Istanbul is a city steeped in history and culture so there is much to see and do there. From its Byzantine churches adorned with mosaics and frescoes to its magnificent mosques decorated by sky-high minarets, Istanbul is a city that will mesmerize you at every turn.
If you ask for pepperoni pizza, you’ll get something vegetarian. This is because pepperoni in Italian is plural for green pepper. Ask for salami in your pizza instead.
An interesting mix of old and new, you could be admiring the latest fashion trends at H&M and turn around to spot a heritage tram riding by. It creates an intriguing atmosphere that looks traditional but feels modern.
Sultanahmet is the heart of historic Istanbul and is home to many of its top tourist sites. With so many important sites to visit here, it can be hard to squeeze everything in with a limited amount of time.
The court of the Ottoman Empire from the 15th to the 19th centuries, Topkapi Palace is the second most visited tourist destination in Istanbul, behind only Ayasofya.
Around Sultanahmet Square is where you’ll find the city’s biggest cistern, it’s grandest mosque, and the iconic Ayasofya which is Istanbul’s most revered tourist attraction.
With enough time and imagination, looking at these remarkably detailed sarcophagi was like reading storybooks carved in stone.
No first-time trip to Istanbul is complete without a visit to the Grand and Egyptian Spice Bazaars, both of which can easily be reached from Sultanahmet on foot.
We had already seen all of Istanbul’s major sites so we wanted to do something that was still fun but a little more relaxed on our fifth and final day. Going on a scenic all-day cruise of the Bosphorus — an experience that some say is one of Istanbul’s greatest pleasures — was exactly that.
Despite being out of the way, this tiny museum that’s just a fraction of the size of its more celebrated counterparts was my favorite historic site in Istanbul. The mosaics and frescoes adorning its walls and ceilings are drop dead stunning.