Istanbul is a beautiful city in Turkey straddling both Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait. Its Old City shows the cultural influences of many Emperors who ruled here in the past. After finding the Turkish Republic, the city was officially renamed as Istanbul. Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazar, Blue Mosque, and the Palace are a few top attractions that every tourist visits. Get impressed by the lovely landscapes and sightseeing which the city offers. The city is world-famous for its culture, history, amazing sceneries, and beautiful monuments. Well, Istanbul is pretty impressive, right? Interested to find out the best places to visit in Istanbul? Well, here we at Pickyourtrail present you the top must-visit places in Istanbul.

5 Best Places to Visit in Istanbul Turkey

Hagia Sophia
Topkapi Palace
Blue Mosque
Grand Bazar
Hippodrome

1. Hagia Sophia

Get ready to delve into the deeper history of the City’s great monuments and buildings. The Hagia Sophia is a grand mosque and the former church, it is a great antique piece for worship in Istanbul. In the Byzantine Emperor’s period, it served as a centre for religious, political, and artistic life. It served as an important place for Muslim worship after Sultan Mehmed II conquered Constantinople in 1453. He then converted the place into a mosque. The dome is said to be one of the iconic symbols of the city. Buying online tickets will help you to skip the long queues at the entrance. You can also combine Hagia Sophia with other tours. There are four tour guides available at the entrance, you can choose the tours as per your convenience. Also, undoubtedly this is one of the best places to visit in Istanbul. Top highlights in Hagia Sophia are –

Virgin Mary Mosiac
Ottoman Tombs
Weeping Column

Location – Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya Meydanı, İstanbul, Turkey
Opening Hours- 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (during the prayers the mosque will remain closed)
Price – The visit to Hagia Sophia is now free after being converted into a mosque.

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey — Image Credits: Unsplash

2. Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace was built in 15th century by Mehmet. This palace was ruled by the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire until the 19th century. The Palace showcases the stunning display of Islamic art. The Palace complex has more than 100 rooms and chambers. But only a few important chambers and rooms are accessible to the public. It’s better to be there well in advance as the queue will start even before the opening time. Even if you have only one day in Istanbul, the place is one of the best places to visit in Istanbul.

One of the top highlights is the Topkapi Harem complex. It was the private place where the Ottoman Sultan lived with his many concubines, children, and the queen mother. The word harem is derived from Arabic which means “sacred and inviolable place.” Next, walk through the huge Palace kitchen and get awestruck by the stunning interiors of the Imperial Council Chambers. And lastly, take a quick glance in the Sultan’s private rooms, also home to the Imperial Treasury. You will need at least half a day to see the whole Palace.

Location- Babihümayun Caddesi, Gülhane Park
Opening Hours- 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Price- INR 1100

3. Blue Mosque

The beautiful Sultan Ahmed Mosque is one of the famous mosques which is also popularly known as the Blue Mosque. It is one of Istanbul’s most iconic historic sights and the City’s skyline with six magnificent minarets. Prayers are done 6 times a day. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque was called the Blue Mosque due to its interiors made with more than 20,000 handmade tiles, which is always turquoise in colour. The upper parts of the mosque are also painted in blue, which gives a lovely blue effect for the whole mosque. The mosque is lovely to witness during the evening prayers when the mosque is illuminated with lights and gives a religious vibe. That’s beautiful, huh? And yes, the blue mosque is one of the best places to visit in Istanbul.

Location – Sultan Ahmet, Atmeydanı, Istanbul, Turkey
Opening Hours – 9:00 am to 7:00 pm ( remains closed during prayers)
Price – Entry is free.

Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey — Image Credits: Unsplash

4. Grand Bazar

The Grand Bazar is one place that every tourist visits for shopping in Istanbul. This massive market is the World’s first shopping market which covers a quarter of the city. Surrounded by thick walls the Grand Bazar lies between the Nure Osmaniya Mosque and Beyazit Mosque. Entry to the Grand Bazaar is through one of the 11 gates. From the entrance, you can see lined up shops and stalls selling Turkish Souvenir. The whole Bazar is segregated into different sections as it makes shopping easier. The market consists of around 61 streets and over 4000 shops with an area of 30,700m square. It is one of the best places to visit in Istanbul.

Location – Beyazıt, Kalpakçılar, Istanbul, Turkey.
Opening Hours – 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Price – Free

Grand Bazar, top must-visit places in Istanbul. — Image Credits- Unsplash

5. Hippodrome

This ancient Hippodrome was built in AD 203 by Septimius Severus and completed by the Great Constantine in AD 330. It was the centre of Byzantine’s public life. Also, the place where splendid games and chariot races were held. There isn’t much to see today, except for a small gallery section in the Southern Side. However, Meydani Park is home to various monuments. A fountain designated to the Ottoman Sultan by the German Willliam Emperor II in 1898, is present on the Northwest side. Head Southwest to see the three ancient monuments. Namely, a 20m tall Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column ( brought from Delphi, by Constantine), and a Stone Obelisk. The Stone Obelisk was stolen by the soldiers in 1204 which was covered in gold bronze.

Location – Binbirdirek, Sultan Ahmet Park, İstanbul, Turkey
Opening Hours – 24 hours
Price – entry is free.

Istanbul is a major city in Turkey. The city offers you the best sightseeing places, beaches, and shops endlessly in the Grand Bazar. Visit the monuments and palace to learn more about the history of Istanbul. Interested to book an Istanbul tour package and take a Turkey packages from India? If yes, quickly check into Pickyourtrail for some amazing offers and International Packages. Also, drop a Whatsapp Inquiry for any further details. In addition, follow this page for amazing contents on travel. Happy Vacation.