Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and a major cultural, economic, and historical center. It straddles Europe and Asia, with one foot in Europe and the other in Asia, both geographically and metaphorically. The city has a rich history, having been the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. It is home to many famous landmarks such as the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Topkapi Palace. Istanbul is also known for its vibrant street life, delicious food, and bustling bazaars.
We visited Istanbul in October for a weekend. We arrived at Istanbul-Sabiha Gökçen Airport (IATA code: SAW). Unfortunately, our flight was delayed for 3 hours, so we landed relatively late. From the airport we took a shuttle bus to the hotel. We had booked the shuttleservive in advance through the hotel. Quickly checked into the hotel, money exchange, kebab to-go and already started our pub crawl in Istanbul – more on that below.
Accommodation
Our hotel was located in the Beyoglu district. In general, I can recommend this lively district for an overnight stay. If you like it a little quieter but very central, you can also book a hotel in the Faith district.
We stayed at the Hotel Troya: https://www.hoteltroya.com
Tepebasi Mesrutiyet Caddesi No: 45 – Beyoglu, 34430, Istanbul
Currency
In Istanbul you pay with the Turkish Lira (in Turkish: “Türk Lirası”, short: “TL”). We changed the money in exchange offices. Some also got Lira by withdrawing money from the ATM.
Security
We found Istanbul to be relatively safe. There were no negative incidents – during the day or in the evening when leaving, we never had the feeling of being at risk.
Sightseeing
We explored all the sights on foot. In Beyoglu we strolled through the alleys at the Galata tower. In Faith, in turn, there is a large number of famous sights, such as the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia.
You can also take a relaxing boat trip along the Bosphorus. On the boat we saw sights such as:
- The Dolmabahce Palace
- The Ciragan Palace
- The Bosporus Bridge
- …
Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa, Galata Köprüsü, 34425 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkei
Galata Kulesi, Bereketzade Mah. Büyük Hendek Cad. Galata, Istanbul, 34421, Türkiye
Taksim Meydanı, Taksim, Istanbul, 34435, Türkiye
Beyazıt, 34126 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkei
Yerebatan Sarnıcı, Alemdar Mah. Yerebatan Cad. No:1/3, Istanbul, 34110, Türkiye
Cankurtaran Caddesi, 34122, Fatih, Istanbul, Türkiye
Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya Meydanı No:1, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkei
Binbirdirek, At Meydanı Cd No:10, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkei
Cankurtaran, At Meydanı Cd No:5, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkei
Taksim Square
Taksim Square is a major public square and transportation hub located in the heart of Istanbul, Turkey. It is considered the city’s central point and a symbol of modern Turkey.
The square is surrounded by shops, restaurants, and hotels, and is a popular destination for both tourists and locals. It is also the starting point of the city’s main shopping street, Istiklal Avenue, and is home to the Monument of the Republic, a symbol of the country’s founding.
The grand bazaar
The Grand Bazaar, also known as the Kapalıçarşı, is one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, located in the heart of Istanbul, Turkey.
The market, which dates back to the 15th century, is home to over 4,000 shops selling a wide variety of goods, including jewelry, carpets, textiles, ceramics, spices, and souvenirs. The Grand Bazaar is also a cultural and social hub, attracting visitors from all over the world to its bustling streets, and is considered one of the most important tourist attractions in Istanbul. The market is covered by many vaulted and arch covered streets, with different sections dedicated to different kind of goods, it is also a maze with many small streets, it is a great place to find a traditional Turkish souvenirs and to experience the bargaining culture.
Hagia Sophia
If you want to visit Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, you have to enter a security area. If you have passed it, enjoy the forecourt Sultanahmet Parkı and explore one of the mosques. We had first a look at the Hagia Sophia.
It has been an inspiration for many architects and designers over centuries, and it continues to be a major tourist destination and an important symbol of Istanbul’s rich history and cultural heritage.
The Hagia Sophia is an iconic architectural masterpiece in Istanbul. It was originally built as a cathedral by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century and served as the seat of the Eastern Orthodox Church for nearly 1,000 years. After the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople in 1453, it was converted into a mosque and served as the primary mosque of Istanbul for almost 500 years. In 1935, it was turned into a museum by the Republic of Turkey and has served as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. The Hagia Sophia is renowned for its massive dome, intricate mosaics, and intricate architectural details.
Sultan Ahmed Mosque / Blue mosque
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, is a historic mosque. The visit to the Blue Mosque is free of charge. This will remain so, as the mosque is still used by believers.
The mosque is a major tourist attraction in Istanbul. Visitors can enter the mosque and admire the beautiful decoration and architecture, but should dress modestly and remove shoes before entering the mosque.
It was built in the early 17th century during the rule of the Ottoman Empire and is considered one of the greatest examples of Ottoman architecture. The mosque is named for its founder, Sultan Ahmed I, and is best known for its distinctive blue tilework, which gives it its nickname. The mosque features six minarets and a central dome that rises to a height of over 180 feet. The interior is decorated with intricate tilework, calligraphy and colorful glass windows.
Topkapi Palace
The Topkapi Palace is a historic palace. It was the primary residence of the Ottoman sultans for almost 400 years and served as the administrative and political center of the Ottoman Empire.
The palace was built in the 15th century and was expanded over the centuries to include multiple courtyards, buildings, and a harem. It is renowned for its opulent architecture and richly decorated rooms, including the Imperial Council Hall, the Treasury, and the Sacred Safekeeping Rooms, which houses the Topkapi dagger, the Spoonmaker’s diamond, and many other important Ottoman artifacts. The palace also contains a beautiful collection of Ottoman miniatures, calligraphy, ceramics, and textiles.
The palace is now a museum and is a major tourist attraction in Istanbul. Visitors can explore the palace’s courtyards, buildings, and exhibits, gaining insight into the opulent lifestyle of the Ottoman sultans and the political and cultural history of the Ottoman Empire.
Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to see this sight, but I would still recommend it.
Cisterna Basillica
The Cisterna Basilica, also known as the Basilica Cistern, is an ancient subterranean cistern.
It was built during the Byzantine period in the 6th century to provide water for the city of Constantinople. The cistern is a vast underground chamber with a capacity of 100,000 cubic meters of water, it’s supported by 336 marble columns arranged in 12 rows. The cistern was rediscovered in the 16th century and was used as a source of water for the Topkapi Palace.
Today, it is a popular tourist destination, known for its impressive size and the eerie atmosphere created by the dimly lit underground chamber. It is a unique and atmospheric place to visit, visitors can admire the architecture and the engineering of the cistern, as well as enjoy the tranquility of the underground chamber.
Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to see this sight, but I would still recommend it.
Nightlive
The nightlife in Istanbul is very diverse. Especially in the district of Beyoglu there are countless locations to party.
On our first day, we took part in a pub crawl, which we booked through GetYourGuide (https://www.getyourguide.de/istanbul-l56/istanbul-7-stundige-kneipentour-nacht-in-der-stadt-t47475/) or TripAdvisor (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293974-d5964463-Reviews-Pub_Crawl_Istanbul-Istanbul.html). The meeting place was The Tower Pub. Due to our delayed flight we reached the meeting point 30min. too late. But this was not a problem. The guides were really very nice and courteous.
We then set off with a group of about 30 people to explore the nightlife in Istanbul. We were given a welcome drink at each location. We took a shuttle party bus to the third pub, where we drank raki (Turkish liquor). One of the highlights was the Ritim Bar (https://goo.gl/maps/ccpMowDZUtfxm8d4A). There, the bar was on fire – in the truest sense of the word. The roof could also be opened and closed depending on the weather – highly recommended. Furthermore, we were in the club Beats (https://goo.gl/maps/yquXim2vukyiaB7W6).
The next day we went again to the us familiar bar The Tower Pub. After that we tried in vain to get in some clubs. As an all-male group, this is obviously difficult in Istanbul. We were then directed to a club that I would describe as rather high-priced. There we drank a few beers. At a late hour we left the club again and tried to get into another club with one of the guides from the day before. We ended up in one of the pleasant pubs with live music under the open sky.
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