There was so much to explore in beautiful Istanbul that I am sure I haven’t covered it all. However, following my last post – My Trip to Istanbul – and during my 5 days in Istanbul, I have gathered my top 6 things to do. Furthermore this blog is also an excuse to post more photos about this beautiful city. I have sooo many!
Top 6 Things to do in Istanbul
Be amazed inside Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is a former Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal cathedral, built in 537 AD, that became an Ottoman imperial mosque and is now a museum. It is a magnificent building on the inside as well as outside and should be on your top list to see. I love all the mosaics and the size of the dome is breathtaking!
Once inside make sure you look outside the window as well, to get a glimpse of the Blue Mosque. Stunning view!
Afterword: I am glad I saw the Hagia Sophia that year. Because a few years later it has been turned back into a mosque and so the inside floor was covered with green carpet and there were barriers everywhere. Nevertheless, it is still one of the top 6 things to do in Istanbul. Definitely!
Walk through the Blue Mosque
Unfortunately the Blue Mosque is currently under restoration, so I didn‘t get to see the beauty of the big dome inside. I will have to put it on my list to do for next time. Given that it is for free however, you should still walk through. It will take only a few minutes of your day.
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What are the other top 6 things to do in Istanbul? Besides the Hagia Sophia.
Explore the Topkapi Palace
Keep the Topkapi Palace for the early morning as well, same as Hagia Sophia, as it can get very busy later on. I spent almost two hours exploring all the different buildings and exhibits. I would highly recommend to buy the entry ticket to the Harem Apartments as well. It is quite fascinating to see!
Definitely a must to do in Istanbul.
The top 6 things to do in Istanbul continues…
Walk to the other side
From the old town, you can easily walk across the bridge to the other side of Istanbul. Walking up the steep hill to the Galata Tower, you will find many funky shops and coffee spots. Once on the top, follow the tram line through the shopping street towards the Taksim Square.
Great way to spend a leisure day. From there you can catch the tram back to the old town or hop on a ferry near the Dolmabahçe Palace.
Hop on and off with a boat
If you need a break from the walking, take a ride on the boat. I took a round trip ‚Hop on and off‘ from the Besiktas Terminal. The ferry goes every hour, takes 1.5 hours for the loop and costs only a few Euros. Much easier than booking it through a Travel Agency and being charged 4 times more. And it is the perfect way to explore beautiful Istanbul from the water. Definitely one of the top 6 things to do in Istanbul.
Go underground – The Cisterns
There are several hundred ancient cisterns beneath the city of Istanbul that provided a water storage system for the buildings nearby. I went to see two cisterns and liked them both. Both different in sizes, the Basilica Cistern is the largest one with 336 stunning columns and the ability to hold 80,000 cubic meters of water. Amazing! The entry fee is only minor (the smaller cistern was free) so make sure you go underground in Istanbul.
So that’s my trip summary. Do you have your top 6 things to do in Istanbul? Hagia Sophia is definitely the highlight, however Istanbul has so much to offer. I love it here.
Final tip: Make sure you check the opening days on all attractions before you plan your trip. You don‘t want to miss out on anything!
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