Istanbul is one of the most popular cities in Turkey and has many tourists every year. The city welcomes many tourists from all over the world. As you know, Istanbul is made up of two parts, European and Asian, and when you travel to this city, you will see both Europe and its modern life, as well as Asia, and you will get to know the traditional life of the Turks. In this article, we will introduce you to the tourist attractions of Istanbul. Istanbul is full of tourist attractions, which are very popular among tourists.

Hagia Sophia

When you Google a photo of Istanbul or see photos of Istanbul on social media, you will undoubtedly find the domes of this mosque in the photo. You can say for sure that Hagia Sophia is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Istanbul.

The mosque was built in 532 during the reign of the Byzantine emperor by order of Justin I. It was originally a church for Eastern Christianity called the Great Church, after the conquest of Istanbul Muhammad II ordered the church to be turned into a mosque, and finally when Ataturk came to power, he ordered the mosque to be turned into a museum. A museum that has remained intact to this day and you can visit the Hagia Sophia Museum while traveling to Istanbul.

Visiting hours: 9 am to 5 pm.
Hagia Sophia Address: Istanbul, Sultanahmet neighborhood, Hagia Sophia Square, Hagia Sophia Museum, and Mosque.

Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace was built in 1459 by the order of Sultan Mohammad Fateh. From 1465 to 1853, the palace was the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire.

Topkapi Palace has a unique view of the Bosphorus Strait and is located between the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Branch. Be sure to visit this palace and spend a few hours in Topkapi because it has attractive architecture and today it has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Istanbul.

When you reach this palace, you will encounter 5 km of stone walls and 27 watchtowers. This palace is very big and if you want to see the whole complex, you have to spend about 3 to 4 hours. In this palace, you can see works such as the clothes of the Prophet of Islam, all kinds of swords, teeth, shoes, and so on.

Visiting hours: 9 am to 5 pm.
Topkapi Palace Address: Istanbul, Fateh Neighborhood, near Sultan Ahmad Square, next to Gulaneh Park, Topkapi Palace Complex.

Dolmabahce Palace

We can strongly say that one of the most luxurious and beautiful palaces in Istanbul is Dolmabahce Palace, which is located in the European part of the Bosphorus Strait. The palace was built by the order of Sultan Abdul Majid I in 1843-1856 and was the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1889 to 1909.

The palace is made of 14 tons of gold and the world’s largest crystal chandelier, a gift from Queen Victoria I, is housed in Delma Garden.

The palace has 285 rooms, 46 halls, 6 bathrooms, and 68 bathrooms and has a combination of Baroque, Rococo, Ottoman, and neoclassical styles.

Visiting hours: 9 am to 5 pm.
Address of Dolmabahce Palace: Istanbul, Besiktas neighborhood, Delmeh Palace Garden.

Blue Mosque

The Sultan Ahmad Mosque is also known as the Blue Mosque because of its blue tiles. This mosque is one of the most magnificent mosques in Istanbul, with the main waterfall dome, 6 minarets, and 8 secondary domes.

The history of the Blue Mosque or Sultan Ahmad Mosque in Istanbul dates back to the 17th century. In the 17th century, after peace with Persian-speakers, Sultan Ahmad I, who was 19 at the time, ordered a mosque in Istanbul to show Ottoman power.

Visiting hours: 8:30 to 11 p.m.
13 to 14:30
15:30 to 16:45
Fridays: 13:30

Address of Sultan Ahmad Mosque: Istanbul, Fatih neighborhood, Sultan Ahmad neighborhood, Sultan Ahmad mosque.

Galata Tower

You can see the Galata Tower anywhere in Istanbul with your own eyes. Galata is about 67 meters high and has 9 floors, which is located next to the Bosphorus Strait and the Golden Branch.

Galata Tower was built in 1348 as a watchtower. Galata’s interior is like a museum, and the top floor ends in a restaurant.

Visiting hours: 9 am to 7 pm
Galata Tower Address: Beyoglu District, Barakatzadeh Neighborhood, Galata Tower

Taksim Square

Taksim Square is the heart of Istanbul because it is one of the most important transportation hubs in Istanbul and provides access to almost all parts of the city.

Taksim Square was built by order of Sultan Mahmud I, and in the past, the square was a place to collect water and send it from the Belgrade Forest in northern Istanbul, and water collected in this square was distributed to other neighborhoods, which is why the square letter Divided or Taksim.

In Taksim Square, a famous monument commemorating the Republic stands out, with one side symbolizing the war of independence and the other symbolizing the Republic of Turkey.
Today, the square has become one of Istanbul’s most famous tourist attractions.

Kiz Kulesi

Kiz Kulesi or Girl’s Tower is located at the junction of Istanbul Strait and the Sea of ​​Marmara on a small island in the Asian part of Istanbul.

Formerly known as Lindros and Damalis, it was known as the Little Castle during the Roman Empire.

Today, the castle has become a tourist destination in Istanbul and is very popular.

To see the Girl’s Tower, you have to take a boat to reach the Girl’s Tower. You can sit in the restaurant above the Girl’s Tower and enjoy the food and enjoy the view.

Visiting hours: 9 am to 7 pm
Address of Dokhtar Tower: Istanbul, Uskudar Asian Region, Girl’s Tower

Grand Bazaar

If you are a shopping lover, be sure to visit the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. In this market, you can buy all kinds of souvenirs.

At all, there are about 5,000 shops in this market. From jewelry, gold to spices, carpets, perfumes, electronics, all kinds of clothes, Turkish handicrafts, etc. can be found in this market.

Istanbul Grand Bazaar is one of the most covered markets in the world and has been inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Grand Bazaar Address: Istanbul, Fatih Neighborhood, Beyazıt Neighborhood, Istanbul Grand Bazaar

Bosporus

One of the best tourist attractions in Istanbul is the Bosphorus Strait. It is a bridge between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. The Bosphorus Strait is located exactly between the European side and the Asian side. Bosphorus has a special beauty. We suggest that you visit this gorge during your trip to Istanbul and enjoy its nature and scenery.

Ayasofya Hurrem Sultan Hamam

The queen of the Ottoman Empire, named Hurrem Sultan, ordered the construction of a bath for the religious people of her city near the famous mosque of Istanbul, Hagia Sophia, and named it Hurrem Sultan.

By going to Hurrem Sultan Bath, you can not only visit its unique architecture but also take a traditional Turkish bath. The different parts of this bathroom include a cold hall, a hot and warm hall. You can take a bath in this bath and then relax in the cafe and restaurant, which is in the bathroom area of ​​Hurrem Sultan and enjoy eating Turkish food.

Address: Istanbul, Fatih area, Hagia Sophia square, Cankurtaran neighborhood, Hurrem Sultan bath of Hagia Sophia.