ISTANBUL
Istanbul: a city of contrasts
A place where East meets West and old meets new, one of the most fascinating, inspirational & historic city in heart of Turkey.
So, you have a lot to cover :)
1- Visit The Blue Mosque
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, or the Blue Mosque as it is commonly known, is truly a sight to behold. This grand mosque is made up of five main domes and six slender minarets and the interior has been decorated with over 20,000 handmade tiles which are colored blue. When visiting the Blue Mosque, you are given scarves to cover your head, ( we suggest dressing modestly for your visit to the mosque)
2- Marvel at Hagia Sophia
The Hagia Sophia reveals a timeline to Istanbul’s religious history. Formerly an Orthodox Cathedral from 532 to 1453, the building was then converted into a Mosque, until it became secularized in 1931 and turned into a museum. It is still technically considered to be the world’s second largest cathedral and is an awe-inspiring display of giant domes and intricate mosaics.
3- Get a taste of a royal life at The Topkapi Palace
Topkapi Palace provides a fascinating look into the history of royals in Ottoman Empire. There is a lot to explore on the premises, including a treasury for the crown jewels.
4- Test your bargaining skills at the Grand Bazaar
Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is a place for serious shoppers. With more than 3,000 shops and covering an estimated 61 streets, this place is dizzying yet so worth a visit. You’ll notice that some streets specialize in certain goods with those shops selling nothing but leather, silverware, carpets, ceramics or spices. There will be lots of glittery things to catch your eye
5- Go underground at Basilica Cistern
This incredible underground cistern is unlike anything you’ve seen before. The cistern, which was originally built in 532 to bring drinking water into Istanbul, was constructed using 336 columns, mostly salvaged from ruined temples. Be sure to check out the column with a magnificent-looking Medusa head on its end.
6- Enjoy the view from Galata Tower
Located in Beyoğlu, this tower looks like it would be better suited as Rapunzel’s home in a fairy tale. There is something magical about the pointed cylindrical roof, and the views from the outer balcony are breathtaking.
7- Go to the Maiden’s Tower
There is much debate about the story behind this tower which sits on a small islet located at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus. Local tale says that the tower was built by a wealthy man who was trying to protect his daughter from a prophecy spoken by an oracle – a prophecy foretelling the death of the man’s daughter by a snake bite. To prevent these words from coming true, the father built a tower to keep his daughter safe in the water. Of course a snake would eventually find it’s way to the tower when the father came to visit with a basket full of fruit.
Below are my favorite places I’d like to visit when I am in my hometown (Istanbul). Benjamin also tried majority of these hot spots :)
Following you can find some of the biggest and fanciest shopping centers in Istanbul. We picked the ones at the European side, thus very easy to reach by bus, subway, or taxi. Oh yes, as a rule of thumb, we can say that they are open between 10 am and 10 pm.
Zorlu Center is the newest addition to Istanbul’s shopping mall scene. They put the focus on gourmet, with shops and restaurants such as Eataly, Jamie Oliver’s Italian, Tom’s Kitchen and Morini, as well as local restaurants. They also have a great selection on retail shops.
Address: Zorlu Center, Beşiktaş – Istanbul
Kanyon is a four-story shopping has 160 stores among which Turkey’s and the world’s most selected brands, gourmet restaurants, cafes, a health and sports club and movie halls.
Address: Büyükdere Caddesi No:185
Istinye Park offers a variety of outdoor and glass roofed indoor sections such as a green central park, Fashion District, street side shopping, a kids’ entertainment center of 1.500 sqm, Hillside Sports and Leisure Club, The Bazaar — an area inspired by historical Turkish architecture — and 12 movie halls, one of which being IMAX 3D.
Address: İstinye Bayırı Cad. No: 73, Sarıyer – Istanbul
-How Much and When to Tip in Istanbul ?
As a rule of thumb, you are expected to tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafés and bars. Hotel staff expect, depending on their duties, between 5 to 20 Turkish Liras for their services. Turks don’t tip taxi drivers, but round up cab fares. The staff prefers to receive Turkish Liras, both notes and coins are fine. Foreign currency is appreciated too, as long as it is paper money and not change. Foreign coins cannot be exchanged into Turkish Liras.
-Istanbul Money Strategy: Cash Or Credit Card?
Credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants, bars and stores, but there are occasions that require cash money.For instance, taxis and public transportation don’t accept credit cards, nor do street vendors or market stands. A lot of sightseeing venues won’t allow credit card payments as well.