To wholly experience all of the sights of Istanbul can take time. Some of the 2,000-year-old attractions can be fairly difficult to find, so many get missed. The Sultanahmet district contains much of Istanbul’s past and although it is the oldest part of the city, it is not the only historic quarter. The city centre’s Old City and New City are separated by the estuary of the Golden Horn. Many fascinating sights can be found around this area. Mosques are almost always open to visitors, as long as it is outside of prayer times, but appropriate dress must be worn.
The museums in Istanbul can be confusing, as each are run by different authorities and entrance charges or opening times are subject to sudden change. Tourist offices are able to provide accurate information. Visitors will not be disappointed with Istanbul’s sights, as there are so many, each containing a long and detailed history.
Haghia Sophia
Translated, this means ‘church of divine wisdom’. The church is considered by many to be one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture. Sanctified in 537 AD, its enormous dome is representative of heaven. When Mehmet the Conqueror took the city in 1453, he was so impressed by the design that he turned it into a mosque. It remained a mosque until the founding of the Turkish Republic, when it thus became a museum. Highlights of the museum include Byzantine mosaics and huge shields from the Ottoman era, which contain verses from the Koran. The museum is divided into two parts, the church and the mosaic gallery, each requiring a separate ticket.
 Topkapi Palace
The palace was originally built as a summer house, but soon became home to all state administration of the Ottoman Empire and about 3,000 residents. It was abandoned by the Sultans in 1855, but much of the treasures such as silk robes, Chinese ceramics, manuscripts and jewels remained and can still be seen today. The harem, which once housed over 300 concubines, is now open to the public, although it requires a separate ticket than that of the main palace.
 Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsisi)
This famous bazaar was first erected in 1493 and includes places for silk traders to rest themselves and their camels while selling their goods. The beautifully decorated ceilings and maze-like alleyways date back to the 15th century and are still in excellent condition. Luckily, the stalls do not date back that far and instead of selling slaves, as they once did, they now sell souvenirs, Turkish crafts and traditional rugs. All stall owners expect you to haggle with them over prices, so if you want the best price, you had better practice your bargaining skills. The bazaar is also home to a police station, two mosques, money changing facilities, numerous cafés and an information point. The bazaar is open Mondays to Saturdays from 07:00 to 19:00.
 Egyptian or Spice Market (Misir Carsisi)
This market was built in the 17th century as an extension to the New Mosque. It originally only sold exotic herbs and spices from the orient, but today it also sells dried fruits, caviar and Turkish delight. The streets surrounding the market are full of activity, with people selling all sorts of things, ranging from handicrafts to cheeses. The market is open Monday to Saturday from 08:00 until 19:00.
 Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii)
This mosque was built during the 17th century under the order of Sultanahmet. He wanted to create a building as beautiful as Haghia Sophia. Today, the mosque is the symbol and centre for religious demonstrations. Blue tiles dominate the inside of the building and a blue light shines through more than 250 windows. There is a huge central dome designed to lift the eyes towards heaven, a similar feature to the Haghia Sophia. Today, the Imperial Pavilion houses a carpet museum, which is run by the government.
 Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarayi)
This is often referred to as the Sunken Palace, as it is the largest of over a hundred ancient cisterns lying beneath the city. It is an underground chamber, of similar size to a cathedral, and capable of holding up to 80,000 cubic metres of water. The cistern was used as a location for the James Bond film, ‘From Russia with Love’ in 1963. It is open every day from 09:00 until 17:00.
 Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi)
This imposing tower can be seen from practically anywhere in the city. The balcony at the top offers a fantastic view of the entire city and can be reached by either a lift or by climbing the hundreds of stairs. The tower houses a nightclub and restaurants on the top floors and a lovely tea garden at its foot. It is open daily from 09:00 until 19:00 and tickets are required.
 Taksim Square and Istiklal Caddesi
Taksim Square is the heart of modern Istanbul. Many tourists seem to miss it, which means that it is not so busy. In the southwest corner, the Monument of Independence can be found. This marks the start of the pedestrianised boulevard of Istiklal Caddesi. This busy road is lined with shops, restaurants, markets and bars and is especially crowded at night.
Archaeological Museum (Archeoloji Müzeleri)
Istanbul’s Archaeology Museum is split into three separate buildings and was once part of the Topkapi Palace complex. The famous 4th century Alexander tomb can be found in the main building, along with many Byzantine mosaics and other tombs. The museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 09:30 until 16:30, although this is subject to change, so check before you visit.
Top Things to Do
Take a bath. Turkish baths are a fantastic way to escape the frenetic atmosphere of the city. It does not matter what time of year it is, a bath can be enjoyed year-round. A classic bath has three rooms: changing rooms, a hot room and a cold room. Once you are undressed and wrapped in a towel, you move along to a large heated marble slab (gobek tasi), where you perspire and are rubbed down by an attendant. If it becomes too hot, you can move into the cooler room. It is customary to tip the attendants.
See a Whirling Dervish. One of the most famous symbols of Turkey is that of the Whirling Dervishes. Istanbul is one of the best places in the whole of Turkey in which to watch these performances. Mevlevi Dervishes perform the ceremony with traditional musicians at the Galata Mevlevihanesi on the first and last Saturdays of every month.
Take a break at Yildiz Park, a welcomed relief from the noise of the city. It is located above the area of Besiktas and has beautiful landscaped gardens and enchanting woods. There are two 19th century pavilions at one end, which were originally part of the palace and now operating as restaurants.
Enjoy some ice skating at Galleria Ice Skating, situated within Galleria shopping mall.
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