Istanbul is heaven for museum lovers. From the museums with historical artifacts to contemporary art museums, the museum culture of ıstanbul is nearly as rich as its cuisine. Here you can find the most recent information about Istanbul’s great museums and start to plan your trips to them.
Miniaturk is a wonderful open-air museum that displays tiny versions of turkey’s most famous attractions and architectural structures. it’s also known as the miniature turkey museum, and it’s a great location to visit if you want to take a fun tour of turkey. on the extreme end of golden horn’s northern shore, the park has an area of 60,000 square meters. the istanbul crystal museum and the panorama victory museum are both located inside the museum.
The water cistern of the Rezan Has Museum Istanbul is probably what you'll notice initially. This byzantine cistern, thought to have been constructed in the late 11th century, contains 48 aqueducts, a height of 15 feet, and 20 columns. after the cistern stopped working, it was first utilized as a tobacco depot and then, during the Second World War, as a supply warehouse. Today it serves as a museum that houses various exhibitions and a gallery.
The Sakip Sabanci Museum in Istanbul, with its prominent position overlooking the Bosphorus, may be a little out of the way from the regular tourist destinations, but its permanent collection and temporary exhibitions make it worth the trip. It also provides an opportunity to get away from the congestion and visit Emirgan, one of the city's most beautiful areas.
For ages, Istanbul was home to different empires. The deep history of Istanbul left its traces in great historical buildings like amazing palaces and mansions in different parts of the city.
The Ottoman Empire erected just one palace on the Asian Side of Istanbul, Beylerbeyi Palace.
Today's Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum is housed in istanbul's renowned ibrahim pasha palace, which is situated on sultan ahmet square. the ibrahim pasha palace is a historical landmark and also houses one of the main turkish exhibition halls that showcase many significant works of turkish and islamic art. if you're curious about the ibrahim pasha palace's past or unique features, read on to learn everything you need to know before going there.
Çirağan palace features magnificent architecture that fascinates everyone passing either overland or via the sea route.
Istanbul has a rich historical heritage coming from different eras of the city’s history. The towers like Galata Tower and Maiden’s Tower witnessed different empires come and go, witnessed a new republic arise.
Camlica Hill is the most beautiful spot for a panoramic view of istanbul. it is around 3 kilometers (260 meters) from the 15 july martyrs bridge. it's a lovely recreational spot where you can relax and take in the amazing istanbul panorama from the hill. on weekends, it's a great spot for breakfast and supper with a view of the bosphorus. since the ottoman time, camlica hill has been the ideal site to see istanbul from a bird's eye perspective, bringing significance to lovers' love for centuries and leaving memories in their memory. many poems, songs, and literary works have been written about it, and it has been featured in ancient turkish films. the camlica hill, one of istanbul's seven hills, is made up of two independent hills, big and small camlica. local visitors throng camlica hill, which is particularly congested on weekends. it is a popular tourist spot in istanbul, and guides claim that a photo shot in camlica makes you half-istanbul. the finest place to see the bosphorus is from camlica hill.
The galata tower stands tall in the beyoglu district of istanbul, this tower holds a very special place for the city. it also has amazing background history that we will discover here, we will also mention what you can do inside and outside the tower. the tower had many ups and downs but it still stands tall as an important monument of istanbul.
The Maiden's Tower (Kız kulesi in Turkish) is a beautiful tower on the sea near the Nosphorus's entry, along Istanbul's Uskudar shores. also known as the leandros, the maiden’s tower is one of the city's most well-known sights and monuments. the maiden's tower, which was once a watchtower, now serves as a cafe and restaurant during the day. it also offers a range of special events and invitations, including weddings, meetings, and business meals.
In Istanbul, you hear calls to prayer five times a day coming from the masques all around the city. There are about 4000 mosques in Istanbul, but most are local mosques for prayers only.
One of the most well-known architects of Turkey, Architect Sinan, also known as
Located on the Anatolian Side near The Beylerbeyi Pier, this mosque was commissioned by Sultan Abdülhamid in 1778.
A masterpiece by imperial architect sinan, the mosque of süleymaniye in istanbul is the namesake of sultan süleyman I.
Istanbul is home to all three big religions: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Therefore there are many churches and synagogues in Istanbul. Since Christianity dates back to the pre-Islamic era of Istanbul, most churches are also historical.
Aya yorgi church was built in 1751, according to information from the patriarchate documents. the original church is a tiny, two-story structure featuring a chapel, a little church, and a place for quiet reflection. on the contrary, the brand-new structure on the hill, the aya yorgi church, was constructed in face stone in 1905 and inaugurated in 1909.
Right after the hagia sophia, st.irene is the second largest and oldest church from the byzantine era still standing in istanbul.
One of the most famous Orthodox Byzantine Churches in Istanbul, pammakaristos church is a unique example of 11th and 12th century byzantine architecture. in turkey, it is mainly known as the fethiye mosque, literally translated as “mosque of the conquest”, and operates partly as a museum today. it is on the bucket list of most tourists in istanbul, and there is no reason that it shouldn’t be on yours too. if you are interested, here is everything you should know about the place.
In every city, there are open-air places for people to come together and enjoy the weather. In Istanbul, there are many great parks, specially designed gardens, and famous squares in which people can walk around and enjoy the city’s weather.
Every major city in the world has been endowed with a well-known park. central park in new york city is well-known. london's hyde park is well-known. however, gulhane park, also known as the park of the house of roses, is a famous park in istanbul. this isn't just a result of how stunning the park is. it's also because gulhane park is among istanbul's most historically significant attractions.
What is Golden Horn Istanbul? The Golden Horn is the sleeve that divides Istanbul's historic center from the city's contemporary area. The Golden Horn, also known as Halic in modern Turkish, is the principal canal into Istanbul from the Bosporus.
The city of Istanbul is one of the cities that best reflects Turkey’s historical past and cultural heritage and attracts the most attention. Different nations have lived on the territory of the city of Istanbul for centuries, and different empires have ruled. Locals and foreign tourists of Turkey are always interested in Istanbul and make up their guides for exploring the natural and historical beauties. Today, we will be looking at one of Istanbul’s most prominent historical sites: Beyazit Square.
Istanbul is the meeting point of Asia and Europe which are divided by the beautiful Bosphorus. To connect these two continents there are three massive bridges but they are not the only ones in the city.
It is known about Istanbul city its important location that connects European continent with asian continent through the bosphorus bridge. this location is such an important one because all products going from asia and middle east toward europe must pass through istanbul city not to mention that it sits on the world’s famous silk road that starts from china and ends up in Europe. thus, The Bosphorus strait is absolutely the most important area in istanbul if not in turkey.
There are many historical buildings in Istanbul from different eras of the past. There are historical banks, schools, shopping centers, and houses all around the old neighborhoods.
Protection was one of the most significant challenges that any nation in the past had to deal with. the answer was straightforward because countries—or rather, empires—did not have access to the same kinds of technologies that we do today. many cities had walls built around them to stave off sieges. this also applied to istanbul, or constantinople as it was formerly known. the constantinople walls were actually so strong that it took hundreds of years to breach them. as a reminder of the intricate and frequently bloody history of the city itself, the walls of constantinople are currently one of the most popular and significant sights in the city.
Istanbul Theodosian Walls are the defenses that have protected Istanbul, once known as constantinople, for thousands of years and have witnessed much of the city's history. the surrounding walls of istanbul are more artistically attractive than other wall constructions from the middle ages. they are exceptional illustrations of how roman city engineers and soldiers collaborated. even some researchers claim that the walls are more useful than the great wall of china. building walls entails establishing the land's boundaries. they contribute to the final forming of the city. istanbul's current map was created by theodosian walls.
The Calens Aqueduct, also known as Bozdogan Kemeri in Turkish, was constructed by emperor valens in the fourth century and has been supplying water to istanbul for 15 centuries, through the roman, byzantine, and ottoman eras. you may still visit the aqueduct, the majority of which is still standing despite being only 50 meters shorter than it was originally. here is all you need to know about it if you're interested in doing it.
Water is vital for the survival of humanity so throughout the history of Istanbul people tried to gather drinking water in the city. The people of Istanbul built various fountains around the city to provide water to others, and they also made huge cisterns underground for the city’s needs.
Şerefiye Cistern is one of the best places to visit in istanbul with its history and breathtaking structure. it is always very interesting for tourists and domestic visitors to explore this historic structure located in the underground of istanbul. şerefiye cistern, completed during the byzantine period, has been standing for many years and synthesizing many cultures. with the istanbul tourist pass, you can get the opportunity to visit this historical building with privileges such as a fantastic guided tour.
Due to its geographical location that connects europe with asia and due to its importance in the world of trade, istanbul city has been always an attractive place for many civilizations and empires through the time. especially byzantinian empire which has built what was called a modern city full of facilities using sophisticated architectural and civil techniques. in the matter of a fact, a lot of what was built and established during byzantinian period is still standing till the current day as a proof of how great this civilization was, and one of the most important proofs is the basilica cistern.
In Istanbul, you will feel like sports have an important role in the city’s culture. Especially football! There are great stadiums, basketball and volleyball areas, ice skate rings, and many different sports venues around the city.
Besiktas Inonu Stadium, which was first constructed in 1947, was replaced by Tupras Stadium. the stadium was opened on November 3rd, 1947, by Ismet Inonu, the president of Turkey at the time and a supporter of Beşiktaş. the Inönü stadium's initial seating capacity was 16,000 people. it was christened the Mithat paşa stadium in 1952, however, this was later changed in 1973. it's also important to note that the stadium was given legal protection.
It is known about turkish people their extreme love to football or soccer as american call it, especially in istanbul. people there are crazy about their loved teams in a way that you may find a fan who is ready to kill for his favorite football team one of the most famous football teams in turkey is fenerbahce, its fans are insane about it especially when the derby against galatasaray team is on, sometimes the situation goes wild and both security and police interfere to stop the violence.
Football is without a doubt the most well-known sport in turkey. whether they enjoy the sport or not, almost everyone in the nation is a fan of one football team. there are many different football teams
Istanbul has many districts and neighborhoods which have their own identity, culture, and lifestyle. You may be surprised by how different they are from each other.
Once a place for the exiled princes and empresses, now a getaway for those tired of the hustle and bustle of the city! Princes' Islands, in Byzantine times, were a punishment place for royal families. hence, it's called princes' island. consisting of 9 islands in the Sea of Marmara, Princes' Islands have become very popular and have been one of the best destinations to break away from the city's rush. prince’s island consists of four larger islands, which are the most popular ones: Büyükada (Big Island), Heybeliada (Saddlebag Island), Burgazada (Fortress Island), and Kınalıada (Henna Island). if you are wondering which one you should start to visit, you should add all of them to your Istanbul travel guide!
One of Istanbul's most underappreciated areas is the old district of Boyacikoy, which is located in Sariyer. this area, with its distinctive design and stone streets, sheds light on the 19th century in istanbul by housing several historical buildings like houses and pavilions. here is everything you need to know about boyacikoy sariyer in case visiting it is already on your bucket list.
For 1,000 years, the hippodrome was the focus of byzantine life, and for another 400 years, it was the center of ottoman life. this square formerly had two galleries, a central axis, beginning squares, and the semicircular southern end known as the sphendone, portions of which are still visible at the square’s south end.
Istanbul is beautiful, crowded, and chaotic, and this amazing city has the best views of the world. Here is everything you need to know about sightseeing in Istanbul.
Discovering Istanbul will leave you wanting more. And there's the upside; you won't run out of places to find. Sightseeing in Istanbul can be hard work, but one of the critical things you need is a well-connected area that will make sightseeing much easier for you.
Watching the sunset is always a calming experience. In Istanbul, there are many places you can catch the sunset and enjoy the view of the beautiful Bosphorus while the sun is going down. Especially on the long summer evenings, the experience is priceless. Here are the best places to watch the sunset in Istanbul.
With a lot of hills in the heart of it, green trees and plains and surrounded by seas, lakes, and water channel Istanbul city has wonderful and panoramic views that will amaze you and give you a lovely unforgettable experience.
Istanbul is beautiful with many places to visit and see but if you have time, there are many historical, and natural places to visit and discover nearby Istanbul. In this section, we have gathered the best places nearby the city for you to visit and feel like a local.
Belgrad Forest is the only forest area in Istanbul that spreads over such a wide landmark. Belgrad Forest is located in the North of Istanbul and takes about 45 minutes from the city center by car when there is no traffic. It is an amazing place to enjoy nature, walk around, run and hike.
In the Sariyer neighborhood of Istanbul, on the city's northern borders by the Black Sea, is the charming seaside town of Kilyos. The distance between Kilyos and the city center is around 30 kilometers (about 45 minutes by automobile). The city is well-known for its magnificent sandy beaches, eateries and cafes with a view of the Black Sea, summertime entertainment activities, music festivals at its upscale beach clubs, and water sports like windsurfing and kitesurfing.
One of Istanbul's first towns is called Şile. Şile is famous for its amazing nature and small village center with fish restaurants. People lived there even during the Neolithic era and today, Şile serves as a getaway spot for Istanbul residents who are sick of the city's hectic pace and want to forget the tension.
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