1. Topkapi Palace
From 1465 through 1853, the Ottoman sultans’ official palace and primary residence in the city was Topkapi Palace. It is now a museum that displays the world the incredible artefacts of the royal life’s past. Sultan Mehmed II, who had just seized control of the Byzantine Empire, gave the order to construct the palace in 1459. The renowned monarch picked this elevation where the lovely Marmara can be seen on the left bank of the Bosphorus. Its history and magnificence are the crown jewels of Turkey, offering a panoramic view of the sea and the Golden Horn. The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul Archaeological Museum, and other adjacent attractions are among the numerous historical landmarks of Sultan Ahmed, the old town where Topkapi Palace is situated. Take the T1 tram into the Palace Museum, get off at Gulhane Station, and then walk to the Hagia Sophia. After a short distance on the inner side road, you will come to a gate that resembles a city wall. At the door is a Sultan Ahmed in the Rococo style. More distinctive is the III fountain, which incorporates some Islamic design. There are a lot of people and tourists nearby. This is the Topkapi Palace picturesque area’s entrance. Additionally, there are armed soldiers stationed on either side of the entryway. When only the sultans could enter and leave, this gate served as the entrance to the palace and was known as the emperor’s gate. The Holy Peace Church, a Byzantine-era structure, may be seen on your left as you go along the route after passing through the gate and entering the first courtyard. The ticket office is on your right as you continue walking. You will reach the welcome gate after purchasing the ticket. There are octagonal towers to the left and right of this city gate. A verse from the Koran is inscribed on the gate, and if you look up, you may see it. We entered the second courtyard after making it through the security checkpoint. Standing at the entryway, facing the expansive lawn and flower gardens, there is a glass window on the right side that displays the scale model of the palace. The entrance to the Harem is on the right; these rooms were formerly the imperial kitchen and now display the magnificent pottery that the Sultan amassed. The second courtyard of the Harem is accessible from here. More than 10,000 pieces of Chinese porcelain dating to the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties are present, including more than 40 unique works of art made of the rare Yuan blue and white.
2. Museum at Galata Tower
Traveling to the vibrant city of Istanbul is always thrilling because we get to see new sites and enjoy delicious meals from other cultures. On this trip, we reunited with our good friends and spent the day exploring the Galata Tower and the numerous other wonderful locations around. The vicinity of the Galata Tower is, in my opinion, one of my favorite tourist destinations in Turkey. Istanbul’s social and cultural center, Galata, is home to several landmarks, churches, eateries, stores, cafes, and other attractions that will make your stay there memorable. While exploring the city on foot, think about going to the Galata Tower so you can observe the residents’ daily lives and distinctive mosques.
Internal Tower Of The Galata
To enter the Galata Tower, you must buy a ticket (or present your museum card). Either take the elevator or the 10 levels of steps to reach the summit. To get a greater sense of the skyscraper, I advise taking the elevator up and the stairs down. More historical information is available inside the tower. An observation deck at the top provides a sweeping view of Istanbul’s skyline and the Bosphorous River. It’s a terrific way to enjoy the city’s sparkling lights to stop by this observation booth at dusk.
Galata Tower’s Ground Level
You must comprehend the history in order to comprehend how the shops and merchants in this area came to be. Christea Turris, which translates to “Tower of Christ,” was the original name for Galata Tower. The Genoese received Galata as a gift for aiding the Byzantine Empire in retaking Istanbul from the Crusaders in the 13th century. Up until the Ottomans captured Galata and Constantinople, the Genoese afterward emerged as the largest trading partner of the Byzantine people. This area of the city was heavily populated by Christians and Jews up until the 20th century. As a result, churches and synagogues can be found everywhere.
Istanbul’s aristocracy enjoyed their nightlife in the Beyoglu neighborhood, which is close to the Galata Tower. Beyoglu was referred to as Istanbul’s bar district in the 17th century. It developed into Beyoglu’s commercial hub along Istiklal Street during the latter years of the Ottoman Empire. This region eventually came to represent Western modernism and served as Istanbul’s hub for European culture.
Both the view from the observation deck and the outside of the Galata Tower are breathtaking. To capture the Galata Tower in the rising sky in an Instagram photo, move away from the tower down a cobblestone street, then turn around and face it.
3. Museum of Dolmabahce Watches
The unique watches that belong to the National Palaces Clock Collection are shown in the Dolmabahçe Watch Museum, which is housed in the former Inner Treasury building in the Harem Garden of the Dolmabahçe Palace. The museum reopened to visitors in 2010 after eight years of intensive restoration and upkeep of these clocks. In the interim, plans for a new exhibition were prepared, and a showroom for fresh artwork was added. It is Turkey’s first and only museum dedicated to clocks.
In the museum, 71 clocks are on display. The collection includes magnificent mechanical clocks created by French artists as well as English automatons from the 18th and 19th centuries. Clocks from Germany, Italy, and Austria are also on show. The magnificent artwork created by Ottoman Mevlevi watch masters is also on display in this show.
The National Palaces Clock Collection’s clocks were shown at the Dolmabahçe Clock Museum, which was established in 2004 and is housed in the palace’s former internal treasury structure in the Harem Garden. These clocks underwent an eight-year restoration process in our clock workshop. They were kept in locked rooms and warehouses because they couldn’t be displayed on the visitor routes. Dolmabahçe Clock Museum, Turkey’s first and only clock museum, is home to excellent specimens of British automats from the 18th and 19th centuries, majestic mechanicals made by French masters, and spectacular pieces created by Ottoman Mawlawi watchmakers in the 19th century.
The museum was closed for a year in 2009 so that work could be done on the clocks and the building as a whole, a new showcase and exhibit design could be implemented, and new clocks could be added to the collection. The clocks were examined one by one by the palace experts during this time, and in 2010 the clock museum was once more open to tourists.
71 clocks may be shown in the museum. These are cited as some of the finest mechanical watch collections in the world and include the musical automats of renowned British watchmaker George Prior, French gold-plated console clocks, automated and semi-automated musical clocks, Ahmet Eflaki Dede’s final creation numbered 9, Ottoman Mevlevi masters Mehmet Ükrü and Mehmet Muhsin’s turbulon clocks, Suleyman Leziz’s magnificent astronomical clock, and O Prepare to delve into countless fascinating tales, legends, artifacts, and the Sultan’s life! The Dolmabahce Palace Harem, the blue hall, and the pink hall will astound you. The Hunkar office and the private office are the palace’s two most important locations.
With the Istanbul Tourist Pass, discovering Dolmabahce in the best possible way is so simple! With the help of the guides from the Istanbul Tourist Pass, you will enjoy learning about the history, architecture, and secrets of Dolmabahce Palace.
4. Spice Bazaar Historic Egyptian Bazaar
The Persian words “Cahar” (which means “four the number”) and “Su” are the ancestors of the Turkish term “çarş” (meaning district, street). The Egyptian Bazaar, which is a combination of covered and open streets and squares that are strategically situated in well-traveled streets in the middle of the city, serves as a shopping mall with its broad variety of stores. Marketplaces are the transient versions of bazaars that can be seen on different streets in large cities. Shoe Seller Bazaar and Jewelry Bazaar are only two examples of names that have emerged as a result of the collocation of the stores according to the commodities and products they sell. Bazaars are a city’s busiest urban area all day long, consisting of a main street and secondary streets that link to it.
Istanbul has long been one of the busiest commerce hubs, whether in Byzantine or Ottoman eras, due to its strategic location between East and West, the Mediterranean, and the Black Sea. Istanbul served as a seaside city on a trade route that connected the Balkans, Europe, the North Mediterranean, and the Arabian Peninsula. On their approach to Europe, such commercial goods as carpets, spices, gems, woven goods, and silk fabrics from the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula would congregate in Istanbul.
Additionally, a variety of goods from the European Union and Italian city-states would also be gathered in Istanbul. Grain, fruits and vegetables, legumes, meat, other animal products, oils, fish, coffee, salt, spices, and such fuel products as wood and charcoal would be disembarked in the ports that extended across the Golden Horn from what is now Unkapan to Sarayburnu, and would then be distributed from those ports to the nearby covered and open bazaars and inns, meeting all of the Ottoman Empire’s food demands.
The trading locations in Istanbul, which conducted maritime trade with many nations because to its natural ports, were situated in specific areas not far from the sea. These locations allowed for the sales of the products that were embarked. Since the Byzantine era, little has changed about the sites of those trading centres in Istanbul.
According to some Byzantine accounts, the bazaar’s geographic centre at those times was located between Hagia Sophia and Beyazt and ehzadebaş, along the road of Divanyolu and emberlitaş, and continued till Aksaray Koska.
Herbal Drug Market
Herbalists and cotton merchants were given space in the Spice Bazaar when it was first constructed. Herbalists and cotton vendors shared six doors in the bazaar under this situation. Herbalists are given access to the fish market, Hasrclar, and Ketenciler Gates, while cotton vendors are given access to the Yeni Mosque, Haseki, and Içek Pazar Gates. Herbalists occupied 49 of the bazaar’s 100 businesses at the time, while cotton and quilters occupied the remaining spaces. There are usually important plants in or near the Egyptian bazaar, including those used for medicine, such as pure honey, herbal oils, saffron, poppy, Turkish tea, Orange rose, and Jasmine tea.
5. Istanbul Aquarium
If you want to investigate and literally immerse yourself in marine life, Istanbul Aquarium (Istanbul Akvaryum) is a worthwhile place to spend half a day. Or if you simply want to experience something different from the typical historical tourist attractions.
Istanbul’s aquariums are currently the subject of much misunderstanding. Istanbul is the proud owner of two huge aquariums, which is the straightforward explanation for this. Sharks are the main draw of the first one, which is situated in Forum Istanbul. The one I’ll discuss here is in Florya and concentrates on any type of marine life discovered in the various seas and oceans.
With its trip path, thematization, interactivity, rainforest, and cutting-edge technology, it is the newest aquarium of its kind that houses fish species found in the world’s oceans.
Due to its size, diversity of fish species, and activities along the travel routes, Istanbul Akvaryum occupies a top spot among aquariums around the world. This project establishes “firsts” and “mosts” in its industry.
The tourists move along a route that hosts 17 themes and 1 rainforest as they move from the Black Sea to the Pacific by following a geographical itinerary.
The cultural, geographic, historical, and architectural characteristics of each space are thematically represented, together with the appropriate ornamental elements, interactive games, movies, and visual graphics that convey information about the locale. Each space’s sound and lighting systems have been set up in accordance with this thematization.
Istanbul Akvaryum is run by subject-matter experts who adhere in every way to international standards.
In Istanbul Akvaryum, all living things continue to exist in environments that are as similar to their natural home as is possible.
Additional Shows and Resources
Two 5D theatres with six axles are also available at the venue. In addition to 3D visual effects, the 15-person saloons provide additional perceptions of wind, fog, water, and touch. For this virtual feast, the first movie costs 7.5 TL, and the second costs 10 TL.
You can stop for a break at several points along the trip route if you’re bringing the kids. With the “Panama Canal” on one side and the sea on the other, there are three cafés and a restaurant.
Where is it located?
The route to the Atatürk International airport and the distance from Taksim to the Istanbul Aquarium are comparable. Access the aquarium using:
By free shuttle—their free shuttles run on two routes and stop at four major locations, including Taksim and Sultanahmet.
By bus: From Taksim to Florya, take the 73F line, and get off at the Florya stop.
Train: From the Sirkeci train station in Eminönü, take the train to Yeşilköy. To get to the aquarium, get down at the Florya station and then walk 800 meters along the beach road toward Yeşilköy.
6. Ciragan Palace Kempinski
The only Ottoman Imperial Palace and Hotel on the Bosphorus is pleased to welcome you. The pinnacle in luxury found in a real Ottoman palace, Raan Palace Kempinski offers a resort atmosphere in the middle of the metropolis.
The hotel’s restaurants and bars provide a delightful dining experience with a total of 310 rooms, comprising 279 rooms and 20 suites in the main hotel part and 11 suites in the imperial palace section. Raan Palace Kempinski Istanbul is known for hosting high-profile corporate meetings, conferences, weddings, and other social events that leave a lasting impression.
An outdoor pool with an infinity edge that makes you feel as though you’re floating on the Bosphorus is a favorite outside of the spa facilities. The only hotel in Istanbul with these methods of transportation is Raan Palace Kempinski.
The Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, the only Ottoman royal Palace, and Hotel is the perfect location for your business meeting, whether you have ten delegates or a thousand. It is on the edge of Europe.
Grab their attention by taking them on a boat ride along Istanbul’s captivating shoreline. Then gradually reveal the location. Use lighting, sound, and Internet connectivity to communicate your business message in a setting that exudes luxury and professionalism and offers a spectacular view of the Bosphorus.
Need to introduce a performer, announce a new product, or thank staff members? Breakfast, lunch, and dinner options are provided.
Want to stay in a hotel? Everything is conceivable.
There are indoor and outdoor pools, a fully-stocked spa, entertainment options, and customized city tours available at our hotel.
An interesting urban environment, well-known historical sites, and breathtaking sights!
The Old City, the Prince’s Islands, homes along the Bosphorus, regal Ottoman palaces, and more
Istanbul is a wonderful city that fulfills your needs. To locate hotspots and hidden treasures, book now and begin exploring the enchanted city of “Istanbul”! View the city’s top-rated sightseeing options, as suggested by our concierge team.
7. Pera Museum
The Suna and Nan Kraç Foundation established the Pera Museum, a private museum that opened its doors on June 8th, 2005. As vital today as it was when the Museum first welcomed visitors, the goal of providing an exceptional range of various high-quality cultural and art services remains.
The beautiful structure, which is located in Tepebaş’s old district, was initially intended to be the Bristol Hotel and was created by architect Achille Manoussos. The difficult renovation project was given to restorer and architect Sinan Genim in 2003; the architect’s mastery in simultaneously preserving the exterior façade, safeguarding an essential component of Istanbul’s architectural flavor, is only matched by the triumph of transforming the interior into a modern and fully equipped museum.
Through the three permanent collections of the Suna and Nan Kraç Foundation, “Orientalist Paintings,” “Anatolian Weights and Measures,” and “Kütahya Tiles and Ceramics,” the Pera Museum aims to not only share the aesthetic beauty of these collections with the general public but also to foster discussion about the values and identities they represent. The goal of passing on the beauty and significance of these works to future generations is realized through the use of a wide range of cutting-edge techniques, including exhibitions, publications, audio-visual events, educational activities, and academic works. Pera Museum has introduced Turkish audiences to numerous internationally renowned artists through joint projects with prestigious international museums, collections, and foundations like Tate Britain, Victoria and Albert Museum, St. Petersburg Russian State Museum, JP Morgan Chase Collection, and New York School of Visual Arts, and the Maeght Foundation. Among the most famous of these are Sergey Parajanov, Andy Warhol, Cecil Beaton, Alberto Giacometti, Diego Rivera, and Rembrandt, as well as Jean Dubuffet, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Rembrandt, Niko Pirosmani, Josef Koudelka, Joan Miró, Akira Kurosawa, Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, Fernando Botero, Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Go
Since its founding, the Pera Museum has worked yearly to present exhibitions that assist emerging artists in partnership with national and international institutions of art and education. The Museum offers learning programs in addition to publications, catalogs, audio-visual events, and exhibitions. Pera Film offers viewers and movie enthusiasts a wide choice of screenings that span from classics and independent movies to animated films and documentaries, in addition to its seasonal programming and events. Additionally, Pera Film hosts unique performances that are directly related to the themes of the transient displays.
In one of Istanbul’s liveliest neighborhoods, Pera Museum has developed into a premier and eminent cultural hub. The Suna and nan Kraç Foundation undertook another project from 2005 to 2007 that was motivated by the ambition of its co-founders to safeguard and conserve the outstanding cultural assets of Turkey that are beginning to deteriorate. It was a difficult undertaking to convert the collection of the Millet Manuscript Library, which was founded by eminent Ottoman thinker Ali Emîrî Efendi. The completion of the necessary infrastructure to transfer the collection of over 20,000 manuscripts was successfully realized thanks to the generous support supplied by the Getty Foundation, one of the top foundations in the world. The project is currently undergoing further extension, with its new goal being the creation of a system to categorize and preserve the inventory of manuscripts kept at the Millet Library.
8. Sea Life Istanbul
Pipefish and seahorses
From the tiniest, measuring just 2.5 cm, to the largest, the Big Bellied Seahorse, which is around 12 times this size, there are almost 50 different species of seahorses.
We don’t believe our seahorses are monsters at all, despite the fact that the Latin genus name for seahorses is Hippocampus, which means “horse monster.” They rank among the most exquisite sea life in our opinion. In order for the female to instantly begin laying fresh eggs and boost the overall number of young the pair produces, the male seahorse takes care of the brood of infants in his pouch.
What to Do
- Discover the causes of the seahorse’s extinction in the wild.
- Learn about their methods for holding on to the sea’s bedding plants.
- Visit Seahorse Nursery to see our lovely seahorses.
- Why do seahorses reproduce every three months?
- View the efforts made by SEA LIFE and The SEA LIFE Trust to raise, save, and protect seahorses.
Seahorses
Seahorses can be found in waters all around the world! Over 40 species are present. Some live in seagrass meadows, while others dwell in the roots of mangrove trees. Big-bellied seahorses will be even larger than your palm, whereas pigmy seahorses are as small as your little fingernail! Their Greek name, Hippocampus, which translates to “horse sea monster,” was given to them. Our seahorses, however, don’t seem to us to be monsters at all!
Sadly, because to pollution and habitat devastation, seahorses are in danger of going extinct. Additionally, every year 150 million seahorses are collected and murdered for use in traditional medicine. Campaigns by SEA LIFE to help safeguard crucial seahorse habitats.
Pipefish
Pipefish are experts at camouflaging; their slender, graceful bodies closely resemble the seagrasses and algae in which they reside. They hunt for small plankton, similar to seahorses and seadragons, and consume it quickly through their straw-like snouts. When they’ve just caught a nice bite, watch for the distinctive puff of crushed shell coming from their gills!
Turtles
Currently existing sea turtles come in eight different species. Two of these, the Caretta Caretta and Chelonia Mydas, use Turkey’s beaches for nesting, and five of them reside in the Mediterranean. Almost all turtle species are listed as endangered, despite the fact that many of them lay between 100 and 200 eggs each time they lay a nest.
Sea turtle Caretta caretta
The Caretta Caretta Sea Turtle is an omnivore that mostly consumes crustaceans that live on the ocean floor. Compared to other sea turtles, it has a long list of prey. These critters eat oysters, jellyfish, horseshoe crabs, sponges, and jellyfish. Their strong, broad jaws are an efficient instrument for tearing apart prey. Carnivorous hatchlings that have just emerged devour macroplankton. On the other hand, since they are herbivorous grazers, immature juveniles and adults can frequently be seen in seagrass meadows.
9. Chocolate museum
The only chocolate museum in Turkey is in Istanbul. Despite its remote location, Esenyurt, the Pelit Chocolate Museum, near to the Pelit Chocolate Factory, is one of Istanbul’s most visited attractions. The museum’s journey begins with the development of chocolate when it first opened its doors in 2013. Make sure to check out the numerous chocolate creations, which include a chocolate hamlet as well as the Hagia Sophia, Galata Tower, and Leander’s Tower. A little chocolate workshop for kids is also available. Don’t miss this unique museum that is suitable for both children and adults! It is estimated that more than three tonnes of chocolate were used in the construction of the museum.
What is the location and directions to the Pelit Chocolate Museum?
Nearby the Pelit Chocolate Factory in the Esenyurt Industrial Zone, which is about 30 kilometers from the heart of Istanbul, is the Pelit Chocolate Museum (Sultanahmet and Taksim). Taxi or private automobiles are the sole options for transportation to the museum. Beylikdüzü metro bus stop is the closest public transit stop to Pelit Chocolate Museum.
Information for visitors to the Pelit Chocolate Museum
Every day from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, the Pelit Chocolate Museum is open. For schoolchildren, the entrance cost is 60 Turkish Lira, while it is 75 TL for adults.
Because there are numerous chocolate tastings at the museum, refrain from eating desserts beforehand.
A pleasant, simple activity for families with kids is to explore this modest museum on your own. The exhibitions, which include a house made entirely of chocolate and a spot where you can observe the chefs at work in the chocolate factory, should take you around an hour to complete.
What to Know Before You Travel
- Children under the age of five are admitted free of charge, although there is an entry fee.
- You can buy locally baked cakes and chocolates at the cafe and gift shop.
- Wheelchair access is available at Pelit Chocolate Museum.
Pelit Chocolate Museum’s chocolate sculptures
Famous sculptures made completely of chocolate are shown around the museum. Be on the lookout for well-known Istanbul landmarks like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Bosphorus Bridge, and Galata Tower, as well as global symbols like the Statue of Liberty and Sphinx, biblical scenarios like Noah’s Ark, and Turkish customs like whirling dervishes.
When to Arrive
Open every day is the Pelit Chocolate Museum. Choose a weekday morning visit to escape the throng since the little museum is well-liked by local families and can get packed on weekends.
10. Toy Museum
For families traveling with children, finding things to do can be a problem, especially during the winter. In many cities and towns, it might be very difficult to find family-friendly activities, but in Istanbul, you can be sure that you’ll never be in this predicament. There are many family-friendly attractions in Istanbul, and you will undoubtedly enjoy spending time with your children there.
In Istanbul, there is a museum that transports you to your early years. One of the most thrilling, intriguing, and enjoyable displays is found at the Istanbul Toy Museum. It was founded on April 23, 2005, by poet and author Sunay Akin and features a variety of toys dating back to the 1700s. He acquired these toys over the course of 20 years from auctions and antique shops in more than 40 different nations. The visitor is exposed to a variety of toys from various cultures and historical periods, making it an international toy museum in Istanbul. Additionally, it is crucial since it appeals to both children and adults in a family and provides a setting where everyone can enjoy themselves and share special moments. Older museum visitors will identify the toys and declare that they owned the same toys when they were children. In this way, the museum evokes curiosity, joy, or nostalgia in each visitor. It would be a shame to skip the Istanbul Toy Museum during your trip to Istanbul. You will spend one or two hours here, but you won’t regret it and will always cherish the memory of this visit.
You might wish to visit the museum on a weekday because, like all the other museums in Istanbul, weekends will be busier than weekdays. Istanbul Toy Museum is open daily from 9.30 until 18.00, with the exception of Mondays when it is closed. You should contact the museum online and make arrangements if you intend to see the museum with a party of more than ten persons. Parking is not an issue for getting to the museum by car, but taking public transportation is very simple. Take the minibus or any bus that goes via the Goztepe bus terminal.
The exhibits in the Istanbul Toy Museum
Akin collected more than 4000 toys from all around the world, and these toys are divided into categories based on themes. They are positioned in areas that are either named after the theme of the toys, such as Space, Maritime, or Indian or on hallways. In the Istanbul Toy Museum, visitors get the opportunity to view the one and only Mona Lisa doll created by Fawn Zeller, porcelain doll houses from the 1850s to the 1910s, the Turkish folk characters Karagoz and Hacivat, and many more. This is a fantastic way to comprehend both the present and past cultures of your own country as well as those of others. It’s amazing to see the toys that your grandparents played with when they were young. Toys produced between 1950 and 1970 by Turkish brands are particularly helpful for understanding Turkish culture. This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in history or antiques. Up until you buy your coins and pass the toll gate into a fairy tale-like area, toy soldiers guard the entrance.
