Things to do

Hop – About Istanbul

Bosphorus Bridge at night

Several means of transport are available to get you around the city. Taxis are economical, safe and better than driving yourself because the traffic is very chaotic. The only trouble with taxis being that most drivers don’t want to charge by the meter and some amount of haggling for the price of the journey may be required. The Istanbul Metro has two lines which do a good job of connecting the most important parts of the city. Taking a tram is also a good idea if you are not going a long distance and if you plan to spend at least 2 days in the city, buy an AKBIl or a Smart Ticket – a small electronic device that can be used on different public transport vehicles.


Ferries ply between the European and the Asian sides of the city and take about 20 minutes. Buses are a good way to see the city and you can choose between the blue-green private buses or the IETT-run red-blue buses. As a tourist, the T4 bus connecting Sultanahemt to Taksim Square would be most useful. However, the cheapest and the best way to get around Istanbul is the Dolmus – these are shared cabs that run on fixed routes.

The Splendor of Istanbul

Inside Hagia Sophia

Start your tour of the European side of Istanbul with a visit to the Hagia Sophia or the Aya Sofya in Sultanahmet Square. Dating from the sixth century this was originally a basilica constructed for the Byzantine Emperor Justinian and is a masterpiece of Byzantine engineering with an enormous 30 m diameter dome covering what was for over 1000 years the largest enclosed space in the world. The basilica was plundered in 1204 during the fourth Crusade, and became a mosque in the 15th century when the minarets were added. It was turned into a museum in 1930's. Move on to the Topkapi Palace in Bab-i Humayun Caddesi, the imperial enclave of the Ottoman emperors for three centuries and lavishly decorated, with four courts of increasing grandeur. Visit the State Treasury in the second court in the entrance to the Harem for its weaponry display. The third court is home to the Imperial Treasury, various Islamic and Christian relics, rugs and delicate china.

The Blue Mosque

You cannot leave Istanbul without visiting the Sultanahmet Mosque at Meydam Sokak. More popularly known as the Blue Mosque, it has six minarets and breathtaking architecture. Unlike Hagia Sophia, this is still a working mosque; entry is through the courtyard on the SW side. Dress appropriately - no shorts or bare shoulders, or carry a shawl or stole.

At the face of it the Basilica Cistern or the Yerebatan Sarnici in Yerebatan doesn't sound very impressive, but this giant underground cistern built by Justinian in 532 to provide water to the city in cases of siege, and later consecrated as a basilica, is one of the most fascinating places to visit in Istanbul.

The Hippodrome

The Hippodrome, adjacent to the Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia was the center of Roman and Byzantine Constantinople, and is a great place to begin one's tour and to people watch. The building no longer stands, but the obelisks and sculptures that have been collected here since Theodosius' time in the fourth century remain. The Galata Whirling Dervish Hall or the Galata Mevlevihanes in Galipdede Caddesi is a dancing hall of the mystical Mevlevi order, shut down in 1925 along with all other 'reactionary' movements in Turkey. Today the building houses the Museum of Divan Literature. Try to visit on a Sunday when the sema dervish ceremonies are staged.

Your visit to Istanbul will be incomplete without spending an afternoon at The Museum of Archeology. It is one of the best places to go to in Istanbul and has a great collection of Sumerian tablets, pieces of the wall of Babylon and Roman marble statues. While chasing museums, also go to the Museum of Modern Art At Karakoy which is famous for its contemporary installations.

Make some time for a guided tour of the Ottoman Palace centered close to Taksim at the Dolmabahçe shore. Build on 110,000 meter square ground with 285 rooms and 43 halls where the Ottoman Empire was administered in the last 150 years. Also see the Galata Tower and Chora Church at Edirnekapi – a 1000 year old Byzantine church.

Beylerbeyi Palace

On the Anatolian (Asian) side of the city one of the most popular places to see is the Beylerbeyi Palace, lying under the legs of the Bosphorus Bridge. The palace was built between 1861-1865 by Sultan Abdulaziz and you can only enter as part of a guided tour.

The Princes' Islands lies on the southeast of Istanbul, and consists of 8 islands, Buyukada being the largest of them all. This is one of the best places to get away from crowds and noise of the city. You can enjoy swimming, stay at the old wooden villas and have a picnic in a scenic spot. Rent a bike or take a horse carriage route around Buyukada or Heybeliada. The rest of the islands are; Heybeliada, Burgazada, Kinaliada, Yassiada, Sivriada, Tavsan Adasi and Yassiada.

Maiden’s Tower

The Asian side is also famous for The Maiden's Tower. Also known as the Kiz Kulesi, the tower is in the Uskudar coast where you can drink tea at the coast during day or dine inside the tower itself. There is also a tour that tells the legend of the maiden where the tower's name comes from.

The Bazaars

Shopping is Istanbul is an experience that will come back to you time and again much after you have left this wonderful city. Walking around the winding roads in the bazaar, soaking its musical sounds, its vibrant colors and the smells can transport you to pages of the Arabian Nights. Exploring the bazaars can spring surprises and the possibilities of what you can find here are limitless.

What you will get at the bazaars can never be guessed upon, as the possibilities are limitless. As long as bargaining is second language to you, there would always be a place for you in Istanbul’s markets. The markets that you absolutely must visit are the Grand Bazaar, the Egyptian market and the Flea market in Beyazit Square where you can find the best of what Istanbul has to offer. You can choose from the best layout of things to covet from Alabaster to wood inlaid work, from antiques to garments. Buy the best quality of homegrown wool and cotton and beware of merchants selling branded clothing – most of it is fake.

Grand Bazar

For those interested in old prints, maps and books complete with the musty smell, Istanbul’s markets are like Disneyland. Other interesting purchases to take home are: Brass and Copper articles for home décor, Beautiful handmade carpets and seccade, exquisite ceramics called faience or colored tile work, traditional heavily wrought jewelry and intricately worked items, Kilims in appealing earthy colors and outstanding designs, leather apparel, a wonder stone called Meerschaum, which is carved out to make small trinkets as well as showpieces and small utility items. Also invest some in fine silk shawls, scarves and other garments and intricately worked wood inlaid objects d'art are available but it needs careful buying.

The best place to start is the Grand Bazaar with its 4000 shops. It comes as a surprise to a lot of people that the market place actually extends to the surrounding areas of the Grand Bazaar and the 4000 shops is a mere fraction of the whole picture.

Try Nuruosmaniye Caddesi, east of the bazaar for exquisite jewelry and lookout for the fine art boutiques that hide in the little side streets off it. The Egyptian Spice Market, the boutiques and shops of Beyoglu and the trendy shops of Nisantasi scream for attention and exploring these is a wonderfully romantic experience. Also try the numerous modern shopping complexes here and there around the city.

Istanbul at Night

More visitors come to Istanbul looking for the Blue Mosque and carpets; the city’s nightlife catches them by surprise. Today Istanbul offers every kind of entertainment, right from traditional male-dominated birahanes to techno and rave nightclubs, with new venues opening by the week. As a result, Istanbul's nightlife is quickly gaining recognition as one of the liveliest in Europe.

Cicek Pasaj

An authentic Turkish experience can be combined with a raucous nights drinking at one of Turkey's meyhanes. These tavernas serve raki, beer and wine, along with an awe-inspiring selection of mezes (starters), succulent kebabs and fruits of the season. The most famous meyhanes in Istanbul are located in the Cicek Pasaj in Beyoglu.

Birahanes are more basic, with the beer taking precedence over the food. Turkish women rarely enter birahanes. Although foreign women are tolerantly expected to break all the rules, and will usually be made feel welcome, it is advisable not to go to such all-male preserves alone.

For those who want to see something more exotic, many nightclubs offer "Oriental shows" with sequined bellydancers, troupes of Russian or Romanian dancers, and flashy cabaret singers. Most of these shows are quite tame and sanitized, although the visitor should beware of the seedier style pavyon.

In the past few years Western-style bars and cafes have become the place to see and be seen. Opening hours are long; most bars stay open until 2:00 am and some keep going until 4:00am or later. You can also find several rock bars that offer live music, usually bands performing covers of popular rock classics from Pink Flyod, The Who and Led Zeppelin, alternating with the latest disco mixes.

The Istanbul Itinerary

Start your day at the Sultanahmet Park before moving on to the Blue Mosque. The Blue Mosque looks like a celestial beauty in the sky that can still be seen with the sun’s earliest rays shining off it. Next, move on to Aya Sofya that is close by and from there take a walk along the ancient Roman road, Divan Yolu, to enter the Grand Bazaar from its southern end, so you travel with the foot traffic downhill towards the Golden Horn.

On your way you will encounter the glittering gold arcade and merchants selling chintz and carpets. Stop off at the gorgeous pink Zincirli Han and look around some more in the Grand Bazaar – you never know what gems you may find in here. If you want to be like the locals, skip shopping at the Grand Bazaar and snake off to Tahtakale…try to avoid weekends as all of Istanbul decides to go shopping on Saturdays and Sundays. From here you can head over to the Istiklal Caddesi along Beyoglu’s teaming promenade.

Beyoglu is the heart of modern Istanbul and home to a thriving arts scene, bars, and some of the best restaurants in the city. You haven't seen Istanbul until you've explored Beyoglu.

That may not be too many places and you sure haven’t touched even a single museum, but just ambling around the city, without a plan and preferably with a loving partner or a friend can be the most thrilling, romantic and refreshing experiences of your life. Give a miss to the usual Museum, Monument and Gardens Brigade and really feel the soul of the city.

Finally, you can choose one of the hundreds of restaurants in Istanbul for dinner; we suggest: Haci Abdullah, before heading down Sofyali Sokak. Nightlife options are endless – choose whatever catches your fancy because you can be sure, there would be something new to do tomorrow.