Istanbul - Magical City where East meets West. Top attractions and hidden gems.
In the past capital of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires and previously known as Constantinople, today Istanbul is the largest city of the modern Republic of Turkey. It is a historic and economic center with a population close to 16 million people which makes it one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Istanbul's unique and very strategic location on the banks of Bosphorus strait and at the point where Europe meets Asia historically attracted many armies and left its mark on what the city is today. Modern Istanbul is a megapolis where religion culture and traditions of many eras mixed together resulting in a very unique place. There is a saying: "If the world was one big country, Istanbul would be its capital!" Being a city of contrast and millennial history it has much to offer to its visitors and I will try my best to show it to you Istanbul makes top 10 largest cities in Europe and Asia. If you consider the total population of Turkey
of about 85 million it makes Istanbul home to every fifth citizen and that's just official numbers. It is one of the most well-known cities that humanity has ever built serving as the capital for three great empires, however today it's not capital as many would think the modern capital is Ankara which is located southeast of Istanbul. I must confess I ended up in Istanbul somewhat accidentally, as I was making my way to a very exciting destination nearby.
Since my connection was here, I've decided to extend it for a few days and explore this city. Obviously, it is impossible to see everything Istanbul has to offer in those few days but I will try to show you, in my opinion, the most of the must-see spots as well as a few hidden gems Our primary area of focus is going to be Eminönü, Beyoğlu and Üsküdar districts. On this note I conclude the introductory part and move to the streets of this beautiful city! Sultanahmet is a historic center and the heart of Istanbul. It is home to the city's main symbol the great Hagia Sophia! Built in the 6th century during Byzantine times it's seen quite a bit, but always has been one of the world's greatest monuments and it remains so today. It was the first masterpiece in Byzantine architecture as it remained the largest cathedral for 1 000 years. It has a rectangular shape covered with a central dome. The arcade around the dome has 40 arched windows to bring the light inside
With time four minarets were added to reflect a new chapter in Hagia's history. Minarets are the these tall towers with balconies, typically used in the Muslim world to call for prayer Because of its importance, Hagia Sophia has always been a subject to any social and political changes Hagia Sophia actually went through a long history. It was initially built as an orthodox church in Byzantine Empire. After that when Ottomans came, this was converted to a mosque The third stage of Hagia Sofia was a museum during Ataturk and the creation of the Turkish Republic And only recently in 2020, Hagia Sofia was converted back to a mosque and it remains so today. When in 1935 Ataturk, who is, by the way, is the father of modern Turkey, ordered to convert Hagia Sofia to a museum, it seemed that most of the political and religious controversies would disappear.
He has done so because first of all, he was an atheist and secondly he wanted Turkey to become a secular society. But the current president Erdogan had different plans and converted it back to a mosque, which in turn caused massive outrage in the Christian world in 2020. One of the main issues were the Byzantine mosaics that now had to be covered up. In any case, I'm not here to judge or
take sides. I just want you to understand Sofia's complex history and ask you to be respectful during your visit to this world's treasure, that miraculously survived until our times. Once you visit Hagia Sophia, right across, there is another mosque - the Blue mosque, which is also a top site to see in Istanbul. It takes a minute walk to get there so just head across to the Blue mosque The Blue mosque also known as Sultanahmet Mosque is well cherished site because of its tradition and importance to the history of the Ottoman Empire and the city of Istanbul. The mosque is located on the
banks of Marmara sea and was built in the early 1600s by a 19-year-old Sultan Ahmet. Unfortunately, during my visit the blue mosque was under renovation but if you are luckier than me - it's a must-see! Between Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque, there is another important site. What initially seems like a regular square, in the past, was a place of ancient Roman hippodrome with important monuments. One of them is the Egyptian obelisk that dates to the 16th century BC. This makes it probably the oldest monument in Istanbul. This column was brought to Istanbul from Egypt. But during the transportation, it actually fell down and broke. So what you see right now is only about half of what the original size was.
Another important monument that you will find here is the Serpent column. The significance of this statue dates back to the 5th century, specifically to the Plataea war between Greeks and Persians. When Greeks won the battle they took all the weapons from Persians and reforged them into this column. Initially, there were 3 serpent heads on this column that
were stolen, but only 2 were recovered. One is sitting at British national museum, one is in Turkish national museum and one is actually still missing. In close proximity to Sultanahmet square, you will find a non-touristy site, however with the same level of historical importance - the "Little" Hagia Sofia mosque. The church was originally built with instruction of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I and his wife Theodora. It was converted to a mosque in 1497 in the period of Hussein Aga who was the chief of the Harem in Topkapi Palace during the reign of Sultan Bayazit II. "Little" Hagia Sofia is actually older than the famous Hagia Sofia. It was built in 532 and not a lot of people know about it. Short walk from
Hagia Sofia (about 10 minutes) you'll end up at this beautiful mosque all alone and you can truly enjoy its beauty. The church has an octagonal main dome. There is no fresco or mosaic inside. However, it is ornamented with pink and green columns, as well as marble plates. According to a legend young Justin was organizing a revolt against the emperor his uncle Justian. Two saints appeared before him asking not to murder his uncle. Justin listened to them and soon became an emperor
himself. As soon as that happened he ordered to build this church in the name of these two saints Absolutely no one here. I'm all alone! I walked in, cooled down, looked at everything in peace. Absolutely love it! Istanbul could easily be called "the capital of mosques". There are over 3 000 mosques here and a lot of them deserve recognition for their beauty. However, the Süleymaniye mosque is the one that
stands out. It crowns one of the island's seven hills and dominates the Golden Horn providing a landmark for the entire city. Although it's not the largest of the Ottoman mosques, it is certainly one of the grandest ones and most beautiful. It is my second favorite in Istanbul. Commissioned by Suleiman I, also known as "the Magnificent" the Süleymaniye was the fourth imperial mosque built in Istanbul. It has 4 minarets and 10 balconies and there is a reason for it - as Suleiman was the 4th of the Osmani sultans and 10th sultan after the establishment of the empire.
On the way in, the first place you will see is the courtyard which catches your eye with restraint and ideal architectural forms, as opposed to pomposity and huge size. It has a rich history and beckons indescribable energy and grandeur. Süleymaniye was built by the greatest Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, who is also responsible for the Blue Mosque and whose concepts were used to build the Taj Mahal in India. What caught my eye inside was a huge variety of atmospheric bulbs that illuminate the entire mosque. The building is breathtaking in its size and pleasing in its simplicity.
Süleymaniye is a complex that occupies a vast area. In addition to the mosque, it includes a library a seminary, a hospital, a cemetery, and a great observatory. Istanbul looks magnificent from here! Moving towards another symbol of Istanbul one has to take the famous Galata bridge that connects northern and southern sides of the European part of Istanbul. The Galata bridge itself is an attraction first of all it is a two-level structure. On top, you will find famous Istanbul's fishermen, representing different age groups and classes. The fishing
tradition on Istanbul's bridges is over hundreds of years old. People fish here for themselves, for fun or sell fish to the local restaurants located on the first level of this bridge Once you cross the Galata bridge you will find yourself in Karaköy commercial quarter of Beyoğlu district. This is where Istanbul's main "artery" - the famous Istiklal street is located.
It is visited by nearly 3 million people daily and it is 1.5 kilometers long. Nowadays Istiklal is a cosmopolitan avenue surrounded by a variety of shops and restaurants among old Ottoman buildings During Ottoman times this was a place of gathering for Istanbul's intellectuals Today it's a touristy, pedestrian street with a lonely red tram passing by occasionally There are few gems hidden in the alleys of Istiklal For example, the flower passage is one of the famous historic sites with beautiful restaurants and souvenir shops inside. And of course, the Roman Catholic basilica of San Antonio of Padua, which is over a century old and is the largest catholic church in Istanbul! Within close proximity to Istiklal street you will find another iconic site of Istanbul- the Galata Tower. It is one of the most recognized structures in the city. Throughout its history, it served as a lighthouse, an observatory, a part of the defense structure and as of 2020 an entertainment facility with a restaurant and museum inside The Galata Tower dates back to pre-Ottoman times, specifically to 1348 as it was originally called the Tower of Christ and was a part of Genovese city walls. It is 70 meters high and
has a great observational balcony. Since 2013 it is included in the UNESCO world heritage sites list and as a result, attracts hundreds of tourists daily, which is why I never bothered going inside. However a walk around its neighborhood is strongly recommended! What if I asked you what's hiding under those red roofs? Would you have guessed it's a marketplace? The Grand Bazaar is a huge covered market with 61 streets covering an area of 30 square kilometers Technically it's a small town where you will find a variety of shops, restaurants, mosques, and even a cemetery. Grand Bazaar is one of the oldest and biggest markets in the world. It's like a city under the roof. Here are about 6 000 shops and it takes like a full day to actually like hit all the stores here, if not more! But the atmosphere is quite nice. We came here early in the morning and there are not a lot of tourists right now We're able to kind of have full experience but it's something that definitely you need to experience when in Istanbul! Here you can buy practically everything: from clothes, spices and desserts to musical instruments, "magic" carpets and jewelry. Although I would not recommend buying
stuff here, unless you really need to, as prices really "bite"! There are two versions of the origin of this place: some say that it was built from scratch by Sultan Mehmet in 1461. Others say it was built even before that during Byzantine times! Regardless of which version is correct the place is almost 6 centuries old and it is absolutely unique experience when in Istanbul! At some point the Grand Bazaar transitions into an open market called the Spice or Egyptian Bazaar. It is the second-largest market in Istanbul where you will find (as the name suggests) a variety of spices, souvenirs, local produce and most importantly food! I think this is a good time to pause for a minute and talk about Turkish food. I usually don't cover food in my videos but I just could not ignore food here. It is definitely my top three cuisines and there are many reasons why. Some being: its variety, uniqueness and sophistication In Istanbul, we tried eating at small local joints away from tourist areas and most times ended up ordering a second portion, as the food here, was next-level delicious! What makes Turkish food so unique is the fact that it's technically a fusion of Mediterranean, Balkan, Central Asian, Eastern European and other cuisines that at some point ended up under Ottoman rule.
And of course, don't hesitate to try Turkish desserts here. They are an art of baking on their own and might end up being your favorite. I know they are definitely mine! Okay! Let's move away from Istanbul's touristy area and see what else it has to offer! A short ferry ride towards Fener terminal you will find yourself in a different Istanbul. Before going into the heart of Fener and Balat neighborhoods check out this beautiful Orthodox church right next to ferry station. Bulgarian Sveti Stefan Church is a most interesting building as it's made of prefabricated iron material. Yes, the exterior of this church is entirely made of iron! It was casted in Vienna, floated down Danube river through the Black Sea on 100 barges and bolted together in Istanbul in 1871. The richly ornamented church is a 3-dome cross-shaped basilica. It has both:
neo-gothic and neo-baroque elements. It is used today by the Orthodox community of Istanbul Sveti Stefan's history is quite fascinating: it was funded by the Bulgarian government, designed by an Ottoman-Armenian, built in Austria and assembled in Istanbul. Quite a unique site to visit! Right across from the "Iron" church lies Fener and Balat. Known for its dilapidated yet beautiful old and colorful houses, today this area has become a popular spot for new and younger businesses with new openings popping at a constant rate. It reminded of a hipsterish area with tons of street art,
cool stores and coffee shops. While being actually two different neighborhoods with a different history today the names Fener and Balat have become almost interchangeable. What makes Fener and Balat unique is their quaint architecture. At the end of the 20th century the quintessential style of Istanbul's
residential architecture changed dramatically. But thankfully the changes have not reached Fener and Balat. It was lucky enough not to be replaced by the "concrete jungle" that now covers most of the city. Instead, it is filled with two-story semi-detached wooden houses each one jotting out sharply in the middle to form what Turks call a "cumba" house, which is an old Ottoman name Back in the day, the Fener & Balat area was settled by Greeks. But during the Turkish-Greek war a lot of people moved back to Greece from here. You can tell the difference in architecture and
design. It's quite fascinating to walk around here and to watch how the scenery changes from quarter to quarter. The main attraction here is Fanar Greek-Orthodox college. Overlooking the entire neighborhood from its elevated position, this beautiful dark red structure is one of the city's few remaining Greek Orthodox schools. Established in the 15th century the school educated the children of prominent Greek and Bulgarian families of the Ottoman empire. Nowadays it applies a full Turkish curriculum with some greek subjects added and it remains one of the most beautiful buildings in Istanbul! If you're looking for spending a day wandering through different Istanbul and experiencing picturesque streets, taste of great Turkish coffee and colorful art - Fener & Balat is the perfect place for it! Before I forget, let's talk cats! Why you'll ask me? Well, because cats are everywhere here and it is impossible to ignore them! No, they're not homeless nor domesticated, they're more like respected "citizens" of this city. There are two versions explaining their mass appearance here. According to the first one, a cat saved Prophet Muhammed and since became a sacred animal. The second has to do with
Istanbul being a port city with many rats and mice in the past and cats were introduced to combat this issue. Regardless which version you believe in, one thing is certain - don't ^..^ with cats here! Right in the heart of Istanbul, close to Sultanahmet square there is a place often overlooked by tourists. But in my opinion, it is definitely worth a visit. This is Sirkeci railway station. It was home to the famous Orient Express that operated from the late 19th century up until 2009 and connected London with Istanbul making stops around Europe. But the main attraction at this 19th century station is the whirling dervish ceremony. It is a Sufi ritual that symbolizes stages on the path to accessing god. It is a form of physically active meditation originated in the 12th century that
takes you on a mystical journey. It begins with man's spiritual accent through the mind going toward the truth leaving his own self to be lost in god and coming back as a more mature man. In the symbolism of this ritual man's hat and white skirt represent his ego. By eventually removing his black cloak, he's spiritually reborn. While whirling his arms are open. His right arm is directed to the sky ready to receive god's beneficence, his left hand is turned towards the earth. Revolving from right
to left around the heart Sufi whirling or Semazen embraces all humanity with love. In the words of the founder of this practice Persian poet Rumi "the human being is created with love in order to love. All loves are bridge to divine love, yet those who do not have a taste of it, do not know it!" The Turkish bath or as they call it "Hamam" is one of the oldest cleansing traditions in the world and is on my absolute must experience list when in Istanbul! This purifying ceremony has been around for centuries and is a mix of Roman and Ottoman bathing traditions. Traditionally there are three interconnecting rooms. The first room is called
Camekan and it's an impressive entrance hall with reception and locker area. The main room here is where the "magic happens" and it's called Sicaklik. For an obvious reason no filming is allowed here but with some computer graphics here's a glimpse into it. Sicaklik has the large marble stone usually
octagonal or rectangular shape in the center and it's surrounded by fountains in the corners It has a dome-shaped roof decorated with circles or star-shaped windows for natural light Lying on the stone the treatment begins with muscle massage and then warm water is being poured over the body followed by vigorous scrub using a rough gloss glove to remove dead skin After removing the dead skin the body gets covered with soap and after the final cleanse it feels revitalized, smooth and moisturized. There is also a massage area where wet steam would begin to relax the muscles and detoxify the body. After you finish all your treatments you would make your way to the last room called Sogukluk and it's a recovery room where you would order a glass of delicious sherbet and relieve sultan like experience! But what about the Asian side of this city you'll ask me? Well, the Asian side of Istanbul has many cool spots to see. But for the sake of keeping this episode nice and compact I will choose
one site which in my opinion is largely overlooked by tourists! To get here we obviously jump on the ferry and get to Kadıköy terminal. Then a bit of a bus ride through Istanbul's famous traffic and there she is! Yes, another mosque and my top-of-the-list one in Istanbul! Please meet a masterpiece of modern architecture and beautiful Çamlıca! Çamlıca is the largest mosque in Turkey and one of the largest in the world! Located in the Asian a quarter of Uskudar, it was completed only in 2019 and has a capacity of 63 000 people with 70 domes and 6 minarets. Turkish governments spent over 100 million dollars and six years to finish it! There are several reasons why I think it has to be on a must-see list. First of all Çamlıca (which by the way translates to the combination of the words the "hill" and the "mosque") is located on the highest hill in Istanbul, which in turn provides incredible views of the city. Secondly, its design is inspired by Mimar Sinan (remember the Blue and the Süleymaniye Mosque?) however, it has a modern twist to it as you will find museums, art galleries, a library, conference hall and even underground parking here. Another good reason to visit this place is its aesthetics:
from the inner courtyard with beautiful patterns, white marble floors and minimalistic designs to beautiful mosaics, light fixtures and largest handmade carpet in Turkey, inside. From the inside, it seems even more majestic! The numbers here play an important role as well. For example, the central dome is 72 meters high - it represents the number of nationalities living in Istanbul. Its diameter is 34 meters representing the postal code of the city. To sum it all up if you are in Istanbul and have some free time this mosque is a must-see! Çamlıca conquers at first sight and will definitely make your trip from Europe to Asia worth your while! As I have previously mentioned water transportation in Istanbul is essential and very common. Ferries, as well as commercial cargo boats are run between the shores of the Golden Horn. Ferries themselves are essentially the same public transportation as a bus or subway here and it is a great opportunity for a budget traveler to see the city without paying for expensive boat tours across Bosphorus. On my last day in Istanbul I decided to jump on one of such ferries and head towards one of the Princes' islands in the sea of Marmara - a beautiful Büyükada! The ferry ride took about an hour and it was quite rewarding as you get to see Istanbul and its surroundings while enjoying the fresh sea air. When translated from Turkish "Büyükada" means a "big island"
and indeed it is the largest island on Princes' archipelago and has an area of about 5 square kilometers. Today its population is about 7000 people and the island is visited daily by hundreds of people from Istanbul. There are plenty of restaurants, hotels and coffee cafes around the historic Ottoman ferry terminal. We just arrived to the island of
Büyükada and just gonna have a quick coffee and rent the bicycles and explore the island Büyükada is one of the largest islands in the archipelago of Princes' island and the way they call it "Princes'" it is because in Byzantine and Ottoman times it was used to exile members of the royal family here. And later it was converted into kind of like a cottage island for wealthy individuals. The coolest thing about the island is a complete ban on cars! Only electric bikes or regular bicycles are allowed. So we decided to rent a couple of them and head towards the middle of the island, which in this case would be on top of the hill. I would recommend renting a bike as soon as you set your foot on Büyükada and escape the crowds along the shore So unfortunately due to the forest fires most of the roads are closed which is a shame! Because it's such a beautiful island there's this pine forest that starts up in the mountains and it's closed! So we'll find some alternatives and try to make the best out of it! Our first stop was the old church on the highest hill of the island. We just arrived to the
church and prepare yourself for quite a hike. Make sure you stay hydrated, because it's a pretty difficult hike! But it's very rewarding because the views here are spectacular and if it's not so hot it's actually quite enjoyable! But today it was just let's put it this way - it made me feel good for eating all that Turkish food here! But let's go inside check it out. Aya Yorgi church was built in 1751. This church is considered an important pilgrimage place for Christians. Every year on April 23rd and September 24th hundreds of people walk up the hill to celebrate the coming of the spring and commemorate the Saint Thecla. But as you probably have guessed the best reason to come here is the views! The island from here looks quite spectacular! Today is super hot day and we're trying to find the beach here. But the problem is that most of the roads are blocked. They just taped off because of the fire. So
trying to make a few detours and hopefully, we can find it here! I'm soaked! Still half an hour to go! It's really hard to ride here especially on the hot sunny day! After riding our bicycles for some time we were finally able to spot one of the island's beaches and after a quick refreshment stop at hyperinflated prices we made our way down to the water! Hallelujah! We found the beach! This is gonna feel so good! We ended up at Yada beach club with great service and food For the rest of the day, we just enjoyed the water, the nature and the beauty of Büyükada! If you feel like getting away from Istanbul's crowded scenery and enjoying sun and water - a trip to Princes' islands is highly recommended! As the private boats were coming in to pick up the remaining groups of people from here, we stayed until the sunset, enjoining our last day in Istanbul eventually making our way back to the ferry terminal in anticipation to catch the nighttime Istanbul! Because after the sunset Istanbul opens a new beautiful side to it! What a great way to finish the trip on this island! Met some local guys! Driving back to the ferry, loving it!
2022-02-06 15:23
