Big city Istanbul always worth a visit for tourists

Istanbul is located on two continents. The oriental city is one of the most popular holiday destinations and offers a lot of culture, eventful history and of course good food. In addition to the historic buildings, the many sights include over 3,000 mosques. In many side streets of the city, the young designers offer their latest works in their stylish and small boutiques. Many art galleries have settled in the famous Bohéme district. If you are interested in art, you should also visit the old warehouse at the container port. The popular Istanbul Modern Museum has been located here since 2004. It contains many exhibits of Turkish, contemporary art. There are some hip bars nearby, where locals also like to smoke tea or beer and a water pipe.

The most beautiful beaches

Many tourists enjoy the beautiful beaches of Istanbul during their vacation. A total of 8 seaside resorts and beaches are available. If you book a trip to the popular holiday resort of Turkey, you can really relax on the beaches. The town borders the Black Sea in the north and the Sea of ​​Marmara in the south. The most beautiful sandy beaches on the islands and coasts are available for holidaymakers and are equipped with comfortable sun loungers. One of the most beautiful beaches is the Büyükada prince island beach. Turkey’s nine prince islands are among the best local destinations. One of the largest islands is Büyükada. Here tourists will find many beaches that lead around the island. Some of them are equipped with paid beach clubs. With the Istanbul kart, it is possible to travel to the Prince Islands several times a day using ferries from Kadiköy or Eminönü. In Büyükada you can also visit the Orthodox monastery, which is located on the tip of the island. A visit to the monastery can be combined well with an extended visit to the beach. In the south of Istanbul there is another beach worth seeing. It is the seaside resort of Kumburgaz. The coastal town is located in the Büyükcekmece district.

The best sights

The most interesting sights of the city include the mosques “Blue Mosque”, “Hagia Sophia” and “Ortaköy Mosque”. Also the palaces or fortresses Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahçe Palace, Basilica Cistern and Rumelian Fortress. The Topkapi Palace used to be the seat of government for the Ottoman rulers. Back then, over 5,000 residents lived in the magnificent palace. There were many administrators, rulers and servants among the residents. The palace was separated from the city by a high wall, which offered special protection for all residents. A total of four courtyards were available inside the walls. The Basilica Cistern is also known as the sunken palace. In late antiquity, many cisterns were used for water supply. It got its name because a large basilica stood over it at the time. The cistern has a capacity of 80,000 cubic meters. So there was enough water available for the palace.

Big city Istanbul always worth a visit for tourists
Big city Istanbul always worth a visit for tourists

Interesting places and market places

The city has a lot more to offer its visitors. As in many places in Turkey, there are many markets and places on the spot that are teeming with stands and tourists. The large bazaar offers a sales area of ​​up to 32,000 square meters. Spices, Turkish specialties, fabrics, fruit or vegetables are offered in over 60 alleys. A real labyrinth is available on site for strolling and shopping. Craftsmanship is also not neglected in the markets. The different crafts are traditionally offered in their own small quarters. These include antiques, jewelry or carpets. Of course, trading is allowed or even desired on the market. In between, visitors can treat themselves to a delicious Çay. The black, sweetened tea is also a pleasure in midsummer.

The colorful streets of Balat

In addition to the large bazaar, the colorful streets of Balat are a popular destination. They can be found on the Golden Horn in the old town. If a city trip is planned, the beautiful colorful houses and narrow streets can be photographed. The famous district was mainly used by the art scene years ago and was inhabited by many Jews. For this reason, an old synagogue can still be found today. A tour of the neighborhood can be booked on site. So you can learn a lot about the culture and old buildings of Istanbul on a trip.

The green side of Istanbul

There are many parks in the city for relaxation. One of the most beautiful excursion destinations is the Yildiz Park. It invites you to linger between the sights and excursion destinations. The park has a size of 160 hectares and is one of the largest parks in Istanbul.