1. Covered Marketplace or the Grand Bazaar
This marketplace is the greatest in Istanbul: there are practically 4,000 shops! It is greater to stop by it on Wednesday, when there is a sale of carpets. In fact, right here vacationers can find almost everything they want, beginning with the antiques, and ending with hookahs. Even if you do not strategy to acquire anything, just check out this labyrinth of streets, for it is a mix of sights, sounds, and scent.
2. The Spice Bazaar (Misir Carsisi)
It is a little bit calmer that the huge Grand Bazaar, but there vacationers will encounter an abundance of distinctive aromas and fragrance. You will feel yourself like in a major food retailer, and for confident you will want to finish your tour with a dinner in a single of the neighboring restaurants.
3. Basilica Cistern
The cistern was built in 532 AD, and its principal goal was to supply the city and palaces with water, which was flowing to the reservoir by means of aqueducts from the Belgrade forest. Basilica Cistern was restored in 1987, and presently the water is clean, and carps are swimming in it. The cistern is supported by 336 columns, taken from ancient temples, and two of them have the sculptures of Medusa Gorgona.
four. Hagia Sophia
It is 1 of the major sights of Istanbul. Originally it was constructed like an Orthodox cathedral, but after the conquer of Constantinople by Ottomans it was produced a mosque. Presently it is a mosque, and it improved reflects the spirit of Istanbul and its existence as the capital of the Byzantine Empire. Vacationers stop by it to see the well-known mosaics with the pictures of Christian saints. Entering the museum, it is important to place off the footwear and cap the head.
5. Topkapi palace
This palace was the residence of sultans and their families, becoming the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. It is worth you time to check out these exclusive buildings, yards, and gardens. Topkapi palace is the residence of several museums, exactly where there are exhibited china, armor, clothes of sultans and their grandees. In addition, believers can see some religious relics here.
6. Go and eat somewhere
It is a ought to to have dinner in 1 of the fish restaurants or restaurants with regular Turkish cuisine, and it is not incredibly expensive.
7. Use the transport program of Istanbul to explore its streets
Istanbul is extremely big to discover it on foot, if you are not going to stay in the old city. Go by the standard tramway, which goes up and down the Istiklal street, a pedestrian avenue, to Taksim square on the northern shore of the Golden Horn. It is the key square of shops and represents the contemporary Istanbul.
eight. The Byzantine Land Walls
The walls stretch for 4 miles from the Sea of Marmara to the Golden Horn. best food tours in Istanbul surrounded the complete Byzantine city in 420 AD, and were ruined in 1453. They are 40 feet thick, and have 96 towers and 7 principal gates.