Istanbul is an awesome city with a lot of places to visit. For those planning to have a vacation in Istanbul, one of the fun activities to do can be exploring the attractions in this city. So if you have been planning to visit this amazing place, you may be wanting to learn about Istanbul attractions to check out. In this case, this post can definitely be worth taking a look at, as we will be talking about nine of the wonderful Istanbul attractions to know about.
If you are trying to decide which city to visit for your next vacation, Istanbul can be among the options to consider. Because this city can be an amazing place for a fun and exciting trip and there are numerous reasons for this. In Istanbul, you can explore a rich cuisine that is full of delicious foods, go to a variety of natural places, visit lots of different tourist attractions and do many other things… So in case you plan to visit this city, one of the things that you may be wanting to learn about can be Istanbul attractions. You can find many awesome examples of this below.
Istanbul Attractions List
There are Lots of Istanbul Attractions to Check Out
Istanbul is not only full of numerous nice beaches and other natural attractions, but it is also a place with lots of historical and cultural tourist attractions. Due to this, one of the tips for Istanbul travel that we can give you is to not forget about exploring the wonderful attractions in this city. But in order to decide which places attract your interest, you should first know about some of these places. So you may be wanting to learn about Istanbul attractions that can be worth visiting.
There are lots of great places to visit in Istanbul, and on this blog post we will be discussing some of them. Along with popular Istanbul attractions such as the Blue Mosque, Taksim Square and Gülhane Park, there are also lesser-known choices like Anadolu Hisarı. Regardless of how well-known these places are, the tourist attractions in Istanbul that we will talk about on this post can absolutely be worth checking out. If you are ready to learn more, keep reading…
The Blue Mosque
There are many popular Istanbul attractions and one of these is the Blue Mosque, which is also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. If you are in the Fatih district and exploring what this city has to offer, one of the places to visit can be this one, as it is an important historical place. Moreover, since it is a mosque, it is a religiously significant place, too.
Located in the “Old City”, the Blue Mosque is close to some of the other very popular Istanbul attractions like Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace. Built in the 17th century, this place has Islamic and classic Ottoman architecture features and it is a beautiful structure. As it is a religious building, make sure to follow the proper dress code when visiting this place.
Gülhane Park
Some of the Istanbul attractions are historical and cultural structures. As a city with a long history, that is to be expected for sure. But aside from such buildings, there are also natural areas and urban parks in Istanbul, too. One of the urban parks in Istanbul is Gülhane Park and it is a very well-known example of that.
When visiting Istanbul, the crowds and the activity of this city can feel overwhelming and you may need a natural area to get some air. Especially in situations like this, visiting Gülhane Park can be an awesome idea. Gülhane Park is located in the Fatih district and it is close to Topkapi Palace. When you want to get some fresh air during your Istanbul trip, definitely consider checking out this place.
Istanbul Museum of Modern Art
Aside from historical and natural attractions, there are numerous cultural attractions in Istanbul, too. One of these Istanbul attractions is this one: Istanbul Museum of Modern Art. If you like checking out works of art, one of the spots to visit in Istanbul can be this museum. From Tuesday to Thursday, it is open between 10 AM and 6 PM, while it is open from 10 AM to 8 PM on Fridays. As for Saturdays and Sundays, this place is open between 10 AM and 6 PM. On Mondays, this museum is closed.
When visiting a city as a tourist, one of the enjoyable activities to do can be visiting art galleries and museums. While on an Istanbul trip, this museum can be worth checking out for people who like modern art. This art gallery is also known as just Istanbul Modern and it is located in the Beyoğlu district.
Also Read: Istanbul Travel Unveiled: A 3-Day Adventure in the Heart of Turkey
Istanbul Archaeological Museums
Speaking of museums, these can be worth talking about as well. There are lots of museums in Istanbul, and Istanbul Archaeological Museums are among those. The history of these go back to the late 19th century, when Istanbul Archaeological Museum was founded. Today, these museums are comprised of the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of the Ancient Orient and the Museum of Islamic Art.
In these museums, there are numerous important historical objects are displayed. Examples of the historical artifacts in these museums include the Alexander Sarcophagus, the Egyptian-Hittite peace treaty, Lycian sarcophagus of Sidon and the Tabnit sarcophagus. If you are interested in history, these museums can be awesome places to visit. Istanbul Archaeological Museums are located in Fatih.
The Spice Bazaar
In case you want to know about a place to shop in Istanbul, one of the examples to mention can be the Spice Bazaar, which is a historical bazaar located in the Fatih district. If you are planning to visit this historical market in Istanbul, let’s not forget to mention that it is in the Eminönü quarter of Fatih and it is open from 8 AM to 7.30 PM on every day of the week.
So what can be bought in this historical bazaar? In the Spice Bazaar, which is also known as the Egyptian Bazaar, a variety of products from spices to snacks and souvenirs can be found. When you visit this place and buy items, it can be a good idea to bargain for a better price. Built in the 17th century, it is a fairly old structure in Istanbul and it has a nice authentic and historical atmosphere.
Anadolu Hisarı
For history lovers, castles and fortresses are surely among the types of old structures that can be fun to visit. If you are a history lover who is visiting Istanbul, you may be interested in checking out Anatolian Fortress, which is also known as Anadolu Hisarı and Güzelce Hisar.
It is one of the Ottoman fortresses in the city and it was constructed in 1394. While Ottomans hadn’t took the Old City at that time period, they controlled much of the surrounding areas including the spot where Anatolian Fortress was built, which is in Beykoz today. When you are around Beykoz and looking for Istanbul attractions, this place can be a great choice.
Pierre Loti Hill
In Istanbul, there are many areas which can offer a beautiful view. If you are looking for nice choices among those, Pierre Loti Hill, which is one of the nice Istanbul attractions, can be an awesome place to visit in this city. Because the view of the city from this area can be spectacular.
This hill is located in the Eyüpsultan district of the city and it was named after a French novel writer, whose real name was Louis Marie-Julien Viaud. When you go to this area, you may also consider checking out the cafe there.
Taksim Square
Are you curious to learn about Istanbul attractions? If so, another one of the places that we can talk about is Taksim Square. It is basically a popular area in the Beyoğlu district and it is a well-known spot that many tourists visit. Along with Republic Monument, Atatürk Cultural Center and many other spots, there are also shops, restaurants and a variety of other places in this square, as well.
Topkapi Palace
Another popular choice among Istanbul attractions is Topkapi Palace, which is now a museum that is open to visitors. This palace was built in the 15th century and was used by numerous Ottoman sultans through many centuries. It is a fairly large complex and especially if you are interested in Ottoman history, it can be an amazing place to visit.
Istanbul Attractions Final Words
In case you are trying to find enjoyable activities to do in Istanbul, one of the awesome choices for this can be visiting the touristic attractions in this city. There are many different Istanbul attractions that can be worth going to. Along with historical and cultural spots, there are also natural attractions in Istanbul. On this IstanbulJoy blog post, we have talked about some of the tourist attractions in Istanbul that can be awesome places to visit. When planning your Istanbul trip, consider adding some of these places to your list of spots to check out.