INCREDIBUL ISTANBUL Part 2

Istanbul was named as best destination by Trip Advisor in 2013, truly this city has a lot of things to offer. There are so many things to visit and discover as you started walking on the streets.

I booked my hotel along Sultanahmet area, because this part of Istanbul is where all the major tourist attractions are located. They are just walking distance from each other and you can spend all your day hopping from one place to another. Actually you can spend your days in Istanbul without spending too much because there are many places there where you can visit them for free!

From my hotel, the most iconic structure of Istanbul is just 200 meters away, so it is really convenient because you don’t need a taxi to reach this place.

As soon as I put my things on my room, I did not waste any single minute to explore the place. I quickly went out of the hotel and started discovering the city and find out what it has to offer. Make sure to put your comfortable shoes as you will do a lot of walking.

Hippodrome- 

this famous landmark at the center of Sultanahmet area was the center of Byzantine civic life, according to a travel guide, it was built in 203 by Emperor Septimus Severus. If you are on a guided tour, mostly, this is the first place to be visited on your itinerary before proceeding to other places.

Since I don’t belong to any group tour, I just listen to some tour guides explaining the importance of each historical landmark. This area was a former chariot racing site and you will see two obelisks that came from Egypt. You will also notice that there are dogs scattered everywhere, don’t worry they are harmless as they serve as guards to the place and also to the blue mosque on the opposite side. It is here where you can find local Turks selling guide books and maps, and if you are stranger to their eyes they will approach you and ask you to buy. They are quite annoying and going to follow you wherever you will go, just ignore them and never pay attention unless you want to buy from them.

The whole place is clean and very safe; you can feed the doves, play with the dogs or just enjoy the ambience. No entrance fee as it is a public park; time to spend is 1 hour maximum.

Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque)- 

Just opposite side of the Hippodrome lies the most iconic landmark of Istanbul, the Blue Mosque. It was built by Sultan Ahmet to rival Hagia Sofiya. It has impressive interiors as the domes were filled with thousands of blue tile mosaic. The windows were intricately designed and adorned with tiles. It was called Blue mosque not because the domes were in blue color but rather the blue tiles inside that decorates its interiors.

There is no entrance fee here but you need to observe some silence because this is a mosque. Once you enter inside, you are requested to remove your shoes and put them on plastic bags which are provided because the whole floor is carpeted. Women should cover their heads with turbans and are not allowed to wear shorts and miniskirts as this is a Muslim place. Maximum time to spend is 2-3 hours. Opens daily from 9am to 6pm and during prayer time visitors are requested to go outside as they close it.

Basilica Cistern (Underground Palace)-

 Opposite Blue mosque, some 300 meters away is one of the most interesting site to visit. This place is unique as it lies under the city of Istanbul. Built by the Romans some 500AD, this underground palace has large and heavy columns. It is quite creepy because it is dark and I have this silly imagination that any moment a Roman monster or dragon would come out in one of the columns. It has water inside and you can see some fishes too.

It is also here that you can see two big heads of Medusa that lies beneath the heavy columns. Basilica Cistern was also the location of the famous James Bond movie From Russia with Love. Nothing much to see here aside from the dark alleys and columns so 1 hour is already enough. Entrance fee is 10 turkish lira and opens daily from 9am to 5pm only.

Hagia Sofia (Aya Sofya)- 

Just right the exit area of Basilica Cistern is the Hagia Sofiya. It was built during the Byzantine era where Turkey was still Constantinople and Christianity is the religion. You will see here are some paintings of Catholic religious images. During the Ottoman Empire, this church was converted into mosque, but the influence of the Catholicism still remained and kept. It is here you will see a combination of two religions, Christianity and Islam. Inside the church are breathtaking domes and pillars covered with mosaic tiles. The place is undergoing restoration but still worth visiting. If I would choose between Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofiya, I would recommend this place.

Spend at least 3 hours because there will be a long line at the ticket booth but you will be amaze once you are inside. Entrance fee is 25 turkish lira and it is open daily except Monday from 9am to 5pm.

So basically your half day is already packed with so many things to see since above places are just walking distance from one another. It is up to you how much time you are going to spend on each place and which should you put first on your itinerary.

There are still several places that I will post soon but in the mean time I’m gonna pause first because I still need to upload more pics on my facebook hahahaha. Stay tuned for parts 3, 4…. J