Istanbul is undoubtedly the most popular city in Türkiye among travelers. There are so many tourist attractions in Istanbul that it is rare to be able to visit all the sights of Istanbul in one trip. In this city, from natural attractions to historical buildings and modern recreational facilities that have been built in the last few years. Definitely, anyone who travels to Istanbul with any taste and at any age will find a suitable tourist attraction for their taste. In the rest of this article, stay with Eli Gesht to know 7 of the most spectacular tourist attractions in Istanbul.
Some of the most popular tourist attractions in Istanbul
The metropolis of Istanbul consists of 39 cities, or in other words, urban areas, which are located in the European and Asian parts of Istanbul. Both the Asian and European parts of Istanbul have their own attractions and beauties, so if you decide to do a day trip in this city, it is better to prepare a list of the city's attractions first. In this regard, we intend to introduce you to the tourist attractions of Istanbul.
1- The beautiful Topkapi Palace in Istanbul
Address: Turkey, Istanbul City, Topkapi Palace and Museum, Sultan Ahmed District in Fatih Istanbul.
One of the tourist attractions of Istanbul is Topkapi Palace. This palace is located near the Hagia Sophia Mosque, which is considered one of the beautiful tourist attractions in Istanbul. Topkapi Palace was used as an Ottoman court, a residence of Ottoman sultans, a harem, and of course, the city's administrative center. This palace is actually the second palace of the Ottomans in the city of Istanbul.
Topkapi Palace has been the home of Ottoman sultans for 4 centuries and has seen 25 Ottoman sultans, from Sultan Muhammad II to Sultan Abdul Malik, they all lived in this palace. One of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Istanbul is this palace. During the rule of each sultan, a part of the palace's architecture was changed, and sometimes due to earthquakes and fires, fundamental changes were made in it. This palace was chosen as a museum by the order of Atatürk in 1924 and its doors were opened to everyone. Many parts of Topkapi Palace can be seen today, and in this palace you will be faced with many halls and many exhibitions of furniture and decorative items.
Visiting hours: every day (except Tuesdays) from 9 am to 5 pm (the ticket office closes at 4 pm!)
2- The magnificent palace of Dolma Baghche
Address: Turkey, Istanbul city, Besiktas district, Vishnezade neighborhood, Dolma Baghche St.
Another tourist attraction in Istanbul is the Dolma Baghce Palace, which is very old and was built by order of Sultan Abdul Majid I, who was the 31st Ottoman king. This palace, which has earned the title of the largest and most beautiful palace in Istanbul, is considered the largest palace in Turkey with an area of 45,000 square meters. Crystal and gold are mostly seen in the decorations of this palace and the style of the decorations are completely European.
But Topkapi Palace, which is one of Istanbul's tourist attractions, has been responsible for most of the political functions of the Ottoman government and has been used as a residence. This palace is decorated with carvings in the style of the Ottoman period and tiles from the city of Iznik. Dolma Baghche Palace has three floors and has 285 rooms, 68 toilets, 6 Turkish baths and 46 halls. In this palace, you can easily see elements of Ottoman architecture as well as traditional houses in Turkey.
Visiting hours: Every day from 9 am to 7 pm
3- Basilica reservoir in Istanbul city
Address: Turkey, Istanbul city, Fatih area of Istanbul, 150 meters away from Hagia Sophia Museum.
Basilica Reservoir is another tourist attraction in Istanbul, which means a water reservoir sunk into the earth. This reservoir is 3-5 minutes away from the Hagia Sophia Museum and is considered one of the most magnificent buildings in Istanbul. Under the city of Istanbul, you can see many ancient reservoirs, which in the distant past were huge sources for storing and supplying water to the residents of this city.
The biggest reservoir of this city is the Basilica reservoir, which is 1500 years old and was actually the cellar of a church that was designed and built in the 6th century AD, and the water of palaces and important buildings in Constantinople is supplied from this reservoir. . Today, the basilica is managed by one of the cultural organizations in the Istanbul Municipality and he is responsible for the supervision of this reservoir. It goes without saying that the doors of this reservoir have been opened to all people for a long time as one of the most beautiful and best museums in Istanbul. This reservoir, which is considered one of the most important tourist attractions in Istanbul, has hosted many international and national events and is considered one of the most important and important points of Istanbul.
Visiting hours: 9 am to 5:30 pm
4- Galata Tower in Istanbul
Address: Turkey, Istanbul city, Beyoglu district, Barkatzadeh neighborhood
The next place in the tourist attractions of Istanbul is the Galata Tower, which is built by the people of Genoa, Italy. The architecture of the tower has a completely medieval style, and its stone facade gives a special beauty and visual effect to the Galata Karakoy district of Istanbul. The current location of this tower is exactly at the confluence of the Bosphorus Bay and the north of the Golden Horn region. Galata Tower has an interesting and strange history.
At first, this tower was used to watch enemy ships and their presence in the Bosphorus Strait. But after that, this tower was used as a place to detect fires in the city. Galata Tower, which is considered one of the tourist attractions of Istanbul, is a symbol of standing up after destruction and endurance in this city. The reason for this is that the traces of history on this tower are well known over time, this tower has been destroyed many times and then rebuilt again.
5- Istanbul Grand Bazaar or Kapali Charshi
Address: Turkey, Istanbul city, Fatih district, Beyazit district.
Kapali Çarşi or Grand Bazaar of Istanbul is considered one of the oldest and of course the largest covered markets in the world, which is also known as Buyuk Çarşi or Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. This market is one of the tourist attractions of Istanbul, which represents a part of the ups and downs of this city's past and history. It goes without saying that it is a part of today's Turkish economy that has well depicted the history and past of this city.
The location of Kapali Çarşı is an area with an area of 110,000 square meters, where more than 3,600 commercial shops are located and it contains 65 alleys and streets in the city of Istanbul, for this reason it is considered the largest market in Istanbul. The interesting point is that despite the construction of large and modern malls and shopping centers in the city of Istanbul, this market is still the largest, most visited and most attractive place in the tourist attractions of Istanbul.
Visiting hours: 9 am to 5:30 pm
6- Istanbul Aquarium
Address: Turkey, European part of Istanbul, Bakirkoy district, Yeşil Koy neighborhood and near Floria beach.
Another tourist attraction in Istanbul is its aquarium, which is also known as Floria Aquarium. Istanbul Aquarium is located on the southwest coast of this city, providing a place for tourists to easily take a beautiful and unusual trip from the Black Sea to the Pacific Ocean and then the Amazon jungle. With this short trip, tourists can easily see the different species that live in these areas.
The public aquarium in the city of Istanbul, whose construction began in 2003 in the European part of Bakirkoy district, was officially opened in 2011 and began its operation immediately after the construction of the building and the collection of attractive and diverse species from all over the world. . Istanbul Aquarium, which is considered one of Istanbul's tourist attractions, is designed in each part with its own species, as well as a reflection of the originality of the same region. Basically, by visiting this aquarium, you will not only see the underwater world, but you will also get to know the civilization, culture, history, architecture, tradition, etc. of a nation and land easily. The lighting and interior architecture of Istanbul Aquarium are such that you can easily visualize the underwater world.
7- Miniature park
Address: Turkey, European part of Istanbul, Beyoglu city, Sotluje quarter, No. 34445.
Miniaturk Park is one of the tourist attractions of Istanbul that most tourists have a great desire to visit this famous park in Istanbul. Miniature Park was officially opened in 2001 as the first miniature park in Istanbul. As you probably guessed from the name of this park, this park is considered a very small model and a very beautiful replica of Turkey. In this small and attractive park, you can even see the treasures and artifacts found in this country.
The size of the miniature park is equal to 60 thousand square meters, and in other words, it is a small replica on a miniature scale of symbols, rivers and historical monuments obtained and left over from the Ottoman Empire and even places that no longer belong to the historical country of Turkey. , Is. The material used in the construction of the Turkish miniature park is made entirely of fiberglass, which can easily withstand natural factors such as wind and rain. The replicas in the miniature park of Turkey are designed and built in harmony with the main buildings and structures, and you can easily take a walk through this park, which is one of the tourist attractions of Istanbul, and have an attractive and heartwarming trip to the whole country of Turkey. Be.
8- Istanbul Carpet Museum
Address: Turkey, Istanbul city, Sultanahmet district.
Among the tourist attractions in Istanbul that we recommend you visit, is the Istanbul Carpet Museum, which is affiliated to the General Endowment Department in this city. The carpet museum is located in the Hunkar section of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. The main purpose of establishing this building was for the Sultan to talk with his people before or after performing the obligatory prayer.
Hunkar Palace, which was built at the same time as Sultan Ahmed Mosque, was established by order of Sultan Ahmed and its architect is Mehmet Agha Sadef Kar. Travelers and tourists consider this museum as another tourist attraction in Istanbul and this museum has been able to play its role in attracting tourists. In this museum, carpets collected from Turkish mosques as well as traditional and ancient Islamic places of the city can be seen. The number of carpets presented in this museum is 448, of which 62 carpets out of all the carpets in the museum are displayed in rotation and alternately.
9- Museum of Modern Arts
Address: Turkey, Istanbul city, Beyoglu district, Asmali Mosque neighborhood, Mduzolit St., No. 9934430.
Modern Art Museum in Istanbul or Modern Istanbul Museum is one of the tourist attractions of Istanbul, which is considered one of the most beautiful museums in this city. In this museum, artists introduce the cultural and modern identity of Turkey to everyone at the international and national level by sharing their arts and creations.
The Museum of Modern Arts in Istanbul was established in 2004 and officially started its activity. In this museum, which is also known as the Modern Istanbul Museum and is considered one of the tourist attractions of Istanbul, conservation, collection, display of contemporary and modern works of art, various productions in the field of photography, architecture, design, cinema and New media are created and by sharing them, an effective step is taken to show the cultural identity of Turkey.
10- Istanbul Hagia Sophia Museum and Mosque
Address: Turkey, Istanbul city, near Topkapi Palace, Sultan Ahmed neighborhood.
One of the tourist attractions of Istanbul is the Hagia Sophia Museum, where you can see the most valuable and oldest works left from the Byzantine period. This building has been used as a church for 916 years, and at the beginning of its construction and operation, it was named Megaleh Ecclesia. The meaning of this name is the great church, but later this name was changed to Thea Sophia, which means holy wisdom.
Also, the large and beautiful Hagia Sophia Mosque, which is considered one of the tourist attractions of Istanbul, was originally a place to shelter the guilty confessors, Timan, and also a place for the people and the empire to gather together. In the era before the Ottoman invasion, the building of this building was changed by the famous architects of that era and rebuilt in a more resistant way to prevent fire or earthquake. The space of this museum in the city of Istanbul is 6 thousand square meters, in its construction, very beautiful columns and rooms that have a precise and delicate harmony with each other have been used. In this building, there are 107 columns and 9 doors, the largest of which is in the middle of the building.
Visiting hours: 9 am to 5 pm
11- Sultan Ahmed Mosque
Address: Turkey, Sultan Ahmed neighborhood, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul
One of the most magnificent and at the same time the most beautiful tourist attractions in Istanbul is undoubtedly the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, or the Blue Mosque, which was designed and built by the direct order of Sultan Ahmed. With loyalty to the name of the founder of the building, this mosque was also named Sultan Ahmad Mosque, which, in addition to all its beauty, has a different and attractive feature, which is that six minarets can be seen around the mosque, which multiplies its magnificence. are Sultan Ahmed Mosque is the first mosque with six minarets in Turkey.
All the tourists of this mosque, one of the tourist attractions of Turkey, know that the exterior of the building plays a very effective role in the attractiveness of the mosque. In this mosque, there are five domes with an eye-catching arrangement and a waterfall, and 8 smaller domes rotate around them. In the western part of the mosque, which is known as the blue mosque, many interior designs and blue paintings have been used. Unfortunately, this beautiful mosque, which is one of the tourist attractions of Istanbul, no longer has blue paintings in it, and since they were not part of the decor, they were removed from it.
8:30 AM to 11:30 AM
1:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m
15:30 to 16:45
12- Sulaymaniyah Mosque
Address: Turkey, Fatih District, Sultan Neighborhood, Sidik Sami Onar.
The Suleymaniye Mosque is still considered one of the tourist attractions of Istanbul, which was established between 1551 and 1557 by the order of Sultan Suleiman I. Turkish history knows this king with other names such as the most excellent and the greatest. In this mosque, there is an inner courtyard surrounded by four minarets. The number of minarets used in the Sulaymaniyah Mosque has a symbolic meaning, and this was one of the ways that the Ottoman kings of that time intended to express the fact that it was built by the fourth Ottoman king after the conquest of Constantinople.
The mosque is precisely located in the northern part of Istanbul University and offers you a very beautiful view of the Golden Horn. The dome of this mosque has a height of 53 meters and a diameter of 27 meters. It goes without saying that this building had 4 garlands according to the Ottoman tradition, which indicates that the mosque was built by the order of the fourth king. The architectural style of Sulaymaniyah Mosque, like other buildings built by Sinan architect and other Ottoman architects, is a combination of Islamic and Byzantine architectural styles side by side.
Every day from 9 am to 11:15 am
12:45 to 14:15
15:15 to 16:45
On Fridays, the mosque is closed between 10:30 and 13:45.
13- Bahce Shaheer neighborhood of Istanbul
Address: Turkey, Istanbul, located in the European part of Istanbul.
The area of Bahce Shahir neighborhood is 5 square kilometers, which is considered one of the beautiful neighborhoods and one of the tourist attractions of Istanbul in Başakşehir city. This city is located in the northwest of the European part of Istanbul, and the east-west highway passes through the south side of this very beautiful neighborhood. Bahce Shahir was a summer residence that was designed and built as the first satellite town of Istanbul in 1994. It is worth noting that the urban plan of this area was designed and implemented based on the models of the towns that exist in Europe and taking into account the international standards.
All the houses in this area have a lifespan of 15 years, and the residents are Turks and immigrants from Eastern Europe, as well as Arabs and Iranians. This neighborhood is only 30 kilometers away from the center of Istanbul and due to its low traffic load and also very clean and good weather, it is a very popular neighborhood and is considered one of the tourist attractions of Istanbul. We recommend that if you are planning to buy a property in Istanbul, you must visit this neighborhood and buy your property in this neighborhood if possible.
14- Chora Church
Chora Church is one of the historical monuments and tourist attractions of Istanbul, which displays a combination of Eastern Roman architecture with the architecture of the Ottoman Turks. When you enter this church, you will encounter a 23-meter long corridor with many religious stories painted on its tiles, such as Joseph's dream and the birth of Christ. This church has undergone many changes throughout history. At first, its name was the Church of the Holy Savior, but due to the location of the church, it gradually became Chora Church, and today most travelers know this church by the name of Kariye Museum.
This church was originally built in the 11th century by the Eastern Roman government, and the Roman government renovated it many times. But due to successive earthquakes, this building was repeatedly destroyed. Then, when the Ottoman government captured Istanbul, this church became a mosque. When the Ottoman government fell and the republic began in Turkey, this church became a museum and part of Istanbul's tourist attractions.
This museum was located in the outer part of the city, and for this reason, it took the name of Chura Church (outside the city). Now travelers and tourists can go to this museum every day except Wednesdays and see the beautiful architectural style of Eastern Rome and the Ottoman government. The working hours of this museum are from 9 am to 6 pm. By purchasing a ticket, you can visit all the sections of the Kariye Museum.
15- Hippodrome field or horse racing field
Hippodrome Square or Sultan Ahmed Square is another tourist attraction in Istanbul that was built in this area during the Eastern Roman rule. This field was originally a horse racing field during the Eastern Roman rule. However, after the capture of Istanbul by the Ottoman government, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque was built near this square and gradually the Hippodrome Square became known as Sultan Ahmed Square.
When you go to Istanbul, you may hear the name of At Maidani or Horse Square. This is because in the past, horse races and chariot races were held in the hippodrome. Heads of government used to gather in this square to hold important national meetings. Also, this square was a suitable place for ceremonial events such as the crowning of princes.
Today, Sultan Ahmed Square is considered one of the tourist attractions of Istanbul. This square is open and it is possible to visit it for free for all travelers and tourists. When visiting the horse racing square, you can see the inscriptions that were brought to this square from the ancient Roman era. If you are interested in ancient Roman culture in Istanbul, Hippodrome Square is the best option for you.
16- Yidikole Castle
Another sightseeing place in Istanbul, which was built during the Eastern Roman Empire, is the Heptapyrgion Castle, which is known today as Yedikuleh Castle or Seven Towers Castle. One of the scariest tourist attractions in Istanbul is Haft Borj Castle, which was once a very large and high-security prison. Today, this castle is used as a place to hold outdoor concerts in the warm seasons of the year.
At the beginning of its construction, Haft Borj Castle was used as a defensive barrier against enemies. But after the occupation of the Ottomans, the use of this castle was changed to a prison. The start of scary legends and terrible memories of the prisoners of this castle was from this period. Today, there are many stories and legends about the history of the prisoners of Yedicule Castle, and it has turned this castle into one of Istanbul's tourist attractions.
Haft Borj or Yidikole Castle is open to the public all week except Wednesdays. You can buy a ticket to this castle and visit its beautiful architecture by paying only 5 lira. In this castle, you can visit many places of interest such as Burj Ganj, torture chambers and black holes known as the Blood Well. This castle has changed its use many times in history and therefore has many stories to tell.
17- Khorram Sultan bath
Khorram Sultan Bath, which is one of the tourist attractions of Istanbul today, was built by one of the best and most powerful architects of Sultan Suleiman's era, Memar Sinan. This bath was built by the order of the queen of the Ottoman period, Khorram Sultan, and its doors were opened for the people of the city to use. This bath was built near the Aya Sofia Mosque, another landmark in Istanbul, so that people can easily access it.
Unfortunately, with the passage of time and after the death of Khorram Sultan, the use of this bath changed and it was used as a place to accommodate captives and prisoners. After that, Khurram Sultan's bath was used as a food store for a while and then it remained abandoned for many years. The basic architecture of this bathroom was built in the traditional style of the Ottoman era. But after the renovation, they gave it a more modern style and opened its doors to travelers so that this bathhouse became one of the tourist attractions of Istanbul.
This bath is open to guests every day from 10 am to 7 pm. Various services such as bath packages, massage packages, hot and cold salon and many other services are provided in this bathroom. Also, those interested can reserve Khorram Sultan bath for their wedding ceremony. The cost of visiting Khorram Sultan bath depends on the amount of people using the services of this hall. After bathing, travelers can enjoy traditional Turkish cuisine in the luxurious restaurant of this beautiful building.
18- Bilerbi Palace
Bilerbey Palace, which is considered one of the tourist attractions of Istanbul, was originally the residence of the Governor General of Anatolia. But over time, this palace became a resort for Ottoman kings and foreign statesmen. The statesmen who came to Istanbul from foreign lands could stay in this palace and its bungalows. Today, the use of this palace has completely changed to a museum and has become one of the must-see places in Istanbul.
The interior design of this castle and its architecture is a combination of old Roman and Ottoman architecture, and its furniture is made in European style. This palace has 6 large rooms and 26 smaller rooms. The design of a part of this palace is assigned to women and compared to other parts of the palace, the design of this part is much simpler. After the change of use of this castle, a part of the castle became a harem, and the room of Sultan's mother was also located in this part of the castle.
The cost of visiting Bilerbi Palace is free for children under 7 years old and 60 liras for others. Those who are interested can buy a ticket for Bilerbey Palace from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm throughout the week, except Mondays, and visit this palace, which is considered one of the most beautiful attractions in Istanbul. It is better to visit this palace early in the morning so that you have enough time to visit all its parts.
19- Rumli Castle
Rumli Castle or Rumli Castle is one of the tourist attractions of Istanbul, which played an important role in the conquest of Istanbul by Muhammad Fatih. This fort was built in just 4 months and allowed Sultan Muhammad Fatih to have more visibility and focus on the waterways. Sultan Muhammad was able to control the waterways of this region, limit Constantinople's access to food and weapons, and finally was able to capture this city.
The architecture of Rumli Castle is very simple and it is made of three main towers and 13 smaller guard towers. Each of these towers has a special name, and today the whole castle is named Fatih Castle in memory of Sultan Mohammad Fateh. The general architecture of this castle is simple, but the way these towers are structured and put together is such that it has become one of the most beautiful and amazing attractions in Istanbul.
Visiting Fateh Fort is open to the public every day except Wednesdays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The cost of obtaining an entrance ticket to visit Rumli Castle is 10 liras per person. If you visit this castle with a tour, the tour guide can show you the important parts. But if you have traveled alone, unfortunately there will be no guidance in this castle to introduce different parts of the castle.
20- Istanbul tourist attractions in Amirgan Park
For nature lovers, Amirgan Park is one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Istanbul. The collection of multicolored tulips in this park is one of the attractions of Istanbul. Among other places of interest in Amirgan Park, we can mention its ornamental lake. But the most famous of this park is because of its beautiful tulip fields.
There are many historical monuments in this park. The white, pink and yellow palaces of Amirgan Park are among the sights of this park. You can also visit other plant species that have been planted in this park and sit in the gazebos in this building and enjoy its beautiful nature, especially in spring.
Visiting the main and open space of this park is free for all people. All travelers and tourists can come to this park every day and enjoy its beautiful plants. But to use the parking lot of the park or visit the mansions inside, you have to pay 10 liras. If you want to enjoy the beautiful nature of Istanbul and all kinds of plant species in this city, Amirgan Park is one of the best attractions in Istanbul for you.
Where to visit in Istanbul? Istanbul tourist attractions
There are many tourist attractions in Istanbul and you can find a tourist attraction in almost every neighborhood of this city. Which tourist attraction you should visit depends entirely on your taste and preferences. If you are interested in the nature of Istanbul, you can visit the city's parks such as Amirgan Park. For people who love to learn about the culture and architecture of Turkey and Eastern Rome, historical buildings such as Kariye Museum, Haft Burj Castle and Khorram Sultan Baths are among the best tourist attractions in Istanbul.
Frequently asked questions about Istanbul tourist attractions
What are the attractions of Istanbul near Hagia Sophia Mosque?
Near Hagia Sophia Mosque, you can visit other attractions of Istanbul such as Khorram Sultan Bath.
Which tourist attractions in Istanbul are located near Taksim Square?
Galata Tower and Dolme Baghche Palace are among the tourist attractions of Istanbul near Taksim Square. The Hagia Sophia Mosque is not far from Taksim Square
