City: Istanbul
Top Things to do in Istanbul
Things to do in Istanbul, Turkey: The Best Ancient Ruins
The mosques, bazaars, and Turkish baths of Istanbul could keep you happily occupied for your entire trip: an eyeful of breathtaking architecture here, a good-natured haggle over a carpet there. Kick your trip off at the awe-inspiring Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque), which is visible from many points of the city. Stroll the Galata Bridge and stop by the Miniaturk Park to see its tiny artifacts. The Grand Bazaar has thousands of shops to browse, while the Egyptian Bazaar is a fragrant trove of spices and fruits.
Restaurants in Istanbul
1. Boukoleon Palace
2. Basilica Cistern
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31,242 reviews
The Basilica Cistern is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns beneath the city that provided a water filtration system for the buildings nearby. This underground chamber measures approximately 138 meters (453 ft) by 64.6 meters (212 ft) and is capable of holding 80,000 cubic meters (2,800,000 cu ft) of water. The ceiling is supported by 336 marble columns.
Reviewed By IvanaM2363
Truly interesting place and if you're there during a hot summer, this is a great place to visit, because it's cool and you get break from the heat :) I loved the dark atmosphere. It was magical. The head of Medusa was also lovely. There are still fish swimming around and that makes it even more interesting. If you have great guides like I had my Turkish friends, who told me so much about the history, etc., you will love every little place in Turkey :) When in Basilica Cistern, please be careful, it is slippery, but on the other hand, you're sightseeing so you most probably will not be running around :)
3. Bab-i Ali Kapisi
4. Valens Aqueduct (Bozdogan Kemeri)
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 302 reviews
Reviewed By stinkwink - Sydney, Australia
The nearly 1 km long aqueduct bridge is part of a system that brought water from the 240 km away Thrace to Constantinople. The name comes from Emperor Valens, who reigned in 373 AD when the Aqueduct started to work and continued till the 18th century. So it was in working order and functioned for nearly 1400 years. How much modern structure will be able to do the same thing? The nearly 30m high arches can be seen from far away. These Romans knew what they were doing. I love to look up the remaining pieces of evidence of their precise job all over Europe. The roads that still better sometimes than the newly built ones, the aqueducts, the amphitheaters, structures praising the knowledge of their engineers. Valens Aqueduct was a must-see for me. Though it is easily approachable with M2, if you get off at Vezneciler metro station and from there stroll a short while, we used a long way. After visiting Suleymaniye Mosque, we walked downhill and continued to walk till we reached our aim. For a while, we walked parallel to the bridge and crossed underneath on Atatürk Boulevard. On the other side, the arched bridge is more impressive because the buildings don’t interrupt the sight. Even if the Aqueduct does not carry water anymore but rather speeding cars are running in between the arches, looking at it is easy to dream yourself back to thousands of years earlier.
5. Great Palace Mosaics Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 634 reviews
Reviewed By apricot44 - Turkey, null
Mosaic museum with mosaics of the great and magnificent palace that served as a palace to the Byzantine Empire between 330 and 1081 AD. The Great Palace occupied a rectangular area in the southeastern corner of the historical peninsula where Constantinople is located, just east of the Hippodrome, to the southeast against the city's sea walls, to the east towards the Hagia Sophia church. It is estimated that the size of the palace is approximately 20,000 m2. The palace has been named by many names throughout history.. Basileos Oikia , Hieron Palation , Palaion Palation, Hippodromou palation , Magnum Palation Many additions were made to the palace by the Roman and Byzantine emperors. During the Fourth Crusade, the Palace was plundered by the soldiers of Boniface In Montferrat.(1200-1204 AD.) Latin Emperor Baodouin II removed the lead roof of the palace and sold it. second and seventh Constantine , first and second Justinian (Iustinianos), Theofilos Basileus ,Lekapanos ,Nikephoros ,Tzimikes,Theodosius Sections of the Grand Palace Among the parts of the palace included: Daphne (residence), Kathisma (hippodrome, lodge),Consistorium (assembly) Magna Aula (throne and reception hall),Nea Ekklesia (Church),Tribunal (Court),Skholai, (guard ward),prison cells,many great halls, a gorgeous,throne room,Coronation hall,Reception halls,Churches and chapels,School Bath,Library,Treasure,Pharos lantern Palace guards barracks,Polo with playground with terrace... Some of the distinctive legacies of the Great Palace that remain today are its magnificent mosaics. The mosaics from the fifth and sixth centuries are exhibited in the Great Palace Mosaics Museum affiliated to the Hagia Sophia Museum Directorate. Many archaeologists attach great importance to these mosaics, both in terms of reflecting the ornaments and culture of that period and in terms of art. Because both the technique used is very successful and there are important descriptions about daily life. It has been understood that the mosaics, which were unearthed in an area of approximately 200m2, were made of terracotta, limestone and various colored stones of different structures.
6. Catladi Kapi
7. Walls of Constantinople (Istanbul City Walls)
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 320 reviews
These stone walls were built by Constantine the Great to protect Constantinople, what is now known as Istanbul, from attack by land and sea. The walls largely remained intact until sections began to be dismantled in the 19th century, as the city outgrew its medieval boundaries. Many parts of the walls survived and are still standing today.
Reviewed By Ginges_revenge - Brisbane, Australia
To think about the history that these walls have seen, the people that have walked on them and the hordes they have kept out, its truly mind boggling to the young history of colonial Australia. They are impressive and can be seen in many parts of the city. We caught the tram up to Topkapi and explored the walls there. There was access points onto the wall, even though you technically weren't supposed to be up there, but there was multiple people up there and well worn paths. It was an excellent experience to climb and walk on the walls and soak up the history they exuded. A definite must do when in Istanbul.
8. II. Mahmud Turbesi
9. Obelisk of Theodosius
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 591 reviews
Reviewed By atulya_sinha - Kolkata (Calcutta), India
This is probably the oldest monument one can see in modern Istanbul. The present site is the third home for the Obelisk, which was originally carved out of red granite stone and installed near the temple of Karnak in Egypt between 1500-1400 BCE. The column is adorned with hieroglyphics said to depict the victory of Tutmoses III. These carvings are in remarkably fine condition. In the early fourth century CE, Emperor Constantine I arranged to moved it down the river Nile to Alexandria. Finally, in 390 CE the Emperor Theodosius moved it to Constantinople (as it was known at that time) and installed it within the Hippodrome. It was originally about 100 ft high, but when it reached the Hippodrome, its height had been curtailed to about 64 ft, possibly due to the constraint of the ship which transported it from Nile. The stone column is mounted on a heavy sandstone base adorned with carvings of Emperor Theodosius surrounded by his courtiers as well as common citizens. This highly photogenic monument is a favourite spot for tourists.
10. Walls of Theodosius
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 43 reviews
Reviewed By WG300 - Stanford, United States
These were the formidable walls that protected Constantinople and are still largely intact today. There are likely several locations where you can visit the wall. This review is for the section closest to the tram stop Pazartekke and Fetihkapı. There is a park surrounding the west side (the horde side) of the wall and you can take some nice pictures from there. You can also go through a tunnel passing through the wall here. To go up the wall south of the tunnel is up the private restaurant or business. You go past a parking lot and walk into a private garden area. If you're lucky, they will look the other way as they did for us when went into the wall and onto the wall itself. Besides areas of the neglected wall, they have a modern patio area where you could probably schedule an event or wedding. They did have locks on the doors, so I wouldn't try this during non-business hours.
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