City: Istanbul
Top Things to do in Istanbul
Top 10 Things to do for Honeymoon in Istanbul, Turkey
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. Guided Istanbul Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,467 reviews
'Guided Istanbul Tours' is a privately-owned business run by the professional tour guides which caters to the independent travellers who want to see Istanbul on a one-to-one basis. Top quality private day tours and shore excursions are available to all the main sites in Istanbul with personal pick-up and drop-off included
2. Cagaloglu Hamami
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,713 reviews
Cagaloglu Hamami (Turkish Bath) was built in 1741 to provide revenue for both the library of Mahmut I, the Ottoman Sultan of the time, in Hagia Sophia Kulliye (social complex) and for Hagia Sophia Mosque. Architectural plans of the bath was designed by Suleyman Aga, the architect of the court, and the bath was built by Abdullah Aga. Before the construction of Cagaloglu Turkish Bath, the palace built by Nevsehirli Damat Ibrahim Pasa stood on the same location. The palace was destroyed by a fire in 1740, and construction of the Cagaloglu Bath started soon after. The bath has both historical and architectural importance as it is the last great Turkish bath constructed before Sultan Mustafa III prohibited the construction of great baths in 1768, due to the increasing water and firewood needs of the city. Cagaloglu Bath is one of the largest double Turkish baths of Istanbul. Baroque style novelties, a rarely seen quality in Ottoman architecture.
Reviewed By asfi90 - Istanbul, Turkey
I had the Ottoman Luxury service and had the best experience of Turkish bubble bath followed by massage by Yahya, who ensured I truly enjoy my time. I don’t feel bad saying that I have never felt so clean in my life before. Will definitely recommend to everyone visiting Istanbul for the first time.
3. Historic Areas of Istanbul
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 10,677 reviews
Reviewed By titizel - Istanbul, Turkey
While you are visiting İstanbul, there are landmarks to visit. Sultan Ahmet Area, Blue Mosque, Galata Tower, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Basilica Cistern, Topkapı Palace and Dolmabahçe Palace. That are most populer places. But I advise you to add Maiden Tower and take a Bosphorus Tour.
4. Culinary Backstreets -Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,770 reviews
When it comes to exploring a city’s authentic dining scene, while the stomach should ideally serve as the best compass, the truth of the matter is that it’s hard to find your way without good local advice. That’s where Culinary Backstreets’ Culinary Walks come in. In order to help you explore the world’s gastro-capitals and get off these cities’ eaten path, CB is offering (with selected partners) guided culinary walks in some of the cities we cover, starting with Istanbul, Athens, Barcelona, and Shanghai.Our culinary walks are designed to lead visitors on an eating binge through a city’s lesser-seen historic side streets and authentic markets, taking in countless hard-to-find culinary gems and, in between bites, a select number of untouristed monuments. You can view our updated safety measures at https://culinarybackstreets.com/our-commitment/
5. Istanbul Guided Private Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 635 reviews
Private Istanbul Tours guided by experienced guides. Our tours include the most visited sites in Istanbul such as St. Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace as well we also offer you many types of tour options that are totally different than the other itineraries you have been offered. All of our tours are conducted by dynamic, licensed and expert local guides with many years of experience behind them. They are attentive and keen to share their knowledge about the sights and Turkish culture. Flexible private tours offer many unforeseen benefits - having a personal guide means that a tour itinerary can be easily modified to pursue newly developing interests, spontaneous events, or special requests on the go and at a pace that suits you.
6. Istanbul on Food - Culinary Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 915 reviews
Let us take you on a unique Istanbul Food Tour inside our favorite neighborhoods and culinary backstreets of Istanbul. Each food tour includes food tastings from the best specialty food shops and local restaurants, as well as an off-the-beaten-path glimpse of life in Istanbul: the history, culture and architecture of our lively home. Of course, the food takes centre stage, and you definitely won’t leave hungry – but, this is so much more than just a food tour.
7. Tree of Life Ceramics & Gift Shop
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 415 reviews
Tree of Life Ceramics & Gift Shop is newly open and provides new interesting products with an excellent customer service.
Reviewed By mohammedo587
Must visit when in Sultanahmet.. great store and great diverse collections by local artists .. the owner is a great man and really honest .. he shipped everything we bought through UPS with care and promptly without any delays .. all pieces signed by local artists.. I still communicate with him through WhatsApp.. we are planning to keep buying ..
8. Blue Mosque
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34,581 reviews
Built between 1609-1616, this impressive mosque has six minarets. Why is it called "Blue Mosque?" There are two stories: the first, more common one is that the interior is covered in Blue İznik tiles. The second is: many years ago, ancient sailors who sailed by the mosque on the Marmara Sea saw the blue colors of the sea reflected in the mosque.
Reviewed By TravelApopediatravel - Istanbul, Turkey
Blue mosque was built in the 1616 such a easy date to remember! It was built by architect Sefefkar Mehmet Agha who was the student of master architect Sinan who built around 400 buildings including Süleymaniye Mosque. So literally Architect Sinan is like Michelangelo of the Ottomans built Süleymaniye a true master piece and His student so student of Michelangelo has built Blue mosque and wanted to rival Hagia Sophia in terms of architecture. Hagia Sophia also inspired all the world but it was not constructed by Ottomans but by Romans so Ottomans always wanted to built amazing works, imperial mosques to surpass the Hagia Sophia so master Architect Sinan built Süleymaniye Mosque which is the biggest in İstanbul but it was not enough so after Architect Sinan died his student became the master Architect and built Blue mosque as the most beautiful work just infront of Hagia Sophia to rival it and decorated it with the best,highest quality blue tiles so that it was called as Blue mosque and has a great Architecture, perfect symmetry and harmony!!! Definitely Must see place!! But at the moment there is restoration you can just see a part of it!!!
9. Topkapi Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 27,196 reviews
This enormous palace was the Imperial residence of Ottoman sultans for almost 400 years. Although much of the palace is not accessible, the daily tours of the Harem are of great interest to tourists.
Reviewed By fatemat2014 - Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
You must visit this to see how the Ottomans use to live... it has a lot of historical artifacts from the time of Prophet Moses and Propher Mohammed PBUH... definitely take the audio guide and make sure you ask how to use it properly
10. Hagia Sophia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 43,620 reviews
This architectural marvel displays 30 million gold tiles throughout its interior, and a wide, flat dome which was a bold engineering feat at the time it was constructed in the 6th century.
Reviewed By AnLily
The Hagia Sophia Church-turned Mosque deserves a second look. Often, you need to look up & behind (at the exit and corner of upstairs former chapel) to spot the beauty that Islamic conquerors forgot or ignored in stripping its decor. Sadly, they plastered over the pure gold & silver Byzantine mosaics, which are only palely visible now. (The glowing ceiling and radiant upper walls of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem shows what the Hagia Sophia once would have looked like by brilliant candlelight inside.) The Byzantine influence of the Hagia Sophia is great; its architecture was copied by Ottomans and can be seen at the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet) in Istanbul and in Cairo (“Blue Mosque” as well) at the Fortress governed by Mohamed Ali. Aside from the similarities, including windows and dome at the succeeding blue mosques, differences to the mosque-cathedrals revised by North African Caliphates in Cordoba also astound visitors. Whereas the archways and simplicity of Spanish architecture on the conquered Iberian peninsula resemble ancient Egyptian Coptic churches, the Hagia Sophia has an intricacy that dimly appears after centuries of contest. You miss the most impressive views by not taking the ancient Roman uneven ramp to the upper gallery (with jewellery stand!); it closes early and is only accessible until approximately 6 p.m. Beyond the Empress Lodge upstairs is the 6th century marble door, behind which is a handrail with 9th c. Viking graffiti. On the arches above are mosaic stars of David flanking emblems of crosses. If you proceed to the far wall and look back there’s an impressive Byzantine image of Jesus retained in gold. However, the marble was largely damaged by Ottomans and the statuary looted by Crusaders and Venetians. A portion of the mosaics (6-13 c) are being uncovered from behind imposing scaffolding. This Hagia Sophia beside Sultanahmet in Iznik (Nicaea) was built during the reign of Emperor Theodosius and burned in the fire of Nika Revolt (532 AD) before being rebuilt. It was the site of the 7th ecumenical Church council in 787 CE (the first was also held there in 325 CE). It became strictly used as a mosque from 1331 under order of Orhan Gazi and modified with medallions or script of Koran inspiration by the architect Mimar Sinan. The remains of a 1,600-year old Byzantine basilica, St. Neophytos, is nearby--preserved as a museum under Iznik Lake as an inspiration of the original Hagia Sophia cathedral. In 1453 Mahmud II made severe changes to Hagia Sophia, the ancient base of the Orthodox Church, when he forced out the local Ecumenical faithful and hung the Greek patriarch George V—as well as executing the leading Orthodox bishops. Subsequent Muslim renovations continued 1847-49 during Abdulmecit’s reign. The Hagia Sophia was reconstituted as Museum under secularized state control after Ataturk ascended to power in postwar Turkey. General admission to the museum costs 60 TL/person. The ticket office accepts visa, as does the gift- and coffee shop. You can purchase a 5-day pass for 185 TL to save 169 TL on other attractions as well. Headsets are limited and available only for large groups. The last daily entry time is 6 p.m, and snack counters sell expensive refreshments outside the public washrooms (wood huts) on the museum grounds. If you have time and cash-only, the Basilica cistern is kitty corner to the Hagia Sophia entrance across the street /tram tracks. Combining these venues and/or the Blue Mosque nearby can be simply enjoyed with or without a guide. Tourist pamphlets in multiple languages are oddly placed beside the exit gates, not at the front of the former church and basilica.
