Istanbul is the largest city of Turkey and also arguably the most popular city of the country as well. Picturesquely located on the Bosphorus Strait, encompassing the Golden Horn - the natural harbor, in the northwester part of the country, Istanbul is truly a world city that has an enthralling blend of Eastern and Western culture. In spite of not being the capital of the country, Istanbul manages to remain the cultural and business capital of Turkey.
Most of the tourist attractions of Istanbul are located in Sultananhmet, the heart of Istanbul. The city of Istanbul is itself a wonderful city with natural beauty. Visit various attractions like Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet Mosque, Galata Tower, Galata Whirling Dervish Hall etc. And don't miss to explore the Bosphorus which has a number of waterside palaces.
Blue Mosque
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, popularly known as the Blue Mosque is the national mosque of Turkey and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. The irregular layout of the mosque, the stone and marble exterior, the wonderful blue tiles on the walls of its interior, and its six minarets have made it an attraction that shouldn't be missed by anyone. This mosque with a 23.5 meters wide and 43 meters high dome also has a market called Arasta in its eastern side.
Dolmabahce Palace
The Dolmabahçe Palace, once served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire, is currently a popular tourist destination in Istanbul. Built between 1843 and 1856 under Sultan Abdülmecid consisting of three parts viz. Mabeyn-i Hümâyûn or Selamlik (men's quarters), Muayede Salonu (the ceremonial halls) and the Harem-i Hümâyûn (the apartments of Sultan and his family), the Dolmabahçe Palace has 285 rooms, 44 halls, 6 baths and 68 toilets in its 11.2 acres of area. Besides these, the palace has a large collection of Hereke palace carpets and 150-year-old bearskin rugs. But the most famous of those is surely the Crystal Staircase, built of Baccarat crystal, brass and mahogany.
Grand Bazaar
Grand Bazaar is one of the greatest attractions of Istanbul with it's a whopping number of around 4400 shops lined along covered sidewalks. This shopping mall is believed to be the oldest one in the world with several blocks where anything and everything under the sun is put on sale. This market is well-known for its jewelry, pottery and carpet shops.
Topkapi Palace
The Topkapi Palace, once served as the official and primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans for nearly 400 years, is located on the Seraglio Point, overlooking the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara. Once the Ottoman Empire ended in 1921, Topkapi Palace was transformed into a museum of the imperial era in 1924. The palace showcases finest examples of Ottoman architecture and a large collection of porcelain, robes, shields, weapons, armor, Ottoman miniatures, Ottoman treasure and jewelry, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts and murals.
Turkish Bath
While in Turkey, you cannot afford missing an experience in Turkish bath. A variant of steam bath, the Turkish bath is considered as a method of cleansing the body and most importantly to give your body a magical relaxation. There are several steps in a Turkish bath which starts with a relaxing session in a room called the warm room where a continuous flow of hot and dry air is maintained in order to allow the bather to perspire freely. Then, you transfer into a hotter room called the hot room before you finally go for splashing with cold water.
