Turkey

Top 5 places to visit in Istanbul

On December 16, 2018
By Shruti
Comments Off on Top 5 places to visit in Istanbul

This Istanbul travel guide, dedicated to the top 5 places to visit in Istanbul, also highlights what makes these places architectural marvels in themselves. Their structures, architecture and art symbolize the transitions of Turkey from the Middles Ages, Byzantine to the Ottoman era. Most of these monuments epitomize the essence of Istanbul: that of a bridge between Europe and Asia in terms of history, culture, art and architecture.

Contents:

Hagia Sophia
Blue Mosque
Basilica Cistern
Topkapi Palace
Dolmabahce Palace
Chora Church

This Istanbul Travel guide also talks about the best way to reach, what to see, when to visit, timings and opening hours etc.

The first four are located next to each other in the Sultanahmet district, directly accessible by tram. Dolmabahce Palace is also just a short walk from the tram. I recommend taking a cab for Chora Church.

Hagia Sophia or AyaSophia (visit time 1.5hrs)
Its one of the best places to visit in Istanbul due to its rich and multireligious history.
It’s now a museum which was built as a Greek Orthodox church in 537AD or basilica and was later converted into an imperial mosque. Hagia Sophia was particularly famous for the architectural feat of building a massive dome in the middle ages. Being the world’s largest building of its time, it is considered an epitome of Byzantine architecture. If you want to take your time exploring the place and actually looking at the mosaics and frescoes, plan for about 1.5hrs here.
1. Access or Reaching here:
  Directly connected by a tram and easily accessible by a cab too. We were staying in the White House Hotel in Sultanahmet district itself so we just walked for 5minutes to reach here.
2. Frescos, Mosaics and Calligraphy to be seen:
  1. Calligraphic inscriptions from Quran on the main dome. In August, sections of the museum were undergoing restoration (as visible from the photos)
  2. Mosaics of the patriarchs
  3. Image of the Christ in the central dome
  4. 10^th century mosaic panel of Constantinople built towards the exit
  5. Marble jar carved from a single block of marble, from the Hellinistic period
3. Entrance Fee and Fast track options:
  Standalone entrance fee for Hagia Sophia is 30TL but if you buy a museum pass, you pay lesser per monument and also get the fast track access which is highly advisable when traveling with kids.
4. Timings: Opens at 9am in the morning and closes at 5pm (winters) and 7pm (summers). It is best to go there early so you can see the frescos and mosaics in peace.
  It is closed on Mondays so make sure you plan accordingly.
5. Guides/ Audio Guides:
  All the key monuments in Turkey have audio guides in multiple languages available. They usually ask you to deposit your passport or a country ID document. In most of the places we were not carrying our passport and so we gave 100TL or 200TL as a refundable deposit.
  
  Central dome inscriptions
  
  Marble Jar from Hellinistic Period
  
  Central dome fresco and calligraphy panels
  
  What remains of the Mosaics of Patriarchs
  
  fresco panel on the exit
Blue Mosque (1hr)
This mosque forms the backdrop of most Turkish postcards and travel paraphernalia. Light in the mosque is a mix of natural light coming in through the 200 odd stained glass windows along with multiple chandeliers. This along with the art and Iznik adorned interiors make it one of the best places to visit in Istanbul.
1. Access or Reaching here:
  Directly connected by a tram and easily accessible by a cab too.
2. Art and Calligraphy to be seen:
  1. Iznik Tiled walls and interiors:
    At every pier, the interior of the mosque is lined with more than 20,000 handmade İznik tiles in over fifty different tulip designs. To know more about the local craft of Turkey, check out this post on 5 souvenirs to buy from Turkey.
  2. Finely carved and sculptured marble Mihrab: This is the most important element in the interior of the mosque with a double inscriptive panel above it. Adjacent to it you will find Iznik tiled walls.
  3. Richly decorated pulpit is the third thing you need to see. This is where the Imam stands while delivering his sermon
3. Entrance Fee and Fast track options:
  The entry to the mosque is free as it is a working mosque. There is no work around for the long queues as the Blue Mosque is not part of the museum pass or any other such entity. Plan for atleast 20minutes of the 1 hr to go in the serpentine queues.
4. Timings:
  Make sure you do not visit the mosque during the prayer time.
5. Guides/ Audio Guides:
  There are no guides or audio guides in the mosque as it is an operational mosque.
  
  Extensive use of Iznik tiles
Basilica Cistern (1hr):
This is the largest of the many cisterns – water storage areas, that lie underground the city of Istanbul. Known as the basilica cistern as it served as the main source of water for the Basilica or the Hagia Sophia in the middle ages.
1. Access or Reaching here:
  Directly connected by a tram and easily accessible by a cab too. We were staying in the White House Hotel in Sultanahmet district itself so we just walked for 5minutes to reach here.
2. Sculptures to see:
  1. The Weeping pillar
  2. Medusa Head
3. Entrance Fee and Fast track options:
  Standalone entrance fee is 20TL and it is not covered in the museum pass either. There are long queues but even then, will take around 15minutes to go in. After the morning spent walking in Hagia Sophia, the kids and adults alike are bound to be craving for some snack. The best idea when you’re waiting in the queue here, is to get some of the street snacks (corn, chestnuts, Simich etc.) for those hunger pangs. Take a look at this post to know more about the street food in Turkey and specifically Istanbul.
4. Timings: Opens at 9am in the morning and closes at 5pm (winters) and 7pm (summers). You can go at any time of the day and since it is an underground monument, advisable to do during afternoon to beat the heat. It is open on all days of the week unless closed in cases of specific government holidays.
5. Guides/ Audio Guides:
  Audio guides are available but you may choose whether you would want to take it. Since there are limited sculptures to see, you will know where they are based on the crowd. Additionally, the tourism authority in Turkey has put up information boards with all the details and history about each monument and at the important sculptures within the monument.
  
  Basilica Cistern
  
  Medusa Heads
  
  Medusa Heads
Topkapi Palace (1.5hrs):
One of Istanbul’s most popular attractions with the tourists, it is a stunning example of ottoman 15^th century palace. Being the older palace, while it is not comparable to Dolmabahce Palace in terms of grandeur, it has its own old world charm.
1. Access or Reaching here:
  Directly connected by a tram and easily accessible by a cab too. We were staying in the White House Hotel in Sultanahmet district itself so we just walked for 5minutes to reach here.
2. Sections of the palace to see:
  1. The public court:
  2. Some beautiful work to be seen. Its almost outside and to one side of the main sections of the palace. Just 2 small rooms so can be seen fairly quickly. There is a common thread between all these historical buildings – use of gold and golden color in frescos, inscriptions and artefacts
  3. Harem: The private residences
    You may read at a few blogs that you can skip the harem here and see those in Dolmabahce palace. Let me clarify to you that both these are not comparable. Their artistic and architectural focus is completely different thus if you don’t mind spending extra 15TL, absolutely go for the harem at both the places
  4. Palace terrace to enjoy views of the Bosphorous and amazing sea breeze
  5. The jewel room
    When we visited it was under renovation but I have heard it is beautiful.
3. Entrance Fee and Fast track options:
  Standalone entrance fee for Topkapi palace is 30TL and access to Harem is an additional 15TL. It is a part of museum pass. It can take upto an hour to enter this palace, as the queues are longest here. A museum pass for fast track entry here to save that 1 hour and the energy is total worth the museum pass cost.
  The children below 5yrs go free
4. Timings: Opens at 9am in the morning as closes at 5pm (winters) and 7pm (summers). It is best to go there towards the evening so you can enjoy the views and the sea breeze along the palace terrace. It has a weekly close on Tuesday so you may want to plan accordingly.
5. Guides/ Audio Guides:
  I totally recommend getting an audio guide as that would bring the place alive to you and you will be able to better appreciate it.
  
  Topkapi Palace
  
  View of the Bosphorous from terrace
Chora Church (1hr):
The third museum absolutely worth visiting which is covered in the museum pass. If there is one place which is extremely high value for money in terms of the density of 14^th century still intact byzantine gold mosaics in one single building, it is this. This is what also makes it one of the best places to visit in Istanbul. While there were some 3 big halls closed for renovation, we still got to see the mammoth share (80 out of 83) of these fascinating mosaics.
1. Access or Reaching here:
  Take a cab from Egyptian spice market or Eminonu directly to Chora Church. If you are unable to get the yellow cab, just call for BTaxi. See this post on internal travel options when in Turkey.
2. Mosaic to see:
  Well there are only 2 halls with walls and ceiling full of mosaics so just go ahead and see all of them. The one that you will see on a lot of pictures of Chora Church is the Jesus Christ mosaic in the center of the dome mosaic.
3. Entrance Fee and Fast track options:
  Standalone entrance fee is 30TL and it is included in the Istanbul Museum pass.
4. Timings:
  Opens at 9am in the morning as closes at 4pm (both summer and winter). This is one place where you need to reach on time as it closes very early. The best part – no queues and probably fewer people visit Chora Church.
  The weekly off is on Wednesday.
5. Guides/ Audio Guides:
  If you’re visiting with kids in the age group of 7-12yrs taking an audio guide might be more than just knowing more about the place. It also helps in keeping the kids engaged as they like to listen and then tell the rest of the family all about it. It kept our elder one fully engaged all throughout and we could keep our sanity during the entire trip.
  
  Density of mosaics in Chora Church
  
  Famous fresco with Jesus Christ in the central dome
  
  Frescos depicting stories
Dolmabahce Palace (1.5 – 2hrs)
Dolmabahçe Palace on the European shore of the Bosphorus in Istanbul is an epitome of magnificence and grandeur of the Ottoman Empire’s last years of rule. One of the grandest Ottoman imperial palaces, it took 13 years to build and was completed in 1856. Grand is still an understatement for this palace which has 285 rooms, 43 salons, Bohemian glass chandeliers weighing in tons and a Bosphorus shore façade, view from which is a sight to behold.
As with every traditional Ottoman palace like Topkapi, Dolmabahçe also consists of two distinct parts: the Selamlık, or “public” area, and the Harem, or family quarters.
The Selamlık was where the ruler or the Sultan as widely known socialized with top government officers, diplomats and other important visitors. Its grand chambers are impressive in its designs and the artefacts they boast of. The great Ceremonial Chamber (“Throne Room”) with its Corinthian columns and 4-1/2-ton Bohemian crystal chandelier lit by 660 electric lights is a sight to see.
The Harem was the imperial family’s private quarters, where the sultan, his wives and children, and their servants lived.
1. Access or Reaching here:
  You can reach here by tram, get down on the Kabatas station and then a walk of around 7-8 minutes will bring you to this Palace
2. Palace sections to see:
  Everything is the answer here. The palace is really huge and you start with the main palace or the Selamlik which is much more grander than the harem. The harems are much simpler from the outside and less embellished from the inside too.
  If you have time on hand and weather permitting, I recommend spending some time in the lawns outside with the main fascade overlooking the bosphorous
  Do notice the artefacts from all parts of the world and the stunning chandeliers made with real rubies and crystals.
  Since photography inside the palace is strictly prohibited, we captured very few snaps mostly of the exterior.
3. Entrance Fee and Fast track options:
  This is not covered in the museum pass unlike Topkapi palace. The entrance fee is 30TL with entrance to Harem extra.
4. Timings: Opens at 9am in the morning and closes at 5pm (winters) and 7pm (summers). You can go at any time of the day and since it is an underground monument, advisable to do during afternoon to beat the heat. It is open on all days of the week unless closed in cases of specific government holidays.
5. Guides/ Audio Guides:
  An audio guide is a necessity for this one. You will otherwise will only see and not understand the significance of it all. Also, you might just miss some of the really worth seeing artefacts and the history behind them.
  
  One of the ruby chandeliors
  
  Dolmabahce Palace
  
  Beautifully carved interiors
  
  Gate to the Bosphorous
  
  Imposing entrance to the palace