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Imagine being served a food platter that is filled with all things colorful and delicious; a platter that has a delightful mix of spicy, sweet, and savory dishes. Now imagine this platter in the form of a holiday destination; something that offers you the best of everything as a tourist. Are you wondering which destination we’re talking about? Well, it’s none other than Istanbul, the crowning jewel of Turkey’s tourism, and something you can explore to your heart’s content through our Turkey tour packages. With a rich history that consists of multiple empires and exemplary architectural precedents, Istanbul has established itself as a prime tourist spot and the famous landmarks in Istanbul add to the city’s charm. In this article, we will be discussing the famous places to visit in Istanbul when you book one of our fabulous Turkey holiday packages.
The following are the top tourist attractions in Istanbul to watch out for:
A monument of immense architectural beauty, the Hagia Sophia is one of the most famous landmarks in Istanbul. It was originally built in the 6th century CE by the Byzantine emperor Justinian I as a church. It was then converted into a mosque, after which it was transformed into a museum, and then finally back to a mosque again.
Standing proudly as among the top tourist attractions in Istanbul is the Blue Mosque, which is also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. It was during the reign of Ahmed I, between the period of 1609 and 1617, that this mosque came into existence. Being a shining example of the Ottoman style of architecture, there are hundreds of tourists who come to Istanbul to view this structure.
Of the many spots in Istanbul you will get to visit through our Turkey travel packages, the Topkapi Palace is one that will mesmerize you with its elegance and beauty. Situated in Istanbul’s Fatih district, it’s a library and museum that was ordered to be built by Mehmet the Conqueror.
One simply cannot list the most famous places to visit in Istanbul without mentioning the Grand Bazaar. Revered as one of the oldest and biggest covered markets to ever exist in the world, one can find more than 4000 shops in the 61 covered streets that have their home at this bazaar. Witnessing the presence of anywhere between 250,000 to 400,000 visitors on a daily basis, this market is where you will find Turkish tea, Turkish lamps, ceramics, jewelry, rugs, evil eye ornaments, and so much more.
There are numerous ancient cisterns that can be found underneath the city of Istanbul, and of those cisterns, the one that is popular for being the largest is the Basilica Cistern. Built-in 532 and commissioned by Emperor Justinian, this Byzantine cistern was developed by making use of 336 columns.
Istanbul Archaeology Museums refers to a museum complex comprising of three primary sections, namely the Archaeology Museum, the Museum of the Ancient Orient, and the Tiled Kiosk Museum. Situated in the same garden, these museums hold over a million artifacts that reflect almost all the civilizations and eras that have been a part of our world’s history.
Built by Mimar Sinan, the Suleymaniye Mosque is renowned to be one of the finest pieces of architecture to have been born from the brilliant architect’s mind. It was built by the orders given by Suleiman the Magnificent and is located on the Third Hill of Istanbul, making it one of the most iconic and famous landmarks in Istanbul.
If you’re someone who likes to add a variety of delicious spices to your food, then visiting Istanbul’s Spice Bazaar should totally be on your itinerary. Revered to be one of the biggest bazaars in the city, tourists can explore the market to shop for spices, teas, dried fruits, and Turkish coffee.
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