Once Byzantium, Constantinople, and today Istanbul. One of the most populated cities today. This city wins everyone’s heart. There is no Turkish series that I watched, that it was not filmed in Istanbul or that this city was not mentioned! Only ideas greet you with the sentence: “İstanbul’a hoş geldınız!”. Friendly people, a wonderful city, full of history and amazing attractions! Be sure to visit it in the spring, when it is warm, or better yet in early summer. The summer period is great for Antalya, Bodrum, Alanya. Prices for plane tickets from your city, check here. The currency is the Turkish lira. Money does not need to be exchanged at the airport due to exchange rate differences (2020.g: 1e = 8.2TL; 1e = 8.6 TL). Tip, transport from the airport to the accommodation; yellow taxi, cheaper. When it comes to mobile phone cards, the most cost-effective and best-selling is Turkcell. Recommended accommodation is: Grand Hotel Halic, Adore Istanbul, Fer Hotel, Grand Sirkeci Hotel, Ayasultan Hotel. Accommodation is best chosen in the following locations: Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Taksim, ie at tourist attractions. Traditional Turkish breakfast includes several types of cheese, cured meats and jams, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggs, butter, bread, potatoes, cream…
RESTAURANTS&CAFES
One of the restaurants with super food and where we have the opportunity to feed the seagulls is Kubbei Ask. And the name of the view is: “Istanbul in the palm of your hand”. Breakfast is around 10e. Another beautiful restaurant, with an even better view (view of Aya Sofia), is Seven Hills. For burek lovers, Levent Borek is unavoidable. 360 Istanbul in Istiklal Street, is great for nightlife. In the old building, on the top floor, and at night is an ultramodern restaurant. In addition to these restaurants, we can try delicious Turkish food in: Saltanat Barbecue Restaurant, Marbella Terace Cafe Restaurant, Emporio Ristorante, Old Ottoman Cafe & Restaurant, Mekan, Leb- and Derya, Hala Manti. And the super cafes in Istanbul are: Dukan Galata, Cigdem Pastanesi, Harab’be Cafe ..
AYA SOPHIA
Aya Sophia is a beautiful building, built only 5 years. It was designed by Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius in Byzantine architecture. It was opened on December 27, 537 AD. There was also an Orthodox church, a Catholic one, but also a mosque; which it is now. Tourists are not allowed to tour during prayers. Girls should be appropriately dressed, legs, arms and head covered. Undressing is also mandatory. If a person is improperly dressed, he can buy clothes for 5 TL, intended for a tour of the mosque.
SULEIMAN MOSQUE
Religion is very important in Turkey, as well as in Istanbul. It may bother someone, those who are not members of Islam. RESPECT OTHERS, KEEP YOURSELF. That’s all I can say. Let’s go back to the 2nd mosque, and that is Suleiman Mosque. It was built in honor of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and Hurem, his favorite wife. The best and most famous architect Mimar Sinan was in charge of architecture and construction.
BLUE MOSQUE
Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, is located across from the Hagia Sophia. It is named after the 20,000 hand-painted tiles that cover the interior of the dome. This is the only one of the 500 mosques in Istanbul, which has 6 minarets. Unlike the Hagia Sophia, it is in the Ottoman style (architecture) and was built in 1616. Admission is free, and dress code applies to all mosques.
TOKAPI PALACE
One of the largest diamonds is kept here. It occupies just under 700,000 m2. It consists of 4 main courtyards. In the first is Aya Irena, an Orthodox church that has not been converted into a mosque. The construction of the Topkapi Palace began in 1459 by order of Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror, with the aim of making Byzantine Constantinople. Its name in Turkish literally means the Palace of the Cannon Gate because it was built on the site of the city gates of Constantinople which were destroyed by Turkish cannons. Today, the palace has been turned into a museum, and the entrance costs 100 TL. Entrance to the harem is charged an additional 70 TL, but worth a visit. In 1985, Topkapi Palace, along with other monuments of the “Historical Core of Istanbul”, was placed on the World Heritage List and is under UNESCO protection as “the best example of a palace complex from the Ottoman period”.
GRAND BAZAAR
Shortly after the conquest of Constantinople in the fifteenth century, in 1455, a bazaar was built, which later, in the years that followed, was named the Grand Bazaar. This building, which is dedicated to the textile trade, was erected by Sultan Mehmet II the Conqueror. In order to really feel the life, culture, people of the destination, one should visit their shops, bazaars, stalls. Here you can find literally everything, from branded goods to various types of teas. The price can be lowered up to 8 times. You need to negotiate the price, because if you do not negotiate, the Turks will get angry. You Balkans, especially Serbs, lower the price the most for you! It covers an area of 47,600 m2 and has more than 4,000 stores. It is very possible to get lost, because the space is really huge. Lovers of amulets, can buy a Turkish blue eye; an amulet believed to protect against spells.
TAHT ISTANBUL
For all photographers Taht Istanbul is great. This is definitely worth a visit, if you like to take pictures. It costs 100 TL, but is worth every couple! There is a possibility of free costume rental. It is necessary to book at least 3 days before arrival. It has a Barbie Pink World, an inner part, like a harem, a lamp from “1001 Nights” and an outer part.
DOLAMBACHE PALACE
It is located on the European side, in Besiktas. In this magnificent palace there are 285 rooms, 44 halls, 68 toilets and 6 Turkish baths. It cost 35 tons of gold, which is more than today’s billion and a half dollars. At the same time, this is the largest palace in Turkey. 6 Ottoman rulers lived here, and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk also died there.
GALATA TOWER & ISTIKLAL STREET
If you are looking for more places to take photos, then Istiklal Street is a great choice. Trams were abolished in 1961, but were added 30 years later. They make your photo even more beautiful. And the most famous is the red tram. This street is 1,4 km long. And it peaked in popularity in the 19th century. There are plenty of cafes, restaurants, shopping places on the street; and prices are much lower compared to other European cities. Galata Tower is 67m high, and at the time it was built it was the tallest building in the city. Inside the tower there is a cafe and a restaurant. The entrance is 45 TL. In that part around the tower, there are many outdoor cafes. Be sure to try the San Sebastian Cheesecake from “Viyana Kahvesi”. Also, stop by the pastry shop “Hafız Mustafa” with the best baklava.
BALAT
Istanbul in a different way. Colorful houses from the internet, it is the most common association with Balat. But he is much more than that. Everyday scenes of children running down the street, small capacity cafes, murals, the smell of coffee and fresh juices. Part of Istanbul with a soul. There is nothing to write about him, but one should feel his fairy-tale emperor.
MAIDEN’S TOWER
The Maiden’s Tower, also known as Leander’s Tower, is located on a small island on the Bosphorus. There is a restaurant on the first floor and a café on the top. A picture of this tower can be found on the 10 lira banknote from the period 1966-1981. Fans of the Hitman movie had the opportunity to see this tower. You can feed the pigeons or just enjoy the view of the fascinating tower.
PRINCE’S ISLANDS
The Prince’s Islands are an archipelago of nine islands located in the extreme northeast of the Sea of Marmara, not far from Istanbul. They were a famous tourist destination in the Byzantine era, when they were often used to send exiles of pretenders to the imperial throne, after which they got their name. Today, they represent one of the tourist attractions of the largest city of the Republic of Turkey, from 19 km to 28 km away. The one-way ferry ride takes an hour and a half, however the view is beautiful.
SAPPHIRE
Many call her the Burj Khalifa of Istanbul. From the 54th floor, there is an unreal view of Istanbul. It is located in the Turkish quarter of Levent. It is part of the mall, but most stores were closed before the pandemic.
ORTAKOY
Turks, Greeks, Jews and Armenians used to live in this area. In the 16th century, Suleiman the Magnificent encouraged the Turks to move en masse to Ortakoy and live there, which marked the beginning of Turkish domination in the neighborhood. Today, it is also a popular place for locals and tourists alike, because there are many art galleries, nightclubs, cafes, bars, restaurants, but also reputable schools and universities. The famous Ortakoy Mosque was built in the 19th century in the Neo-Baroque style, and one of the architects who participated in its construction is also responsible for the design of the Dolmabahçe Palace. If you are not afraid of birds, feeding pigeons is a popular attraction here.
BOSPORUS
Ahh, the Bosphorus. There is nothing to say or write about him. It is a place to enjoy. Romantic. Sit on the bench and enjoy the view. That’s the only thing that can be said about this little spell!
•We have reached the end of the guide about Istanbul. I tried to describe it to you in as much detail as possible, but still concisely. Of course, if you are in Istanbul for a short period of time, choose some locations that are more important to you, more beautiful. Of course, those who are in Istanbul for 7-10 days, can visit everything from this guide and even more. If you know Turkish you will be great for communicating with locals, and it would be good to have an acquaintance who speaks Turkish if you do not know. If you have any more questions about Istanbul, write me an e-mail or Pinterest profile. If you liked this post, comment and share it, and follow me on Pinterest! Thanks for reading!
Mrs From The Suitcase
Mrs From The Suitcase 
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