Istanbul Sightseeing

Quote: Be sure to explore every nook you possibly can. The real treasures are the recovered and exposed mosaics on the top floors. Get there early to avoid the large tour groups. You'll most likely be harassed at the… Read More

Quote: Our VisitWe turned up just about ten minutes before the noon-time prayers which meant we had to rush rather. It’s not appropriate – it may not even be permitted – to go in during the five prayer sessions each day… Read More

Quote: Step up to this 17th century mosque, surrender your shoes and step inside for a breathtaking moment. The handmade tiles are especially beautiful when combined with the soft glow from hundreds of candles. This… Read More

Quote: Constantine the Great reputedly built the original cistern on this site, with the current one being enlarged and rebuilt by Justinian in 532. It was known as the Basilica Cistern after the Stoa Basilica, which… Read More

Quote: The archaeological museums of Istanbul are not famous. In many ways they are a forgotten footnote to the history of Turkey. And this is ridiculous. Ancient Turkey was home to Trojans, King Midas, and the Golden… Read More

Quote: Nestled under the shadow of the Bosphorus Bridge is Ortakoy an attractive neighbourhood of narrow cobbled streets lined with cafes and shops which, across the busy road, heads upwards to a more residential area… Read More

Quote: As I walked along Istikal, one of Istanbul's largest and most famous thoroughfares, I could not help but think of Shanghai. This comparison may, initially, sound a little tenuous. However, please stick with me as… Read More

Quote: A good thing to do on the same day you visit the Dolmabache Palace is to go see the Military Museum. They are within easy walking distance though radiating down different streets from Taksim Square. The museum… Read More

Quote: This Museum is really just a roof over a magnificent stretch of Byzantine mosaic floor picturing a hunting scene with deer, rabbits, elephants, monkeys, and other animals and human figures. The shading on the… Read More

Quote: The Dolmabahce Palace was built in the nineteenth century, partly with money borrowed from other world leaders like Queen Victoria in England. The Ottoman Empire was the sick man in Europe, but its leaders didn't… Read More