PLACES | LOCATION | TELEPHONE | OPEN/CLOSED |
| Archaeological Museum | Sultanahmet | 0212 520 7740 | Open 09:30-16:30
Closed Monday |
This is in close vicinity of Topkapi Palace, in the direction of Gulhane park entrance. There are many collections in the museum. From Egyptian and Assyrian empires to Roman and Byzantine statues, marvellous sarchophagi, and pieces of Temples. The rich collection of ancient art are brought from anicent sites all over Anatolia (Turkey). |
| Kariye Museum | Fatih | 0212 631 9241 | Open 09:00-16:30
Closed Tuesday |
| Known also as St. Saviour, this church is famous for its mosaics. The second most importantByzantine church in Istanbul, has beautiful frescoes with the theme of death and resurrection. |
| Military Museum | Harbiye | 0212 233 2720 | Open 09:00-17:00
Closed Monday & Tuesday |
| Display of ancient cannons,costumes, and weaponry from Ottoman Empires. Also the Janisary Band performs in front of the museums during the summer months, between the hours 15:00-16:00 |
| Topkapi Palace Museum | Sultanahmet | 0212 512 0480 | Open 09:00-16:00
Closed Tuesday |
Topkapi Palace is the symbol and the center of the Ottoman Empire. Overlooking Istanbul Bogazici (Bosphorus) and the Marmara sea, stands this amazing building that was the great palace of the Ottoman Sultans. The palace is a collection of buildings arranged around a series of courtyards and has incredible collections of jewels, China, pieces of Ottoman and Islamic artwork. |
| Hagia Sophia | Sultanahmet | 0212 522 1750 | Open 09:00-16:00
Closed Monday |
Built by Constantin the Great, also known as the church of the Divine Wisdom designed to impress the strenght and wealth of the Roman emperors. Once it was the greatest Christian church in the world. |
Turkish and Islamic
Art Museum | Sultanahmet | 0212 515 1805 | Open 09:00-18:30
Closed Monday |
Used to be the Palace of Ibrahim Pasa is a museum containing a large collection of Islamic artwork. |
| Basilica Cistern | Sultanahmet | 0212 522 1259 | Open 09:00-17:30
Everyday |
Built in the fourth century, is one of the underground cisterns that riddle the foundations of the city. It has been extensively excavated and renovated and is worth visiting and exploring while listening to the tunes of classical music. A unique experience ! |
| The Covered Bazaar | Beyazıt | --- | Open 09:00-19:00
Closed Sunday |
The world's biggest covered historic Bazaar. It is one of the most famous spots of Istanbul, always filled with crowds who not only come to shop but to window-shop carpets, jewellery, leathers, handcrafts, home decoration items and many more. |
| Galata Tower | Sishane | 0212 245 1160 | Open 08:30-20:00
Everyday |
14th century Genoese fortificaiton.The view from the tower is magnificient All bosphorus is under your feet. |
The Spice or Egyptian
Bazaar | Eminonu | --- | Open 09:00-19:00
Closed Sunday |
| This is a small bazaar, known in Turkish as Misir (Epgyptian) bazaar. As the name suggests, the shops have hunderds if not thousands of different spices and different types of food, from caviars to pistachios. |
| Dolmabahce Palace | Besiktas | 0212 258 5544 | Open 09:00-16:00
Closed Monday & Tuesday |
The Palace was built as a second residence to the Sultan Abdulmecid mid 19th century. The palace commands a nice view right on the Bosphorus and its gardens are very pretty, especially in spring and summer. The founder of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk has died in this palace on November 10, 1938 at 9.05 AM. |
| Blue Mosque | Sultanahmet | --- | Open Everday, Except
During Prayer Times |
Also called the Sultanahmet Camii, is known as the Blue Mosque, because of its magnificient interior decorations of blue Iznik tiles. Outside of the mosque stands the turbe or the tomb of Sultan Ahmet. It is decorated with 17th century Iznik tiles. The Sultan was buried here along with his wife and three sons. |
| Eyup Mosque | Eyup | --- | Open Everday, Except During Prayer Times |
Holiest mosque of Istanbul. The Ottoman sultans held their coronation ceremonies here. |
| Suleymaniye Mosque | Beyazıt | --- | Open verday, Except
During Prayer Times |
Built by Mimar Sinan, the great architect, and completed in just seven years is considered to be the most beautiful of all Imperial mosques in Istanbul. It dominates the skyline of the Golden Horn. Adjoining the mosque there are schools of theology, schools of Medicine, and a caravanserai. |
