Must-Visit Places in Istanbul for First-Timers!
Straddling the continents of Europe and Asia, Istanbul is truly a city with a rich history, brimming with beautiful and fun places to explore!
Even after a week of fun, it still wasn't enough!
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For first-timers in Istanbul, here are some must-visit spots:
✔️Hagia Sophia:
One of the top ten most desirable churches in the world, this majestic Byzantine structure is a fusion of a church and a mosque.
✔️Blue Mosque:
Adjacent to Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque is Istanbul's largest domed structure, surrounded by six minarets, making it the only mosque in the world with six tall towers, and one of the top ten wonders of the world.
✔️Basilica Cistern:
A mysterious world hidden underground, well worth a visit.
✔️Bosphorus Strait:
This strait divides Istanbul into European and Asian sections, with beautiful scenery on both sides.
Be sure to take a boat tour here, especially at dusk for a stunning sunset!
✔️Galata Tower:
A medieval stone tower, one of the city's scenic viewpoints.
Even if you don't enter the tower, taking photos below it is also great.
If you want to climb the tower, it's recommended to come in the evening to catch the city sunset.
✔️Galata Bridge
Located near the Galata Tower, spanning the Golden Horn, this bridge connects the new and old parts of the city.
With many locals fishing on both sides, and pedestrian paths above and below, it's also a great spot for sightseeing.
✔️Grand Bazaar:
If you want to buy local products and souvenirs, the Grand Bazaar is a must-visit.
Covering 60 streets and housing 5000 shops, it's bustling and vibrant.
✔️Istiklal Avenue:
Istanbul's version of the Champs-Élysées, with its must-ride nostalgic tram, truly romantic.
The surrounding area also has many quiet, artistic alleys, perfect for a stroll.
✔️Balat District
A favorite area among Istanbul's youth, home to many unique coffee shops and restaurants, with colorful buildings that are great for photos.
✔️Topkapi Palace:
An old royal palace, once the Ottoman Empire's palace, now Turkey's largest museum, incredibly luxurious inside!
✔️Suleymaniye Mosque:
The second-largest mosque in Istanbul, situated on higher ground, visible from the Bosphorus boat tour, and offering a truly great view.
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⭕️ 'Recommended Route':
𝘿𝙖𝙮1: Hagia Sophia—Basilica Cistern—Blue Mosque—Topkapi Palace—Explore the Old City
𝘿𝙖𝙮2: Grand Bazaar—Galata Bridge—Istiklal Avenue—Galata Tower—Watch the sunset from the tower
𝘿𝙖𝙮3: Balat District—Suleymaniye Mosque—Bosphorus Strait—Boat tour at sunset
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⭕️ 'Transport Tips':
The Old City can be explored on foot with citywalk.
For other trips, you can take buses and boat tours, all accessible with a single transit card.
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⭕️ 'Accommodation Recommendations':
For accommodation, it's recommended to stay near the Galata Tower, close to the Old City, with concentrated attractions and convenient access to food, fun, and transportation.
Wonderful place for walking! Next to the bridge you can find a famous authentic fish market with a lot of fresh fish.
Galata Bridge, known as the representative building of Turkey, is a bridge that once connected the heart of two cities. The history of this bridge is also very interesting. It was originally made of wood and was recently changed to concrete.
Near the Galata Bridge in Istanbul is a hot spot for fishing, which is a popular activity in Turkey and its coastal areas. September to December is the main fishing season and people can always be seen fishing on the bridge.
The Galata Bridge is a famous bridge connecting the old and new towns on Golden Horn Bay. On the bridge and nearby you can enjoy the beautiful view of Golden Horn Bay. There are also many seagulls in the bay here, which is very beautiful. The two sides of the bridge are different styles of buildings, as if passing through time and space, which makes people intoxicated. In addition, you can take a cruise ship on the edge of the bridge and enjoy the beautiful view of the entire Golden Horn Bay on the boat. The Galata Bridge is definitely a place you must visit in Istanbul, all 5 stars recommended!
Galada Bridge and Galata Tower are considered to be the representative buildings of Istanbul, the Galada Bridge spans the mouth of Golden Horn Bay and is the main bridge in Istanbul connecting the old and new city, many people fish on the bridge every day, there are many good restaurants on the lower floor of the bridge, Very suitable for eating a variety of fish, shrimp, is a good place to eat seafood in Turkey, there is also a fish market, every time at dusk is a good place to enjoy the sunset.
Great place to visit. Food in the open air area is good and affordable (it smells good too). Simit costs about 2 lira while balik costs about 15 lira. Many birds fly around. Beautiful place to enjoy the sunset. Many people also fish along the bridge. It’s often very crowded, so put things around.
There are bars and restaurants lined up along the bridge under the bridge. It is a great place to enjoy the works. If someone tries to persuade you to go to their restaurant for dinner, you will have some trouble, but still worth a visit. We went at sunset and there were spectacular swarms of bees that looked like golden horns.