, and jewelry stalls, enjoy a day by just losing yourself—among these things to do in Istanbul.
BLUE MOSQUE: One Of The Best Things To Do In Istanbul
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is the most famous site in Istanbul. A city visit wouldn’t be complete without turning a blind eye to its beauty. Because of the blue floors surrounding its interior walls, it is known by its more common phrase, The Blue Mosque. It is a functioning mosque; however, if the rules were followed, visitors could enter.
ISTIKLAL AVENUE
Istiklal Avenue is the heart of the city of Istanbul, visited by roughly 3 million people daily. The 1.4-kilometer-long footpath houses everything from movies to nightclubs and boutiques to cafés. It is among those things to do in Istanbul that will add charm to your journey. If you don’t want to walk, you can catch the historic tram to Taksim Square for a glimpse of the republic’s monument.
Sip Turkish coffee
Among the many things to do in Istanbul, one should always try Turkish coffee in Turkey. Making this tiny little cup of caffeine requires excellent preparation; however, the effort is worth it since it is one of the tastiest and most creamy coffee blends you’ll ever have.
Bosphorus Cruise
Without a Bosphorus cruise, a trip to Istanbul isn’t complete, but it is a great thing to do in Istanbul. Not only does it provide a pleasant overview of the region, but the famous waterway’s European and Asian shores also have much to offer. There are many cruises you can take: a short one (to and fro to the second suspension bridge), a lengthy one (back and forth to the Black Sea), and a summer sunset tour.
Basilica Cistern
Istanbul, with the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan), is not only fascinating above ground but also underground. This exquisite column of Byzantine engineering is a dramatic underground tank that once brought drinking water from Bulgaria to Istanbul with aqueducts. Some find it romantic with its dimmed light and classical music in the background. It brings excitement and is one of the great things to do in Istanbul.
Hippodrome
Septimius Severus opened the ancient Hippodrome in AD 203, and Constantine the Great completed it in AD 330. It is the center of Byzantine life, the site of great games and chariot races with factional disputes. There is not much of the Hippodrome left, except for the tiny section on the south side of a gallery wall.
On the northwest side is the fountain, which the German Emperor William II described to the Ottoman sultan in 1898. Next, going southwest, there are three ancient monuments: the 20-meter-high Egyptian obelisk (Heliopolis); and Constantine’s Serpent Column, carried here from Delphi. The stone obelisk, which was initially wrapped in gold-covered bronze plating until 4th Crusade soldiers stole it in 1204, is also one of the things to do in Istanbul.
Istanbul Archaeology Museum
Only a hop and jump away from Topkapi Palace, this museum brings together an amazing array of artifacts from Turkey and the Middle East, sweeping across the region’s vast span of history.
The place has three separate sections worth visiting: the Museum of the Ancient Orient, the Central Museum of Archaeology, and Mehmet the Conqueror’s Tiled Pavilion, which houses a spectacular collection of ceramic art. Don’t miss these exciting things to do in Istanbul. The display room in the main archeology museum is the main place to visit, as are all the other beautiful artifacts on display.
Spice Bazaar (MisirÇarsisi)
Spice Bazaar is the place to get lokum (Turkish delight), dry fruit, nuts, herbs, and various other spices for your food. Much of the cash that helped build it came from taxes imposed on Egyptian-made products by the Ottoman government.
That’s why its title in Turkish (Misirarsisi) implies “Egyptian Market.” Spice Bazaar is among the most famous things to do in Istanbul, and at certain moments of the day, it got ridiculously crowded with large tour groups from docked cruise ships. Try to arrive before 11 a.m. or 4 p.m.
Dolmabahçe Palace
The luxurious and ornate Dolmabahçe Palace demonstrates the apparent influence of 19th-century European decoration and architecture in the Ottoman Empire. It was built in 1854 by Sultan Abdülmecid and replaced Topkapi Palace as the sultan’s primary residence. The formal gardens are dotted with fountains, ornamental basins, and blooming flower beds, whereas the Turkish Renaissance style’s pure splendor and pomp are dazzling within and are among the best things to do in Istanbul.
Museum of Islamic and Turkish Arts
One of the most exciting things to do in Istanbul is visit the castle of Ibrahim Pasa, who has been Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent’s Grand Vizier. This museum is a must-see attraction for those interested in Ottoman and Islamic art. The collection of carpets displayed here is vast and is labeled the best in the world by textile experts. This is a prime spot to see the spectacular array of Turkish carpet types.
Carpet Museum
A trip and things to do in Istanbul are not complete without a journey to a carpet store. Head here to check out more about the beautiful heritage and carpet art before you buy a rug for your home. Housed in one of the Aya Sofya complex’s outer buildings, the three galleries will take you to the history of Turkish carpets and the dazzling array of motifs and styles from different parts of the country.
Conclusion
Thus, you can visit the place and enjoy your travels with great cab facilities. Around the globe, this place has caught attention for its history and its archaeology. It’s famous because people from far away come and love the beauty of this place. Some find it a place to gain great knowledge about various things. The connectivity is great, and you will not face any sort of problem during the whole visit as you will be in touch with the agencies, which will help you throughout your trip.
