Top 5 Attractions To Include In Your Istanbul Shore Excursion

A well-planned Istanbul shore excursion offers tourists the right introduction to the enchanted Istanbul where the new meets the old. Here in this article, we will discuss some of the top attractions that deserve a place in your Istanbul short excursion.

Blue Mosque:

Also known as the Sultan Ahmet Camii, the Blue Mosque is one of the most imposing Ottoman mosques in all of Turkey. Without any doubt, the mosque is one of the most popular landmarks in Istanbul as it exemplifies magazine covers, travel agencies publicity and very much anything associated with Istanbul. So, it is no surprise that visiting the Blue Mosque is a must for anyone in the city. Besides its astounding size & exquisite splendor, the most unique element of this mosque is that it boasts 6 minarets, as opposed to the usual 2 or 4 of most of the mosques in the city. Directly behind the mosque is the Arasta Bazaar; an excellent place for shopping high-quality souvenirs.

Topkapi Palace:

If there’s one must-visit attraction in Istanbul, it has to be the famous Topkapi Palace – home to many generations of sultans & their spouses, who were confined in the famous harem. Inside the places, you’ll see the best samples of bookbinding, seal, jewelry and box craftsmanship. In the Treasury Department, see the popular Topkapi Dagger, the Kasikci Diamond, the box of the Divan of Sultan Murad III, Ottoman helmets, sultan badges, and jade ink.

Grand Bazaar:

Travelers who like shopping shouldn’t miss a trip to Grand Bazaar. With more than 5,000 shops this is probably one of the largest indoor markets across the globe. Receiving over a quarter-million tourists a day, Grand Bazaar features items like jewelry, spices, carpets that may or mayn’t fly, hand-painted ceramics and antiques. Dates back to 1461, the bazaar today is home to 4 fountains, 2 mosques, 2 hammams, and the Cevahir Bedesten, where the rarest items have been discovered traditionally. This is the place in Istanbul where shoppers can find old coins, inlaid weapons, jewelry with costly gems and antique furnishings.

Basilica Cistern:

The most surprisingly romantic attraction of Istanbul, the Basilica Cistern, provides a great insight into the complex system that once brought drinking water into the city from Thrace.  Built in the 6th century & then elapsed for years, the cistern that once stored the water has been fitted with lights & music. A trip to this place is very special with the pillars brilliantly lit & the soft, steady dribble of water all around you.

Galata Tower:

At 219ft high, the Galata Tower rules the Istanbul skyline, giving fascinating views of the old city & its surroundings. When built in 1348, the tower was the highest building in Istanbul. However, the tower has been customized over the years, at one time being employed as a surveillance tower to recognize fires. At present, its upper reaches include a restaurant, a café and a nightclub which can be reached via elevators.

This article is written by Turkey Tour by Local Guide - luxury tour operator offer easily tailored Istanbul shore excursions to travel all over Turkey's major destinations and assist you to accomplish your travel dreams.

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Created on Oct 8th 2018 09:42. Viewed 516 times.

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