Istanbul's most prominent attractions are of the architectural variety, a selection of formidable and historical structures that make sightseeing in Istanbul educational as well as visually rewarding. Sightseeing in Istanbul offers attractions such as the Hagia Sophia, a huge museum and former cathedral, that is adorned with stunning mosaics. Another iconic Istanbul attraction is the Blue Mosque, with its graceful minarets and tiered domes. The 1st century Sunken Palace is supported by hundreds of underground columns, an essential Istanbul landmark. While sightseeing in Istanbul, Galata Tower offers visitors a 360º panoramic view of the old town. Nearby, the 5th century Land Walls stand testament to the city's resistance of its 1453 conquest by the Ottoman Empire. The Covered Bazaar, or Kapali Çarsi, is the oldest and biggest enclosed bazaar in the world, a must-see while in Istanbul.
Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya)
Famous for its impressive size, remarkable architecture, and beautiful mosaics and frescoes, the massive, ochre, domed structure known as Hagia Sophia is one of Istanbul's most popular attractions. It was commissioned as a cathedral in the 6th century and remained the most important church in Christianity for over 900 years. In the 15th century Mehmet II conquered the city and converted it into a mosque, adding the minarets and fountains.It functioned as such for the next 481 years until the founding of the secular Turkish Republic in 1934 when it was declared a museum. Hagia Sophia is one of the greatest Byzantine buildings in the world, and the vast interior, with its huge, soaring dome, is extraordinary. The interior contains different features from its time as a cathedral and then as a mosque, including incredible Byzantine mosaics, icons and marble columns, a mihrab (niche indicating the direction of Mecca), and Islamic calligraphy inscriptions on the dome from the Ottoman period.
Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii)
The Sultan Ahmet Camii, commonly known as the Blue Mosque, with its tiers of magnificent domes and six graceful minarets is one of the most striking and immediately distinguishable structures on Istanbul's skyline. Constructed as an Islamic rival to the Hagia Sophia in 1609, it is one of the finest examples of Ottoman architecture and is still used by hundreds of worshippers.The interior is splendidly decorated with thousands of blue and white Iznik tiles embellished with traditional Ottoman flower patterns, and it is this special feature that gives the mosque its name. Its design of successively descending smaller domes, soaring columns and 260 stained glass windows leaves a lasting impression of graceful accord and open space. At the back of the mosque is a Carpet and Kilim Museum exhibiting antiques from all over Turkey.
Topkapi Palace Museum
The Topkapi Sarayi, built by Mehmet the Conqueror as a sultan's palace, consists of a collection of buildings arranged around several interconnecting courtyards. Situated on one of the seven hills of Istanbul with uninterrupted views over the Bosphorus River and the Golden Horn, it was the seat of the Ottoman Empire for almost four centuries. Home to nearly 3000 people, it served as royal residence, harem, administration building and military barracks.One of the most popular sections is the harem, once the quarters of about 300 women who were the sultans' wives and concubines, and their children. Visitors can view the apartments, halls and terraces of the harem, and see the lavish royal bedchamber and Imperial Hall. No expense was spared in decorating the palace and exquisitely designed rooms, intricately detailed fountains and gateways, and the splendid Treasury, housing one of the greatest collections of treasure in the world, afford insight into the opulent lifestyle of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire.
Turkish and Islamic Art Museum
The grand 16th century palace of the sultan's Grand Vizier, Ibrahim Pasa, today houses the Turkish and Islamic Art Museum, containing what many consider to be the finest collection of Islamic artefacts in the world. The palace itself was the finest private residence ever built in the Ottoman Empire. From its supreme position overlooking the Hippodrome, the sultan could enjoy excellent views of the celebrations in the square below.The museum is well laid out and contains more than 40,000 examples of Selçuk, Mamluk and Ottoman Turkish art, including ceramics, Koran cases, calligraphy, textiles, metalwork and illuminated manuscripts. Its antique carpet exhibit is renowned; the carpets, kilims and prayer rugs forming one of the richest and oldest collections in the world.
Covered Bazaar (Kapali Çarsi)
The oldest and biggest enclosed bazaar in the world, also known as the Grand Bazaar, is one of the most enticing and mesmerizing attractions in Istanbul. Consisting of a vast labyrinth of 65 twisting streets crammed with more than 4,000 shops, teahouses, hamams (Turkish baths), mosques, storehouses and fountains. It is a fascinating experience to wander around the alleyways, looking and enjoying, or bargaining and purchasing.Here you can find almost anything, from meerschaum pipes, carpets, and jewellery, to Turkish Delight, textiles, spices, clothing, and hand-painted ceramics. Protracted bargaining over a cup of tea is an important institution. Built during the rule of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror in 1461, the bazaar grew by covering an increasingly large area of shops and streets with roofs, arches, and domes. Eventually it became the centre of trading during the Ottoman period. Caravans of silk traders traditionally stayed here and rested their camels while selling their merchandise, and many of these caravanserais still exist as storehouses today.
Sunken Palace
Also known as the Underground Cistern or Yerebatan Saray, this eerie cavern was built by Constantine the Great around 532 AD and is supported, below ground, by 336 columns. Once as location for the James Bond film, From Russia with Love, today the cavern sees tourists crossing over 2 acres of 12 inch deep water, on wooden walkways, to take in the occasional art exhibit or marvel at the intricate design on the columns themselves.There is a pleasant little café above where the eyes can adjust over some tea.
Galata Tower
The Galata Tower, called Christea Turris (the Tower of Christ in Latin) by the Genoese, is a medieval stone tower in the Galata/Karaköy quarter of Istanbul, just to the north of the Golden Horn's junction with the Bosphorus. One of the city's most striking landmarks, it is a high, cone-capped cylinder that dominates the skyline and offers a panoramic vista of Istanbul's historic peninsula and its environs.Erected as a bastion for the walls of the 14th century colony of Galata, the tower offers a 360º view of the old town. Today it is a soughtafter conference venue, offering fine dining at its restaurant and belly dancing displays in its very own night club.
Dolmabahce Palace
The Dolmabahce Palace was home to six Sultans from 1856, when it was first inhabited, up until the abolition of the Caliphate in 1924. The last royal to live here was Caliph Abdülmecid Efendi, before a March 3, 1924 law transferred the ownership of the palace to the national heritage of the new Turkish Republic.Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey, used the palace as a presidential residence during the summers and enacted some of his most important works here. Atatürk spent the last days of his medical treatment in this palace, where he died on November 10, 1938. The palace has an ostentatious interior of crystal chandeliers, while the exterior of the palace has a vast, beautiful garden.
Istanbul Dolphinarium
Kids on holiday in Istanbul will jump at a chance to visit the dolphinarium. Its six pools are home to a collection of dolphins and seals, as well as white whales and walruses. Children will have the opportunity of a lifetime to swim with the dolphins and learn about sea life while they're there. The restaurant and café are great places for a snack or lunch break and there is also a gift store to buy a souvenir for your visit.
Museum of the History of Science and Technology
The Museum, which was opened in May 2008, is located in the Gülhane Park (Rose Garden), in one of the most beautiful areas of Istanbul. It extends over 3500 square meters along the old palace wall, on the former stables of the Sultan's Has Ahirlar. In front of the entrance, the visitor encounters a large globe, which is a reconstruction of one of the most important achievements of the Islamic scientific tradition.Decades of intensive research in the history of Arabic-Islamic manuscripts were necessary as a preparation for the creation of the wealth of objects in the museum. Visitors to the museum can obtain unique insight into the Islamic scientific tradition by looking at the details of the exact replicas of the scientific and technical achievements from the ninth through the seventeenth centuries.
Discovery Sphere Planetarium
If ever the weather sets back your plans to stroll around palatial gardens, a visit to this kid friendly space museum is a great alternative for a half day activity. In a true space odyssey, kids can marvel at the wonders of the universe projected onto the walls of the Discovery Sphere Planetarium.They will be amazed at the night sky as it reveals infinite stars and the fascinating Milky Way. All the children's space questions will be answered by the planetarium's friendly on-site specialists, or the latest digital animation systems.
Hippodrome
The ancient Hippodrome of Constantinople was built between 200 and 300 as a stadium for horse racing, chariot racing, and other amusements. Seating up to 100,000 people, there isn't much remaining of the structure today. Now the site of the Hippodrome in Istanbul is a beautiful public park with a few remaining columns hinting at its grand past.The Obelisk of Tutmosis III, the Basilica Cistern, the Fountain of Wilhelm II, and the Serpentine and Constantine Columns are popular landmarks within the park, which also offers free wireless internet.
Climate
In summer the weather in Istanbul is hot and humid, with the temperature between June and September averaging 82°F (28°C). Summers are relatively dry, but rain does occur all year round. During winter it is cold, wet and often snowy. Snowfalls tend to be heavy, but temperatures rarely drop as low as freezing point. Istanbul also tends to be a windy city.
Kids Attractions Overview
Istanbul is not a typical family holiday destination but there are plenty of quality attractions for the kids if you are spending a few days in this great city while en route to the beach resorts or islands. Children can delight in learning about the ocean at trip to the Istanbul Aquarium, or visit Miniaturk park and take in Istanbul's landmarks in miniature! For a more relaxing experience, parents can take their children on a boat tour of the Bosphorous.
Culture
International Istanbul Music Festival
Venue: Various
Start: 2018-04-06
End: 2018-04-17
Notes: 6 - 17 April 2018
Website: www.iksv.org/muzik/english
One of the most prominent events on the city's cultural calendar and one of the foremost musical events in Europe, the International Istanbul Music Festival is a summer extravaganza of opera and ballet, as well as classical and traditional music. Over the years the festival has hosted world-renown classical performers and groups from around the globe.Acts include local artists and traditional music groups, international philharmonic orchestras, distinguished chamber ensembles and soloists, as well as dance and ballet performances and Whirling Dervishes. Concerts are held in various locations, including some of the historical buildings in Istanbul.
Contemporary Istanbul
Venue: Lütfi Kirdar Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Centre
Start: 2018-09-20
End: 2018-09-23
Notes: 20 - 23 September 2018
Website: www.contemporaryistanbul.com
Every October, artists from across Turkey converge on the capital to showcase their latest creations in contemporary art. Exhibitions display paintings, sculptures, and crafts, and are sometimes sold or auctioned. Admirers show up for the week to asses, purchase, and critique.
The Bosphorus Swim
Venue: Kanlica
Start: 2018-07-22
End: 2018-07-22
Notes: 22 July 2017
Website: www.bosphorus.cc
This annual event sees over a thousand swimmers navigate the 4.3 miles (7km) of the Bosphorus Straight between Kanlica and Cemil Topuzlu Park, essentially swimming from Asia to Europe. Concurrently, rowers and sailors participate in longer races along the same route. Complementing the event are live brass band performances, water-ski exhibitions, and dance performances.
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