Istanbul Top 10 Sightseeing List: Istanbul has seen its heartaches and tragedies with its political turmoil to the recent New Year Eve’s terrorist attacks. It’s a city that has thrived through Greek, Roman, Muslim and Ottoman Empires.
This is my ode to one of my favorite cities in the world. Istanbul has a certain charm that no city in the world can duplicate. The “Gateway of the East” is a blend of old world antiquities and new world cultures. The city’s landscape is a reminiscent of San Francisco and Lisbon with its hills; the Byzantine architecture is a reminder of the rich history the city has to offer; the Turkish hospitality reminds me of the comfort of my mother’s cooking. It’s filled with museums like any major city. Here is our Istanbul Top 10 Sightseeing List: Istanbul Top 10 Sightseeing List Istanbul
- Blue Mosque – The iconic mosque with six minarets.
Blue Mosque Istanbul Turkey - Hagia Sophia – Byzantine basilica museum with gorgeous mosiacs.
Hagia Sophia - Topkapi Palace Museum – This was the former Ottoman sultans’ major residences for almost 400 out of their 620+ years reign.
Topkapi Palace Museum - Grand Bazaar – The colorful labyrinth market and it’s the oldest market in the world.
Grand Bazaar - Süleymaniye Camii – The 16th century Ottoman mosque overlooking Istanbul and the Golden Horn.
Süleymaniye Camii Istanbul Turkey $1,039.00out of stockTourradar.comin stockPriceline.com - Dolmabahçe Palace – The former Ottoman palace turned museum on the Bosphorus strait.
Dolmabahçe Palace - Feriye Palace – The old extension of the imperial family’s residence. The old European architecture is gorgeous but the view of the 15 July Martyrs Bridge and T.C Ortaköy Camii is the main attraction.
Feriye Palace - Nuruosmaniye Mosque – It’s considered one of the finest examples of mosques in Ottoman Baroque style architecture.
Nuruosmaniye Mosque - Beyazit Meydani – The square next to the Grand Bazaar known for its flocks of birds flying in sequence.
Beyazit Meydani - Galata Bridge – It’s the first recorded bridge over the Golden Horn and has gone through multiple iterations. It’s a symbolic link between Istanbul elites, the imperial palaces and religious institutions of the empire.
Galata Bridge
Let us know what you guys end up visiting and what was your favorite site in Istanbul in the comments section below.
Check out our other Istanbul articles here.
