When it comes to tourist attractions in Istanbul, the options you have are so diverse and beautiful, and each one has its own unique charm that it becomes difficult to decide which one to visit first! For this reason, we decided to introduce some of the most wonderful places to visit in Istanbul, such as Galata Tower, Spice Bazaar, Taksim Square, Grand Bazaar, etc.
Places that will leave you with an unforgettable travel experience to the dream city of Istanbul; In this way, you don't even need a map of Istanbul's tourist attractions and you can easily spend time in this bustling city and enjoy your time to the fullest.

The best tourist attractions in Istanbul

Istanbul is a city with a rich history and culture, whose extraordinary tourist attractions attract millions of tourists to Turkey every year. Each of these tourists are looking for the best tourist attractions in Istanbul, of course, they need to choose the tourist attractions in Istanbul, Turkey, based on their interests and tastes, so that they get a chance to visit the best sightseeing places in Istanbul. With all this, 5 sightseeing places in Istanbul, which are among the most famous and best tourist attractions of this city, include Kadikoy, Galata Tower, Taksim Square, Istanbul Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar.

1. Kadikoy

The first place we are going to introduce as one of the best places to visit in Istanbul is the beautiful Kadikoy neighborhood on the Asian coast of Istanbul (Bogaz). This neighborhood is known as one of the popular tourist destinations among local people and foreign tourists. This area has a significant reputation due to its restaurants, local markets and many green spaces; Therefore, if you are looking for one of the most special places to visit in Istanbul, which has historical attractions, delicious food, beach entertainment and various shopping centers, Kadikoy neighborhood is undoubtedly the place you want.

2. Galata Tower

This tower is one of the prominent and historical attractions of Istanbul, which is located in Beyoglu district and on a hill called Galata. The construction of the historic Galata Tower dates back to the Byzantine Empire, and it has undergone many changes and renovations over the years, but its current form remains from the Ottoman Empire. Needless to say, Galata Tower is about 67 meters high and from its top you can see a wonderful view of the city of Istanbul, Bogaz and its bridges.
It might be interesting for you to know that this tower was used as a guard tower in the past to observe the happenings around the city, but now it is one of the most important tourist areas of Istanbul, which attracts many tourists from all over the world every year. Especially since inside the Galata Tower, there is a restaurant and a terrace to sit, drink authentic Turkish coffee and even have a delicious meal.

3. Taksim Square

This square is one of the main and vital centers of the city of Istanbul and is considered the meeting place of many streets and main passages of this beautiful and touristic city. Taksim Square, which is known as the central point of the city of Istanbul, has easy access to other areas of the city, and its dynamism and constant prosperity have made it attractive and popular among tourists.
Apart from these, what has made Taksim Square known as one of the best entertainment places in Istanbul is the presence of historical and cultural places, shopping centers, restaurants, cafes and numerous recreation centers around it; Including Esteghlal Street, which is one of the famous streets of Istanbul for shopping and business, as well as Galata Tower, which is one of the symbols of Istanbul.

4. Istanbul Grand Bazaar

This market, which is also known as "Istanbul Grand Bazaar", is considered one of the largest and oldest markets in the world, which is located in the Fatih district of this city and is more than 500 years old, and is one of the cultural and commercial symbols of Istanbul. It is not bad to know that this historical and unique market is one of the sights of European Istanbul and has an area of about 30 hectares, more than 60 streets and alleys, and nearly 40 thousand sellers operate in it.
The Grand Bazaar, which is always known as the most special tourist attraction in Istanbul, has more than 3000 stores that sell a variety of products such as jewelry, hand-woven carpets, coffee, sweets, traditional clothes, leather goods, etc.
In addition, the beautiful and historical architecture of Istanbul Grand Bazaar consists of domed corridors, narrow alleys and unique arrangement; These are the items that have made this famous market one of the most important and best attractions in Istanbul and welcomes millions of tourists from different parts of the world every year.

5. Istanbul spice market

Another important tourist area in Istanbul is the spice market. A historic and important market located in the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul and actually considered one of the oldest spice markets in the world; Of course, what has made this market more attention is that in addition to fresh and dry spices, all kinds of medicinal plants, delicious foods and other related products can be found in it.
Therefore, in the Istanbul spice market, not only local and international spices such as saffron, cinnamon, pepper, cardamom, barberry; Ginger is sold; You will also find all kinds of dates, tea, coffee, local sweets and handicrafts in this market. Apart from all this, the Istanbul Spice Bazaar, as a historical and cultural center in this city, has a special architecture and traditional stores, thus offering a unique and attractive shopping experience.

Istanbul Topkapi Palace

Istanbul's Topkapi Palace is a museum in the heart of history. For lovers of history and civilization, visiting this palace will be an unforgettable experience. Istanbul is full of attractions and Topkapi Palace is known as one of the most famous and largest of them.

Built by Sultan Mehmed II in 1478, this palace served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from the 15th to the 19th century. In 1924, Topkapi Palace was turned into a public museum by order of Atatürk and opened its doors to visitors. This palace has many and attractive parts, each of which had different stories and uses in its era.
The variety and attractiveness of Topkapi Palace's sights are so great that it is not possible to visit all of them in one or two hours and you will need at least half a day to visit them.

Basilica reservoir

The Basilica Cistern, one of the most amazing sights in Istanbul, is known as a technological masterpiece of its time and is considered one of the wonders of the city of Istanbul. The name "Basilica" is taken from the ancient church that was previously located in the same place. In Turkey, this cistern is known as Yerebatan Cistern, which name was chosen because of the many marble columns in the basement and its unique architecture.

The Basilica Cistern, which was built in the 6th century by order of the Roman Emperor, has served as a source of water for the residents of Istanbul since then. This reservoir is capable of storing 2.8 million cubic feet of water.

It is interesting to know that this monument is so unique that a scene from one of the James Bond movies was filmed there. To access this reservoir, you have to go down 52 steps and reach a space with a length of 140 meters and a width of 70 meters, which has 336 columns with a height of 9 meters.

Address of Abanbar Basilica in Istanbul

Basilica Reservoir is located 1.1 km from Hagia Sophia Mosque. Its exact address is Basilica Cistern, No. 3/1, Yerbatan Street, Fateh District, Alamdar Quarter, Istanbul. It is easy to reach this place by public transportation and this reservoir is ready to receive tourists every day.

Chora Church in Istanbul

The Chora Church in Istanbul, which is one of the lesser-known landmarks of the city, is of particular importance. This church, which was originally built as a Byzantine church, was converted into a mosque throughout history and is now used as a museum.

Beautiful architecture, tiling and mosaics with paintings of the life of Jesus and the Holy Mary have made Chora Church one of the most beautiful attractions in Istanbul. Visiting this church is not only an opportunity to see Byzantine art, but also brings a unique experience of enjoying artistic beauty.
Hippodrome square

The Hippodrome Square, known as the Istanbul Horse Racing Square, is one of the historical sights of this city, which was founded during the Roman Empire and is known as the largest horse racing square in the world. This square is located in the historical area of Sultan Ahmed, and for this reason, it is also known as Sultan Ahmed Square.

In ancient times, the hippodrome was the venue for passionate horse riding and chariot racing, which was considered one of the most popular sports events at that time. This square also hosted official court ceremonies, parades and coronations and was considered the sporting and social heart of the Byzantine Empire.
In the center of the square is the monument to Theodosius, made of pink granite and carved in Egypt. This memorial stone was moved to Istanbul by order of Theodosius the Great and has carvings showing Theodosius, his family and government officials watching the games.

Near this square, there is a beautiful gazebo named Kaiser Wilhelm fountain, which was presented by the German emperor as a sign of friendship to Sultan Abdul Hamid II and the people.

Conclusion
On your trip to Turkey, in order to have a chance to visit the best tourist attractions in Istanbul, we suggest you choose Galata Tower, Istanbul Spice Bazaar, Grand Bazaar, etc. as sightseeing places around Istanbul; Especially since these are among the historical places of Istanbul and have a long history.
FAQ
Where are the must-see places in the west of Istanbul?
Dolma Baghche Palace, Taksim Square, Saint Anthony's Church, Karakoy neighborhood and...
What are the must-see places in Istanbul at night?
Galata Tower, Galata Bridge, Dolma Baghche Palace, Grand Bazaar, Taksim Square, Sultan Ahmed Square, Topkapi Palace and...
Where are the free sightseeing places in Istanbul?
Hagia Sophia Mosque, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Grand Bazaar and local markets, Taksim Square, Esteghlal Street, State Museums, Fethiye District, Aminonu and Kadikoy neighborhood.
What are the famous neighborhoods in Istanbul?
Fatih, Sultanahmet, Galata, Besiktas, Kadikoy, Beyoglu, Eminuno, Skodar and Ortakoy neighborhoods.
Where are the must-see places in Istanbul near Taksim?
Galata Tower, Esteghlal Street, Kadikoi neighborhood and ... .