Istanbul City Holidays

Istanbul City Holidays - Things to see

The Church of Divine Wisdom (Hagia Sophia): The Church of Divine Wisdom is one of the most impressive and important buildings ever constructed. Its wide, flat dome was a daring engineering feat in the 6th century, and architects still marvel at the building's many innovations. Being the world's most impressive building, it's no wonder that Mehmet the Conqueror proclaimed it a mosque soon after his conquest of the city from the Byzantines in 1453. It served as Istanbul's most revered mosque until 1935 when Ataturk, recognizing its world-historical significance, had it proclaimed a museum, as it is now.

Blue Mosque: The magnificent Blue Mosque was built between 1603-1617 and is the masterwork of Ottoman architect Sedefkar Mehmet Aga is so known because of the colour of the interior tiles. With its 6 six minarets and great cascade of domes the Blue Mosque is best approached from the Hippodrome to the west, from this side you really can appreciate the size and splendour of this wonderful sight. It is a working mosque but is open to visitors outside prayer times and no visit to Istanbul would be complete without visiting this amazing sight.

Topkapi Palace: Home of the Ottoman Sultans for nearly 400 years and the heart of the vast Ottoman Empire ruled by the monarch who lived in Topkapi's hundreds of rooms with hundreds of concubines, children, and servants. Once accessible only by guided tour, you can now wander through the Harem on your own but only a certain number of visitors are allowed at one time, so go there first to avoid waiting. After wandering through the Harem you can stroll the palace's spacious grounds and four courtyards at your leisure. Don't miss the Treasury in the 3rd courtyard, with its incredible gems, gold, and works of art.

The Turkish & Islamic Museum: is located on the Hippodrome across from the Blue Mosque is a treasure-house of beautiful objects from the Ottoman (14th to 20th centuries), Seljuk (11th to 13th centuries), and earlier periods beginning in the 8th century. The museum is housed in the restored Palace of Ibrahim Pasha, a sumptuous residence built by Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent's Grand Vezir Ibrahim Pasha (served 1523-1536). What you see is only part of the original structure, whose foundations date from about 1500. The best art was religious art during the Ottoman Empire, just as it was in medieval Europe. Turkish carpets, illuminated Kur'ans, calligraphy (at which the Ottomans excelled), carved and inlaid wood, glass, porcelain and stone are well displayed. Turkish ethnographic exhibits a fully furnished nomads' tent, a 19th-century Ottoman parlor, and others extend the collection beyond mere beautiful objects shown out of context.

The Grand Bazaar: is Turkey's largest covered market with an estimated 4000 shops and restaurants. This results in offering excellent shopping opportunities such as beautiful Turkish carpets, glazed tiles and pottery, copper and brassware, apparel made of leather, cotton and wool, meerschaum pipes, alabaster bookends and all sorts of other things. A dozen restaurants in the bazaar allow you to have lunch in the midst of your shopping.

Getting Around on Istanbul City Holidays

Ferry: The most popular way to explore the Bosphorus is by ferry. Most day-trippers take the Eminonu-Kavaklar Bogazici Ozel Gezi Seferleri (Eminonu-Kavaklar Bosphorus Special Touristic Excursions) ferry up its entire length. These depart from the Bogaz Hatti dock (dock No 3) at Eminonu daily at 10.35am. From June to September, there are extra services at noon and 1.35pm. A ticket costs YTL12.50 return, YTL6.50 one-way. The ferry stops at Besiktab, Kanlica, Yenikoy, Sariyer, Rumeli Kavagy and Anadolu Kavagy (the turnaround point). It is not possible to get on and off the ferry at stops along the way using the same ticket.

Bus: The local bus (known as Dolmus) operate fixed routes throughout Istanbul and its suburbs and can be flagged down anywhere. Pay the driver when boarding.

Taxi: Taxis can be hailed almost anywhere and at any time in Istanbul. Turks do not normally tip, but drivers often hope for a tip from foreigners. Demand that the meter is switched on, as it must be by law. Reliable taxi companies include Canlicar Turizm Telsiz Taksi (tel: (0216) 318 1859), Istanbul Transfer (tel: (0212) 516 7701) and Zincirlikuyu Taksi (tel: (0212) 272 3625).

Car: Istanbul's vast urban sprawl is prone to severe congestion. Navigating its streets is difficult, driving standards are poor, and overall it is neither advisable nor necessary for foreigners to drive in the city.

Istanbul City Holidays Shopping

Shopping: Shopping in Istanbul can be an exhausting, but exhilarating, experience, with everything up for grabs from the famous rugs and carpets to antique jewellery, kelims, prayer rugs, leather ware, cotton clothing, traditional pottery and wood carvings. Haggling is expected and bargains can be had. The best shopping to be found in the Grand Bazaar in Beyazit where carpet and gold dealers can be found, it's also the best place to haggle for an inlaid backgammon set.

• Rugs & carpets
• Jewellery
• Leather Goods
• Souvenir and gift items

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