Istanbul Tourism

History of Istanbul:

Throughout its history, Istanbul has been an important city with a long heritage. The physical remainders of the Greeks, Romans, and Venetians can be found across the city. While, post the Ottomans conquest, the city became a cultural, political and commercial centre. However, as Ankara became the capital after World War 1, Istanbul has still been recognized as a centre of culture, business, and tourism.    

Best Cuisines in Istanbul:

With a bounty of popular street food joints and famous restaurants, like: 360 Istanbul, Ulus 29, Mikla, Mia Mensa and more, the city caters various kinds of cuisines. On an Istanbul excursion, do try its local dishes, the simit- which is a Turkish bagel, the lahmacun- a Turkish pizza, the balik-ekmek, which is a fish sandwich and many more to add some spice to your journey to this enticing place.

Honeymoon in Istanbul:

Plan a honeymoon escape to one of the most romantic cities in the world, Istanbul, and let its beautiful landscapes beguile for an extended sojourn. Visit to Bosphorus for splendid sunset views, Sultanahmet for exquisite monuments, along with Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, Suleymaniye Mosque and more.

Major Festivals in Istanbul:

Istanbul is famed for its music festivals for every kind of season and taste. An excursion to this majestic city let its visitors have a gala time while enjoying events and festivals, like: Istanbul International Dance Festival, Istanbul Film Festival, Istanbul Jazz Festival and the list is huge!

Mosques of Istanbul:

Over the years, Istanbul has been a true blend of western and eastern cultures, and ironically its location justifies that as well. The many grand mosques built during the Ottoman era bear striking references to that east-west blend. The best example of that is Hagia Sophia, which once actually used to be a church and then a mosque, before finally turning into a museum. Sultan Ahmet Mosque, or Blue Mosque as it is more popularly known, is one of the top attractions of Istanbul, Turkey. Suleymaniye Mosque, Rustem Pasa Mosque, New Mosque (although it is 350 years old) and Ortakoy Mosque are among the must-see monuments.

Beaches of Istanbul:

 With three water bodies around – Black Sea, Marmara Sea and Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul has a good collection of warm sunny beaches. Babylon in Kilyos is the best Istanbul beach, followed by Uzunya, True Blue, DURC and Dalia Beaches.

 These are some of the notable attractions to include in your Istanbul holidays itinerary.

1. Hagia Sophia:

 The most famous attraction of Istanbul tourism, Hagia Sophia, is known for its colossal frame and a massive dome, which rises above every other roof in Istanbul. Once a Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal cathedral, and then an imperial mosque under the Ottomans, Hagia Sophia is now a proud home to remnants and relics of both those empires and much more. It is undoubtedly Turkey’s most cherished landmark till date.

2. Blue Mosque:

 Unlike Hagia Sophia, this historical architecture is still an active shrine where Muslim people kneel in prayer. Built by Ottoman Emperor Sultan Ahmed I between 1609 and 1616, the mosque when first built, matched the one at Mecca with its towering six minarets. With the grandest of Ottoman architecture and ten thousand Iznik tiles which give the mosque its name, the Blue Mosque duels with Hagia Sophia as the best of Istanbul tourist places.

3. Topkapi Palace:

 Topkapi Palace was the glorious residence and seat of power of the mighty Ottomans from 15th to 19th century, overlooking the Bosphorus. The palace is so huge, and lined up with such striking display of Islamic art and architecture, that it takes up almost half a day to see it completely. If you ever had any doubt about the opulence of the Ottomans, Topkapi Palace will do away with those.

4. Basilica Cistern:

 Basilica Cistern is the most enigmatic attraction you will see on your Istanbul tour. It was once literally a cistern – a massive underground water system supported by 336 columns, storing imperial water supply for Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Spot the famous Medusa-based columns amidst the dim glow of the lights and the soft trickling sound of water. The location has recently become famous in literature and popular culture as the location of the climax of Dan Brown’s book Inferno.

5. Hippodrome:

 Very little of the original hippodrome as finished by Constantine the Great now remain. It was the centre of Byzantine life back in the days – functions, events, races and games were held here frequently. At present, the prime attraction of the relics is the 20m high Egyptian obelisk from Heliopolis, a Serpent Column brought by Constantine himself from Delphi and a stone obelisk which was originally covered in gold-plated bronze but got stolen during the Crusades.

People & Culture of Istanbul

Almost 19% of Turkey’s population reside in the city of Istanbul with majority following the religion of Islam. The city is famous for its customs and the locals are known to welcome those who travel to this city with open arms. However, their nature is not only infused by hospitality but also loaded with heart-warming cuisine. When it comes to Turkish cuisine, one can think of utterly delicious dishes made meticulously over the day. Some of the best includes Karn?yar?k, Lahmacun, and Kurufasulye. Even though a lot of people have taken up western attires, there are still some who have held onto the traditional headscarves. Almost entirely, the population here speak their official language, i.e., Turkish. Since the city is located at the intersection of Europe and Asia, its culture and people exhibit a fusion of both.