From the category archives:

Things To See & Do

Located in the Beyoğlu district in the modern part of Istanbul, Istiklal Caddesi (Independence Street) is the most famous pedestrian street in Istanbul. This three kilometer long avenue stretches from Taksim Square to Tünel, the world’s second-oldest subway. Galatasaray Square, with its prestigious high school (Galatasaray Lisesi), is considered as the midpoint of this elegant […]

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People who visited Istanbul’s Istiklal Caddesi (İstiklal Caddesi) in the new millennium will tell you that it’s a busy but pleasant pedestrian street in the Beyoğlu district, housing a huge variety of shops, galleries, restaurants, bars and cinemas. And that is exact what Istiklal Caddesi today is. However, most people don’t know that it was […]

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Taksim Square (Taksim Meydanı) is considered as the heart of modern Istanbul and symbol of the secular Republic because of the Cumhuriyet Anıtı (Republic Monument) that stands in the middle of the plaza. As a main transportation hub and with numerous hotels, restaurants and pubs surrounding the area, it’s a popular destination for both tourists […]

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A trip to Istanbul is not complete without a visit to the Grand Bazaar. But hold your horses. Without proper advice, what is supposed to be a great oriental bargain hunt may become a big disillusion at best, or even a small nightmare. When to Visit the Grand Bazaar Morning or Evening –The truth of […]

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The Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı), built in the 15th century, is the oldest covered market in the world. Covering an area of 54.653 square meters, it also still ranks as one of the world’s biggest covered markets. In other words, keep on reading if you want to be prepared before entering this maze of 56 […]

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The Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi) is the most recognizable landmark of the Golden Horn. The cylindrical tower with its conical cap rises high above all other buildings on the east bank of the Golden Horn and provides a magnificent 360 degree view of Istanbul. Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi) Location Galata Square (Galata Meydanı), Şişhane (go […]

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The Haghia Eirene or Hagia Irene (Aya İrini Kilisesi) is a former Orthodox church and the first church built in Constantinople. It is also the only church that was not turned into a mosque after the Ottomans conquered Istanbul in 1453. The Haghia Eirene served as the church of the Patriarchate before the Hagia Sophia […]

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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 to-do list. For two reasons: its overwhelming state of the art antiquities collection spanning over 5000 years, and the […]

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Ağva is a small town by the Black Sea in the Şile district, 97 km from Istanbul (see on Map with Tourist Attractions beyond the City Center of Istanbul) and 50 km from the town Şile. Ağva is located on the delta of the Göksu and Yesilçay rivers originating at the Çal Hill (Çal Tepesi) […]

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Şile is a small holiday town by the Black Sea, 70 km from Istanbul (see on Map with Tourist Attractions beyond the City Center of Istanbul). It’s well-known for its long, fine, sandy beach, the production of cotton and its black-and-white striped lighthouse on top of a cliff. Public transportation buses depart regularly from Üsküdar […]

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