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Background |
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Selma
has put together some suggested itineraries for you. You will find details of each of the highlighted sights listed further below. |
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1 Day
Tour |
Tour
of the Blue Mosque Area.
ST. SOPHIA IS CLOSED ON MONDAYS! Please note that all of these sites are close in proximity and you can visit at your own pace, so if you arrive in Istanbul by mid day, you will still be able to do this tour. First visit Hagia Sophia Museum (or St. Sophia or Ayasofya) - probably one of the most exquisite buildings in the world. I suggest you find a guide near the ticket booth to take you through the church - you will learn so much - it is worth it. Go southwest from Ayasofya to the Blue Mosque (or Sultanahmet Mosque). The entrance is on the northwest side. On you way out of the Blue Mosque go east to the site of the ancient Hippodrome. All that remains today are 3 of the many statues, paintings, columns and busts that adorned this huge structure - the Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column, and Walled Obelisk. Continue North to the site of the ancient Cistern. From here go back toward the Blue Mosque and enjoy an apple tea and a smoke from a water pipe at one of the Tea Houses on the street outside. For dinner, make a reservation at Tike. Tike was just written up in the New York Times and the London Times as the best restaurant in Istanbul! They serve all kinds of kebabs. I suggest everyone get a different one and you all taste - they will serve it that way if you ask. |
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2 Day Tour
Tip: |
Walking
Tour of Topkapi Palace Area: TOPKAPI PALACE & HAGIA EIRENE ARE CLOSED ON TUESDAYS!
The ARCHEOLOGY MUSEUM IS CLOSED ON MONDAYS. Be at Topkapi Palace by 10am. Buy your ticket at the booths that are located to the right of the tree-lined promenade before the main entrance. Students and teachers get a discount in most all museums in Turkey - so ask for it. Go through the main entrance. If it is summer, go straight away to the Harem to get your Harem Tour tickets. It sells out quickly in the summer and you don't want to miss it. The Harem building is about 100 yards ahead from the entrance on the left. You will see 2 ticket booths there to buy your tickets. Make sure you understand which time your tour is - and be there. After the Harem Tour go back to the main gate and you will see a covered area with a model of the palace. In that general area you will be able to find a guide. A Guide will charge about $6-8 US per person for a 4 hour tour. Get the Guide! Have lunch at the restaurant inside the Topkapi Palace Restaurant. There is a great view from there and the food is surprisingly very good. To the north of Topkapi Palace, back through the tree-lined walkway, just inside the royal gates, is the Hagia Eirene - site of one of the world's first churches. Just east of Hagia Eirene is the Archeological Museum Don't miss the sarcophagus depicting Alexander the Great's battles. Go to the Orient House Dinner & Show at 8pm. It's a great show with fabulous Belly Dancers. Make reservations in advance! |
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3 Day Tour
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Tour
of the Covered and Spice Bazaars.
BOTH THE COVERED BAZAAR an SPICE BAZAAR
ARE CLOSED ON SUNDAYS! Head for The Grand Bazaar (Kapalicarsi or the Covered Bazaar) opens at 10am. Be there at 10am or you will run out of time. Go to the Main Gate at "Nuruosmaniye" right by the mosque. Walk around and have fun! The bazaar has over 4,399 shops in over 5 miles of covered passageways. This is the best place in the world to buy gold, silver, carpets and leather. Leave the Grand Bazaar by 2:00 pm so you have time for the Spice Bazaar. Go to the Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar) or Misir Carcasi (Mi-sir Char-sha-si. If you are tired, you can take a cab from the same Main Gate at Nuruosmaniye, but I recommend you walk. If you walk, go back out the main gate and at the main street in front of you go left and follow Carsi Caddesi (Char-sha Jad-esi) all the way down the hill to the Golden Horn and the Spice Bazaar. It's a fun walk, full of local shops and shoppers - if you are lucky you will catch the "Pazar" or street market. The Spice Bazaar is close to Yeni Cami and the Galata Bridge, all in the area of the Golden Horn. For a special treat, go to the restaurants that are under the Galata Bridge. This is a great place to watch the sunset and have dinner. Go to the restaurants on the South facing side of the bridge so you can enjoy the ferry boat port and the view of the Sea of Marmara. Order one thing at a time and share. Specialties are fried Anchovies, fried Sardines, fried Mussels, Stuffed Mussels and fresh local fish (Calamari is expensive). The local Efes beer is a perfect beverage to accompany your meal. Sometimes they take advantage of tourists - so make sure you check the menu and prices and don't accept any food the put on your table that you have not ordered. This is my favorite place to dine in Istanbul! |
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4 Day Tour
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Go to the Ferry
Station at Galata Bridge (Golden Horn). Take a ferry around the
Bosphorus. To do this you just get on the ferry and travel through the
stops, when the ferry turns back you should get off at Bostanci
for a great fish lunch. Then catch the ferry back to Istanbul. Upon your
return, get a taxi and go to Suleymaniye
Mosque, built by the famous architect Sinan. Then visit Chora
Church renowned
for its unsurpassed 11-14 century frescos. Then stop by the world famous
Peri
Palace, built
for the passengers of the Orient Express Train and where Agatha Cristy
wrote Murder On The Orient Express, for a spot of tea - the best
Tea Time in Istanbul. For dinner |
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Special Note: |
The
Galata Mevlevihane,
or Museum of Divine Literature, a formerly active dervish
monastery, performs the seven centuries old whirling ritual on the last
Sunday of each month to preserve the tradition. An octagonal hall with
viewing gallery is the setting for the 2 hour Sema or ceremony. |
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| Constructed
during the time of Fatih Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror in 1481, Topkapı
Palace was the official residence of the Ottoman Sultans - at one point
in during the 18th Century, housed a population of more than
10,000! The most popular section of the museum, the Harem section,
is a vast labyrinth of rooms and corridors (only part is open to the
public), once occupied by the black eunuchs, concubines, the sultan's
mother and the sultan himself. Another popular section, The Imperial
Treasury, houses the Topkapi Dagger, Spoonmaker Diamond and the Throne
of Nadir Shah. Other sections include the Palace Garments, Miniatures,
Sacred Relics, Books, Maps and Historical Documents. Hours: Open 9:00am - 5:00pm, Closed on Tuesdays Admission: about $6.00 USD For more information about Topkapi Palace Museum visit www.ee.bilkent.edu.tr |
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| Hagia
Eirene, one of the oldest churches in Constantinople and the Church of
the Patriarch prior to Hagia Sophia, said to have housed the cross of
Jesus Christ. It was enlarged in the early 4th century, and at that
period played a major -and sometimes bloody- role in the controversies
between Arian and Orthodox Christians. The church was burned down in the
Nika Rebellion and rebuilt by Justinian. Hagia Eirene is the only
Byzantine church in Istanbul with its atrium intact. The plan is a good
example of the transition from a basilica to a Greek cross. Thick walls
support the main dome and the small dome to the east, while columns
divide the nave from the aisles. The plain cross in the apse must date
from the iconoclastic period and the remains of the mosaics in the
narthex probably date from the time of Justinian. Hagia Eirene was
enclosed by the palace walls soon after the Ottoman conquest and was
used by janissaries as an armory. Hours: Open 9:00am - 5:00pm, Closed on Tuesdays Admission: Free to enter. For more information about the Hagia Eirene visit http://www.patriarchate.org/ecumenical_patriarchate |
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| This
exquisite museum houses treasures such as the sarcophagus of Alexander
the Great, the sarcophagus of weeping maidens, the Lycian sarcophagus
found at Sayda in Syria, a collection of up to 60 thousand various
archeological finds, 500 thousand coins and medallions and 75 thousand
inscription tablets. It is a must see. Hours: Open 9:00am - 5:00pm, Closed on Tuesdays Admission: about $6 USD For more information about the Archeology Museum visit http://www.itu.edu.tr/ |
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Grand
Bazaar |
Within the complex of the Grand Bazaar are
s over 4,399 shops in over 5 miles of covered passageways. Several hans
(inns) are included in the complex, in particular the Valide Han, built in
1651, and the Zincirli at the northwest corner. Throughout
Turkey such hans provided accommodation for merchants, their animals
and their merchandise, as well as for travelers during the Ottoman
Empire. |
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Spice Bazaar
(Egyptian Bazaar) |
The
Spice Bazaar offers everything from Soup to Nuts! Herbs, spices and teas
are the most popular. Saffron is very cheap, all the spices and teas are very fresh. You can also get
olive oil soap, the best feta cheese and olives and the apple
tea. After spice shopping you must visit the outdoor part of the
bazaar - my kids call it the "Istanbul Zoo". Here they sell
plants, seeds, every kind of bird you can imagine and many other
interesting things. It is a treat for adults and children. |
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| Hagia
Sophia of
Istanbul was completed in 360 during the reign of the Emperor
Constantinus,
and became known as the church of Divine Wisdom - Hagia Sophia. The
original church was burned during an uprising on 20th
June, 404, was rebuilt during the reign of Theodosius II, and re-opened
on 10th October, 415. The second church was destroyed by fire during the
"Nika Uprising" in 532, and was completely restored with the support of
the Empress Theodora, wife of Justinian. This church is what we visit today. One can visit this magnificent
building over and over again and find new wonders each time. Hours: Open 9:00am - 5:00pm Closed on Mondays Admission: about $6.00 USD For more information about Hagia Sophia visit http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/paulsilent-hagsoph1.html http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/4205/20882 http://www.byzantines.net/epiphany/HagiaSophia.htm http://www.patriarchate.org/ecumenical_patriarchate |
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Blue
Mosque |
The mosque was built by Ahmet I in
1609 and completed in 1616 over part of the ruins of the Byzantine
Palace. Its architect was Sedefkar Mehmet Aga, a pupil of Sinan. The
vast interior is a vision of color and light and the marvelous Iznik
tiles for which the mosque is so rightly famous. Hours: Open during daylight. Closed during the pray times. Admission: Free to enter. |
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Hippodrome was built in the
2nd century by Emperor Septimus Severus and later extended
and remodeled by Constantine the Great. It covered an area of 500 by
200 yards, and seated 100,000 spectators. During the reigns of
Byzantine Emperors, it was the center of the civil activities of the
city. Although other events were also held here, the most important
was chariot racing. Hours: Open Air Park Admission: Free to enter |
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Egyptian Obelisk |
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This cistern is thought to
have been built by Justinian after the Nika revolt in 532 AD. It was
known as the Basilica Cistern during the Roman period, as there was a
Stoa Basilica above the pre-existing one at the time. After the conquest
of the city by the Ottoman Turks, it was forgotten of and nobody knew
that it existed. Re-discovered in 1545, it was used to water the gardens
of Topkapi Palace. Today it has a rather eerie and mystical ambiance.
Clever spotlighting makes the water shimmer with colored dancing lights
and the water ripples from an occasional fish swishing its tail in
exuberance. Hours: Open everyday 9:00am to 6:00pm. Admission: about 6 USD. |
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Süleymaniye Mosque
Open during daylight. Closed during the pray times. Free to enter. |
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| The Church of the Holy Savior of Chora,
called in Turkish, Kariye Camii, is after Hagia Sophia the most
interesting Byzantine church in the city. Not so much for the building
itself, but because of the superb series of colorful mosaics and
frescoes which it preserves and which have been magnificently restored
and cleaned by the Byzantine Institute of America. Hours: Open 9:00am - 5:00pm, Closed on Wednesdays Admission: about $5.00 USD For more information about the Kariye Church (Kora) visit http://www.patriarchate.org/html/chora.html |
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The
Whirling Dervish Ceremony at Galata Mehlevihane is a 2 hour
ceremony. The first hour is a variety of uplifting choral harmonies,
lilting melodies and passionate percussion, with particular emphasis on
the reed flute accompaniment. During the second half the solemn entrance
of about 15 male and female dervishes clad in black gowns and capped in
the unmistakable elongated conical headdress during a deafening silence.
Following a short meditative time, the mevlanis or dervishes de-gown to
reveal their colorful flowing skirts underneath, and the ritualistic
walking involving a series of 3 revolutions about the hall follows. Then
the real action begins, as each mevlani in turn starts to spin off,
whirling and revolving around the hall until they are all in a state of
unison with eachother. At the onset to the whirl, the hands are held
crosswise against the breast at first but successively move up and
outwards, the right hand facing the sky symbolizing prayer and the left
tuned down, to symbolize a correlation with the earth. The Sema encompasses 4 states or whirlings which represent the transition from Gods unknowing servant to one with acquired knowledge and perfection, having achieved this through acquisition of God's love and truth and the casting off of oneself, thus enabling a spiritual communion with God (nirvana). The bewildering spectacle of endlessly flailing arms and legs and colorful flowing skirts revolving at tremendous speeds, the mevlanis eyes closed and head bent whirling in unison with the music and in their own communion with God, is truly inspiring and would even make it worthy of changing your holiday dates. Be sure to check out the tombstones in the adjacent small graveyard, each stone capped in the headdress denoting the rank of the deceased. Hours: Call for times Admission: about $3.00 Address: Divan Edebiyati Muzesi, Galip Dede Cad. 15, Tunel-Beyoglu Tel: 245-4141 |
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Istanbul
FAQs, Insider Tips and Links |
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If you
have any question, comments or if you have any full or half day trips
you would like to add, we would be very happy to share them with the
world! |
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