What to visit in Istanbul in 5 days. What to see in Istanbul in three days: options for routes around the city

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Task: pet all the cats and try not to eat all the sweets in the city.

Given

• Childhood dream of becoming an architect.
• Love for beautiful buildings, cats and coffee.
• Craving for national entertainment.
• Five days.

First day

• Breakfast Place - Federal Galata, Sahkulu Mah. Kucuk Hendek Cad. No: 7.
• The Istanbul War Museum is worth a look, if only to understand how a country can fight for almost its entire history.
• Hookah bars are easy to find throughout the city - a particular concentration is observed near the Nusretiye Camii Mosque.
• Museum of Modern Art (Istanbul Museum of Modern Art) - Asmalımescit Mahallesi, Meşrutiyet Caddesi No:99.
• Look for a suitable cruise at the Eminonu pier. You need to bargain - otherwise you will spend several times more than the real cost.
• The highest observation deck in the city (and dinner with great view) - Sapphire skyscraper ( Emniyetevleri Mahallesi, Eski Büyükdere Cd. No:1).

Second day

• Traditional Turkish bagels are called simit and are sold on any major street.
• New mosque - Rüstem Pasha Mahallesi, Yeni Cami Cd. No:3.
• Suleymaniye Mosque - Süleymaniye Mah, Prof. Sıddık Sami Onar Cd. No:1.
• Istanbul Archaeological Museum - Cankurtaran Mh.
• Topkapi Palace - Cankurtaran Mh.
• Basilica Cistern - Alemdar Mh., Yerebatan Cd. ⅓.
• You can watch the dances of dervishes (something like monks, but Muslim) in Galata Mevlevihanesi Müzesi ( Şahkulu Mh., Galip Dede Cd. No:15).
• Dinner place - Stone House Bistro (Kucukayasofya Mahallesi, Kucukayasofya Caddesi, Kaleci Sokak No: 7).

The third day

• Strange Turkish ice cream - dondurma. Like other national dishes, it is best to try it not in restaurants, but on the street.
• Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art - Sultanahmet, At Meydani, 46.
• Galata Tower - Bereketzade Mahallesi, Galata Kulesi Sk.
• Blue Mosque - Sultan Ahmet Mahallesi, Atmeydanı Cd. No:7.
• Hagia Sophia - Sultan Ahmet Mahallesi, Ayasofya Meydanı.
• Dinner place - Pierre Loti ( Eyüp Merkez Mahallesi, İdris Köşkü Cd.).

Fourth day

Istanbul is an ancient cultural cauldron, the fire under which was lit back in the era of the Roman Empire.

Byzantium, founded by the ancient Greeks, grew into the mighty Constantinople, then became the head of the Ottoman Empire, and today has turned into an incredible conglomerate of traditions - Christian, Muslim and God knows what else.

Understanding the sights of Istanbul is as difficult as understanding its roots.

It’s easy to get lost here, so our task is to sort Istanbul into pieces and teach you how to navigate it transport system.

Walking around Istanbul: where to go and what to see in ancient Constantinople

The uniqueness of Istanbul is due to its geographical location: the city is located at the junction of Asia and Europe, taking on the role of a kind of ideological bridge.

This metropolis occupied both coasts of the Bosphorus Strait, becoming a “checkpoint” between the Black and Mediterranean seas.

In the old days, such an advantageous position was considered a curse: the city was periodically captured by either the Crusaders or the Ottomans, and sometimes Russian princes nailed a military shield to the gates of Constantinople.

Before we begin reviewing the sights of Istanbul, let's take a look at its transport system - it is very extensive and well-organized.

• buses;
• trams (modern and retro);
• dolmushi (in our opinion - minibuses);
• metrobuses and minibuses;
• cable cars;
• funiculars;
• regular and light metro;
• commuter electric trains;
• ferries;
• Taxi.

If we start talking in detail about each vehicle, neither the volume of the article nor the patience of the readers is enough for this, so we will limit ourselves to three useful tips.

It will be more convenient to travel around the city if:

1. Arriving in Istanbul, immediately purchase a city map.
2. Invest in transport card Istanbulcart (costs 6 liras) - this way you can save a lot. The use is simple - you need to attach it to the turnstile.
3. Don’t be shy to ask passers-by for help.

Variations from 2 to 7 days

Istanbul is like an endless puzzle that you can study for years.

If you arrived in the city for a short visit, then in 2 or 4 days it will be quite difficult to see all the remarkable corners.

It is best to devote seven days to Istanbul. In a week you will be able to see all the interesting places worthy of attention.

We have divided the interesting places into three lists.

For a two-day visit, you can limit yourself to the top three attractions and supplement them with strange corners.
With a four-day or week-long tour, you can cover it all. Depends on the speed of movement and the plan that will be drawn on your map. Go.

My wife and I prepared carefully for our trip to Istanbul. We studied reviews from other tourists, and two publications: “Istanbul: instructions for use” and “Together in Istanbul” - were used as a guide to action. Now we already have our own experience of traveling to this wonderful city, so I hope that these notes will also be useful to someone.

First of all, for those who are hesitant to go or not to go, I can say unequivocally - go. Istanbul is a Muslim city and narrower, so it is unlike any other city in Europe. In addition, he continues the traditions of Constantinople ( former capital Byzantine Empire), the only prosperous civilization in the world that existed after the fall of the Roman Empire until the end of the 12th century.

When to go: it seems that any month is suitable for a trip to Istanbul, but I think that you can get the most pleasure at the end of April - May - early June and, accordingly, in September and October: it is hot during the day, but there is no suffocating heat due to the cool wind; in the evening it is also very warm. We were in Istanbul for May holidays and were left very pleased with the weather.

Amount of days. We were in Istanbul for 3.5 days and completed the entire cultural main program. You can add another day for shopping if you need to make some purchases. So, at least 3 full, but no more than 5 days including arrival and departure.

Information. A visa to Turkey is not required. At the airport upon arrival, before the border guards pass, you buy a stamp for $20, which is immediately pasted into your passport. It’s better to change some of the money right away at the Airport, so that you don’t have to worry about it later. Exchange rate 1 dollar = 1.33 liras. You can also easily buy a ticket to Istanbul, but booking a hotel is difficult - the Turks require prepayment, so it was decided to contact a travel agency.

This company turned out to be Consul Travel Service. The cost of the trip included airfare Turkish Airlines(much more comfortable than Aeroflot, but more expensive), hotel accommodation, insurance and transfer.

The flight went without incident, then we were met at the airport by the company’s representative, Sasha, loaded with things and headed towards the hotel. After some time, it turned out that the minibus that was sent for us could not drive up to the hotel due to the high roof and traffic jams, and Sasha suggested we take a walk, bravely undertaking to drag the heaviest of our bags. We didn't mind; after sitting on the plane for a long time, it was quite possible to stretch our legs. We got lost for about 10 minutes. Sasha constantly called the hotel, found out its location, they allegedly told him that he needed to ask for directions - “anyone will tell you.”

In general, the Turks are very responsive people; indeed, anyone is ready to respond and show you the way to the place where you are going. We became convinced of this later when we walked around Istanbul. For example, I contacted the police a couple of times: they are very friendly guys. However, one must keep in mind that when showing the road, Turks usually indicate the cardinal direction. He waves his hand like that, smiling - “there.” Of course, such help is of little use, but there is a lot of attention and desire to help.

In total, we wandered around for 18 minutes (and we paid no less than 40 dollars for the one-way transfer), and finally found it.

Hotel "Ayasofia", advertised in Moscow as 3*, is quite nice on the outside - a typical Turkish wooden building, but already on the inside it began to disappoint: simple and poor. But the number was simply amazing. We calculated that its area was no more than 8 m2. Moreover, it was strikingly (not for the better) different from what I saw in the advertising brochure. The room had a tiny bathroom with a door that wouldn’t close, and when we had to flush the toilet or, for example, sneeze or do something else, we knew that the neighbors could hear everything, because we also heard everything. Well, of course, based on European standards, the hotel was at most 2*, but for the pleasure of living in it, each of us paid $54 a day.

Geographical retreat or where to live. Istanbul giant city with a population of 15 million people, divided into 3 parts: two European and one Asian. The Asian part is called Uskudar, and there are no hotels on it. It is connected to the European part by a huge suspension bridge, which can only be crossed by transport. The city is divided by the Bosphorus, connecting the Black and Marmara seas. The European part, in turn, is divided by the Golden Horn. On the European part you can stay in the Old Town area - Sultanaxmet (where we actually lived). The main attractions are located here. However, even the guidebook "Le Petit Fute" says about this area that "its modest hotels leave much to be desired." For some reason, the travel agency did not emphasize this. And we only figured this out on the spot. And the price we paid for such a room is prohibitive.

Next are the "Lalelli" and "Aksarai" districts. The districts are located in the middle between the "Old City" and the "New City", which is located behind the Ataturk and Galata bridges. It would seem most convenient. The guidebook says that “here you will find nice hotels for a reasonable price.” But the fact is that the areas themselves are not very beautiful. "Lalelli" is generally a district of Russian shopkeepers. If you live there, then there is the prospect of being in Istanbul and at the same time at the clothing market in Moscow.

The most respectable area is "Taksim", where most of the 4 and 5 star hotels are located, but there are far fewer attractions. That is, if you live in Taksim, you need to rely on taxi trips or, taking into account the road there and back, your legs will be worn down to the knees. But a hiking tourist has nothing to fear. Although, of course, the most important thing for him is the price-quality ratio.

If we talk about economy class hotels, if today I had a choice, I would choose "Ayasofia Pansionari", a hotel located in a romantic place next to the Hagia Sophia Cathedral. If not, then you need to choose Taksim. More expensive, but better quality.

Excursions. If you speak English, have a city map (which you need to buy immediately, for example at a hotel) and a guidebook, then you don’t need excursions. You will see everything for yourself, go everywhere and save money. I foresee an objection - after all, the main thing in excursions is not the cost, but the quality of the guide’s work.

All this is true, however... We don’t speak English and, although we had a map and a guidebook, we still bought one excursion for $65 out of pocket. In fact, for the whole day, with sightseeing tour to the main (but not all) attractions and a boat trip along the Bosphorus. The guide, a Turkish woman, spoke Russian, distorting all cases loudly, but indistinctly. The information was very general - you can read everything in a guidebook, missing out, as it turned out later, many interesting things. Where it was necessary to give at least an hour for examination, I gave 30 minutes, where it was possible to limit myself to 10 minutes (take one picture and that’s it), I also gave 30 minutes. Add to this the disorganization of our people. You tell him that the gathering, for example, is at two o’clock, but the last ones leave at 2.20. The rest “like idiots” at the beginning run “at a gallop across Europe”, and then wait for the “smartest”. This is the problem of a guide - to be a tough organizer. But the Turks are not like that. They are kind, polite, courteous and annoying. They indulge tourists in everything, the main thing for them is that you pay more money, while they will shortchange tourists mercilessly and at every opportunity. The ideal relationship with the Turks is to purchase an all-inclusive service. Therefore, it is valued in Turkey sea ​​holiday on the coast at 5 star hotels.

Information. Tourists are harassed mercilessly. And they are always trying to push something. Here you need to decide, if you have a predisposition to buy, you can make contact; if you have no desire to buy, it’s better not to even look in the direction of the merchants, otherwise they will immediately start fooling you. If you have made contact, you need to find out the price and start bargaining. Name (or show on the calculator) your price (2.5 times less). Think about how much you wouldn’t mind paying for a product. The price you pay will still be only for you; someone else will buy it at a different price. You need to bargain virtually everywhere, except European supermarkets and small grocery stores. When you pay, they can give you both new money and old money, they are also in use, but do not be mistaken in the number of zeros. 1lira = 1000000.

Attractions. I have a map in front of me and I will describe the route as we walked it. You don’t care, since you don’t have a map of the city in front of your eyes, but when you buy it and hold it in front of your eyes, you will understand the logic of the story.

We start in the Sultanahmet area. We move along the boulevard - the former Hippodrome, all excursions begin from here and examine the Obelisk, created in Egypt in 1500 BC, the pedestal of which is decorated with bas-reliefs, we pass the bronze dragon column brought from the Temple of Apollo in Delphi and the column of Constantine, then the German source and The majestic, stunningly imaginative “Ahmedia” - the Blue Mosque - opens before our eyes. We take a long time to photograph it from all sides, then go inside, having first taken off our shoes and put them in bags prudently prepared for tourists. Staying in the mosque is free, but they encourage donations when leaving. Let's leave the little things and move on. Before us is Hagia Sophia. (Closed on Monday, open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9.30 to 16.30). The cathedral was built in 360 - the main attraction of the former Constantinople. Looking at him, you understand why Christianity was chosen in Rus' in its orthodox version - Orthodoxy. Since 1453, the cathedral was rebuilt into a mosque, now a museum. After visiting the cathedral, we move to the Topkapi Sultan's Palace. The palace served as the residence of the sultans from the 15th to the mid-19th century. Consists of 4 courtyards: 2 external and 2 internal. Open from Wednesday to Monday from 9.00 to 17.00. The best time to go to the palace is when the weather is good; walking around it is a pleasure. In one of the rooms the hair of the Prophet Muhammad is exhibited. Do not miss. This place is easy to recognize, as prayers are chanted there all the time. Treasury and harem for some money. A walk around the palace with photography takes 1.5 – 2 hours. We examine the last courtyard and the magnificent Bosphorus and the Golden Horn Bay open up to our eyes. You can sit in a cafe and have a snack while enjoying the view, which is what we do. We leave Topkapi Palace and then we have two options, move right or left along the tram tracks.

Information. Despite the fact that the city is gigantic, the main attractions are located relatively compactly. In principle, you can travel on foot, but it is better to stick to the tram tracks, otherwise you can easily get lost. An idea like “let’s take a shortcut here” can easily lead to the fact that after a while you lose your bearings or even run into a dead end. Remember “The Diamond Arm”, when Gesha ran through the narrow streets looking for a way out, don’t repeat the mistakes of others. The tram tracks are well marked on the map and are easy to find. You can travel by tram. For 1.2 liras, you buy a token at any stop and go to the desired stop, their names are displayed on the board. You can get around by taxi – it’s yellow, so you can’t confuse it. But we haven’t tried it, so I can’t tell you how it works.

Attractions. The tram tracks are located closer to Hagia Sophia, we move to the left and after a while we find ourselves in Beyazidiye. There is a complex of buildings built in 1501-1506, including a mosque, madrasah, school, Turkish baths and a mausoleum. Here we also take a series of photographs and hit the road again. Next is the Lalelli district. There is even a bank here where you can change rubles. Many menus and even signs are in Russian, but there are no other attractions here and when we reach Ataturk bulvari, we turn right to the Aqueduct. After passing the Aqueduct, we look for the Suleymanie sign and after a while we approach the second largest Suleymanie Mosque. It is clear that there are a lot of mosques in Istanbul, but two are a must-visit - Ahmediye (Blue Mosque) and Suleymaniye. The mosque stands on a hill above the Golden Horn. The ensemble was built in 1550-1557. by order of Suleiman the Magnificent. The courtyard of the mosque is surrounded by a gallery supported by 24 columns of porphyry, white marble and pink granite. Four minarets and ten galleries symbolize the fact that Suleiman was the fourth sultan to rule in Istanbul, and the tenth in the dynasty.

We return to Ataturk Boulevard and eventually reach the Ataturk Bridge. We cross the bridge to the other side of Istanbul. We are in the Galata area. We see the Galata Tower from the shore of the Old City, and all the time we walk along the bridge. We go up to the Galata Tower and, having bought a ticket, move up to the observation deck. It offers panoramic views of the city. Next, we need to get our bearings and get to the tram tracks correctly in order to move towards the Taksim area. We are only interested in one street, Istiklal Caddessi, it runs along the tram tracks. This is the main hangout for tourists and Turkish youth. Lots of food, shops, and just an incredible amount of people. But everyone behaves very correctly, smiles, and enjoys the holiday of life. Along this street we reach the square, where the tram makes a loop and goes back towards the Galata Tower. We are in the Taksim area.

Attractions. Now we begin the excursion from the Taksim area and will move to the other side towards Sultanahmet. There are plenty of places to walk in the Taksim area, but the main attraction is the Dolmabahce Palace. It is located on the coast on the Bosphorus and you need to either walk down to it or take a taxi. This is the only place where it is worth booking an excursion. This is due to the fact that all excursionists are still divided into groups and if there is no Russian group (which is very likely), you will have to choose between a Turkish or English-speaking one. The palace is magnificent, if it is very pleasant to walk in Topkapi, enjoying first of all the landscape, then Dolmabache is truly a palace complex comparable in beauty to the Louvre and the Hermitage. And the Sultan’s front hall is incomparable to anything; there is no such luxury anywhere in Europe. In Dolmabach it is also worth visiting the harem, listening to a story or reading something on the topic. You will learn a lot of interesting things. Having examined the Palace guarded by guards and the changing of the guard, we leave the Dolmabache area and rise again to Taksim.

Information. There are toilets near mosques, and you will come across them along the route. You still won’t find any useful restaurants to recommend. But it’s worth talking about food separately. It is impossible to remain hungry in Istanbul if you have money. A huge number of "kebab parlors" and "buffets". In general, ordinary canteens, like Mu-Mu, but High Quality. Take a tray, cutlery sealed in a bag, point your finger at the dish and go ahead. Try cutlets (kufte), kebabs (chopped or finely chopped meat), kebabs, you can’t go wrong, everything is of high quality, although of course it is not a culinary delight. A snack will cost 15 - 20 liras per person. There is no need to write about oriental sweets; there are plenty of them, in cafes or to take away. There are virtually no juices, there is cola, tea, which the Turks consume in huge quantities, bottled water and ayran. Ayran is simply a find. Quenches thirst and slightly suppresses hunger. Sold in plastic cups in any store. Read more about restaurants in other reports.

Attractions. From the Galata area we cross the Galata Bridge to Old city and we find ourselves in the Eminonu region. (Eminonu).The main attraction here is the Egyptian market, where we buy sweets and henna by weight. From here, motor ships depart from the embankment for a walk towards the Black Sea. We do this walk 2 times. Once with a tour and on your own. I really liked it. There is no need to buy tickets at the box office; just walk along the embankment and people will notice you. When buying a ticket, do not forget to bargain. In summer, the guidebook also recommends sailing to the Princes' Islands. In Eminonu we take the tram and go towards Sultanahmet, the beginning of our journey. It's only 3 stops. The stop before Sultanahmet is marked as Archaeological Museum. We didn’t get to the museum (it was Monday), but we had a wonderful walk through the flowery park, reaching the shore of the Bosphorus. Already on the hill above us famous palace Topkapi. That's it, the circle is closed.

Entertainment in the evening. "Turkish Night" with restaurant and belly dancing. You can buy from the company, or in the city from any local travel agency. We did things differently. Based on the flyer they gave us, we went to a folk dance concert. We had a lot of fun and even saw the famous dance of the whirling dervishes. The program is wider than in a restaurant. We left the restaurant itself for after the concert, but we chose what we wanted.

Fish restaurants. They are located in the Kumkapi area in the Old Town on the coast on the opposite side of Eminonu, to the south. There is a fish market and fish restaurants there. In the evening you can sit on the shore of the bay or on the opposite side of the road in the depths of the street, where you can’t see the sea, but everything glows with lights. People sit at large tables and enjoy life. Drinks include Efes beer and very decent Villa Doluca wine, both red and white. It was recommended in another report. We tried it and recommend it to you with full responsibility. Quality of average Spanish and French wines. The fish restaurant is not cheap, from 30 dollars per person. But you may well get a bill for 60 dollars (for 2 people 120). To optimize costs, be sure to ask for the menu and cost per 100 grams or per serving. (As for the menu, it seems like a strange recommendation, but how could it be otherwise? The fact is that when you eat in a “locant”, you don’t see the menu, you just point at the food that you put on the tray. The bill is calculated, as I already wrote , will still not exceed 20 liras per person. The situation is similar here. The manager calls the waiter to your table, and he is already carrying a huge tray of snacks or fish. You just have to point your finger at this, then when you. eat well, drink well and get the bill, you will be surprised. Here is one of two things: either make a scandal and spoil your mood (the bill is definitely overpriced), or follow the long-standing Russian tradition - smile as if nothing had happened, and even throw some tea on top. The service is already impeccable, and in this case they will literally crawl in front of you.

Turkish bath (hamam). Good 4-5 star hotels have such baths. Naturally, there wasn’t one in our chicken coop, but there was an advertisement at the reception desk. The receptionist contacts them. A car comes to pick you up (it will also take you back) and takes you to the hammam. The difference from a Russian bath and a Finnish sauna is colossal, but you will still get pleasure. The main thing in the Turkish bath is the foam massage that the Turkish guys will give you, and they will “sausage” you so much that it won’t seem like much, but that’s the whole point.

Privalov Andrey Vladimirovich
14/05/2005 14:22

The opinions of tourists may not coincide with the opinions of the editors.

It is home to several world-famous attractions, mostly located in the city center. Choose an appropriate place to stay and don’t forget to get up early: there are more than enough tourists here.

• We go on foot to Topkapi Palace. The former residence of the sultans is amazing. Today, several halls and the first courtyard are open to the public, but this is enough to see the harem, treasury and museum of the palace with your own eyes.

By the way, to continue your acquaintance with the difficult life of the Turkish rulers, have a snack in one of the nearby cafes: it’s a long way to Dolmabahce.

• We take the T1 tram - Dolmabahce residence is located final stop route and is a Europeanized version of caravanserais (in the good sense of the word). Appreciate the similarities with classical Europe: the palace was built in the 18th century according to the patterns of French and German castles. The waters of the Bosphorus at the foot and the view of the Asian part of Istanbul add color.

Another light snack - this time at Sebil Cafe (not far from Dolmabahce along Meclis-i Mebusan Avenue towards the Galata Bridge), and we are transported to the Kabatas pier, located 200 m away.

• You will have your first close acquaintance with Bosphorus— the ferry will take you to Usküdar (in the Asian part), from where you can easily return to the center, to Sultanahmet Square. If you're not tired yet, have an evening at Karadeniz Aile on Dr. Eminpaşa Sk., 4. The national cuisine is amazing here.

Day 2

Again Sultanahmet and again world famous sights! A morning walk on foot will do you good, although in a pinch you can take the same (very comfortable) T1 tram to the center.

• Hagia Sophia with her difficult fate greets you with monumental vaults and masterpieces of interior painting. Listed by UNESCO, today this cathedral-mosque (which became one after the fall of Constantinople) is one of the main historical museums planets.
• On the contrary: not only architectural monument, but also a functioning religious building. The unique finishes, impressive interiors and intricately crafted domed ceilings will leave you in awe. Have a snack when you leave - good menu in Altin Kupa (literally 100 m from the mosque).

• Next we go to Basilica Cistern. The ancient city reservoir has today been turned into a kind of art installation: there is a mysterious atmosphere, dim light and the complete impression that you are in the underground kingdom.
• Let's go to Hippodrome Square— archaeological excavations are constantly underway here, but you will still be able to explore the historical ruins. The Egyptian Column and the Column of Constantine, the German Fountain are must-see attractions that every tourist should see in Istanbul.
• Back to Bosphorus- this time not only to take a ride, but also to see the famous views of the Galata Bridge. At the Eminonu pier you can purchase a short boat excursion, which is best taken in the evening when the beautiful lighting turns on. Having chosen this option, stroll along the embankment, drink a cup of very black and very hot Turkish coffee on the Galata Bridge and walk to the next attraction.

• Observation deck at Galata Tower- one of the favorite places among tourists in Istanbul. From here you can enjoy a magical view of the city with rooftops and attics, as well as the Golden Horn Bay. For those interested, there is a restaurant “360” with excellent European cuisine.
• Let's go down to the sinful earth and go to Istanbul Egyptian market for some colorful shopping - or just to be curious about the goods, and from there - back to the pier. At 19:00 the boat trip begins here: welcome on board, where a buffet and a colorful show await you.

Day 3

In the morning - take the T1 tram: we'll go to historical Center, where we will get acquainted with the legendary Istanbul Grand Bazaar and the famous Taksim Square.

On the square there is Cultural Center named after Ataturk, the Republic monument, the embassies of Japan and Germany. On the north side is Taksim Gezi Park, one of the favorite places to spend time local residents. Hop on a vintage tram for a ride around Istiklal, and in the evening have dinner at one of the many local restaurants.

Day 4

Today we meet one of the most beautiful areas Istanbul - the “European” Besiktas, and also get an idea of ​​the military power of the Ottoman Empire by visiting one of the seaside fortresses. This will take all day, so get up early.

We leave the hotel and go to Besiktas: if the hotel is close to the center - on foot (along the embankment of Dolmabahce Street, past Vodafone park - very picturesque), or by bus. Be sure to look at the following here.

• Maritime Museum with the mausoleum of the legendary pirate Barbarossa (Sinanpaşa Mh., 34353), where all types of boats and ships that have ever plied the waters of the Bosphorus are exhibited.
• We leave the museum and move along the embankment to Ortakoy mosque- one of the real jewels in the crown of Istanbul, which literally stands on the water and is a typical example of Ottoman neoclassicism. They may not be allowed inside - reconstruction has been going on for several years. But in the evening, magnificent lighting awaits you outside.

• We move past the mosque further (along Bebek, one of the most prestigious areas of Istanbul) and find ourselves in Ulus Park. We definitely go up to the observation deck, which offers a magnificent view of the city. Nearby, next to numerous public gardens, there are several cafes where you can have a snack - after all, you are going to Rumelihisar, where you will definitely spend 1.5-2 hours. It is better to take a bus to the stop of the same name.
• Rumelihisar is an ancient 15th-century fortress built on the European side of the Bosphorus. It is perfectly preserved: its size is impressive, and three impregnable towers reliably protected the city throughout the existence of the empire. You can only walk around the fortress from outside and along specially fenced routes - but this will be quite enough to take a huge number of atmospheric photos of the fortress and the Bosphorus. The ticket costs 10 liras.

• After the fortress, go to the center - to Taksim, for example (by bus T25 from Rumelihisar). Spend the evening there with a cup of coffee or go to a restaurant - say, Hill Terrace, located right on the square.

Day 5

The plan for this day is very unusual: you will not only find yourself in an extremely mysterious place, but also get the opportunity to admire one of the most beautiful buildings on the Asian side of Istanbul.

We leave the hotel and take any bus to the ferry - it will take you to the Anadolukavagi area (the Asian part of the city). From here we take a bus (any one) and get to the tomb of St. Yusha - one of the most mysterious places city ​​and, concurrently, an object of pilgrimage for Christians.

• Tomb of Saint Yusha(“Jesus” in Turkish) is a rectangular mound about 2 m wide and about 17 m long. Why Jesus? The whole point is in the widespread theory according to which Golgotha, on which the Savior was crucified, is located in Turkey - this is Mount Beykos (about 35-45 km from Istanbul). Accordingly, his grave is also located here.

  Whether this is true or not is unknown. But here you can really see many pilgrims, and at the same time enjoy the beautiful nature and the amazing view from the elevation. And it’s better to get here on foot: a leisurely climb through the narrow, deserted streets of the outskirts is a real acquaintance with Turkey of the “non-metropolitan” bottling.

• Having enjoyed the views, we descend the mountain and head to, without a doubt, the most beautiful attraction of Asian Istanbul - Küçüksu Palace(also called Goksu), which served as the residence of Sultan Abdulmecid in the 19th century. Pass here interesting excursions, and the exterior of the palace could easily be included in textbooks on classical European architecture.

On your way back visit local cafe, refresh yourself and return to the pier, from where you will need to get to the Uskudar area.

• We take the tram line T1 and go to the next point - Sultan Bayezid Mosque, the second largest domed mosque built in Istanbul. Interior decoration and architectural solutions They almost completely replicate the interiors of Hagia Sophia and look very solemn.

After leaving the mosque, take a walk along the Kennedy embankment to the same Üsküdar pier - and to the hotel, because the next day will be extremely rich in impressions.

Day 6

We're going on a small cruise visiting a small archipelago - the Princes' Islands (Kızıl Adalar), which are located about 20-30 km from Istanbul. It is better to leave in the morning so that there are not too many tourists on the regularly departing boat - 8-9 am is quite suitable.

• Princes' Islands are notable for the fact that among them there are not only inhabited, but also completely uninhabited, where you can easily swim on a wild beach: these are, for example, Sivriada and Tavshanadasy. There are nine Prince Islands in total, of which people live quite well on four of them, and your pleasure boat will dock at each of them. There are also very miniature ones, with a cozy, calm atmosphere and wonderful island nature.

Of greatest interest is . First of all, when you go to its shore, have breakfast - or rather, lunch: you will not be the first to visit it, a couple of hours will have passed. An important point is that reasonable prices are only in the cafe near the pier, and the further inland the island, the more expensive.

Did you see a cart with a couple of horses? Don't be alarmed: only horse-drawn vehicles are allowed here. By the way, you can take a tour of the island on one of these carts. A more budget-friendly option is to rent a bicycle; fortunately, there are plenty of rental points.

The island's area is only 6.5 km2, so there will be no long routes here. Nevertheless, there is also a minimum program here. First of all, you should definitely go up to the park at the top of one of the hills: it offers a beautiful view.

Buyukada is an excellent place for leisurely walks and getting to know provincial Turkey in its Europeanized version. The island has many beautiful mansions, historical buildings of the 19th century have been preserved, as well as several ancient churches, including the monastery of Christ (Transfiguration of the Lord) built in the 12th century.

Day 7

We suggest making the final day of your stay in Istanbul truly magical, fortunately there are all the opportunities for this. Before leaving the hotel, take a good rest: there will be a lot of impressions.

• We're going to " Sapphire» (Istanbul Sapphire, located in the Levent quarter, on Büyükdere Av.) - the most high building in Turkey, which is also a huge shopping center. Here you can not only buy souvenirs, clothes, go to a 4D cinema, but also admire the panorama of Istanbul from a 238-meter height. The photos turn out simply amazing!

• We head to the center to visit the most popular informal attractions of Istanbul. The best hookah bar— Corlulu Ali Pasa Medresesi (at the Grand Bazaar): a pleasure for everyone, but anyone who understands the question gives the establishment a 5 plus. Plus, there is excellent coffee on the sand. By the way, this is a great chance to see how the laws are implemented in Turkey: formally smoking hookah is prohibited, but if you really ask, you can.
• Cemberlitas Hammam- a legendary bathhouse of the 16th century, still open today. We go from the Grand Bazaar to Hagia Sophia, and after a few tens of meters you will reach your goal. Another variant - Khurem Sultan, built in 1557, also located nearby, between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Hammam in Turkey is one of the national symbols, and if you want to feel the soul of this country, be sure to go there for at least an hour. After this, you’ll really work up an appetite - fortunately, there are several cafes nearby with excellent cuisine.
• We leave the cafe and go for a leisurely walk - take a farewell look at the Golden Horn Bay from observation deck Gulhane Park. One of the most beautiful recreational areas in Istanbul has a spectacular aquarium, as well as a museum of science and technology - children will love it.

• Finally, the final part of your route is a hike to Çukurjuma market(located in Beyoglu). Many people mistakenly call it flea. In fact, this is a huge shopping district under open air, combining both antiques and handmade goods. Plus, there is a huge selection of products from national craft associations - on Çukurjum you can find beautiful things that contain a piece of Turkey: from carved wooden souvenirs to excellent quality textiles and porcelain sets.

What to see in Istanbul in 7 days. Conclusion

Istanbul is a huge melting pot that unites European and Asian cultures and impresses tourists from all over the planet with its scale and historical value their attractions. Seven days here is a small life, extremely saturated with emotions and positive impressions. Come - you won't regret it!

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54,260 RUR 3 - 13 October 2019

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NG group recruited 12/30/2019 - 01/04/2020

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14,000 ₽ January 6 - 7, 2020

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RUB 38,100 January 25 - February 2, 2020

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Author's tours and excursion programs

On this site you can choose trips according to your taste, mood and varying duration. All our programs are original tours that incorporate all the best that we want to show you! Our routes allow you to see the world in a way that most people who travel on large group trips do not see it. Surprise, delight from what you saw and the desire to definitely return - this is exactly what we are trying to give you! Comfortable transfers, cozy accommodation and friendly communication will make your trip memorable for a lifetime! Author's tours from our company are completely exclusive routes and programs that are created especially for you!

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Travel Workshop “Time of Discovery” is a Russian tour operator (in the Unified Federal Register of Tour Operators No. RTO 019534), offering author’s tours, photo tours and unusual travels in Russia and abroad.
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Over time, from travel company We have grown into a club of travel lovers. According to statistics, more than 75% of our clients return and go on new journeys with us. Of course, we could write here about competitive advantages, but nothing can replace a story about our work as