From Hagia Sophia Museum to Grand Bazaar there are a lot places to see in the city. If you would like to explore around, you better have at least 2 or 3 days.
Hagia Sophia Museum
Hagia Sophia Museum is referred as eigth wonder of the world. You can see 30 million gold tiles interior of the museum. The dome of the mosque is 180 feet height. You can visit the Museum even on weekends between 9 AM and 7 PM. You need to pay the entrance fee. Suggested visit duration of the mosque is 1 or two hours. The museum were opened under the order of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. It was built as a Christian church at first. It served for Christians for 916 years later it turned into a mosque for Muslims.
- Hagia Sophia Museum
- The Blue Mosque
- Topkapi Palace Museum
- Grand Bazaar
- Miniatürk
The Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque is also known as Sultan Ahmed Mosque. It is still used as a mosque. It has 6 minarets. There are different theories why it is called ‘Blue Mosque’. It was built in 17 th century and the construction took 7 years to complete. It is the only mosque with 6 minarets. It is not only known for its minarets but also the lighting and decorations. Because of that reason, the cost of the mosque is really high. The Blue Mosque is visited by millions of both the turists and also the foreign tourists each year.
Topkapi Palace Museum
Topkapi Palace Museum is also called Seraglio. It is a very large museum. It was built in the 15 th century. It started to be used as a museum in 1924 with the order of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. It was used as a residence of Ottoman Sultans before. By visiting the palace, you will understand how a Sultan’s life is like. There are different parts of the museum. For instance the imperial harem is the private section for harem.
Grand Bazaar
Grand Bazaar is one of the oldest and largest markets in the world. It contains thousands of shops. It is better that you do not rush visiting Grand Bazaar. It is best to experience the place with enough free time. Do not worry if you can’t speak English. Most of the merchants know more than one language.
Miniatürk
Miniatürk is another a must visit place especially if you have kids. It was opened in 2003. There are models of famous structures and landmarks from Turkey. The model’s scale are 1:25. You can see the model of Temple of Artemis, Izmir Clock Tower, Mount Nemrud and many more. If you like to learn about overall country, Miniatürk is right place to be. Miniaturk covers about 60,000 square meters and it is one of the biggest mini parks in the world. You can take the kids to play area for more fun. Do not skip Miniaturk when you visit Istanbul.
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