Istanbul

Istanbul: the meeting point of Europe and Asia, the capital of the Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, and 2010 European Capital of Culture. It is a lively pulsating city with vivid culture.


#European side
#Sultanahmet
For free: Blue mosque, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar, Gülhane Park.
Required entrance fee: Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, Yerebatan Cistern, Archeological Museum & the other museums.


#Eminonu
For free: New Mosque, Spice/Egyptian Bazaar.


#Taksim
For free: Taksim Square, Saint Antonie Church.
Required entrance fee: Galata Tower.


#Besiktas-Ortaköy

For free: Ortaköy area (preferably in the evening, you may see stunning Bosphorus bridge with its lights and Ortaköy mosque, plenty of cafes and restaurants).

Required entrance fee: Dolmabahçe Palace, Bosphorus tour (during the day).


#Others
For free: Levent-Ayazağa (business districts), Kanyon (green sophisticated shopping mall), Istinye Park (luxurious shopping mall), Viaduct (Fatih area), Eyüp and the Cafe Pierre Loti, Kilyos beach, seeing colourful tulips flourish (Istanbul Tulip Festival in April).
Required entrance fee: Miniatürk (Miniature of whole Turkey), Rumeli Fortress, watching Mevlana and the Whirling Dance, eating baklava at Karakoy Güllüoğlu.


#Asian side
For free: Haydarpaşa Train Station, Çamlıca Hill, Şile Beach
Required entrance fee: The Maiden’s Tower (nice during sunset), Beylerbeyi Palace.

Hagia Sophia (exterior)

Hagia Sophia (interior)

Hagia Sophia (interior)

Blue Mosque (exterior)

Blue Mosque (interior)

Topkapı Palace (exterior)

Dolmabahçe Palace (exterior)

Dolmabahçe Palace (exterior)

Istanbul Tulip Festival

Istanbul Tulip Festival

Grand Bazaar

Spice / Egyptian Bazaar

Spice / Egyptian Bazaar

New Mosque

Galata Tower

View from Galata Tower

Baklava at Karaköy Güllüoğlu

Saint Antonie Church

Bosphorus Bridge

Bosphorus Bridge

Rumeli Fortress

Miniatürk

Viaduct

The Maiden’s Tower

Çamlıca Hill's Panorama

Eyüp (View from the Cafe Pierre Loti)

Kilyos Beach

Kilyos Beach

Şile Beach

Şile Beach

Mevlana and the Whirling Dance

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