Istanbul is a true pearl on the Bosporus
Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace: Istanbul is a vibrant city with many top sights. Turkey's biggest city connects Europe and Asia - and has an incredible history. Travel with us through the beautiful, even less touristy areas, such as Kadiköy, Ortaköy or Camlica. Let yourself be enchanted by the oriental flair!
- Travel period: 5 days
- Best time to travel: May/June & September/October
- Main dish: 10 €
Arrival
The new Airport of Istanbul is located 50 kilometers from the city. There are many direct bus connections to central points like Taksim or Sultanahmet. But beware: Especially during rush hour the journey can take up to 3 hours. So plan enough time!
Hotel
In Istanbul you will find many great hotels, large and small, for every taste and budget. We recommend the Meretto Hotel Laleli *. Es liegt direkt an der Tram- und Metro-Haltestelle „Aksaray“ und ist sehr nah zu den wichtigsten Sehenswürdigkeiten. In 10 Minuten bist du an der Blauen Moschee. Weitere Angebote findest du auch auf der Seite DerBesteUrlaub.de.
Places of interest
Istanbul is a popular city. Millions of tourists visit Istanbul every year - and in every season! That's why the queues at the most famous sights can sometimes last longer, but: It's worth waiting! But there are also many lesser known sights that are just as worth seeing. Here you can meet many locals and get to know the Turkish culture better.
The Sultanahmed Mosque, better known as the Blue Mosqueis a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture and belongs to the most beautiful buildings worldwide. Follow the dress code in the mosque. You should definitely cover your shoulders, men and women should not wear shorts or skirts and cover their heads.
Only a few meters further on is the Hagia Sophia. The former powerful church of early Christianity was once considered the eighth wonder of the world. While you're in the area, you should see the Sunken palace visit. The cistern is a very mystical place!
The Topkapi Palace the sultans lived and ruled for centuries. In 1923 the Ottoman Empire became the Republic of Turkey. Since then the palace is used as a museum.
If you want to experience a real Turkish bazaar, then you should Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi). Around 4,000 shops welcome customers here every day. Another shopping place is the Egypt Bazaar. Let yourself be seduced by the oriental scents! By the way, the shops are open until late at night. Our tip: The spices, nuts and fragrances cost considerably less in the shops outside the bazaar.
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The Dolmabahce Palace is called in English: Palace of the Full Gardens. The magnificent building stands directly on the banks of the Bosporus. From here you have a wonderful view of the old town of Istanbul.
The Istiklal Caddesi, Street of Independence, is the most famous street of Istanbul. Here you have the feeling that you are in the middle of Europe. The street allies the famous Taksim Square (Republic Square) with the Galata Tower.
Of course, a trip across the Bosporus should not be missing on your Istanbul trip. The cheapest providers are located in Eminönü right next to the Galata Bridge. At sunset the view of the Bosporus Bridge is simply indescribable! You also pass the Leander Tower, which is one of the landmarks of Istanbul. In Turkish the tower is called "Girls' Tower". This name is derived from the story of a princess. A fortune teller predicted her death by poisoning. To protect her, her father locked her in the tower. There she was bitten by a snake and died!
Camlica is the green lung of Istanbul. Here you can relax a bit from the hustle and bustle of the tourist crowds and drink black tea (cay) and eat simit in one of the cafés! From the hill you have a breathtaking view of the whole city.
If you want to admire more beautiful architecture, we can recommend the following mosques: Ortaköy Mosque, Süleymaniye Mosque, and Eyüp Sultan Mosque.
Last but not least: Ein Besuch in einem Hamam ist ein Erlebnis für sich, das du dir nicht entgehen lassen solltest. Du fühlst dich anschließend wie neu geboren 🙂
Transportation in Istanbul
You should buy the Istanbulkart. Because Public Transport in Istanbul is very cheap. A trip usually costs under one Euro. With the Istanbulkart you can use the buses, metros, but also city ferries.
Rental car
With a rental car you can easily explore a city or region individually. Book your car now under the following link:
