Kapalı Çarşı (The Grand Bazaar)

The Grand Bazaar is 30,700 square meters with over 60 streets and alleys and 4,000 shops. It was completed in the 15th century after Sultan Mehmet II conquered Istanbul. The bazaar’s two main entrances are Beyazıt and Nuruosmaniye. Shops sell a wide range of products, including jewelry, carpets, leather, ceramics, copper & brass, hand-woven textiles, and much much more! There are several nice cafés and restaurants where you can take a break from shopping.

Address: Beyazıt Meydanı, Beyazıt

Phone: (0212) 522 31 73; (0212) 519 12 48

Open: Monday – Saturday, 8:30am – 7:00pm; Sunday, closed

*The bazaar is closed on 29 October (Republic Day) and the first days of Ramadan (Ramazan Bayramı) and Sacrifice Feast (Kurban Bayramı) holidays.

Dolmabahçe Sarayı (Dolmabahçe Palace)

This magnificent palace served as the Ottoman’s administrative center and Sultan’s residence from 1856 to 1922. It was built when Abdülmecid I decided that Topkapı Palace was a little passé and what he needed was a more European, state of the art residence. There are Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical influences strongly evident in the design of the palace.

Address: Dolmabahçe Caddesi, Beşiktaş

Phone: (0212) 236 90 00

Open: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 9:00am – 4:00pm; Monday and Thursday, closed

Topkapı Sarayı (Topkapı Palace)

The first and most famous of the Ottoman Sultans’ residences and administrative centers, Topkapı was built in 1478 and was in use for approximately 400 years of the 624 years of Ottoman rule. The palace is now open for public viewing and contains Islamic relics, such as the cloak of the Prophet and, as such, is something of a place of pilgrimage, although most visitors are just as interested in the magnificent architecture and the Haremlik (Women’s Quarters), which are definitely worth the extra admission fee. Set aside at least half a day for a full tour.

Address: Sultanahmet

Phone: (0212) 512 04 80

Open: Wednesday – Monday, 9:00am – 5:00pm; Tuesday, closed

Yerebatan Sarnıcı (Basilica Cistern)

The largest and most famous of the many underground cisterns in Istanbul, the Basilica Cistern was built in the 6th century under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian the Great. The cistern is the size of a cathedral, holding 80,000 cubic meters of water and is reached by descending 52 stairs. The most remarkable features are the two giant Medusa heads, which serve as column bases. One of the heads is upside down and the other rotated on its side; some believe that this type of positioning of the Medusa heads was meant to negate the power of the Medusa’s deadly stare.

Address: Yerebatan Caddesi No.13, Sultanahmet

Phone: (0212) 522 12 59

Open: Monday – Sunday, 9:00am – 6:00pm

Mısır Çarşısı (Egyptian or Spice Bazaar)

Built in 1660, the Egyptian Bazaar is the second largest bazaar in Istanbul after the Grand Bazaar and is almost as overwhelming, with an extraordinary array of spices, sweets, dried fruits and nuts, teas and coffees and, bizarrely, aphrodisiac mixtures. The bazaar was called the Egyptian Bazaar because most of the imported spices came from Egypt during the Ottoman period.

Address: Eminönü Meydanı, Eminönü

Open: Monday – Saturday, 8:30am – 6:30pm; Sunday, closed

Galata Kulesi (Galata Tower)

Built in 1348 on the peak of the city walls around the Genoese colony, the Galata Tower is one of Istanbul’s most striking landmarks. The top section of the tower has been demolished on numerous occasions during fires, earthquakes, and storms. The existing top section was built in 1967. In the past, the tower was used as a warehouse for a shipyard, a prison, and a fire tower. Today, the 12-story structure is a tourist site that affords a wonderful panoramic view of the city, both across the Golden Horn and up the Bosphorus. On a clear day you can see as far as the Princes’ Islands, and the tower also has a café and restaurant where you can enjoy the view over a meal or Turkish coffee. The tower is located in the central, artsy area of Galata, which is worth a trip in itself, and easily reached from Taksim and the base of the Galata Bridge.

Address: Galata Kulesi Sokak, Şişhane

Phone: (0212) 293 81 80

Open: Monday – Sunday, 9:00am – 8:00pm

Haydarpaşa Tren Garı (Haydarpaşa Railway Station)

Located on the Asian side of the city, the Haydarpaşa Railway Station is a major hub of transport in Istanbul, and is indeed the largest and busiest rail terminal in the Middle East. The main building was constructed in 1906 and it is an imposing edifice, and a familiar sight on the Asian waterfront of the Bosphorus. Having survived a fire in 1917, the station has been extensively restored and has regained its Orient-Express-era charm with its stained glass, wood paneling, and gigantic chandeliers.

Address: Rasimpaşa Mahallesi, Kadıköy

Phone: (0216) 336 20 63;(0216) 336 04 75