Istanbul is the most crowded and busiest city in Turkey. It is where the economy comes to life and people migrate due to job opportunities, and is known almost all over the world with its geographical and historical texture. Located on important transit routes, Istanbul is a critical point connecting the Asian and European Sides.
List of Places to Visit in Istanbul
Historical Peninsula
Grand Bazaar
Topkapi Palace
Sultan Ahmet Mosque
Hagia Sophia Museum
Maiden's Tower
Galata Tower
Rumeli Fortress
Dolmabahçe Palace
Basilica Cistern
The name story of Istanbul comes from the word Islambol, according to what is told. When the letters sent in the Ottoman Empire are examined, it is noteworthy that the expression "Islambol" is frequently used. Evliya Çelebi, on the other hand, states that it was founded by Magnificent Süleyman.
Would you like to take a closer look at Istanbul, where every corner smells of history? The list of places to visit in Istanbul that you have started to read will take you from your home to different points of Istanbul. So this article can be a kind of map of places to visit in Istanbul for you. If you are wondering which addresses are on your sightseeing stops; Here are the places to visit in Istanbul and their information!
We are sure that you will enjoy reading our blog post on places to visit in Istanbul. Have a good trip already.
List of Places to Visit in Istanbul in 7 Stops
1) Historic Peninsula
The Historic Peninsula is at the top of the list of places to visit in Istanbul!
Having the sea, Istanbul continues to attract local and foreign tourists with its coastal areas for years.
Eminonu, Sirkeci, Beyazit, Laleli, Aksaray, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Balat, Kumkapi and Samatya, which are counted in the Historical Peninsula, are places that must be kept in your photograph archive.
There are many historical buildings in this area.
You can go to Topkapı Palace and feed your soul historically.
You can take a coffee break in Balat, which has magnificent streets, and shop at the Grand Bazaar in Eminönü.
Also, near the Galata Bridge, you can immerse yourself in the smell of fish and bread and fill your stomach. You need to take a long time to tour the Historic Peninsula to its fullest.
Do not think that you have visited Istanbul without experiencing the taste of bagels and tea in Gülhane Park!
2) Grand Bazaar
If you ask where are the famous places in Istanbul, the Grand Bazaar will certainly be one of the answers.
The Grand Bazaar, which is the most crowded and lively spot of Istanbul, has been a source of bread for many tradesmen for centuries.
In the Grand Bazaar, there are handmade carpets and kilims, sparkling lamps and Ottoman delicacies.
You can lose yourself in the smell of coffee and Turkish delight in the Grand Bazaar, where you can pass through Eminönü very easily.
This address, where people interested in shopping and history can spend a long time, exhibits the products of different professions for you.
3) Topkapi Palace
Of course, places to visit in Istanbul include historically valuable places.
Among these, Topkapı Palace is one of the places that must be seen and visited by those who come to Istanbul for the first time.
Topkapı Palace was both the political center and a residence of the state during the Ottoman period.
Until the 19th century, state officials lived in Topkapı Palace and continued their political activities from this center.
It is now visited as a museum. Topkapı Palace, which was opened as a museum by the order and request of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1924, is on the travel list of those who see Istanbul for the first time.
Standing out with its architectural structure, Topkapı Palace is one of the must-see places in Turkey.
4) Sultan Ahmet (Blue) Mosque
Sultan Ahmet Mosque, with its magnificent structure and architecture, is one of the most magnificent religious structures in Turkey.
Known as the Blue Mosque in Europe, this mosque is one of the religious elements of Istanbul.
The Blue Mosque, a building created by the students of Mimar Sinan, was active as a social center in ancient times.
The mosque, which is among the famous historical places of Istanbul, is a place that attracts the attention of UNESCO with its interior architecture and exterior decorations.
The Blue Mosque, which you can visit accompanied by religious music and melodies, has been attracting the attention of the public for centuries with its mysterious structure and construction stories.
5) Hagia Sophia Museum
With its historical texture and fascinating atmosphere, one of the important stops in the list of famous places to visit in Istanbul is the Hagia Sophia Museum.
The Hagia Sophia Museum is an important center for both Muslim and Christian communities.
This historical monument, which was built as a church and later turned into a mosque and museum, attracts the attention of tourists with its garden and interior.
Hagia Sophia Museum, defined as the 8th wonder of the world, is one of the places worth seeing for guests coming to Istanbul for the first time.
The Hagia Sophia Museum, which is in the same neighborhood as the Blue Mosque, will impress you both historically and religiously and will add a new one to your Istanbul memories.
Although we have written our title and content within the framework of the name "Hagia Sophia Museum", which has been known for many years, we would like to add as information that the museum status given to Hagia Sophia in 1934 was converted to mosque status in 2020 with the decision of the Council of State.
6) Maiden's Tower
Wouldn't you like to have your tea in front of the Maiden's Tower while walking around Istanbul step by step?
You are very lucky if you caught the sunset.
You have the opportunity to see the inside of this tower, on which various stories are written.
The Maiden's Tower, the pearl of Üsküdar, almost creates a painting with the view of the Bosphorus.
The Maiden's Tower, which is on the Anatolian Side list of places to visit in Istanbul for visitors to the metropolis; It is a historical place that has seen the Ancient, Roman and Ottoman Periods.
For this reason, this tower, which has seen the Ancient, Roman and Ottoman Periods, is added to the travel programs as a beauty where exterior shots are frequently made and tourists show great interest.
7) Galata Tower
The Galata Tower, which is the subject of legends with its love for the Maiden's Tower, is one of the European Side spots to visit in Istanbul.
You should definitely visit the streets of this building, which was used as a surveillance and protection center for the city after it came under the auspices of the Ottoman Empire.
According to the story, whoever you go to the Galata Tower with, your life will merge with him.
There are also many decent places to relax around the Galata Tower, one of the guards of Istanbul.
Do not forget to include the photo you took in front of the Galata Tower in your Istanbul photo memories.
If you want to watch the view by climbing the long stairs, we recommend that you consider that you may have to wait in long queues as the Galata Tower is among the famous places of Istanbul.
Especially in the summer season when tourists are more intense, your waiting time will be even higher.
Contact us for more.