See and Do in Istanbul

Istanbul is a living, breathing museum. It is a fascinating and historic city that offers plenty of things to see and do for new arrivals, and expats will have a great time finding their way around, soaking up the culture and learning more about their new home.

There are several places and items of historical interest all around the city and to describe them all could take an infinite amount of time; however, there are certainly a few points that expats should take care to visit.

Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii)
Turkey’s most iconic mosque, the Blue Mosque is one of the most distinguishable features of Istanbul’s skyline and is one of the finest examples of Ottoman architecture. The Blue Mosque is still used today by thousands of worshippers.
Tel: (212) 518 1319 or (212) 518 1330 (for museum information)

Topkapi Palace Museum
Boasting spectacular views over the Bosphorus River and the Golden Horn, Topkapi Palace Museum was the seat of the Ottoman Empire for almost 400 years and home to nearly 3,000 people. Take a tour of the apartments, harem terraces and royal bedchamber, providing a glimpse into Istanbul’s fascinating past and the opulence of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire.
www.ee.bilkent.edu.tr/~history/topkapi.html
Tel: (212) 512 0480

Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya)
This mosque is famed for its incredible size and Ottoman architecture and is one of Istanbul’s most prominent attractions. In the 6th century it was commissioned as a cathedral and was one of Christianity’s most important churches for over 900 years before it was conquered in the 15th century by Mehmet II and turned into a mosque.
www.hagiasophia.com
Tel: (212) 518 1802

Covered Bazaar (Kapali Çarsi)
Expats will love discovering the oldest and largest covered bazaar in the world when they come to Kapali Çarsi. Wind your way around the 65 streets; brimming with more than 4,000 shops, teahouses, hamams (Turkish baths), storehouses, mosques and fountains.
www.kapalicarsi.org.tr/eng/index.asp
Tel: (212) 519 1248

Turkish and Islamic Art Museum
The Turkish and Islamic Art Museum is housed in what used to be the 16th century palace of the sultan’s Grand Vizier, Ibrahim Pasa, and features 40,000 examples of Selçuk, Mamluk and Ottoman Turkish art, as well as one of the richest and oldest collection of prayer rugs, carpets and kilims in the world.
Tel: (212) 518 1805
 
Sunken Palace (Basilica Cistern)
Built around 532 AD by Constantinople the Great, the Sunken Palace is a subterranean cavern which is held up by 336 columns and even features in the James Bond film "From Russia with Love". Featuring art and intricate designs on the actual columns themselves, millions of visitors flock to cross the walkways of the cavern.
http://www.yerebatan.com/english/index.html
Tel: (212) 522 1259

Galata Tower
Providing the best 360 degree panoramic view across the old town of Istanbul, the Galata Tower was originally erected in the 14th century as a bastion for the walls of the Galata colony. Nowadays, expats will love visiting the restaurant where belly dancers display their talents at the restaurant’s nightclub.
www.galatatower.net
Tel: (212) 293 8180
 
Dolmabahce Palace
The Dolmabahce Palace was the last residence of the Sultan’s of the Ottoman Empire and is accordingly one of the most glamorous palaces in the world. It has been converted to a museum and now local and tourists alike can wander through and show their respect to the sultan’s of past.
www.dolmabahcepalace.com
 
There are also a host of art galleries, museums, mosques and smaller palaces as well. The Guide Istanbul is a useful resource for these listings.