Attractions
You Don’t Have to Be Indiana Jones to Enjoy Istanbul’s Archaeology Museums
I’m sure a visit to Istanbul’s Archaeology Museums (Arkeoloji Müzeleri) is not exactly what you have in mind while planning your city trip. But you should definitely consider adding this stunning complex of museums to your
Guided Tours in Dolmabahçe Palace
In order to visit Dolmabahçe Palace (Dolmabahçe Sarayı) you must take one or both of the guided tours. The Selamlık tour takes you through the quarters reserved for men, while the Harem tour shows you
If You Don’t Visit the Süleymaniye Mosque, You’ll Regret It Later
The Süleymaniye Mosque (Süleymaniye Camii) is not only stunning; in my opinion it is also the masterpiece of the famous architect Sinan (Mimar Sinan). Sure, the Blue Mosque is the most famous one and therefore better
Dolmabahçe Palace, Turkey’s Biggest Palace
Dolmabahçe Palace (Dolmabahçe Sarayı), Turkey’s largest mono-block palace, was commissioned by Sultan Abdül Mecit in 1843. Built to belie the military and financial decline of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul’s first European-style palace was an opulent
The Basilica Cistern, the Coolest Spot in Town
There are hundreds of ancient cisterns hidden underneath the streets and houses of Istanbul. Of the two that are open to the public, the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı) is the largest and Istanbul’s most unusual
See How Easily You Can Visit the Harem of Topkapi Palace
The word Harem comes from Arabic and originally means forbidden. Contrary to what many (want to) believe, the Harem was not just an erotic hothouse.It was the private area of the sultan and his sons,
Little Known Ways to Make the Most of Topkapi Palace – Part 3
As mentioned in the first part, the First Courtyard was the most public one, and therefore not really considered as being part of the Topkapi Palace. But the deeper you go into the palace, the
Little Known Ways to Make the Most of Topkapi Palace – Part 2
After buying your Topkapi Palace tickets, you are entitled to enter the palace. For your convenience, I added a ground plan of the palace in this post. When you click on it, a bigger version
