Istanbul, like the rest of Turkey, is very rich in interesting sights. You can inspect them yourself by making a travel plan on the map. Let's stop at the ten main attractions of Istanbul.
Sultanahmet Mosque
It is also called the "Blue Mosque" because of the blue color of the tiles with which it is decorated. The peculiarity of the mosque is that it is located on the site of ancient Constantinople. The Blue Mosque has six minarets: four on the sides and two on the outer corners. Next to the mosque there is a mausoleum where Ahmed I is buried.
Anyone can get into it from 9 o'clock in the morning until sunset. The visit is free, just do not forget to take off your shoes when entering. The mosque is located in the south of Istanbul in the Sultanahmet area (light rail stop: "Sultanahmet")
Topkapi Palace
The main palace of the Ottoman Empire was the residence of the sultans for about 400 years. Topkapi is a whole palace complex consisting of four separate courtyards. The architecture of the palace is also amazing - a mixture of styles and trends, because more than once the palace was restored, rebuilt and reconstructed. Pay attention to the porcelain collection and the collection of edged weapons of the Turkish sultans.
The museum is located on Cape Sarayburnu, at the confluence of the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn into the Sea of Marmara. You can get into it from 9 to 19.00 in the summer and from 9 to 16.00 in the winter (day off - Tuesday) by purchasing a ticket at the entrance. The ticket price is about 8 euros.
Basilica Cistern
A huge underground reservoir is located in the very center of Istanbul. The Basilica Cistern is one of the largest drinking water storage tanks built near Constantinople for use in the event of a city siege or drought. The structure was built on the site of the Basilica of Hagia Sophia and is located at a depth of about 10 meters. The water in the reservoir was supplied through the aqueduct and aqueducts from the sources of the Belgrade forest.
The vaulted ceiling of the cistern is supported by 336 columns, most of which are taken from ancient temples. It is not surprising that they differ from each other by the type of marble and the type of processing.
The Basilica Cistern is located next to the zero mile sign (Sultanahmet district) and is open from 9 am to 6.30 pm in summer (in winter - from 9 am to 5.30 pm). The cost of the visit is about 6 euros.
Hagia Sophia (Hagia Sophia)
The cathedral was built on the site of the ancient acropolis and was one of the largest Christian churches. Hagia Sophia is two-level. If you go up to the galleries, you can see the cathedral from above.
The cathedral is known for its beautifully preserved mosaic frescoes. There is also one of the attractions of Istanbul - "The Weeping Column". To fulfill your innermost desire, you need to place your thumb in the hole of this column and rotate it 360 degrees. My wish came true two months after returning from Istanbul.
The museum is located opposite the Blue Mosque and is open to the public from 9.00 to 19.00 in the summer and until 17.00 in the winter. The day off is Monday. The cost of the entrance ticket is about 9 euros.
Galata tower
The tower was originally called "The Tower of Jesus" and served as a reference point for sailors and merchants. The tower in different years was used as a prison, observation post, fire tower, observatory. Small fragments of the defensive wall and moat have survived to this day. Now the Galata Tower operates as a museum with an open observation deck. The tower has an elevator, so you can comfortably climb to the observation deck.
The Galata Tower is located in the Beyolu district, next to Istiklal Street. The observation deck is open from 9.00 to 20.00. The cost of the visit is about 8 euros.
Egyptian bazaar
The Egyptian Bazaar is the largest spice market and the second largest market in Istanbul. On its territory you can buy all kinds of spices, spices, sweets, tea, coffee, nuts, medicinal herbs, dried fruit delicacies, as well as meat and dairy products.
The Egyptian Bazaar was built in 1660 and got its name from the fact that the bulk of the spices and spices were supplied from India through Egypt. The Bazaar building has an L-shape and you can enter it through any of the six gates.
The bazaar is open from 9.00 to 19.00 daily, except Sunday. And it is located on the shores of the Golden Horn Bay near the railway station. Photography is not prohibited in the Egyptian Bazaar, and it is also allowed and even approved to try the product before purchasing it.
Toy Museum
The frequent toy museum in Istanbul is a unique place to see toys even over 200 years old. More than four thousand exhibits are carefully grouped into thematic groups. The museum has its own small theater, gift shop and cafe.
The idea of creating such a museum belongs to the Turkish poet Sunay Akyn, who collects toys from different eras and countries. The exhibits of this museum will definitely not leave anyone indifferent.
The museum welcomes visitors from Tuesday to Sunday from 9.30 to 18.00. To get to the Toy Museum, take the commuter train at Haydarpasa Station and continue to the Goztepe stop. Not far from the station, you will see a snow-white old mansion - this is the museum. The ticket costs about 4 euros.
Dolmabahce Palace
This palace was built on the site of a small buried bay and is the last sultan's palace in Istanbul. The luxurious palace is a three-storey neoclassical building with a white marble facade. The interior of Dolmabahce Palace is magnificent: silk carpets, a collection of clocks, antique furniture, ceilings and walls decorated with gold.
There are several buildings in the palace complex - a women's section, a men's section, a library and a reception hall. All clocks in the palace are stopped at 09.05. This is the time of the death of the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
The palace is located on the European side of the Bosphorus on the border of Besiktas and Kabatas districts. The palace is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, except Monday and Thursday. A complex ticket costs about 7 euros, photography is paid separately.
Chora monastery
Chora Monastery is the best preserved Byzantine building in Istanbul. Despite its modest size, the church has a lot to see. The entire space of the monastery is decorated with beautiful mosaics and frescoes. Chora Church is considered the most richly decorated Byzantine church that has survived to this day. Near the monastery you can see the buildings of the ancient Ottoman Empire.
The museum is open from 9.00 to 19.00 in the summer and until 17.00 in the winter. Wednesday is a day off. The entrance ticket is about 6 euros. The Chora Museum is located far from the center of Istanbul, next to the Edirnekapi gate. It is more convenient and faster to get here by taxi. If you are traveling by bus, remember the name of the stop - "Vefa Stadi"
Miniaturk Museum
To once again visit all the main attractions of Istanbul, you can go to the Miniaturk Museum. On an area of more than 60,000 square meters, models of architectural objects of Turkey and the territories of the former Ottoman Empire, made in a scale of 1:25, are exhibited. The park even has a miniature railway, a motorway, an airport with model airplanes, waterways with ships sailing along them, and thousands of human figures.
Only in Miniaturk Park you can see hundreds of sights of different eras from antiquity to modern times, including those long lost. The park has an audio guide in Russian, activated with a ticket.
The miniature park is located in the Syutluce district on the banks of the Golden Horn. The park is open daily from 9.00 to 18.00. The cost of the entrance ticket is about 3.5 euros.
