Sights

Byzantine and Ottoman (OLD CİTY TOURS)

Haghia SophiaFrom the Golden Age of Byzantine, this once Christian church is one of the the most extraordinary buildings in the history  of architecture. It played a very important role in the Byzantine Empire and later as a mosque in the Ottoman Empire.The word "Hagia" in Greek means "Divine" and "Sophia" means "Wisdom". "Divine Wisdom" is one of the attributes of Jesus Christ and this church is devoted to his divine wisdom.

Blue MosqueThe Blue Mosque is one of the most prominent landmarks of Istanbul, especially when viewed from more..

type:	Hotspots
World66 rating:	[rate it]
tel:	+90 2124582191
openingHours:	07:00-24:00
url:	www.istanbuldailycitytour.com
address:	binbirdirek mah Klodfarer cad altan iş merkezi no:3/36 istanbul
email:	info@istanbuldailycitytour.com

Marmara Sea,Princes Island Full Day Tour

Istanbul Princes' Islands Tour

Cruise in MARMARA SEA to PRINCES' ISLANDS, retreats for the Byzantine princes are famous for their beautiful pine woods and beaches. The largest and most enjoyable of the islands is Buyukada.

There you can enjoy a ride in a horsedrawn carriage among the pine trees after relaxing on the beaches in the numerous coves of its coast. Evening return to Istanbul and transfer to hotels.

INCLUDED
Guidence, Boat Fees, Horsedrawn Carriage fee, Lunch, Transfer from/to hotels within city (European side only).

type:	Hotspots
World66 rating:	[rate it]
tel:	+90 5375738831
url:	www.istanbultoursturkey.com
address:	Klodfarer cad binbirdirek mah altaniş merkezi no:3/36 sultanahmet
email:	info@istanbultoursturkey.com

İstanbul Dinner The Bosphorus by Night

Program: (20:30 - 24:00)
- Welcome cocktail on deck
- D.J music (Turkish only)
- Uskudara Gideriken (A traditional Turkish melody musical performance)
- Asuk Masuk ( Asuk Masuk is an imitation play of dwarfs which belongs to the Taseli district of Silifke and is performed by 2 male dancers.
- Belly Dancer
- Anatolian Folk Dance (mixed show different part of Turkey)
- Turkish Romany Dance
  Dinner:
- Hors d'oeuvres dishes
- Break hot foods (cigarette pastry and sausage)
- Fresh seasonal salad
- Grilled Fish or more..

type:	Hotspots
World66 rating:	[rate it]
tel:	+90 5375738831
url:	www.istanbultoursturkey.com
address:	Klodfarer cad binbirdirek mah altaniş merkezi no:3/36 sultanahmet
email:	info@istanbultoursturkey.com

Chora / Kariye

The Church of St Saviour in Chora (Kariye Camii) is inside the the Theodosian Walls, in spite of the fact that "chora" means "in the country" or "outside". So it seems sure that the church (wich is a part of a monastry) was originally outside the ancient city and is therefore older than these walls.

What makes the church today so popular are the mosaics and paintings from mainly 1325-21, when Theodor Metochides financed them. The church eas as many others in the early 16th century converted to a mosque, but the mosaics and frescos were never obliterated, although in different more..

type:	Churches and Cathedrals
World66 rating:	[rate it]
tel:	0212/631-9241
openingHours:	24
url:	www.sacred-destinations.com
address:	Camii Sok., Kariye Meydani, Edirnekapi, Istanbul
openinghours:	Thurs-Tues 9:30am-6:30pm

Suleymaniye Camii

Sulayman Mosque
photo by: Gania 1

One of the things you should not miss is of course the Suleymaniye Camii (i.e. Mosque), designed and build by Mimar Sinan, the most important architect of the Ottoman Empire. The inside is less decorated than you might expect, but the proportions and the total impression is breath-taking.

The Suleymaniye Mosque is in fact a "külliye" which means more than just a mosque but also a hospital with insane asylum, a theological school (medrese), a public kitchen, a caravanserai, a public bath and the graves (türbe) of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent and his wife Roxelana.

The more..

type:	Mosques
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Haghia Sofia

Haghia Sofia mosaics. Istanbul
photo by: Svetlana Tikhonova

Looking from the outside one might be disappointed: it looks little elegant. But don't miss to see the inside. There are only few churches world wide just as impressive as Haghia Sophia.

The Haghia Sophia Church was erected and re-erected through the centuries many times. We know that there were a few wooden churches before at the same place and probably with the same name. Some of them burned down, some were destroyed by earthquakes, for which the region was famous for as we still can see today. It is likely that the first church from stone was built there somewhat in the more..

type:	Churches and Cathedrals
World66 rating:	[rate it]
tel:	0212/522-1750
openingHours:	Open from Wed.- Mon. from 9:30h am - 19:00 pm
url:	www.sacred-destinations.com
address:	Aya Sofya Sq., Istanbul, Turkey
openinghours:	Open from Wed.- Mon. from 9:30h am - 4:00 pm

Covered Bazaar

Covered Bazaar, Istanbul
photo by: Svetlana Tikhonova

Kapali Carsi - The Covered Bazaar is one of the biggest of its kind in the world. In more than 3500 shops of various kinds, there are more than 20.000 people working. Together with numerous shops selling carpets, cloth and clothes, souvenirs, there are many cafés, tea-houses and restaurants (esp. those called "sofra" that offer special lunch for the business people in the neighborhood.

The market is on its place since Mehmet II conquered the city. It has been rebuild several times since then, the reason for that were catastrophes like the earthquake in 1894 and the big more..

type:	Other Sights
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Cisterns

yerebatan

The underground cistern "Yerebatan Saray" (Underground Palace") is the biggest of the today known cisterns. It is 139 meters long and about 65 meters wide. Inside it consists of 336 columns, 12 rows of 28 each, separated by 4 meters and with a height of 8 meters. The cistern has a capacity of about 80,000 m³ .

It dates from the time of Justinian I.

Adress: Yerebatan Caddesi, Sultan Ahmet.

Daily from 9:00 am - 5:30 pm

type:	Roman Time
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GALATA TOWER

Galata Tower, Istanbul
photo by: Svetlana Tikhonova

As the stronghold of the Genoese defence system in Pera, in 1348 on the hill above the harbour the Galata Tower was errected (The Tower of Christ).

You really should take the time to have a look at that and esp. from that tower. Don't mind the admission fee that is charged, it is really worth it. Try to be there at sundown and you will understand why I do think this is one of the most beautifull views in the world.

type:	Other Sights
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Dolmabahce Palace

Dolmabahçe Palace

Dolmabahce Palace is the palace where Ataturk lived and worked in before the War of Independence. Atatürk is the founder of The Republic of Turkey and accepted as a great commander all through the world.

Located by the great Bosphorus in the European side with a great view and a great architectural palace by itself apart from its historical meaning.

type:	Palaces
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The City Walls

Theodosius II (5th century), successor and son of Theodosius the Great, is the Emperor that gave the city walls his name: The Theodosian Walls.

The Theodosian Walls, protecting the city landwards, are in many parts in the present time still visible. The main walls were about 5 meters thick at the base and rose up to 12-15 meters. The wall was guarded by ninety-six towers of about 20 meters height, errected at an interval of 50-60 meters.

The walls were pierced by ten gates and a few small posterns. Five of these gates were open to public transportation more..

type:	Roman Time
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Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque)

Blue Mosque at Dusk Istanbul
photo by: Jonathan Harrison UK

The Blue Mosque is impressive because of its size and the elegance of both its architecture and surroundings. It is less impressive from the inside and some actually say it is a bit disappointing. Nevertheless, with its six minarets it is a must see for Istanbul. The complex was erected in only nine years under the reign of Sultan Ahmet I (finished in 1616). The name "Blue Mosque" was given because of the 21.000 Iznik tiles inside the mosque.

type:	Mosques
World66 rating:	[rate it]
tel:	(0212) 518 1319
openingHours:	9am-6pm, except during daily prayer times and midday on Fridays
url:	www.sacred-destinations.com

MARKET AT YENI CAMI

Every Sunday there is market all around the Yeni Cami (the New Mosque) at the head of the Galat Bridge. The bridge itself is very nice to cross then, you can see from there both sides of the city, the ships and boats, people fishing etc..

The market is spread out all around the mosque and streched through several streets up to the covered bazar (kapali carsi) wich is closed on Sunday! The products are mostly for the locals but usually I do find some small things there as socks, shirts, batteries, spices, tea ... these things are much cheaper here than in Beyoglu.

type:	Other Sights
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Rustem Pasha Camii

Another small but very impressive mosque was erected in 1561 by architect Mimar Sinan in the market quarter of Eminönü down by the Golden Horn. The entrance is easy to miss, it is not much more than a door and some steps leading to a terrace above the shops of the market. The Rüstem Pasha Camii should not be missed because of its charming atmosphere and its superb tiles inside.

type:	Mosques
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Church of Sergius and Bacchus

One of the most important and oldest churches in Istanbul is the Church of SS. Sergius and Bacchus.

Soon after Emperor Justinian came to the throne (527) he gave order to start with the constructions; the work was finished only 9 years later. Since 1503, when the church was converted to a mosque by Hussein Aga, the chief eunuch of Sultan Beyazit II's harem, it is known as "Kücük Aya Sofya Camii" (little Haghia Sophia Mosque), because of its resemblance to Haghia Sophia.

type:	Churches and Cathedrals
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Ciragan Palace

This palace was built by Sultan Abdülaziz in 1861, who ascended the throne after Sultan Abdülmecit. It was designed by Nikogos Balyan and the construction carried out by Sarkis and Agop Balyan. In 1876, Murat V was placed in house arrest at Ciragan on grounds that he was mentally ill and Sultan Abdülhamid took the throne. Murat lived at Ciragan Palace until he died in 1905. The palace was used as the house of parliament when it burned down in 1910. Today the restored Ciragan Palace is a luxury hotel.

Istanbul Outstandings

Haghia Sophia

Also called the Church of Divine Wisdom, it is a masterpiece of grandeur and proportion. Coveted by the Islamic East and Christian West, the Hagia Sophia is one of mankind's greatest treasures.

Blue Mosque

No one who has been to Istanbul at least once can ever forget the feeling of awe and wonder at seeing the Blue Mosque for the first time.

Hippodrome and Obelisks

The vast Hippodrome, known as At Meydani or “plaza of the horses”, stretches between Hagia Sophia and the more..

Ottoman Heritage

Topkapı Palace This is an extraordinary complex of buildings that extends over one of Istanbul's seven hills in a splendid position.

Harem The same wall has surrounded this mysterious and magical place, for centuries hiding the faces, the history and the dramas that unfolded in these rooms.

Süleymaniye Mosque Designed by the Ottoman Empire's greatest architect, Mimar Sinan, the Süleymaniye dominates the city's Third Hill, just north of Istanbul University, overlooking the Golden Horn.

Dolmabahçe Palace and Asian side

Dolmabahçe Palace

About three centuries ago there was a broad bay whose waters sheltered many ships in the place now occupied by Dolmabahçe Palace. Halfway between a Moorish castle, a Baroque Italian palazzo and a Hindu temple, the Dolmabahçe Palace was built from marble.

Bosphorus Bridge

Unique chance to drive from Europe to Asia with a breathtaking view of the Bosphorus.

Çamlıca Hill

Highest point of Istanbul with an absolutely magnificent view, which makes it well worth to climb. It more..

Bosphorus Cruise with Golden Horn on Private Boat

Cruise on the Golden Horn

As the sun sets in Istanbul, its yellow light blazes on the waters of the Golden Horn, giving this freshwater estuary its romantic name.

Cruise on the Bosphorus

This magical journey which covers both European and Asian shores by our private boat will let you see the marvelous monuments and districts.

Rumeli Fortress (From the sea)

The biggest fortification of Istanbul can be seen clearly during our Bosphorus Cruise.

Cable Car to Pierre more..