The biggest mosque in the city and one of the most visited monuments in Istanbul was built in the 17th century. Its disposition and decoration are considered the top of Ottoman architecture. It is surrounded by 6 minarets and is also called Sultanahmet. Blue Mosque consists of 3 parts: outdoor and indoor gardens and the mosque itself. It’s called blue because it is decorated with lots of blue tiles with various plant motifs, but also with paintings, chandeliers, alabaster pillars, and window fillings that create a blue atmosphere. There is a spacious courtyard outside with a nicely decorated fountain. The entry is free with appropriate clothes and we highly recommend a visit to this famous landmark. Our next stop – a boat cruise under the Bosporus Bridge connecting Europe with Asia.

A boat trip through the Bosphorus strait which connects the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea is always a highlight of our trips to Istanbul. It starts alongside the European side and the view of the city from the sea is even better. In the distance, you can see all the landmarks such as Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, Galata Tower, and many more. After a while, we finally noticed the gigantic construction of the famous Bosphorus Bridge which connects 2 continents.

The trip continues alongside the fortress of Rumelihisari up to the next Fatih Bridge. Behind the bridge, the boat turns to the right and moves towards the Asian side, and continues to the port. Istanbul is a huge metropolis with many things to watch so you can easily get tired. That’s why the best what you can do is get on the boat and see the whole beauty from the upper deck. We carry on to Grand Bazaar.

The Grand Bazaar is one of the world’s oldest and biggest covered bazaars. It covers an area of 61 streets with more than 4,000 shops. The entrance is free and it will be a feast for your senses. Even if you don’t buy anything this place is definitely worth the visit. The mixture of varieties of colors, smells, and flavors with all those vendors shouting at passing tourists and inviting them into their shops. You need to see it to believe it. It’s one of the tourist traps, always full of people but some souvenir always comes in handy. Our next stop is Istanbul Aquarium.

Aquariums belong to our favorite places so even in Istanbul, we couldn’t miss it. It is considered to be the world’s largest theme aquarium. Sea life with interesting species from all around the world attracts many visitors.  Once you get here look for the shark tunnel and the mirror labyrinth. From the aquarium, we are heading to the next landmark – Dolmabahce Palace.

Along the Besiktas football stadium, we reach one of the most preserved palaces which once used to be a sultan’s residence and also the center of the Ottoman Empire. It was also the residence of the first Turkish president – the Father of the nation Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. The palace is located near the famous Taksim Square in the European part of the city. It’s really worth the visit not only the inside of the palace but also the outside magnificent gardens.

There are 285 rooms inside the palace and the dance hall is one of the largest in the world. The gardens are covered with lots of sculptures and fountains and you can get the best view of the Bosphorus from here. We recommend that you reserve at least half of the day to see everything inside and outside of the palace. The best always come at the end and for us, it was the visit of the world-famous temple of Hagia Sophia.

Hagia Sophia also called the Church of the Holy Wisdom is the absolute masterpiece of Byzantine architecture and belongs to the main landmarks of Istanbul. The building that represents Christianity and Muslim ideology went through a turbulent past. The construction was completed around the year 562 and at that time served as an Orthodox church, later was under the administration of the Catholic Church and ended up as a Muslim mosque. During the Muslim supremacy, there were 4 minarets built next to the main building which have been preserved until today. Nowadays the building is a museum and inside the basilica, you can see many frescoes, mosaics, chandeliers, sacred pillars, and green marble. The entry fee is around 9 Euros but it is definitely worth the visit of this historic gem.

Istanbul – Constantinople – Byzantium is a huge metropolis with even bigger potential in which every visitor will find something of his interest. The city full of mosques and minarets, the famous labyrinth of Grand Bazaar, endless traffic jams, opulent Bosphorus, rich history, excellent cuisine, and unforgettable nightlife is a complete rarity that won’t disappoint you. It is one of the largest places in the world and it will take you several days, patience and good condition if you want to see the best of it.