• +90-538-4397811
  • info@constantinopleguide.com

Top 4 Attractions Near Istanbul That You Must Visit

Spread across Europe & Asia, Istanbul is one of the biggest cities of Turkey. Historically known as Byzantium & Constantinople, Istanbul has a lot to offer as far as sightseeing is concerned. The city itself is packed with so much attractions, that it sometimes overshadows the many cities & attractions that are close to the city or around it. Here we will highlight some of the places near Istanbul that you must visit.

Belgrad Forest:

Placed adjacent to Instanbul, Belgrad Forest is a mixed deciduous forest and is popular among travelers who wish to escape the hustle of the city life and relish the natural splendors that are sustained in this forest. Travelers can drive to the forest and relish activities such as hiking and trekking through its innumerable trails or even having a picnic at some of the designated areas.

Cappadocia:

Situated in Central Anatolia this historical place is one of the best places to visit near Istanbul. Known for its fairy chimneys this historical site also boasts many Bronze Age homes and churches which are worth exploring. Tourists love to explore these historical sites & also enjoy a hot air balloon ride over the valley. Cappadocia is the perfect places to explore near Istanbul especially for historians, students and people that are keen in the history of this region.

Edirne:

This neighboring city of Istanbul is rich in culture & history. Travelers can come here to witness the incredible architecture, numerous iconic mosques, cathedral and palaces.

Blue Mosque:

Also recognized as Sultan Ahmet Mosque, the Blue Mosque is one of the most popular tourist places close to the Istanbul airport. The mosque is known as Blue Mosque because of its blue tiles fitted in the interior & the fact that the mosque looks blue during the sunset time. The mosque is still in operation as a place of worship alongside being a renowned tourist destination in Istanbul.

Searching for a tour guide in Istanbul who can help you in exploring all these above-mentioned attractions and more? Look no further than Turkey Tours By Local Guides. We are your professional & licensed turkey tour guides who know the country better than anybody else. We have in-depth knowledge of Istanbul and Turkey’s history that no other tour guides possess. Get in touch with us now to make the most of your Istanbul excursion.


Places to enjoy in Cappadocia

High on each vacationer’s Turkey hit list, Cappadocia is a charming district of twirling volcanic-rock scenes that appear molded by fiendish mythical beings. People have settled here since the Bronze Age and have left their blemish on this strange and wacky moonscape by tunneling into the delicate volcanic rock to live.

The star touring attractions are towns cut out of the slopes; Byzantine time rock-cut houses of worship with stunning frescoes; and complex underground urban communities, where early Christians once escaped intruders. It is a mystical wonderland overflowing with activities that both nature darlings and history buffs can appreciate. For thoughts on the best places to visit, see our rundown of the top attractions in Cappadocia. As you read through, you will understand why it is wise to be with us at Turkey Tours by Local Guides during the Cappadocia tours from Istanbul.

Göreme Open-Air Museum

Only outside of Göreme town, you can visit the UNESCO-secured site of Göreme Open-Air Museum, a religious community bunch of rock-cut houses of worship and priest cells that hold astounding frescoes. The site dates from the tenth to the twelfth century when Cappadocia was a significant Byzantine religious center.

There are a few houses of worship and sanctuaries inside the complex. However, the most significant is the Elmali Kilise, with its Ascension fresco over the entryway.  You will also see the Azize Barbara Sapeli, with its red-ochre inside enhancement. Other outstanding ones are the Yilanli Kilise, with its divider works of art of St. George and an intriguing fresco of the hermetic bisexual St. Onuphrius; the shocking and magnificently reestablished frescoes of the Karanlik Kilise; and the enormous Tokali Kilise, with its amazing divider artworks that spread over the complete barrel-vaulted chamber. The exhibition hall is one of Turkey’s top features, and it’s Cappadocia’s most celebrated vacation destination.

Göreme

Extraordinarily adorable and splendidly photogenic, Göreme has been cast a ballot as a standout amongst the most delightful towns on the planet by a few touring publications in light of current circumstances. The town half under the slope, it’s stone house veneers concealing a labyrinth of cavern rooms below will amaze you. The fresco-decorated El Nazar Kilise and Sakli Kilise are both on Müze Caddesi, a short stroll from the center while in transit to Göreme Open-Air Museum.

The town is the principal base for walkers tingling to take off on a climb, with all the primary valleys stretching out from here offering plenty of trails that lead past rock developments, referred to locally as fairy chimneys, and shrouded cavern houses of worship up to all-encompassing perspectives.

Hot air ballooning

For some, guests, going for an early morning balloon ride in Cappadocia are one of Turkey’s features. In high season, more than 100 such balloons take to the skies soon after dawn and give you bird’s-eye perspectives on the valleys and their stone developments. Tourist balloon rides take around 60 minutes and are accessible all year, assuming it does not rain. All visits incorporate pickup and drop-off from your lodging.

Kaymakli Underground City

Cappadocia’s underground urban communities initially started taking shape in the Bronze Age Hittite time. They became famous from the initial Byzantine history when the regional Christians took to living underground for significant lots to escape from Arab and Persian trespassers. Kaymakli Underground City is Cappadocia’s biggest model, with a maze of rooms associated by passages that stretch out for eight dimensions. You can explore four of these dimensions as visitors.

Heading underground into the mazy system of passages is a captivating knowledge; however, those with claustrophobia ought to know that a portion of the passages is exceedingly restricted.

Zelve Open-Air Museum

With its bumpy-bested shake cliffs spotted with cave residences, strolling through Zelve Open-Air Museum is an encounter of the Cappadocia of old. The settlement started life as a religious community in the ninth century, and by the twentieth century was a flourishing town. Because of disintegration and rock fall threats, in 1952 the town had to be deserted.

There are two or three intriguing houses of prayer to see — the Üzümlü Kilise being the most flawless — and a somewhat beautiful rock cut mosque. Be that as it may, the genuine delight of this site is wandering down the Cliffside ways, exploring the flame darkened insides of the cavern homes, and gazing out at the wonderful vistas over the encompassing farmland.

Derinkuyu Underground City

Derinkuyu Underground City is Cappadocia’s most profound underground haven. Like Kaymakli, early Christians used it to escape the assault. The passages here are very claustrophobic in spots as they travel further and more profound into the ground. There is an enormous house of prayer region and many living and storage zones to explore in this subterranean labyrinth. The inventive ventilation shaft framework utilized by Derinkuyu’s occupants is a thing to see.

Derinkuyu and Kaymakli Underground Cities are close enough together to see both on a day trip, yet in the event that you just need to see one, Derinkuyu is less prevalent with enormous vacationer mentor loads, so you’re bound to have the option to explore the passages here unhindered by groups.

Red and Rose Valleys

Cappadocia’s most wonderful entwining valleys lie between the towns of Göreme and Çavusin. Here, the rolling and undulating rock faces circular segment out over the wide open in a palette of pastel pink, yellow, and orange precipices, shaped by volcanic blast and centuries of wind and water disintegration. Between the precipices are lavish plantations and vegetable plots still tended by nearby ranchers, while cut into the stone are concealed houses of worship and loner alcoves, which go back to the Byzantine time.

There are many climbing trails, so it is the ideal chance to get your strolling shoes and head out onto the ways. Three specific attractions inside Rose Valley are the Kolonlu Kilise, Haçli Kilise, with its mammoth cross cut into the cavern roof; and the Uç Haçli Kilise, with its incredibly safeguarded roof carvings and fascinating frescoes.

Ihlara Valley

The thin, verdant valley at the base of this profound gorge in southwest Cappadocia is a nature sweetheart’s enjoyment. Fixed in by rough, steep cliffs, Ihlara Valley is a lavish Eden of tall poplar trees and fruitful cultivating plots next to the chattering Melendiz River, which keeps running for 14 kilometers from Ihlara town to Selime town.

During the Byzantine era, this was a favored retreat for hermetic priest networks, who cut chapels and cloister edifices into the face of the cliff. The Kokar Kilise, Yilanli Kilise, and Kirk Dam Alti Kilise are three of the best, yet there are a lot of others to see en route. At Selime town, the rugged rock zenith of Selime Monastery is additionally worth a visit.

Çavusin

The principal attractions in the dinky town of Çavusin are two flawless Byzantine holy places. By the passageway into town is the Çavusin Church otherwise called the Big Pigeon House Church, due to its use as a local pigeon house in the mid-twentieth century with a staggering inside of frescoes. In the old town center, in the wake of climbing high up on edge over the tumble of forsaken houses, is the Church of St. John the Baptist. This is the most seasoned church in Cappadocia, and its basilica-like extents and fat columns are a noteworthy sight.

Soganli

The pyramid-molded rock apexes first dugout in the Roman time are scattered in the twin valleys of Soganli. When the Byzantine period was in full sprout, Soganli had turned into a noteworthy ascetic focus, its stone apexes home to churches and priest cells. The Karabas Kilise, Yilanli Kilise, and Sakli Kilise have the best-safeguarded frescoes in this sanctuary group.

Soganli is an astounding spot for a day trip, with the street driving here dotted with quiet towns and intriguing noteworthy locales. Two of the best attractions to stop off at are the Byzantine-time Keslik Monastery and the old vestiges of Roman Sobesos.

Pasabag

The mushroom-molded rock needles of Pasabag valley have made it a standout amongst Cappadocia’s most famous tourist spots. In the early Byzantine era, a religious network who were pupils of St. Simeon Stylites committed their lives to their stylite rehearses here. Rather than columns, however, they cut priest cells high up in the zeniths to have a hermitic existence of supplication. You can visit one of these priest cells even now.

You can have an excursion to Pasabag along with a visit to Zelve Open-Air Museum. The destinations are around two kilometers separated on a similar street.

Uçhisar

A mammoth rock cut fortification filled with passages and caverns makes the town of Uçhisar famous. Much the same as the region’s underground urban areas, this rough outcrop gave townspeople security from intruders during the Roman and Byzantine periods. You can climb to the top of the fortification where you can have a panoramic view of the undulating valleys that encompass the town.

Uçhisar is likewise a decent beginning stage for valley strolls. Specifically, trails through Pigeon Valley and White Valley keep running from here to Göreme, making for a grand stroll between towns.

So, come to Cappadocia and enjoy a vacation that you will never forget.


The tourist attractions in and around Istanbul

Pined for by domains over the hundreds of years, straddling both in Europe and Asia, Istanbul is one of the world’s incredible cities. Established around 1000 BC, the province of Byzantium developed into the Byzantine Empire’s extraordinary capital of Constantinople and after the Ottoman victory of the city, held its radiant spot as the core of their domain. The city formally renamed Istanbul after the establishment of the Turkish Republic, full with great reminders of its long and renowned history, and touring here will inspire even the most fatigued guest.

Just as the big four Aya Sofya, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, and Grand Bazaar, leave sufficient opportunity to explore different sights. Numerous vacation destinations situated in, or close to, the old city area of Sultanahmet, there is an amazing exhibit of different activities all through the more remote scopes of the city. Plan your excursions from Istanbul with our rundown of the top vacation destinations in Istanbul.

Aya Sofya

It is that when the Byzantine Emperor Justinian entered his completed church without precedent in AD 536, he shouted out “Wonder to God that I have been decided deserving of such a work. Goodness, Solomon, I have beaten you!” The Aya Sofya, some time ago, the Hagia Sophia, was the ruler’s swaggering explanation to the universe of the riches and specialized capacity of his realm. Custom kept up that the territory encompassing the ruler’s honored position inside the congregation was the official focus of the world.

Through its transformation to a mosque, after the Ottoman armed forces vanquished Constantinople, to its further change into a historical centre in the twentieth century, the Aya Sofya has stayed a standout amongst Istanbul’s most esteemed tourist spots.

Topkapi Palace

First worked by Mehmet the Conqueror in the fifteenth century, this wonderful royal residence adjacent to the Bosphorus was the place the sultans of the Ottoman Empire ruled over their territories up until the nineteenth century. The tremendous complex is a stunning showcase of Islamic workmanship, with extravagant yards fixed with perplexing hand-painted tile-work, connecting a warren of lavishly brightened rooms, all limited by battlemented dividers and towers.

Of the numerous features here, the most prominent is where the sultan’s numerous courtesans and kids would go through their days; the Second Court, where you can stroll through the huge Palace Kitchens and remain in astonishment at the astonishing inside of the Imperial Council Chamber; and the Third Court, which contained the sultan’s private rooms.

The Third Court additionally shows a noteworthy gathering of relics of the Prophet Muhammad in the Sacred Safekeeping Room and is home to the Imperial Treasury, where you’re welcomed with a reserve of sparkling gold articles and valuable jewels that will make your eyes water. To, completely explore Topkapi Palace; you will need in any event a large portion of a day.

Blue Mosque

Sultan Ahmet I’s a fabulous compositional blessing to his capital was this excellent mosque, usually known as the Blue Mosque today. Worked somewhere in the range of 1609 and 1616, the mosque caused a furore all through the Muslim world when it was done, as it had six minarets a similar number as the Great Mosque of Mecca. A seventh minaret was, in the end, talented to Mecca to stem the contradiction.

The mosque gets its epithet from its inside adornment of a huge number of Iznik tiles. The complete spatial and shading impact of the inside makes the mosque one of the best accomplishments of Ottoman engineering. An incredible touring delight of an excursion to Istanbul is meandering amid the greenery enclosures sandwiched between the Blue Mosque and the Aya Sofya to encounter their duelling arches in twin magnificence. Come at night for additional feel, as the prayer call echoes out from the Blue Mosque’s minaret.

Straightforwardly behind the Blue Mosque is the Arasta Bazaar; an extraordinary spot for a shopping stop as the handiwork shops here sell superb trinkets. Regardless of whether you are not keen on a peruse, head here to see the Great Palace Mosaic Museum, which is tucked between the Arasta Bazaar and the mosque. This little historical centre shows the 250-square-meter piece of mosaic asphalt that was uncovered during the 1950s here. Amazing data boards clarify the mosaic floor’s recuperation and ensuing salvage.

Basilica Cistern

The Basilica Cistern is a standout amongst Istanbul’s most astounding vacation spots. This large, royal residence like an underground corridor, bolstered by 336 columns in 12 lines, once put away the supreme water supply for the Byzantine sovereigns. The task started by Constantine the Great yet wrapped up by Emperor Justinian in the sixth century.

Large numbers of the columns utilized in development were reused from before traditional structures and highlight enlivening carvings. The most celebrated of these are the column bases known as the Medusa stones in the northwest corner with their Medusa head carvings. A visit here is atmospheric with the columns perfectly lit and the delicate, unfaltering stream of water surrounding you.

Hippodrome

The antiquated Hippodrome started by Septimius Severus in AD 203 and finished by Constantine the Great in AD 330. This was the focal point of Byzantine open life and the scene of awe-inspiring games and chariot races yet also factional clashes. Today, there is not a significant part of the Hippodrome left to see, aside from a little area of the display dividers on the southern side, yet the At Meydani park, which currently remains on the site is home to an assortment of landmarks.

On the northwest side is a wellspring, exhibited to the Ottoman sultan by the German Emperor William II in 1898. At that point, traveling southwest are three old landmarks: a 20-meter high Egyptian monolith from Heliopolis; the Serpent Column brought here from Delphi by Constantine; and a stone pillar that initially was clad in gold-secured bronze plating until the fighters of the fourth Crusade stole them in 1204.

Istanbul Archaeology Museum

Only a bounce, skip, and hop far from Topkapi Palace, this significant exhibition hall complex unites a stunning cluster of ancient rarities from Turkey and all through the Middle East, which clears through the huge expansiveness of history of this area. There are three separate areas in mind boggling complex, every one of which is deserving of a visit: the Museum of the Ancient Orient; the principle Archeology Museum; and the Tiled Pavilion of Mehmet the Conqueror, which holds a stunning gathering of arts of ceramic. Just as all the awesome antiquities in the display, do not miss the intriguing Istanbul Through the Ages show room in the fundamental Archeology Museum.

Grand Bazaar

For some, guests, touring in Istanbul are as much about shopping as exhibition halls and fantastic attractions, and the Grand Bazaar is the place everybody comes. This huge secured market is essentially the world’s first shopping centre, taking up an entire city quarter, encompassed by thick walls, between the Nure Osmaniye Mosque and Beyazit Mosque. The Beyazit Mosque worked in 1498-1505 itself possesses the site of Theodosius I’s Forum and has design enlivened by the Aya Sofya.

Access to the bazaar is through one of 11 entryways from where a labyrinth of vaulted-roof laneways, lined by shops and stalls selling each Turkish keepsake and workmanship you could envision, spread the zone. The different exchanges are still, for the most part, isolated into specific segments, which make perusing simpler. Close to the bazaar’s Divanyolu Caddesi entrance is the Burned Column. Constantine the Great set up this stump still 40 meters high of a porphyry section in his gathering. Until 1105, it bore a bronze statue of Constantine.

Süleymaniye Mosque

Sitting high on the slope above the Sultanahmet area, the Süleymaniye Mosque is a standout amongst the most perceived tourist spots of Istanbul. Worked for Süleyman the Magnificent by the celebrated Ottoman drafter Sinan somewhere in the range of 1549 and 75 is a place to visit. The inside, commanded by it’s taking off 53-meter-high dome is outstanding for its agreeable extents and solidarity of plan. Outside in the serene patio nursery territory is a fascinating Ottoman burial ground that is likewise home to the türbes of the Sultan Süleyman and his significant other Haseki Hürrem Sultan referred to in the west as Roxelana.

Spice Bazaar

The Spice Bazaar is the spot to get your foodie fix of Turkish pleasure, dried organic product, nuts, herbs, and, obviously, flavors. A great part of the cash that helped develop it originated from the assessments the Ottoman government exacted on Egyptian-made items, which is the reason its name in Turkish Misir Çarsisi signifies “Egyptian Market.” The Spice Bazaar is a standout amongst the most well-known activities, and at specific occasions of the day becomes absurdly busy with colossal visit bunches from the docked cruise ships. Endeavour to precede 11 am or after 4 pm.

Simply nearby to the Spice Bazaar’s primary passage is the stately Yeni Camii, which was started in 1615 and completed in 1663 — that is “new” for Istanbul. It is advantageous looking inside while you are touring in the zone, as the luxurious inside enlivened with tile-work and liberal utilization of gold leaf will make you astonished.

Dolmabahçe Palace

The rich and elaborate Dolmabahçe Palace demonstrates the unmistakable impact of European improvement and engineering on the Ottoman Empire in the nineteenth century. Worked by Sultan Abdülmecid I in 1854, it supplanted Topkapi Palace as the primary home of the sultans. The formal greenery enclosures punctuated with wellsprings, decorated basins and sprouting bloom beds, while inside the sheer magnificence and pageantry of the Turkish Renaissance style is astonishing. The insides blend Rococo, Baroque, Neoclassical, and Ottoman components, with mammoth gem crystal fixtures, liberal utilization of gold, French-style furniture, and astonishing frescoed roofs.

Chora Church

Chora signifies “nation” in Greek, and this lovely Church initially called the Church of St. Saviour lay simply outside old Constantinople’s city dividers. The first Chora Church was likely worked here in the fifth century. However, what you see presently is the structure’s sixth reproduction as destruction happened totally in the ninth century and experienced a few facelifts from the eleventh to fourteenth hundreds of years.

The congregation presently a historical centre is appropriately world-renowned for its astonishingly dynamic fourteenth century mosaics, safeguarded practically unblemished in the two narthexes and fragmentarily in the nave, and the frescoes along with the dividers and vaults. These mind-boggling instances of Byzantine artistry spread a wide scope of subjects, from the parentage of Christ to the New Testament stories.

The excursions from Istanbul organized by reputed tour operators make it possible for you to enjoy all these places while having comfort and safety.

Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts

Housed in the castle of Ibrahim Pasa, who was Grand Vizier for Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, this historical centre is unquestionable must see fascination for anybody keen on Ottoman and Islamic workmanship. The rug gathering in display here is huge and proclaimed by material specialists as the world’s ideal. This is a prime spot to come to have a look at the stunning exhibit of styles of Turkish rugs alongside rugs from the Caucasus and Iran over the hundreds of years before setting out on a shopping mission to buy your floor piece. There are likewise flawless earthenware productions, calligraphy, and wood cutting shows running in date from the ninth century AD to the nineteenth century.

Little Aya Sofya

Before Emperor Justinian assembled the Aya Sofya, he needed to try out if the structure would work fundamentally, so he manufactured this scaled-down variant first. Its unique name was the Church of Sergius and Bacchus, yet the undeniable design parallels with the Aya Sofya prompted its long-held epithet turning into the structure’s authentic title. Amid the Ottoman time, the congregation changed over into a mosque regardless it works as a working mosque today. Despite the fact that its extents are not as self-important as others in Istanbul, the structure is beautifully reestablished and is certainly justified for a visit.

The stroll here, down restricted alleyways fixed with tall Ottoman time structures — some plentifully reestablished and others squeaking their way into haggardness — is a quiet relief from focal Sultanahmet. Set aside the effort to have a glass of tea in the Little Aya Sofya’s quiet patio nursery to maintain you for further touring endeavours.

Rüstem Pasa Mosque

Perhaps the most superbly lovely mosque in Istanbul, Rüstem Pasa Mosque is home to the most amazingly saved Iznik tile boards in the city. Beyond any doubt, the Blue Mosque may get all the greatness, yet it’s here — covering both the outside patio dividers and the mosque inside itself — that you’ll locate the best instances of these flawlessly many-sided hand-painted tiles in blues, reds, and greens. Stunningly better, as it is less known, you are probably going to have the option to respect them very close without fighting any groups. Finding the mosque adds to the enjoyment as it is squirreled down a thin path fixed with market stalls and continually clamoring with life, close to the Spice Bazaar.

Yedikule Fortress

Despite the fact that it is somewhat of a schlep on the rural train to get out to Yedikule, this commanding post is well justified, despite all the trouble. Worked in the fifth century by the Emperor Theodosius II, the fortification made up the southern segment of Constantinople’s guarded dividers. The mammoth curve obstructed the late Byzantine period called earlier as Porta Aurea, with entryways plated in gold. At the point when the Ottomans vanquished the city, they utilized the post for safeguard, in addition, later as a jail and execution place.

Yedikule reestablished as of late, and you can scale to the highest point of the parapets for wonderful perspectives over the Sea of Marmara.

Galata Tower

This Genoese tower worked in the fourteenth century is a standout amongst Istanbul’s most unmistakable milestones. Take the lift or the stairs for incredible all-encompassing perspectives over the city from the top overhang. Know, however, that it is an excessively well-known sight, so come early or be set up to hold up in line.

Carpet Museum

For some individuals, a trek to Istanbul is not finished without one excursion to a rug shop. Head here, to discover progressively about the unfathomable legacy and imaginativeness of floor coverings before you buy your very own mat to bring home. Housed in one of the external structures of the Aya Sofya complex, the three exhibitions here walk you through the historical backdrop of Turkish floor coverings and the astonishing cluster of themes and styles from various areas of the nation. Consider it your Turkish floor covering 101.

Explore Istanbul Modern

Demonstrating that Istanbul isn’t just about historic touring, this completely expert craftsmanship display holds a broad gathering of Turkish present day workmanship with a consistently changing timetable of presentations, facilitating both local and worldwide craftsmen consistently. This is by a long shot the best spot around the local area to get your finger on the beat of Turkey’s contemporary workmanship scene. The exhibitions are as a rule briefly facilitated in a notable Beyoglu building while they remain for the finishing of this artisanship historical centre’s new lasting home in Karaköy.

Fatih Mosque

The area of Fatih is home to this significant mosque worked by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror, who finally got through Constantinople’s dividers, finishing the Byzantine period. Worked on a slope, so its numerous vaults and minarets take off over the locale, it is a fabulously imposing structure. As the first of Istanbul’s stupendous supreme mosques worked, just as being home to Sultan Mehmet’s tomb, it is a significant noteworthy structure and a mainstream journey site for local people and tourists.

Pera Museum

Istanbul’s most celebrated craftsmanship exhibition is the beautiful Pera Museum, which is the place workmanship experts head to drink in one of the best accumulations of Ottoman-period painting on the planet. Just as the artisanship, set aside a few minutes to meander through the remainder of their gathering, which incorporates a lot of earthenware production alongside other Ottoman period objects. The program of consistently changing shows frequently shows a portion of the workmanship world’s greatest names.

Istiklal Caddesi and Taksim

Pedestrianized Istiklal Caddesi or Independence Street is a clamouring current shopping road with an abundance of eateries and bistros. The lower end of the road can be come to by taking the world’s most seasoned Underground Railroad from close Galata Bridge, the Tünel, developed in 1875. Additionally, a curiously out-dated tramway keeps running along its length straight up to Taksim Square at the highest point of the slope. From Taksim Square, busy Cumhuriyet Caddesi is fixed with inns, shops, eateries, and elevated structures. On the east, side of the street, soon after the square, is Maçka Park, which is home to the intriguing Military Museum.

The zone around Istiklal Caddesi is home to numerous holy places and old office structures with resplendent veneers. Likewise adjacent is Orhan Pamuk’s Museum of Innocence. Pamuk is Turkey’s most acclaimed creator and the victor of the Nobel Prize for Literature. This calculated artisanship exhibition hall based around the subject of his novel The Museum of Innocence is a peculiar, nutty, and brilliantly barometrical experience.

Üsküdar

You can reach Istanbul’s Asian shore effectively by ship from Eminönü dock over the Bosphorus. On an islet, simply off the Asiatic shore stands the 30-meter-high Kiz Kulesi. Üsküdar is known as Scutari and has some attractive old mosques, winding paths, and endured dark colored timber houses, especially between the ship dock and the huge burial ground.

The town, referred to in days of yore as Chrysopolis, was one of the most punctual Greek settlements on the Bosporus. It was considerably more presented to assault by outside heroes than Constantinople, with its cautious circumstance and solid dividers. However, it had the option to draw favourable financial position from its uncovered circumstance — until 1800 it was the end of the band courses that conveyed the fortunes of the East to Constantinople and onwards to Europe. Of specific touring enthusiasm, here is the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, worked by Süleyman the Magnificent in 1547 for his little girl Mihrimah, and the Yeni Valide Mosque, worked in the eighteenth century by Sultan Ahmet III.

Where to stay during your visit

The reputed tour operators organizing excursions from Istanbul make arrangement for the best of accommodation. It is yet good to know about some places to stay in Istanbul.

In case you want to see Istanbul’s top vacation destinations, the least demanding spot to base yourself is Sultanahmet, Istanbul’s Old City, which is a short walk around all the city’s major chronicled attractions. The Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Aya Sofya are all inside a five-minute walk, and numerous lodgings in the territory have outstanding perspectives on these structures, just as out to the Bosphorus from their housetop porches. A cable car line goes through Sultanahmet, and open transport is copious, interfacing the area with other vacation destinations more remote.

Another prevalent spot to remain is over the Galata Bridge in the Beyoglu and Taksim areas. These are both vivacious amusement regions in the focal point of present-day Istanbul. The following are some exceedingly appraised inns in helpful areas for touring:

Luxury Hotels: In extremely old Neoclassical Turkish structure, the radiant shaded Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet is a simple five-minute walk around the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Hagia Sophia. Enlivened in Ottoman style, the boutique White House Hotel Istanbul likewise lies minutes from these major authentic attractions. For the individuals who want to remain close to all the diversion activity in Taksim, the Grand Hyatt Istanbul is an incredible decision just a couple of minutes’ stroll from Taksim Square.

Mid-range Hotels: The rich colonial style Orient Express Hotel is a phenomenal mid-run alternative inside strolling separation of the Sultanahmet verifiable attractions and Sirkeci train station. Additionally in a prime Sultanahmet area is the Osmanhan Hotel, with excellent perspectives on the Bosphorus. In the core of Taksim, the Mercure Istanbul Taksim offers contemporary solace near Taksim Square and Istiklal Street, one of the city’s most renowned strolling avenues, fixed with bistros, boutiques, and bookshops.

Budget Hotels: In case you have a budget, the Hotel Alp is a little boutique inn offers an extraordinary incentive for cash in the core of Sultanahmet. Minutes from the Blue Mosque, the Hotel Peninsula and charmingly named Apricot Hotel are other prevalent spending lodgings in advantageous areas near all the authentic destinations.

How to make the most of your tour to Istanbul

The reputed tour operators organize tours in such manner that it fits your style and budget. In other words, they tailor, make the tours according to your desire. In order to make the most out of your tour, follow the tips below.

Explore the city: On the off chance that you have just a day or two put aside for touring, take the Istanbul in Private Tour. This strolling visit will guarantee you see the most significant attractions, including the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar, just as others. This is a little gathering visit, constrained to 14 individuals, and incorporates lodging pickup and drop-off, a conventional lunch, and admission to the destinations.

On the off chance that you have additional time in the city, or on the off chance that you are keen on visiting the locales freely, take the Istanbul highlights Tour. The tour operators arrange comfortable transportation, which stops at the significant destinations and enables you to visit the city at your own pace. It is additionally an extraordinary method to be acquainted with the general design of the city.

Experience traditional culture: On the off chance that you possess energy for a show, seeing a spinning dervish’s execution is an unquestionable requirement. This experience has the exceptional assignment of being an UNESCO-recorded ceremonial dance. Purchase advance tickets for the Whirling Dervish Show, held at the acclaimed Hodjapasha Dance Theater.

Head to the sea: Make your Istanbul shore outing knowledge an advantageous one by requesting that the tour operators tweak a private visit as indicated by your spending limit and particular. Your English talking aide can customize your visit that incorporates accurately what you wish to see and do in Istanbul. The guide will be your strolling analysis as you investigate the city. They are comfortable with the best places to eat, drink, and mean to wrangle for your vacation tokens. This helps in making your trek significantly increasingly helpful.

Anyone with restricted time in Istanbul will superbly profit by our private guided administration.

Foods to taste in Istanbul

Do you think that a tour is complete without tasting the local delicacies of a place? It is not. So, how about we have a look at what to taste while at Istanbul.

The most celebrated city in Turkey amusing to explore for many reasons– however, the nourishment in Istanbul unquestionably has a place at the highest priority on any rundown talking about the city’s characteristics.

Istanbul has been a focal segment of the worldwide sustenance and flavor exchanges for a great many years, and nothing makes that more evident than venturing inside a nourishment market or eatery in Istanbul.

Unfathomably fluctuated, truly fascinating, and extremely delectable, the best nourishment in Istanbul pulls impacts from everywhere throughout the world and merges it into a sustenance scene that is genuinely special.

In case you are going to Istanbul and are prepared to practice your taste buds, this is what you need to eat in Istanbul.

Eat a Kumpir

A kumpir is a stacked baked potato. The server will blend the potato with cheddar and margarine until it’s light and soft, and afterwards you can browse a combination of garnishes including olives, franks, pickles, corn, peas, bulgur and that’s only the tip of the iceberg. It is the ideal bite to go.

Taste Simit

Like a bagel or pretzel, this chewy, round bread is canvassed in sesame seeds and is a standout amongst the most prominent road sustenance snacks in Istanbul– you’ll discover Simit trucks on almost every corner in the city!

Have a Turkish breakfast

The breakfast propensities for Turks are somewhat not the same as the European. First, tea replaces the espresso. Likewise, cut tomatoes, as well as cucumbers, are an unquestionable requirement for a Turkish breakfast. The remainder of the components is comparative. The most widely recognized sort of bread is white bread. Nevertheless, trying to eat more advantageous, various types of grain bread like rye are generally accessible nowadays.

White cheddar like feta, old cheddar like kaşar peyniri, dark as well as green olives like zeytin, spread, thick cream kaymak, nectar, jam, an omelette or bubbled eggs yumurta is customary players of the amusement.

The unexpected fixings are sucuklu yumurta and börek. These two are the most widely recognized dishes served to ruin the visitors. Sucuk is dried hotdog made of ground meat with garlic and an assortment of flavors like red pepper, cumin and sumac. What’s more, cooked on a skillet for the most part with eggs it turns into a greasy yet flavorful party. Börek is made of slender sheets of batter, loaded up with cheddar, minced meat as well as vegetables, wrapped and prepared or cooked.

Menemen

Menemen is a scrumptious Turkish style omelette. Cooked onions and peppers are bubbled completely with tomatoes lastly blended with eggs, herbs, parsley, pepper and grounded red pepper. This is a straightforward, shabby and simple to make dish yet with an addictive taste. Turks request this for the most part for breakfast.

The dish takes its name after the Menemen locale of Izmir in the Aegean Region. Tomato, the primary fixing, was first developed in Izmir in the mid-1920s. This gives a thought regarding the age of the celebrated dish. Since it is a typical dish, it is just common that it has a few inferences with additional fixings, for example, cheddar, grounded meat, mushrooms, sucuk, frankfurters, even chicken or eggplants.

Meze

Meze alludes to cold starters as opposed to a full course. Eateries that are specialists in mezes are called meyhane. A meyhane is a conventional café, which serves mixed refreshments with mezes and customary nourishments. Most mezes are filled in as starters in the cafés.

Largely, the server will go to your table and present all the mezes accessible on a major plate for you to browse. Every individual from the evening gathering will choose at least one. The mezes are then placed amidst the table and shared. Toasted bread supplements the different dishes.

Kuyu Kebabi

Kuyu kebabı is a claim to fame from the city of Kastamonu in the mid-west of the Black Sea Region. The kebap got its name from the cooking style, where kuyu signifies ‘well’. The thought is to, gradually cook the entire male sheep without the internal organs hung in a well or exceptionally developed opening over a charcoal flame. Kuyu kebabı requires pine tree branches for the flavor.

İskender Kebap

Iskender Kebap is döner meat. Döner is a dish of beaten bits of meat prepared with suet, nearby herbs and flavors, speared on a spit and flame broiled vertically. Leaves, daintily cut bits of döner, are served on bits of pide, a pita-like bread. Pide pieces are dressed with spread and tomato sauce.

Yoghurt added to the side of the plate, and on the off chance that you please additional tomato sauce and margarine to make it significantly increasingly brilliant. Bursa is the main residence of this superb saucy meat dish.

Adana Kebap

This kebap is an unquestionable requirement on the off chance that you are a meat fan. It takes its name after the city of Adana, situated in the southeast of the nation. Adana kebap has had “Controlled Designation of Origin” since 2009. Foundations examined on the spot and endorsed by the Adana Chamber of Commerce must make a unique Adana Kebap.

The fixings are not many, yet the way toward getting ready and cooking are explicit. The basic fixings are the sheep meat and the tail fat. Generally, it must be the meat of a male sheep that is less than a year of age. The creature must be developed in its common habitat and encouraged with the nearby verdure. After a nitty-gritty purging and resting process, the meat is plied with dried red and green hot pepper and new local red peppers, brochette mounted on the sticks; charcoal flame broiled and served on lavaş a pita-like slim bread with barbecued onion, tomato and green pepper as an afterthought.

You can arrange Adana kebap at Adana Sofrası Ciğer ve Kebap Salonu (Beşiktaş), Adana Yüzevler (Etiler), Kebapçı Enver Usta (Beyoğlu-Tünel), and Zübeyir Ocakbaşı (Beyoğlu). Adanalı Yusuf Usta is both the name of the spot and the yet fantastically effective café. It is a little off the track, out of the vacation destination territories, anyway for a genuine meat devotee a 30-minute drive to the Avcılar region is certainly justified, despite all the trouble.

Lüfer

In the event that you request any local what eat in the city, he will undoubtedly place fish in the main 5. The mix of rakı and fish by the Bosphorus resembles an end of the week custom. Rather than rakı the anise enhanced solid refreshment, you can pick your own beverage. Overall, there is the matter of which fish to arrange? The appropriate response may fluctuate as per taste; however, lüfer is a splendid decision in the event that you ask us.

Lüfer originates from the Pomatomidae family. It is a huge, delectable and simple to clean and eat fish. The more youthful lüfer is called sarıkanat, considerably progressively delicious on the off chance that it is accessible. On the off chance that you like fish, do try this out in Istanbul.

Manti

Frequently called Turkish ravioli, Mantı is a hot dish presented with cold yoghurt and garlic. You can consider Mantı some sort of dumplings comprising of the batter and its filling. In the traditional Anatolian style, the mixture is made of water, flour and salt. Some add eggs to expand the flavor. The more slender the mixture and the littler the wrapped pieces are, the more marvellous the cook is. The filling contains grounded hamburger or sheep, onion, salt and pepper.

Nowadays you can arrange Mantı with salmon, spinach, or even chicken. Regardless of whether Mantı is bubbled in water, prepared with margarine, or bubbled in tomato sauce, presented with yoghurt, garlic and tomato sauce cooked with spread is food to taste. Including a few flavors is normal.

Künefe

Künefe is conventional Arab cheddar baked food. The unsalted cheddar in the middle of the two layers of kadayıf is the quintessence. Kadayıf is flimsy strands of batter, a straightforward blend of water and flour. Served, warm in the light of the fact that it is naturally heated and absorbed the syrup.

This Turkish treat has golden shading and is dressed in the grounded pistachio on top. The cheddar liquefies inside, and when you take a nibble, you sense various surfaces, for example, the delicate cheddar and the dried up batter.

Baklava

Baklava is the best case of the Turkish treat enthusiasm. The fixings of phyllo mixture, nuts and syrup are straightforward, yet artistry is without a doubt required. The slimness of the batter layers is pivotal. The nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts or pistachios, shift from locale to district in Turkey.

 

The nuts are spread in the middle of the layers of phyllo batter. At that point, the heap of the mixture is dressed with spread, heated lastly absorbed the syrup. You have to pick a decent spot to eat your baklava since it certainly must be crisp and amazingly made. There are some practised spots to eat baklava, as Güllüoğlu or Köşkeroğlu.

Kuru Fasulye

What is so uncommon about haricot beans? Well, you are correct, it does not sound extremely happy. Nevertheless, here it comes. Such a basic fixing can have such a smooth surface whenever cooked expertly with other great quality fixings — margarine, tomatoes, and tomato sauce. It very well may be cooked with, without meat, or even with dried spiced slim cuts of hamburger called pastırma.

The entire arrangement of having kuru fasulye with pilav and pickles will make you feel like you are a piece of this culture and convention. The best places to have this experience are the cafés crosswise over Süleymaniye Mosque.

Let us have a look at what to drink while in Istanbul. In Istanbul, you have a wide assortment of local beverages to give it a shot — hot or cold, with or without liquor. Some of them will sound and look common yet accompany a Turkish wind, for example, tea or espresso. Others will be unfamiliar to you and are certainly justified regardless of an attempt to satisfy your taste buds. Among those are ayran, boza and different juices. In the alcoholic type, rakı is the undisputed national beverage, trailed by privately packaged brews and wines. Here is a review of what to drink in Istanbul.

Coffee and Tea

The broadest beverage in Istanbul is tea (çay), served in little, tulip-moulded glasses. Turks have it amid breakfast and keep drinking it for the duration of the day. They will offer it to you in shops and bazaars, and even in banks and workplaces. It would be unwise to say nothing about their renowned Turkish espresso (Türk kahvesi). Local people more often than not drink it in the morning and at dinner.

Black tea: Local people drink it nearly as dark as espresso, regularly with no backup. In any case, odds are this will be unreasonably ‘solid’ for you. Attempt to begin with the lighter adaptation (açık çay) and include pieces of sugar, as you like. Except if you are in a traveler inn or café, requesting milk will raise eyebrows.

Apple tea: This kind of tea is not served, yet simply sold to sightseers to reclaim home.

Turkish espresso: It is dim, solid and requested by how much sugar needs in it: little (az), medium (orta) and a great deal (çok şekerli). You savor it a couple of short sips. Remember to stop in time, since should not drink the grounds at the base of the container.

Ayran: This is fluid yoghurt made by walloping yogurt and including water and salt. It ought to be served cold and fresh, so do not keep it for some other time. It is sold naturally made in bistro’s and cafés or plastic containers in basic need shops and general stores.

Boza: Another local beverage to test is boza, produced using aged bulgur with water and sugar. It develops quality and virility.

Juices: Why purchase and expend packaged juices when each corner shop (büfe) will be glad to make you a crisp one on the spot. Prevalent juices are squeezed orange (portakal suyu), cherry juice (vişne suyu) and turnip juice (şalgam suyu). On the off chance that you happen to be in Istanbul in winter, look at the unusual yet delightful taste of salep, a hot beverage produced using crushed tapioca root extracts.

Even though Turkey is a Muslim nation, it’s kin, especially men like simply a jovial beverage or two. Rakı is surely the most mainstream of every single cocktail, while beer (bira) guarantees the second spot. A remarkable third is a wine developed and packaged in Turkey.

Rakı: This is a solid, clear, anise-enhanced soul, like Greek ouzo and French pastis. The vast majority drink it by including cold water and ice, which gives Rakı its pale white look. Subsequently, that is why individuals likewise call it lion’s milk. The most prevalent brands are Yeni, Efe and Tekirdağ. Local people typically devour rakı while getting a charge out of mezes and fish.

Beer: Efes Pilsen is the undisputed number one beer in Turkey. What’s more, as it should be. This peppy tame pilsener comes in bottles, can and on tap. When requesting, the server or barkeep will ask you what measure you like. The most well-known choices are little (33cl) or huge (50cl). On the off chance that you lean toward a wheat beer, give a shot at Gusta. It is blended by a similar organization that produces Efes. Imported beers decisions are for the most part restricted to Tuborg, Corona, Becks and Heineken.

Wine: Local wine decisions are ample gratitude to the prospering Turkish wine industry. What’s more, a bunch of wineries produces incredible wine, practically identical with those made in France. Our present top decisions for both red and white wines are Corvus, Kayra Vintage, and Sarafin.

So how to, have such an excursion from Istanbul. The best option is to be with Turkey Tours by Local guides. Having worked in the Turkish the travel industry for a long time, their chose gathering of Istanbul and Turkey visit guides are proficient, mindful and have the best information of Istanbul and Turkey’s history from old occasions to the present day. They are additionally aficionados in investigating and sharing Istanbul and Turkey’s rich culture, conventions and culinary claims to fame, and make incredible voyaging colleagues for individual or little gathering visits. All visit guides are 25 – 35 years of age and the Ministry of Tourism of the Turkish Republic formally authorizes all. Call them dialing +90 212 233 11 85 to talk with them.


Explore the Top Destinations in Turkey in Style with Turkey Tours By Local Guides

Turkey offers so much to see and do. To make your Turkey tour enjoyable and hassle-free we at Turkey Tours By Local Guides have enlisted the top ten holiday destinations in the country. Have a look.

Istanbul

If you wish to explore a city with historical magnificence and significance then, add Istanbul to the top of your list! From the dominating Byzantine period through the prospering Ottoman’s to the modern established Turkish Republic you can take delight in the varied history of the city when you chose to travel around the city with a friendly and knowledgeable tour guide in Istanbul. Its popularity has rated it as the ninth world’s top travel destination as per Mastercard’s Global Cities Destination Index. Its prominent landmarks including Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace attracts more than ten million visitors every year.

Cappadocia

Turkey’s otherworldly holiday destination, Cappadocia is truly magical. The fairy chimneys that came into existence due to volcanic eruptions and crafted by wind add a lot to the charm of Cappadocia. To enjoy the beauty of Cappadocia in the best way try out the hot-air-balloon tours. Other attractions here include Goreme National Park and Pasabag (Monks Valley).

Antalya

Antalya is a city centre situated on the Mediterranean coast hosts the two most famous beaches of Turkey. Also called the Pearl City of the Mediterranean, Antalya is the ninth largest city in Turkey that is renowned for professionalism, diversity, and experience. Its vast history, natural beauty and a rich variety of local lifestyle attract more than 11 million tourists from all over the world every year.

Alanya

A perfect blend of relaxation, history, and adventure, Alanya is a seaside town on the southern coast of Turkey. The jaw-dropping medieval castle, stunning beaches, and mountains make this place one of the most sought after destinations in Turkey.

Bodrum

Famous for its lively nightlife, underwater archaeology museum, and the mausoleum of Halicarnassus, Bodrum is another astonishing site in Turkey. The city features twin bays with views of the shoreline Bodrum Castle.

Yalikavak

Situated on the Western side of the Bodrum Peninsula, Yalikavak is a small, charming town that is surrounded by hills and beaches. Famous for the breathtaking sunsets and charming windmills this beautiful town offers an abundant local experience for the travellers.

Fethiye

The seaside city of Fethiye is collectively made up of several smaller resorts such as Calis beach, Ovacik, Hisaronu, Oludeniz, and the city centre. It is also renowned as a fascinating yacht watching spot in Turkey. Various sites that you can explore here include the ghost town of Kayaköy, Şövalye Adası, the Blue Lagoon, and the Butterfly Valley.

Kalkan and Kas

The two marvels of the Mediterranean coast, Kalkan and Kas are two best places in Turkey for tourism. The self-catering luxury villas of Kalkan and the traditional and picturesque outlook of Kas have gained much popularity among tourists from all over the globe.

We at Turkey Tours By Local Guides design custom-made private tours in Turkey for you that lets you enjoy the best of Turkey without getting stuck in stranger groups. Whether you are looking for a tour guide in Istanbul or Cappadocia or anywhere within Turkey, you can entirely rely upon us. For more details call us at +90-538-4397811 or email us at info@constantinopleguide.com


Interesting Facts About Istanbul that Help You Plan Your Day Trips Beautifully

Is Istanbul your next destination on your travel bucket list? Famous as Constantinople and Byzantium in the history, the modern era Istanbul is the economic, cultural and historic center of Turkey. Also, it is the most populous city in Turkey. This mesmerizing city, located between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara is home to some of the most beautiful and stunning beaches in Turkey. Besides, the beaches and natural magnificence Istanbul is known for its history and exciting activities.

Let us have a look on few interesting facts about this magnificent city that makes it even more attractive!

  • Istanbul is known as city of Mosques as you can find a mosque in every corner of the city. And there are about 3,113 total mosques in Istanbul which is the maximum in Turkey.
  • Istanbul is the only city in the whole world that is divided among two continents i.e. Asia and Europe. The Bosphorus Strait that divides the two continents passes through Istanbul and it is the link between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara.
  • Although, Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey with more than 13.5 million people residing there, but it is not the capital of Turkey. The capital of Turkey is Ankara.
  • The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul which is currently the second most visited historical museum of the city was originally built as an Orthodox Cathedral in 537 CE and was converted into a mosque under the Ottoman rule after 1453. Isn’t it interesting! Also, it was the largest church in the world for 900 years until the Seville Cathedral of Spain was completed in 1520.
  • The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the largest and the oldest sheltered markets in the world. With over 5000 different shops and 60 streets, this huge market attracts over 300,000 visitors daily. And in 2014 the Grand Bazaar was considered as the most visited tourist attraction in the world 91,250,000 visitors annually. Great news for shopaholics. Isn’t it?
  • People think tulips were originated in Netherlands, but that is not true! The first ever tulip bulbs were sent in 1554 to Vienna from Ottoman Empire in Istanbul and further distributed in Netherlands.
  • We all know that Istanbul is surrounded by sea! But did you know that Istanbul becomes snowy with an annual average of 17 inches snow layer.
  • Istanbul has the third oldest subway system in the world which was built in 1875. This, 574 meters long subway is located in Beyoglu district.
  • The Princes’ Island that is located just off the coast of Istanbul that runs on horses and carts only and you will find no traffic there as all motorized vehicles are banned on the islands.

Aren’t these facts fascinating enough to attract people to this beautiful city! Want to explore and enjoy this city to the fullest? Then try out some of our best day trips from Istanbul at Turkey Tours by Local Guides. We design day trips from Istanbul in such a way that it suits your interest and needs and lets you explore the wonders of Istanbul in the most enjoyable way. Highlights of our day trips include exploration of Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque, visit to Topakapi Palace, Hippodrome and shopping at Grand Bazaar.

To know more about our day trips from Istanbul contact us today +90-538-4397811 or mail us at info@constantinopleguide.com


Copyright www.constantinopleguide.com 2019. All rights reserved.