Istanbul is the most populous city in Turkey due to its facilities, social and cultural wealth, and historical beauty. Don’t let the crowds scare you, because the city also has its own natural beauty and peaceful places. Once you come here and discover Istanbul, you will never have the chance and want to forget it again. You will go on a journey to be fascinated by the colorful social life, foods, and drinks in Istanbul, and its unique historical past.

Istanbul’s Social Life

Istanbul is a popular city in Turkey and around the world, which turns heads with the synthesis of culture it contains and is home to popular tourist attractions. In order to learn about Istanbul and discover the city, you need to learn about many important points. For example, the city’s social life is quite colorful; each corner is filled with things to do and people of all cultures. If you have already heard such information about the city and started discovering it, welcome to Istanbul!

Istanbul can be called the capital of artistic activities in Turkey particularly. Beyoğlu, Cihangir, Galata, Tünel, and Tophane districts, which have made an outstanding contribution to the art environment of Turkey, are popular tourist attractions of Istanbul in terms of art. These areas are the perfect spots to discover Istanbul artistically. If you are an art lover, you can go to one of these areas to see contemporary art exhibitions and performance artists, and visit art and photo galleries. By the way, don’t forget to visit Istanbul modern, the first modern art museum established in Turkey, in Beyoğlu. 

Istanbul is especially famous for its colorful entertainment venues and nightlife, the vitality of which never ends. In this sense, you can start discovering the nightlife of Istanbul from the cafes and bars in the Kadıköy district. In addition, you can visit the places where there is live music and entertainment, and delicious food will accompany you in the Beyoğlu district. These lively and fun places may serve you as one of the best starting points to discover Istanbul.

Foods and Drinks in Istanbul

Istanbul is a city famous for its street tastes and serving foods and drinks culture with its elite places. Not only the city itself but the food and drinks will welcome you to Istanbul! It has the most popular tourist attraction in Istanbul with its cuisine with a wide range of dishes. The city, which was influenced by “Palace cuisine” during the Ottoman period, also has restaurants serving dishes bearing traces of Ottoman cuisine. One of the most important points for exploring Istanbul will be to experience Turkish tastes, which offer unique flavors. 

Although the foods and drinks in Istanbul are influenced by modern culture, you can also find options to explore the local culture of Istanbul. For example, you can drink the famous “boza” in the Vefa district of Istanbul and enjoy it as a family with a beautiful view. Another Istanbul-specific food is yogurt, which you can eat in Kanlica. You can discover foods and drinks in Istanbul by eating “kumpir” in Ortakoy, an offal dish called “Uykuluk” in Sütlüce, coffee in Pierre Loti, and famous chocolates in Beyoğlu.

Welcome to Istanbul: Discover Istanbul’s Historical Places

Throughout history, Istanbul has been the capital of three Empires and has been a city that most states have wanted to capture for many years. For this reason, it houses many historical monuments and places dating from Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman cultures, which are popular tourist attractions. Therefore, when you research Istanbul, you will definitely see that many mosques, churches, palaces, and museums are frequented by tourists. In order to discover Istanbul, let’s look at the historical sites of the city that reflect the synthesis of culture. Do not forget to visit Istanbul.com to know about all these places and learn more about Istanbul.

Hagia Sophia 

Hagia Sophia will make you feel that you are in Istanbul from head to toe, and it says almost “Welcome to Istanbul!” with its unique historical beauty. This mosque is one of the most popular tourist attractions of the historical peninsula. For many years has been an area of importance for empires in a religious sense. For this reason, Hagia Sophia Mosque has become one of the most recognized and desired places of worship in the world. In the Ottoman Period, Hagia Sophia was converted from a church to a mosque. Still, then, it began to be used as a museum by the Republic of Turkey. However, nowadays, you can see this place as an active worship center again. We can say that it would be the best place to discover Istanbul.

Topkapi Palace 

Topkapi Palace Museum is another historical building dating back to the Ottoman era that will fascinate you with its grandeur. This palace has witnessed many important moments of the Ottoman Empire for almost 400 years and is a popular tourist attraction today. Inside the palace, you can see many artifacts from the Ottoman era, and feel the historical spirit in the walls of the building.

The Basilica Cistern 

The Basilica Cistern is one of the best starting places to discover Istanbul and witness its cultural mosaic. This Cistern was built by Justinian I (527-565) in the Byzantine Era and covers an area of 70 meters in width and 140 meters in length. This place, which has been used for storing water for many years, today attracts the attention of domestic and foreign tourists with its huge marble structure and water-resistant architecture.

Galata Tower

One of the first historical buildings that will appear in front of you when you do your research about Istanbul will be the Galata Tower. This stone tower, which has become one of the symbols of Istanbul, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2013. Built during the Byzantine period, the structure was used as a watchtower for many years. Its name has been included in many legends set in Istanbul. You can see the structure from the ferry trips you will make when you come to Istanbul, and you can feel that it says “Welcome to Istanbul” to you.