If you are in Istanbul for the first time, you are probably busy drawing up a trip plan, looking for what you need to see, you think how to miss anything … Sake time and just use the guide from our travel-expert, who knows everything about the famous Turkish city.
Istanbul is located at once on two parts of the mainland – in Europe and Asia. This is a city of majestic mosques, palaces and cozy streets, on which the ancient architecture of different eras has been preserved: the Roman Empire, Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire.
How to get from the airport to the city
From the airport to the city center (Sultananmet district), it is most convenient to get on shuttle. Travel time will be about 1.5 hours. The fare is 18 TL.
An alternative optimal way is a taxi. A trip to it will cost from 100 TL.
Where to stop
We have selected for you several options for living in Istanbul, different in cost and class:
- Tayahatun Hotel
- Rumows inn
- Hotel Poem
Sultanammet Square: Blue Mosque and St. Sophia Cathedral
The first thing to do after you relax from the flight is to go to Sultananmet Square. This is the heart of the city. Here are two of the most important cathedral and symbols of Istanbul: Ayia-Sofia and the Blue Mosque.
The blue mosque is acting, so you need to get dressed in accordance with it: clothes should completely cover their arms and legs, and girls need a scarf to cover their hair. For tourists at the entrance, skirts and scarves are offered, but it is better to take care of special clothes in advance.
The mosque is closed several times a day for prayer, which can be present on.
Address: Sultan Ahmet, Atmeydanı CD. No: 7, fatih/̇stanbul
Official website: Sultanahmet Camii
Having passed through the park, you will get to the second known attractions of Istanbul-the Cathedral of St. Sophia (Ayia-Sofia). The cathedral has been in the hands of the Byzantines, Ottomans, and now he serves as a museum. The entrance there is paid, the ticket cost is 72 TL (children under 8 years old – for free).
Address: Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya Meydanı, Fatih/İstanbul
Official site: AYA SOFYA
Near Ayia-Sofia there is a non-tourist mosque Sultan Ahmet Türbesi. It is worth going into it to look at the magnificent painting of walls and ceilings.
Basilica tank and Feodosia Cistern
The tank of the basil is a former underground reservoir, decorated with columns. Here is the sculpture of the head of the gorgon jellyfish, and bridges are laid above the water. All space is beautifully lit by lanterns.
Ticket cost: 20 TL
Address: Alemdar, Yerebatan CD. 1/3, Fatih/̇stanbul Official website: The Basilica Cistern
In Istanbul there is another tank – the tank of Theodosius. It is smaller in size, but no less interesting, while it is visited by much fewer tourists. The atmosphere is created by quiet music. The entrance is free.
Address: Binbirdirek, Piyer Loti CD. No: 25, fatih/̇stanbul
Grand Bazar
Grand-Bazar is perhaps the most colorful place in the city. On 50 streets are hundreds of shops selling traditional Turkish goods and unpretentious gizmos. In their arsenal, Turkish carpets, oriental lamps, handmade furniture, jewelry and sweets. Here you can plunge into the atmosphere of the eastern bazaar and buy souvenirs. The main thing, do not forget to bargain.
Address: Beyazıt, kalpakçılar cd. No: 22, Fatih/̇stanbul
Topkapi
Visit the former Palace of the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire – Topkapi. The complex includes the premises where the Sultan lived and worked and was located its harem, as well as gardens. Still on its territory are the ruins of the Church of St. Irina, preserved from the Byzantine times.
Ticket cost: to the museum – 72 TL, 42 TL in the territory of the harem, and the ticket will cost 36 TL to the church of St. Irina. For children under 8 years of age, the entrance is free (except for the premises of the harem).
Address: Cankurtaran, 34122 Fatih/̇stanbul
Official site: Topkapi Sarayi
Bosphorus and golden horn
To look at Istanbul from the side, go to the cruise at the Bosphorus. From a ship floating along the shores of the city, you will open a beautiful view of its sights, palaces and fortresses.
We advise you to go on a morning or dining cruise with Bosphorus Cruise. The duration of the trip will be about 4 hours, and the ticket cost – 30 EUR.
Galata tower
The most famous sightseeing site of Istanbul is the ancient tower of Galata of the XIV century, which is visible from almost all points of the city. In the past, the tower was used as a prison, and now from its balcony, located at an altitude of 61 meters, you can inspect the city and the Bosphorus Strait.
Ticket cost: 35 TL
Address: Bereketzade, Galata Kulesi SK., Beyoğlu/̇stanbul
The Sultan Palace Dolmabahche
In a picturesque place on the shore of the Bosphorus is the magnificent Palace of Dolmabahche. Its walls were a house for 6 sultans of the Ottoman Empire. Here you will see luxurious halls, harem premises and gardens with an amazing embankment.
Be sure to go around the palace from all sides and admire its architecture from the gate, opening the entrance to the territory from the Bosphorus Strait.
Ticket cost: 60 TL for entering the main halls of the palace and 40 TL for entering the territory of the harem.
Address: Vişnezade, Dolmabahçe CD., Beşiktaş/̇STANBUL
Yıldız Park
Not far from Dolmabakhche, a green city park with ponds, streams and hanging bridges is broken. In summer, flowers grow along the alleys, and under the trees you can hide from the heat. Although the park is quite large and it will not be difficult to find a quiet secluded place in it, we still advise you to go there on a weekday to feel the atmosphere of peace and the spirit of nature.
Address: yıldız, beşiktaş/̇stanbul
Near the park on the Bosphorus embankment is the elegant Palace of Chiragan. Now his building belongs to a five -star hotel, but it is quite possible to look at it from the side and take a walk along the picturesque embankment.
The Asian side of Istanbul
Istanbul on the side of Asia cannot boast of a variety of attractions and historical architecture, but it is worth going here to look at the non -tourist city and feel the rhythm of the life and life of local residents.
To look at the interesting architecture of this part of the city, go to the bright mosque of Mihrimma Sultan, the ceilings of which are decorated with a pinkish-green Islamic painting and stained glass windows.
Miniature
Outside the center of Istanbul, you can look at reduced copies of Turkish cities and attractions in the Park of the miniaturk. Here, detailed mini copies of architectural masterpieces are represented by the time of the Roman Empire, Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire, which are in reality located throughout Turkey.
Ticket cost: 15 TL
Address: örnektepe, ̇mrahor cd. 7/1, beyoğlu/̇stanbul
Official site: miniaturk
Black Sea
If you are traveling in the summer, do not miss the chance to swim. Istanbul is located near the coast of the Black Sea. The beaches here are sandy, and the entrance to the water is gentle. We offer to go to the beach Tırmata Balık and Beach. For 40 TL for an adult and 20 TL for a child on weekdays, you can soak down under the sun, lying on sun loungers. There is a restaurant on the territory, and to get to the beach, you can use the transfer that goes from the HacıSMAN metro station at 10:00.
By the way, a paid beach surrounds many free. For example, the neighboring Suma beach.
Princess Islands
The Princess Islands are a corner of nature and a suburban atmosphere in the Marmary Sea. There are no cars, and travelers and local residents transport public transport in the form of carriages with horses. You can also rent a bicycle. The archipelago consists of four small islands, the main of which is the island of Buyukada with the city of Adalar. Arriving here, go for a walk along his narrow streets, drowning in flowers. The city has preserved houses in the Victorian style and wooden buildings. Between the islands you can move freely on boats (VAPUR), which depart from the main marinas.
How to get: from the pier Eminönü in Istanbul, ferries go to the islands. Travel time will be about 1.5 hours. The ferry stops at the berths of all four islands. To get to the main one, go out at the fourth stop. The ticket will cost 7 TL.
Expert advice
- To plan movements in cities and between them, use the Rome2rio service.
- Use the offline cards Citywalks.me and Maps.me.
