Advertising Istanbul is pointless. If you love cities where traditions, customs, cuisines, cultures and architectural trends are closely intertwined, you already know that Istanbul can be called the quintessence of the East, seasoned with a considerable dose of Western civilization. Here it is easy to get lost in the streets and aromas, and the magnificent views of the Bosphorus, the minarets of ancient mosques and bridges sink into the soul of any tourist who has visited here. The city is multifaceted and diverse, and you will always find something to do and where to go. Restaurants and museums, the most important architectural monuments and amusement parks, ideal opportunities for shopping and many options for organizing cultural leisure await guests in Istanbul. In short, step on the website of Turkish Airlines, which enjoys the well-deserved respect of travelers, and go to meet the city,
Parks of Istanbul
Did you know that the homeland of cultivated tulips is the Ottoman Empire? It was in Istanbul, and not at all in Holland, in the XI-XV centuries. the first beautiful varieties of these bulbs were bred, which later became the cause of tulip mania. If you like tulips, go to one of Istanbul’s city parks, where millions of plants bloom every year:
- Every year, in the first days of April, the Tulip Festival opens in Emirgan Park , where guests are greeted by millions of flowers planted in huge fields. In the park, you will see living labyrinths of plants, feed swans in lakes and ponds with grottoes, admire the Great Fountain near the White Pavilion and enjoy magnificent views of the Bosphorus from the observation deck.
- In the historical part of the city, the broken-down Gülhane Park is the oldest urban green zone. It appeared in the 17th century. and became part of the Topkapi Palace , the main residence of the Sultans in Istanbul. Translated from Turkish, the name of the park means “yard of roses”. Hundreds and thousands of queen of flowers bushes decorate the alleys of Gulhane Park.
- You can also see many rose bushes in Göztepe Park in the Asian part of Istanbul.
- You can hear the violin, enjoy the romantic atmosphere and admire the blooming trees in the cafe of Fenerbahçe Park . The peninsula, which is washed by the waters of the Sea of Marmara , has long become a favorite meeting place for Istanbul lovers, although tourists are not alien to the desire to walk along neat alleys and arrange a photo shoot against the background of the sea or lush flower gardens.
Entrance to the parks of Istanbul is free, some of them are closed after dark.
Islands of Istanbul
If you like to swing on the waves and discover new lands, you will be interested in taking a ferry to the Prince’s Islands near Istanbul. First, there are several architectural monuments on the archipelago: the church of Ayia-Yani of the 9th century , the Monastery of Christ , the temple of the Virgin , consecrated in the 14th century, and a unique building of a shelter for children, built of wood and the largest of its kind in Europe.
The Prince’s Islands are a favorite place for beach vacations in Turkey among noble citizens. Here the sea is perfectly clean, the water warms up quickly and already in mid-May you can swim quite comfortably, and the ecological situation on the beaches of the archipelago is quite safe, since the city with its port and industries remains at a sufficient distance.
Istanbul sights
Even if you only have a few hours at your disposal, you should spend them on Sultanahmet Square , where two famous architectural monuments and iconic buildings of Istanbul are located – the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia .
The Blue Mosque was built at the beginning of the 17th century. The project represented a combination of the architectural styles of Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire, and unique varieties of marble served as the material. The building is decorated with ceramic tiles, which are hand-painted with a blue and white ornament.
Already one and a half thousand years ago, the Saint Sophia Cathedral adorned Constantinople. The temple survived the fall of the city and reconstruction by order of Sultan Ahmet, and then remained a Muslim shrine for five hundred years. Now a museum has been opened in St. Sophia, and the interiors of the cathedral still amaze the imagination of anyone who crosses its threshold. The mosaics of the temple are a real guide to studying the stages of the development of Byzantine art, and the construction of the 50-meter-high dome still seems like an ingenious engineering solution.
The list of other Istanbul sights is sure to include:
- Galata Tower , from where you can enjoy wonderful views of the Golden Horn Bay and the Bosphorus Strait . It is often called the symbol of Istanbul. The tower was built in the 14th century. and it can be seen from many points of the city.
- Topkapi Palace , starting from the 15th century. and for 400 years served as the residence of the Ottoman sultans. The complex occupies about 700 hectares and offers visitors a rich collection of paintings, jewelry, dishes, weapons and religious relics.
- The techniques of the Baroque style can be guessed in the architectural form of the Dolmabahce Palace , built on the shore of the Bosphorus by Sultan Abdul-Mezhdida I , who was inclined towards European luxury. The palace serves as the residence of the prime minister in Istanbul, but it is also worth a visit for tourists. Picturesque buildings, luxurious decoration of the halls and picturesque views of the sea from the numerous windows of the mansion are offered to the attention of visitors.
- In the Maiden’s Tower , standing on a rocky island on the Bosphorus, you can dine in a restaurant styled like a medieval castle and watch ships move through the strait.
The list of attractions also includes museum exhibitions: the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art with carpets, ceramics, ancient manuscripts and personal belongings of the sultans; The Museum of Innocence , founded by Orhan Pamuk, a writer in love with Istanbul ; The Whirling Dervishes Museum, which tells about the traditions of the religious order of Sufis, which induce hypnotic stupor with their dances; Museum of modern art with the works of artists and sculptors who created in Istanbul in recent decades.
Istanbul for children
If you are on vacation with the whole family and you don’t have much time to explore all its beauties, be sure to go to the Miniature Park of Istanbul . More than a hundred of the most interesting sights of the country are gathered on its territory, and each of the park’s copies is made with exact observance of all details and proportions on a scale of 1:25.
Young naturalists will surely enjoy a visit to the Aquarium. One of them is located in the Forum shopping center , the other is waiting for visitors in Bakirkey district . Guests will be able to meet the inhabitants of the underwater world and feed some of them themselves.
The Museum of Toys presents hundreds of unique exhibits, lovingly collected in different cities, villages and provinces. Wooden and tin, knitted and straw dolls, cars, soldiers and other toys will be able to tell a lot of interesting things to young tourists.
In the dolphinarium, you will get to an exciting show, in which marine mammals become participants every day. If you have long dreamed of swimming with dolphins, you should go to the Istanbul dolphinarium all the more: the opportunity to splash in the pool with tailed artists is available to everyone.
Vialand theme park is another useful address for family vacations on the shores of the Bosphorus. A set of attractions in the park will not let kids or their parents get bored.
Sweet spots on the map
There is an opinion that it is not worth looking for special restaurants in Istanbul, because everywhere they feed deliciously: and street vendors selling fresh fast food from trays; and expensive establishments where the tables are always occupied; and an average cafe, where the waiters are friendly and businesslike, and the service is quite satisfactory, even if the napkins on the tables suddenly run out.
If you want to go to a special place, these establishments are most often recommended in Istanbul:
- In the iconic Kervansaray, the menu of dozens of oriental dishes and the luxurious interior is accompanied by a show program, the highlight of which is belly dancing.
- The name Sultanahmet Fish House clearly hints at the fish menu. The interior is decorated with fishing and ship’s gear, and in the evenings, fire shows are arranged in the hall and include fairy-tale illumination.
- Fans of Michelin-level cuisine can recommend the restaurant at the Midtown Hotel. The prices for the dishes on the menu will seem high, but the chef’s skill is worth splurging on.
- The main “feature” of the “Reina” establishment is its location. The restaurant is located directly under the suspension bridge over the Bosphorus, and visitors are guaranteed dizzying illumination in the evenings.
For those who are bored with Ukrainian food, you can recommend Mel’s Bebek, which serves borscht and dumplings, Zuma will delight fans of the currently fashionable Japanese cuisine, and Mikli, in an elegant setting and on a spacious terrace with a view of the Bosphorus, is the best place to celebrate holidays with a large group.
Note to shopaholics
People often go shopping in Istanbul, because the city is called the trading capital of the entire Old World. Shopping is most profitable in stores in the Lalela area, at the Grand Bazaar indoor market, at the Spice Market, and at the Atrium and Tepe Nautilus shopping centers.
Fur coats and leather goods can be conveniently bought in stores in the Lalela area. Most of the retail outlets with high-quality products are concentrated here. Shops on Lalela cherish their reputation and avoid selling fakes.
Buy antiques in the appropriate shops near the Grand Bazaar. When buying, ask sellers about certificates for exporting products outside the country. It is also worth asking for a certificate when choosing jewelry, so that the gold tests coincide with the actual composition of the metal, and the stones for inspection do not turn out to be imitations.