10 things you should do in Istanbul

Get ready to discover the city of Istanbul, where the past meets the present and the East meets the West. Here are the top 10 things to do in Istanbul. Witness the history: Hagia Sophia Ayasofya-i Kebîr Cami-i Şerîfi (Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque), one of the most magnificent Istanbul visiting places, is ready to mesmerize you. Here is a historical building from 537 to the present! Yes, it is huge and stunning on the outside but the magic kicks in when you step inside. Amongst many places to visit in Istanbul, it is the one you will spend hours gazing into its miraculous interior with astonishment. If you would like to be in a place where history cannot wear out, the first stop on your list is certainly here! Hagia Sophia will take most of your time in Istanbul travel by its unending grace. You will definitely understand as soon as you take a step inside how important it is to visit this magnificent structure, one of the must-see places to visit in Istanbul. Spices, carpets, gold: Grand Bazaar Turn your route to a bazaar in Istanbul for a short trip to the Ottoman period! The Grand Bazaar, which is the first market that comes to mind when talking about Istanbul, invites you to a visual feast. There is no better place to talk with local people than the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Türkiye. Also, Grand Bazaar is an excellent choice for shopping lovers because it is home to more than 4000 shops. It sounds crazy, but it's right on the mark! You can buy a carpet for the corner of your home where you spend the most time, or you can choose gold jewelry for yourself. It is possible to find everything you are looking for here! Bosphorus What comes to mind first when you talk about Istanbul visiting places? Something is where blue and green meet, connecting the two sides: The Bosphorus! It will be good for everyone to spend some time in this exquisite strait that connects the Anatolian and European sides. Whether you prefer a boat tour or a ferry trip with the locals. It doesn't matter, the experience and excitement of all of them are completely different! Let's tell you a secret! Before getting on the ferry, definitely buy a bagel because the first thing to do in Istanbul is undoubtedly eating simit and feeding the seagulls! Dolmabahçe Palace The last signature of the Ottoman Empire to Istanbul: Dolmabahçe Palace! This place, rising on the edge of the Bosphorus with traces of western architecture, will make you fall in love with both its interior and its view. This magnificent area served as a port where navy ships were anchored and performed maritime ceremonies during the Ottoman period. Afterward, it was used as a royal garden belonging to the sultan and the dynasty. So, it is possible to find many impressive traces and photos from Ottoman Period. Next stop: Delicious Turkish cuisine Are you looking for a refreshing stop? Here is the answer: Turkish Cuisines! Istanbul sightseeing, no doubt, will be quite bustling. After you walk around the vibrant streets of Istanbul enough, you will look for somewhere to sit and enjoy a beautiful evening with delicious treats. Istanbul welcomes taste enthusiasts with its wide range of dishes from traditional Turkish cuisine to modern world cuisines. Topkapı Palace You are in the place where the sultans ruled the Ottoman from Topkapı Palace for exactly 400 years! This is definitely an unmissable stop on historical Istanbul sightseeing. Throughout its own history, Topkapı Palace was all Ottoman sultans' home as from Mehmet the Conqueror. It was also the administrative, educational and artistic center of the empire. Especially Baghdad and Revan Pavilions, with their extraordinary interior architecture consisting of İznik tiles, are the must-see legacies! Today, it has an exhibition where it has shown Ottoman weaponry, jewels, and artifacts, but it's known for its stories, to be honest. Once upon a time, many sultans, prominent courtiers, and famous concubines lived in Topkapı Palace. So if there is a place to learn incredible stories in Istanbul for tourists, it is definitely Topkapı Palace. I believe I can fly: Galata Tower Have you ever heard of Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi's story? According to the Ottoman explorer Evliya Çelebi's famous work, Seyâhatnâme (Travelogue), Hezârfen Çelebi, who climbed up the Galata Tower to make all of our dreams come true, left himself down from the tower with his big wings in 1632! And flew across the Bosphorus and landed at Doğancılar in Üsküdar, 3558 meters away! Although this story is according to the legend, it is still precious to leave places you visit by knowing their stories. So, climb up the tower to witness the breathtaking view of Istanbul from the exact source of this story! Like all the great cities globally, Istanbul has its own love story too and this story is between two towers. Galata Tower and Maiden's Tower. Another emotional aspect of Istanbul for tourists is here. As heartwarming as this story can be, it's still mandatory to visit them to feel the romanticism of Istanbul travel. Princess Islands Another one of the places to visit in Istanbul is the Princess Islands! The most popular ones are Büyükada, Heybeliada, Burgazada, and Kınalıada. These cute islands that line up throughout The Marmara Sea will fully take one day of your Istanbul trip! Unlike the places like Topkapı Palace and the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul (where local artisans will shout as loud as they can to make you notice them), the Islands are surrounded by peaceful silence. Be sure that after a joyful ferry journey, you will feel nature more deeply than ever before. It sounds good, right? If you are ready to bike a little, watch the sea, and have a picnic, do not forget to add the Prince's Islands to your list of things to do in Istanbul. We said that finishing the places to visit in Istanbul would not be easy! Another must-see architectural masterpiece in Istanbul is ''Yerebatan Sarnıcı'' which is known globally as 'Basilica Cistern.' Locals named this structure this way because of its intriguing illusion of infinite columns. Can you imagine that all of İstanbul's water demands are fulfilled from here? But this is the truth; this cistern has provided water to İstanbul for years! There is another thing you will come across as you stroll among the pillars: an upturned Medusa statue. Sounds a little scary and mystical! It's dark underground atmosphere also helps you escape the heat of the summer in İstanbul. Time travel: Archeology Museum After traveling to the Ottoman period in the Topkapı Palace and Dolmabahçe Palace, it would be an excellent choice to go to the ancient period! Istanbul Archaeological Museum is home to about a million artifacts from various cultures, brought from the imperial lands. One of those things to do in İstanbul visiting is definitely to join a short history tour here! We strongly advise you to visit this place as soon as it opens because it will take a full day of your İstanbul trip.