Learn about the most beautiful landmarks of Istanbul and its tourist destinations

Learn about the most beautiful landmarks of Istanbul and its tourist destinations

The first city that comes to mind when it comes to tourism in Turkey is Istanbul which hosts millions of local and foreign tourists especially during the summer months.

Istanbul attracts tourists from all sides, especially Arab tourists, with its picturesque nature and ancient historical sites, and provides everyone with various options for spending summer and winter holidays.

In this article, which Deniz Turkey refuted to facilitate the Arabs and foreigners coming to and residing in Turkey, you will learn about the most prominent tourist destinations in Istanbul, which will make it easier for you to search for the best places to visit.

Taksim Square

Taksim Square is one of the most important squares in Istanbul Taksim Square is located on the European side of Istanbul, near Istiklal Street, and houses many tourism and trade companies and some of the city’s most luxurious hotels.

The importance of Taksim Square today lies as it is a meeting place for the largest trade and tourism companies. There are also many important restaurants, cafes and malls such as Acacia AVM, and this square is an important transportation point that provides transportation to all parts of Istanbul.

Among the activities that you can do in Taksim Square are taking pictures of memories, buying bread cakes and fresh Turkish tea, buying wheat grains and throwing them to birds and pigeons in the square, and of course walking or shopping in the famous Istiklal Street.

Hippodrome “horse racing”

The Hippodrome is located in the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul. It served as an entertainment center with horse and chariot races and wrestling games.

Aynali Kwak Palace

Inale Kwak Palace is located in Has Village, Beyoğlu District, in the European part of Istanbul. It was built during the reign of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror.

The palace consists of a one-story building overlooking the land on one side and the sea on the other. The attractive palace displays traditional Ottoman architecture to visitors, reflects its beauty and includes the fine taste of that period in terms of decoration.

Many cultural models, especially stained-glass windows, are welded together.

The basement, which was opened to the public in November 2010 after restoration work was completed, has been converted into a museum where the figure of musician and artist Sultan Selim III is displayed and musical instruments that reflect the history of Turkey are displayed.

Chocolate Museum in Istanbul

The Chocolate Museum, located in European Istanbul, is one of the distinctive museums of this type, and is characterized by the fact that everything in it is made and completely carved from chocolate.

The museum is located inside the Tabak chocolate factory in the Esenyurt district of Istanbul.

The museum has an area of ​​about 24 thousand square meters and consists of 4 galleries.

The first hall displays houses and trees made of chocolate, animal figures and landscapes in different colors, and visitors can taste hot chocolate flowing from the chocolate waterfall.

In the second hall, the landmarks of Istanbul were distributed, such as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the suspension bridge in the form of miniature chocolate figures.

The third hall displays famous Turkish, Ottoman and international structures and figures such as Mustafa Kemal and Fatih Sultan Muhammad.

The fourth hall contains figures and dolls of famous cartoon characters made of chocolate and plastic, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pirates of the Caribbean, Smurfs, and other popular characters and TV characters for children.

Basilica Cistern:

Basilica Cistern is located about 150 meters from the Hagia Sophia Museum and the Blue Mosque. It dates back to the era of the Byzantine Emperor “Justinian I” who completed its construction in the sixth century AD as one of the underground water reservoirs in Istanbul to provide rainwater and benefit from it during drought years.

Known by many names such as the Sunken Palace, Yerpatan Palace and the Cathedral Basin, the cistern consists of 336 columns lined with lights on the sides to maintain the romantic and calm atmosphere.

You can take pictures of the giant pillars reflected on the surface of the extremely smooth tiles in a way that pleases the mind and the eye.

Church of “Saint Antonio”

The church is located on Istiklal Street in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul. The building was built in 1906 AD.

The church is run by Italian priests. It is considered one of the largest and first Catholic churches in Istanbul because it was built and designed in the form of a cross, and the inner walls of the church are covered with mosaic stones to a certain height, while the outside is covered with bricks.

The entrance to the church is located between two buildings that were built to support the church’s income. This door opens onto the churchyard and this facade overlooking Istiklal Street is approximately 38 meters wide.

The church is considered one of the most important Catholic churches in Istanbul and is considered an example of coexistence in Turkey.

Istiklal Street

Istiklal Street is located in Taksim, in the heart of Istanbul and Istiklal Street is the most famous and busiest street in Istanbul.

Istiklal Street in Istanbul receives about 3 million people per day, its length is about 3 kilometers, and there are many old buildings, clothing stores, galleries, bookshops, many cinemas, famous and well-known restaurants, cafes and the old tram.

On the street there are many embassies and consulates such as the American, French, Greek and British consulates, which have been built since the Ottoman era, and at the.

Constantinople panorama

Panorama Istanbul (Turkish: Panorama 1453 History Museum) is one of the most famous museums in Istanbul, where the museum displays huge panoramic murals such as the latest sound and lighting technologies in addition to the details of the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople (Byzantine Istanbul). Larger

The most famous war in Turkey’s history in 1453.

Istanbul Panorama Museum was opened to visitors at the end of January 2009 for the first time after 3 years of construction in Zeytinburnu in the historical Fatih district and managed to attract the attention of millions of visitors in a short time in Istanbul.

Vialand Games City

Vialand Games City is one of the most important entertainment cities in Istanbul, and it is one of the most important areas that tourists visit, and it is classified as the largest private place for both shopping and entertainment.

It is the place where you can spend the most beautiful moments with the family in the city where there are games, where there are games suitable for young and old together. In addition, Disneyland Istanbul has a special area for children of primary and secondary school age and for education and training activities, and you can enjoy shopping in the commercial complex that includes many restaurants in addition to the most famous international brands, restaurants, cafes and cinemas.

In addition to the mini-city, children are given toys with different shapes and characters, where they can have fun walking around the train and seeing the attractive designs around them fun for its passengers, the famous King Kong game, which is a favorite among thrill enthusiasts.

Bride’s Hill

In the Skudar district, which is the highest point in Istanbul, there is the famous Puppet Hill where you can see the whole city of Istanbul with its wonderful view, take great souvenir photos and see all the waterways from the top. This hill is similar to the Bosphorus bridge in the Black Sea.

Many Turkish restaurants in the area, which serve delicacies such as meatballs, grilled meats, kebabs, etc. accompanied by a wonderful view of the Bosphorus, make your meal unforgettable.

Istanbul Aquarium

Istanbul Aquarium is a giant marine aquarium, which is one of the most important tourist destinations in Istanbul and also the largest aquatic zoo in the Middle East and Europe.

Istanbul Aquarium is located in the Aqua Florya Shopping Center on the coast of Florya and contains 22 thousand square meters private aquariums with 7 thousand cubic liters of water and huge others are small, harmonious, easy and flexible; This makes it easier for visitors to enjoy in the lanes of the aquarium different scenes of different marine life from different regions, where there are more than 1,500 different species and more than 15,000 fifteen thousand seas.

Creatures, reptiles, amphibians and birds in ponds. Each of them is accompanied by descriptive information about the thing it contains, making it an ideal destination for sailors and ocean lovers, Istanbul Aquarium is the number one home of polar penguins in Turkey.

The sand tiger shark and red piranha have typical areas of the seas around Turkey as biological representations: the Black Sea, the Mediterranean and the Marmara Sea, as well as the regions. Unique to the Red Sea, the Amazon, Antarctica, the Gulf of Panama and the Pacific Ocean, it allows you to navigate the world’s seas in a single day as a visitor.

The aquarium also has a five-dimensional movie theater with natural effects such as wind, nature sounds, fog and rain, three large cafeterias and a fine restaurant, as well as a cinema, where you can buy souvenirs from the Istanbul Aquarium Store after your trip.

The sea ferry in Istanbul

Sea ferries in Turkey are among the most convenient and time-saving means of transportation, and their importance lies in the fact that they connect different cities in Turkey.

On the other hand, Istanbul is an important component of the city as it connects the European and Asian sides of the city as well as many Turkish cities such as “Bursa”, “Izmir” and “Yalova” and saves time on the big days.

Traffic congestion in the city, especially during the summer tourism season, the city is filled with a lot of tourists and the bridges are full of cars, which makes it difficult to get around by car and bus by road.

There are also some tourist ferries that go to the islands and the Bosphorus tour.

Sapanca Lake

Sapanca Lake has fresh water that flows into all the waterfalls and streams from the top of Mount Kartepe. It is located between the Gulf of “Izmit” and the plains of “Adapazars” and covers an area of ​​45 square kilometers, and it is one of the largest natural lakes near Istanbul.

The lake is located 135 km from Istanbul, and its depth is about 52 meters. The lake is characterized by its natural location and pure air, and the lake is surrounded by several mountains, the most important of which is the mountain in the south. Kartepe is surrounded by a range of hills on its northern side.

You can enjoy a great view of the lake from one of the distinctive cafes and restaurants here, and there are many places for children’s entertainment around the lake.

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The village of Al-Masouqiah is located north of the famous Sapanca Lake near Istanbul, and was named by this name in relation to the Arabic word “Mashouq”, which means loved and loved by others.

The village is about twenty kilometers from the center of Sapanca and 135 kilometers from Istanbul.

This village is characterized by its beautiful gardens and charming waterfalls, as well as many restaurants that serve delicious fresh fish, as trout is the most famous type of fish in this village.

Perennial tree / Bursa

The giant tree is a very large tree and is one of the oldest perennial trees in the world, its height is 30 meters, its trunk covers a large area, its width varies from two to three meters. It has branches in each width the size of a tree.

So it has become a famous symbol of Bursa, a frequent destination for many families and visitors. Nearby is a book-shaped model in which the history and length of the tree is written in detail.

There are iron pillars that carry some large branches of their own weight for fear of breaking and falling to the ground.

Its shade covers an area of ​​about 1,000 square metres. Lots of visitors and families go to enjoy

Enjoy sitting under its wide shade and since it offers a great view of the city and under the tree there is a nice café and restaurant serving many famous Turkish dishes and grills.

There is also seating and tables for the convenience of visitors, with a variety of different appetizers and salads.

Silk Market / Bursa

Silk market “Koza Han” in Bursa. The history of this market dates back to the reign of Sultan II Bayezid. 1490-1491 AD.

It was the meeting center of silk merchants from the past and is still one of the most important stations in the silk trade. There is a large courtyard in the center, a small hotel, and a mosque next to it.

Uludag Mountain

Uludag Mountain is one of the most famous symbols of Bursa, and it is about 22 kilometers from Bursa city center.

With a height of 2,543 meters, with snow up to 4 meters in winter, Uludağ, where tourists from all over the world come to ski, is a popular center for winter sports and a center for summer excursions such as camping. World Olympic ski competitions and excursions are held and Uludag is the highest mountain.

In the Marmara region there are many lounges, restaurants and cafes on the road to Uldag Mountain which has a beautiful national park and can be reached by cable car or car, as well as many cafes on the hill to enjoy the warmth.

Drinks and fast food with a wide panoramic view of Bursa and the surrounding mountains.

Bursa Zoo

The zoo is located 10 minutes from the city center of Bursa. The zoo is considered one of the most beautiful zoos in Turkey with its unique design that reminds us of real forests so that the animals adapt to the environment more easily.

Species of wild animals, amphibians and some rare animals in the park. In addition to most species of rodents and snakes, there are many tropical species and birds of prey such as koalas, lions, tigers, giraffes, bears and monkeys.

Mount Kartepe

Kartepe is located 120 km from Istanbul and covered with a white dress on its roof with a unique view as the snow rises, with the advent of winter.

Where the thickness of the snow is about 3 meters and there is a ski resort, and there are shops dedicated to renting ski clothes on the way to climb the top of the mountain at an affordable price, it is also possible to reach Mount Kartepe by the wonderful cable car, which gives the opportunity to see the view of the mountain and the surrounding area from the top.

On the top of the mountain there are many Turkish restaurants that are distinguished by their delicious food, plus you can have tea and enjoy some warmth while wandering in the snow, and Mount Kartepe is a nice family destination to escape from the hustle and bustle. The hustle of the cities, enjoying the beautiful scenery, and playing with the children in the snow.

Agva village

The village of Agva is located in the north of Istanbul, about 97 kilometers from the center, between the Kok Su and Green Gay rivers.

Thanks to its picturesque nature and its waterfalls, it attracts thousands of tourists, providing tourists with the opportunity to practice many recreational activities, including riding small boats.

On the banks of the two rivers, away from the noise of the city and the waterfalls, walking on the flat ground in the middle of the forests, and the places for picnics and tourism offered by the village of Agva, where the Galin plateau is located.

The hidden lake and Koyo beach is a unique experience for those who love fishing, kayaking, boating and many other water activities, as well as for those who love adventure and climbing.

Girl’s Tower

Between myth and reality, the Maiden Tower on the Asian side of Istanbul shines.

The many strange stories associated with it kept him a secret in the water show, a special place that has attracted thousands of tourists, and Turkish weddings.

One of the most famous stories about its construction is that there is a sultan who loved his daughter very much, and he had a dream that there was a snake that would poison his daughter and lead her to death. As soon as he woke up, he took his daughter away from the earth to protect her. He buried part of the strait and built a tower in the middle of the strait to protect it from snakes.

But the Sultan’s daughter received a gift in which a snake was hiding, a basket of fruits that leaked from the inside and bit the girl and killed her.

In what has now been turned into a tourist attraction that can be accessed by visitors by boat, in just a 10-minute journey.

Sheila Village

It is classified as one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in Istanbul, with its beautiful nature, pleasant temperate climate, charming and pure beaches, and a number of ancient archaeological sites, popular markets and gardens that provide a panoramic view.

It is the secret lake that took this name for its hiding among the mountains, as well as the charming nature of its visitors. You can ride in small boats in Lake Shilla and see different kinds of animals in the village which is a nature reserve.

Galata Tower

Galata Tower is located in Beyoglu district in the European side of Istanbul. The tower consists of nine floors, and is considered one of the oldest and most beautiful towers in the historical city.
There are staff who will guide tourists through tower tours, issue tickets and organize them to go out in the elevator, which can accommodate about six people, and there are many small tourist shops on the first floor that sell gifts for tourists.

The management of the tower does not require a certain amount of time for the tourist to visit the tower, and while the entrance fee for foreign tourists is $7, the Turkish visitor pays only $4.

Galata Tower is a compass for tourists and visitors from all over the world.

Bosphorus Strait

The Bosphorus is about 30 km long and 3 km wide. It is the waterway that connects

Between the Black Sea and the Sea of ​​Marmara, it divides Istanbul into Asia and Europe.
The areas on the Asian and European sides of the Bosphorus are called “Bosphorus” and these places play an important role in defining Turkey and Istanbul as one of the most important symbols of foreign tourism to the capital, Istanbul. It is the largest city of the Ottomans and is today Turkey after the Romans.

The Bosphorus sees the movement of transcontinental transport, sea buses, ferries, inland transport vessels, and boats that transport goods, cars and passengers.

Due to the beauty, splendor and vast nature of the scenery, many trips to the Bosphorus are a beautiful experience for anyone who visits Istanbul and wants to spend some fun with their friends or loved ones.

Pilar Bey Palace

Located in the Pilar Bey district of Istanbul Asia, on the shore of the Bosphorus, in the sküdar region, Pilar Bey Palace was built as an imperial summer residence for the Ottoman administration and was built to entertain the visiting heads of state of the Ottoman Empire.

It consists of 24 rooms, 6 halls, and a Turkish bath to host heads of state and other dignitaries, and is now considered one of the most important tourist centers in Turkey.

Stroll through the palace square and garden, which features stunning limestone pillars and rock carvings.

The palace gardens are filled with many trees and have stunning views of the Bosphorus, shaded terraces, fountains and wonderful water pools.

Entry prices: 40 Turkish liras per person, equivalent to 8 US dollars.

Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace, which means “Palace of the Topkapi” in Arabic, is located in Sultanahmet, near Hagia Sophia and Gulhana Park, overlooking the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. The palace was used for official days as well as for the sultans and their wives.

The palace contains many sacred Islamic chests that were passed down from the Prophet “may God bless him and grant him peace” to the Umayyads, and from the Umayyads to the Abbasids and from there to the Ottomans.

Princesses Islands

The Princess Islands, the Red Islands or “islands” as the locals call them, are a group of nine small islands located in the Sea of ​​Marmara, about 20 km southeast of Istanbul city center.

These islands are characterized by historical and tourist importance, as well as the major historical periods that followed, making them an important destination for tourists from different parts of the country.

The beaches attract many visitors, the island features beautiful summer houses that people can rent and also has a water sports club.

Yildiz Palace

Yildiz Palace is located exclusively in Yildiz Park and is named after the first building that was erected in this park and the word “Yıldız” means “star”, meaning Yildiz Palace is the Star Palace.

The history of the construction of this palace dates back to the end of the nineteenth century, that is, the period of 1875 AD. According to historical records, it was built in 1790 AD during the time of Sultan Selim III. His mother, Sultana Mehri Shiha.

The palace includes government suites, an integrated complex, and a mosque with a wonderful view of the Bosphorus.

Ciragan Palace

Çırğan Palace is located in “Beşiknas” district on the western side of Istanbul and is also known as Beşiktaş Palace.

It is a splendid and luxurious palace built by Sultan Abdul Aziz where celebrations and weddings are held here today, and both foreigners and Turks visit for this purpose. It brings back history with its unique architecture

Boghaz Corniche

Poas Corniche is located on the beach that separates the Asian and European continents, enjoy the views, sessions, cafes and rent a boat for a cruise.

Kuchuksu Palace

Kucuk-su Palace, literally in Arabic, is a small palace located on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus, in the Kucuk-su district of the Baykoz region.

The place serves as a cafeteria for visitors and a fountain in order to meet the park-like space for leisure and entertainment.

Ihlamour Palace

Ihlamur Palace are palaces located between Ihlamur Valley, Beşiktaş, Yıldız and Nişantaşı known as the Promenade District.

These unique palaces were built in Ahlamur Park during the reign of Sultan Abdul Majid 1839-1861. Constructed as two buildings on 24,724 square meters of woodland, some surrounded by high walls, others with cast metal bars, the area is decorated with beautiful linden trees.

Dolmabahce Palace

Dolmabahce Palace or Sultans Palace is located in Besiktas district on the European side of the Bosphorus. With an area of ​​45,000 square meters, it is currently one of the luxury historical museums designed and built in Istanbul and contains many gardens, 285 rooms and 46 halls.

There is also Ataturk’s room in the palace where Mustafa Kemal Ataturk spent his last days.

You should also have a picnic as a family in the surrounding gardens, which are one of the most important gardens of Istanbul, and see the statues and fountains that they contain.

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