practical tips

Descending into the Basilica Cistern is one of the most atmospheric experiences Istanbul offers, a step from the noise of the streets into a cool, dark, columned world built fifteen centuries ago.

The Spice Bazaar of Eminönü is one of the most accessible and rewarding sights in Istanbul, a compact, colorful market that you can enjoy in an hour or two and still carry its scent with you for days.

The Grand Bazaar is one of the great experiences of Istanbul, and it is also one of the most confusing places for a first-time visitor.

The Maiden’s Tower is one of the most romantic experiences in Istanbul, but it is also one of the least like a standard sight.

Galata Tower is one of Istanbul’s most loved viewpoints, and it is also one of its busiest.

Planning a visit to Dolmabahce Palace takes a little more thought than most Istanbul sights, because the palace runs on guided tours, timed entries, and a few rules that catch visitors by surprise.

Topkapi Palace is the great royal residence of the Ottoman sultans, a vast complex of courtyards, chambers, and gardens spread over Seraglio Point in the heart of old Istanbul.

The Selimiye Mosque in Edirne is the masterpiece of Ottoman architecture, the building that the great architect Mimar Sinan called his own finest work.

The Suleymaniye Mosque is the great imperial mosque of the Ottoman golden age, a masterpiece by the architect Mimar Sinan set on the Third Hill of Istanbul above the Golden Horn.

The Blue Mosque is the most visited mosque in Istanbul, and visiting it is simpler than most travelers expect.

Hagia Sophia is the most visited monument in Istanbul, and visiting it is both simpler and more complicated than the guidebooks suggest.