MUSEUMS

Istanbul Archaeology Museum

Just a hop, skip, and jump away from Topkapı Palace, this important museum complex brings together a staggering array of artifacts from Turkey and throughout the Middle East, which sweeps through the vast breadth of history of this region. There are three separate sections in the complex, each of which are worthy of a visit: the Museum of the Ancient Orient; the main Archaeology Museum; and the Tiled Pavilion of Mehmet the Conqueror, which holds a staggering collection of ceramic art. As well as all the wonderful artifacts on display, don’t miss the interesting Istanbul Through the Ages exhibit room in the main Archaeology Museum.

Pera Museum

Istanbul’s most famous art gallery is the lovely Pera Museum, which is where art-hounds head to drink in one of the finest collections of Ottoman era painting in the world. As well as the art, make time to wander through the rest of their collection, which includes plenty of ceramics along with other Ottoman period objects. The program of regularly changing exhibitions often displays some of the art world’s biggest names.

Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts (Türk ve Islam Eserleri Müzesi)

Housed in the palace of İbrahim Paşa who was Grand Vizier for Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, this museum is a must-see attraction for anyone interested in Ottoman and Islamic art. The carpet collection on display here is vast and is heralded by textile experts as the world’s best. This is a prime place to come have a peek at the dazzling array of styles of Turkish carpets (along with carpets from the Caucasus and Iran) across the centuries before setting out on a shopping mission to purchase your own floor piece. There are also exquisite ceramics, calligraphy, and wood carving exhibits ranging in date from the 9th century AD to the 19th century.

Dolmabahçe Palace

The largest palace in Turkey

The Dolmabahçe Palace was built by Sultan Abdulmecid in 1856 and is divided into three parts: the imperial harem, the state apartments and the ceremonial hall. Facing the Bosphorus, this beautiful palace was built mainly for the anchorage of the Ottoman fleet. The imperial garden and the various small summer palaces ultimately turned this area into a palace complex. There is obvious Western influences in the style and decoration of the palace. Full of stunning chandeliers and fountains, this is one sight worth checking out.

PARKS

Yildiz Park (Yildiz Grove) in Yildiz, Besiktas

The Yildiz Grove & Park is located in Besiktas, in the Yildiz Pavilion that was built by Sultan Selim III for his mother. The grove has variety of beautiful pools, waterfalls and ponds as well as with beautiful gardens and trees. Some of the trees are about 400 years old.

Gulhane Park in Eminonu

The Gulhane Park is one of the most visited one Istanbul. It is located in the historical peninsula. The park was once a rosary shelter and garden development place for Ottoman Palace. The Gulhane Park has variety of gardens, pools and welcomes the visitors in its beautiful environment.

Emirgan Park in Emirgan

The Emirgan Grove & Park is located in Emirgan and covers an area of 325,000 square meters. The parks has variety of pine, umbrella pine, cypress, fir, willow and lime trees.

Fethi Pasa Grove in Uskudar

Fethi Pasa Grove is located between Uskudar and Belerbeyi, on the Bosphorus Asian Shore, Istanbul. Fethi Pasa Grove covers a 16 hectares of green area and has an outstanding panorama of the Bosphorus.

Romantika Fenerbahce Park in Fenerbahce, Kadikoy

The Romantika Fenerbahce Park is located on the Fenerbahce Peninsula, Kadikoy and the park is very popular with the Istanbul locals with its beautiful open and closed areas. The park overlooks the famous Princes Islands.

Beykoz Grove in Beykoz

The Beykoz Grove is a beautiful grove nearby the Bosphorus in Beykoz. It belongs to Sultan Abdulhamid II era.

Mihrabad Grove in Kanlica

The Mihrabad Grove is a beautiful grove overlooking Bosphorus and covers an area of 25 hectares, located in Kanlica. There are variety of gardens as well as with monumental cypresses, umbrealla pines, Judas and bay trees.

Cubuklu Hidiv Ismail Pasa Grove in Cubuklu, Beykoz

The Cubuklu Hidiv Ismail Pasa Grove is a beautiful grove located in Cubuklu, Beykoz. It is kind of a small grove but it is beautiful with pine trees, firs and cedars. Also the Misir Hidivi Abbas Hilmi Pasa palace nearby the grove is a great architectural masterpiece.

Bebek Park in Bebek

The Belgrad Forests are one of the most green places in Istanbul and covers an area of 5,300 hectares of land full of oak, beech and chestnut trees. There are variety of picnic areas for the visitors.

Ulus Parkı in Ulus

The Ulus Park is located on the Adnan Saygun Street in Ulus, Istanbul. The Ulus Park is well preserved one and has an outstanding panorama through the Bosphorus.

Naile Sultan Grove in Ortakoy-Kurucesme

The Naile Sultan Grove is located between Ortakoy & Kurucesme and the name comes from the daughter of Sultan Abdulhamid II. There are variety of beautiful valuable trees and flowers as well as with an outstanding pavilion.

MARKETS

Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı)

For many visitors, sightseeing in Istanbul is as much about shopping as museums and monumental attractions, and the Grand Bazaar is where everyone comes. This massive covered market is basically the world’s first shopping mall; taking up a whole city quarter, surrounded by thick walls, between the Nure Osmanıye Mosque and Beyazıt Mosque. The Beyazıt Mosque (built in 1498-1505) itself occupies the site of Theodosius I’s Forum and has architecture inspired by the Aya Sofya.

Entrance to the bazaar is through one of 11 gates from where a maze of vaulted-ceiling laneways, lined by shops and stalls selling every Turkish souvenir and handicraft you could imagine, cover the area. The various trades are still mostly segregated into particular sections, which makes browsing easier. Near the bazaar’s Divanyolu Caddesi entrance is the Burned Column. This stump (still 40 meters high) of a porphyry column was set up by Constantine the Great in his forum. Until 1105 it bore a bronze statue of Constantine.

Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)

The Spice Bazaar is the place to get your foodie fix of lokum (Turkish delight), dried fruit, nuts, herbs, and of course spice. Much of the money that helped construct it came from the taxes the Ottoman government levied on Egyptian-made products, which is why its name in Turkish (Mısır Çarşısı) means “Egyptian Market”. The Spice Bazaar is a prime tourist attraction and at certain times of the day gets ridiculously crowded with huge tour groups from the docked cruise ships. Try to come before 11am or after 4pm.

Just next door to the Spice Bazaar’s main entrance is the stately Yeni Camii (New Mosque), which was begun in 1615 and finished in 1663 – that’s “new” for Istanbul. It is worthwhile taking a peek inside while you’re sightseeing in the area as the interior is richly decorated with tile-work and liberal use of gold leaf.