Istanbul

Istanbul
Istanbul is one of the oldest cities in the world. It has hosted the Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman empires and has seen many different cultures. The Bosphorus, which connects the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea and separates Asia and Europe, is of great geopolitical importance. You should definitely read and get to know this city before discovering it. Istanbul is an encyclopedia. It's like a corpus. That's why it is necessary to explore this beautiful city once again.
Brief Information About Istanbul
♥ The highest point of Istanbul is Aydos Hill in Kartal district.
♥ Tünel metro, located at the end of Istiklal Street, was built in 1875 and is the 3rd oldest metro in the world. (According to some sources, it is also referred to as the 2nd metro.)
♥ There are 3,600 stores in the Grand Bazaar. With this feature, the Grand Bazaar has the title of Turkey's largest covered bazaar.
♥ The oldest mosque in Istanbul is the Arab Mosque in Karaköy.
♥ When Mehmet the Conqueror conquered Istanbul, America, Australia and Antarctica had not yet been discovered.
♥ The four bronze horses that adorn the San Marco Cathedral in Venice today were stolen from Istanbul by the Crusaders in the 13th century.
♥ Agatha Christie wrote her novel "Murder on the Orient Express" in Istanbul Pera Palace Hotel.
Istanbul Travel Guide
You can explore the places listed in the Istanbul travel guide with both day trips and complete Istanbul tours. By participating in Istanbul tours with alanyasunnytours, you can see many places to visit in Istanbul with experienced guides.
Historical peninsula
Our first cultural assets to be included in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List were the Sultanahmet Urban Archaeological Site, Suleymaniye Conservation Area, Zeyrek Conservation Area and Istanbul Territorial Waters Conservation Area, located in Istanbul and called the Historical Peninsula. Istanbul, which is among the world capitals visited by many civilizations, empires and cultures, is a museum in this respect.
Topkapi palace
Topkapi Palace is one of the symbols that make Istanbul Istanbul. Located in the center of the Historical Peninsula and used as the administrative center for 400 years of the 600-year history of the Ottoman Empire and where the Ottoman sultans lived, Topkapi Palace still manages to be the heart of Istanbul with all its splendor. Topkapi Palace, one of the most established historical buildings in the world and built by Fatih Sultan Mehmet in 1478, continues to be used as a museum today. Topkapi Palace, one of the richest museums in the world, attracts great attention from tourists regardless of weekdays or weekends. Topkapi Palace Museum, one of the most visited museums by local tourists, contains works from different collections such as the cardigan-i saadet circle, holy relics, imperial treasury, European porcelains, sultan robes, silverware and portrait collections. Topkapi Palace, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, has four courtyards and a harem room. Rare miniatures and calligraphy from the Ottoman period and the Spoonmaker's diamond located on the Enderun Courtyard side are among the most interesting works.
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia Museum, the oldest cathedral in the world and considered the eighth wonder of the world, hosts guests from many parts of the world every year and is one of the most visited museums in Turkey. Hagia Sophia Museum, built as a church by the Byzantine Emperor in 325, was built by Sultan II. after the conquest of Istanbul. It was converted into a mosque by Mehmet. Taking its name from the word Hagia Sophia, meaning "sacred wisdom" or "divine wisdom", the Hagia Sophia Museum is one of the buildings that has remained a place of worship for the longest time in the world, as it is until today. It has been a place of worship for 15 centuries. Hagia Sophia Museum, which is among the masterpieces of the world of art history and architecture, is used as a museum today and is a reason to take an Istanbul tour in itself.
Sultanahmet Square and Sultanahmet Mosque
The most historical point of Istanbul is undoubtedly Sultanahmet Square. The history of Sultanahmet Square, which hosts tourists from many parts of the world every day, dates back to the Roman Period. Another name for Sultanahmet Square, which was used as a hippodrome in its history, is also known as Horse Square. The first notable stop in Sultanahmet Square, where many events, sports competitions and shows are held, is Obelisk. The obelisk located in the middle of Sultanahmet Square was erected to divide the hippodrome into two. The racers circle around this stone 7 times and the first one to reach the starting point wins the race. The Obelisk, which stands out among the obelisks, was brought from Egypt in 390 and erected in its current location in exactly thirty-one days.

Basilica Cistern
Located in the Historical Peninsula, the Basilica Cistern is one of the most important places that should be included in your Istanbul trip. Basilica Cistern, which is the largest closed cistern in Istanbul and attracts attention with its mysterious atmosphere, is directly connected to Hagia Sophia and its entrances are made from here.
Grand Bazaar
There is one place that will never be forgotten to be included in the Istanbul travel guide list, and that is the Grand Bazaar. It is located in the most historical part of Istanbul. It has the title of one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. The Grand Bazaar, which has approximately 4,000 shops, also hosts 91 million tourists a year. This feature makes it the most visited tourist attraction in the world.
The Egyptian Bazaar
The Spice Bazaar, located close to the Grand Bazaar, should definitely be on your list for your Istanbul travel guide. Spice Bazaar attracts attention with its hundreds of different spices. In the Spice Bazaar, which attracts great interest from tourists, there are different products such as herbals, natural mixtures and plant roots.
Istiklal Street
Istiklal Street, which was called Büyük Street during the Ottoman period, has maintained its title as the most famous street in Turkey since the late 19th century. Istiklal Street, where the starting point is the Ataturk statue, forms a historical walking route that extends to the Tünel and then to Galata and from there to Karaköy. The symbol of Istiklal Street, which is the first place visited by local or foreign tourists coming to Turkey, is the nostalgic red tram.
Galata tower
Galata Tower, one of the oldest towers in the world, is one of the first stops on your Istanbul trip. Galata Tower was first built as a lighthouse by Emperor Justinian. Galata Tower, which was destroyed during the Crusade, is being renovated again by the Genoese. Galata Tower, which came under Ottoman rule in 1453, was used as a fire observation tower during this period. You will also learn the legends about the tower during your daily Istanbul tours to the Galata Tower, located at the end of Istiklal Street, the most central point of Istanbul.
Galata bridge
Galata Bridge, which connects Karaköy and Eminönü, is also a symbol that should be included in the Istanbul travel guide. Galata Bridge, which is a bascule bridge with a length of 490 meters and an 80-meter section of which can be opened, has the distinction of being one of the rare bascule bridges in the world where trams pass over it. The foundation of Galata Bridge was laid in 1845 and it became one of the symbols of Istanbul.
Maiden's Tower
If you think of the Maiden's Tower when you see the Galata Tower, congratulations, you have become a real Istanbul traveler. Maiden's Tower, the symbol of Üsküdar, is the only work remaining from the Byzantine Period in this district. There are so many rumors and legends about the Maiden's Tower, located off Salacak on the Anatolian Side of Istanbul... The most famous legend is as follows... The news goes to the Byzantine king that his daughter will die after being bitten by a snake. The king builds a house on the island where the Maiden's Tower is located and closes it to prevent his daughter from being bitten by snakes. However, a young officer falls in love with the king's daughter. One day, the young officer prepares a bunch of flowers to present to the princess. A snake hiding in the bouquet of flowers poisons the king's daughter to death. Thus, the name of the tower began to be known as Maiden's Tower.
Rumeli Fortress
Rumeli Fortress, a beauty located on the Bosphorus, is one of the places to be included in the list for a trip to Istanbul. Rumeli Fortress, located in the district of the same name in Istanbul, was built by Fatih Sultan Mehmet. The reason why the fortress was built was to prevent attacks from the north of the Bosphorus before the conquest of Istanbul. The place where the Rumeli Fortress is located, facing each other with the Anadolu Fortress, is the narrowest point of the Bosphorus. Rumeli Fortress, which has the largest bastions in the world, was completed in 90 days.
Anatolian Fortress
We need to go to the Anatolian Side of Istanbul to see the fortress of the same name located in the Anadolu Hisari district. Anadolu Fortress, built by Yıldırım Bayezid, is located in the narrowest part of the Bosphorus, like the Rumeli Fortress opposite. Do not leave Istanbul without seeing the Anadolu Fortress, located right on the banks of the Göksu River.
Pierre Loti Hill
Pierre Loti Hill, a hill overlooking the Golden Horn in the Eyüp district of Istanbul, is also included in the Istanbul travel guide. You can enjoy a magnificent view from Pierre Loti, named after the French novelist and orientalist Julien Viaud. Eyüp Sultan Tomb is also located on the hill overlooking the Golden Horn skies. During your Istanbul tour, stop by the tea garden on the hill and take a tea break.

miniaturk
Miniaturk is one of the most unique stops in the Istanbul travel guide. Models of various works in Turkey are exhibited in this area. It is possible to see exact but small versions of many symbolic places in Miniatürk, which is located on the Golden Horn and is the largest miniature park in the world. You can visit the whole of Turkey by going to Miniatürk, which sets out with the slogan 'A Small Model of the Big Country'.
Dolmabahçe Palace
Dolmabahçe Palace, built by Sultan Abdülmecit between 1843-56, was built in Baroque style with Western influence. The palace, which has an elegant architecture, hosted 6 sultans from 1856 to 1924. Mutafa Kemal Atatürk also used the palace between 1927 and 1938 and died here.

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