Istanbul

1. Galata Tower: Galata Tower lies in the heart of the city and is located in the Beyoglu district which is a popular tourist destination here. There are two elevators that will take you to the 7th floor followed by two flights of stairs towards the observation deck. Once you step outside the observation deck, walk around the summit of the tower and enjoy the beautiful 360 degree view of the city.
The panoramic view of the city and the stunning skyline will leave you spellbound as the tower is located close to the junction of Golden Horn and Bosphorous. The popularity of the tower is a blessing in disguise considering one has to wait for over 30 minutes to get in. The admission fee is 35 Turkish Lira and the lift will take you all to the top, except the last two floors need to be covered by foot.
Galata tower is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city and is always bustling with tourists. Undoubtedly, the view from the top is worthy every minute you will spend there

Timings: 9 am to 7 pm (7 days a week)

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2. Hagia Sophia: Hagia Sophia is not only a piece of architecture but a marvelous work of art. Combining a centralized building with a longitudinal basilica, Hagia Sophia is an important Byzantine structure in the world. The huge 105 foot dome is a prominent part of the structure supported by two semi domes and pendentives on either side. Majorly, brick and mortar was used as building materials to make the construction process easier.
There are marble piers that rise up to support the dome and three aisles separated by columns along with the galleries above. The base of the dome and the walls right above the galleries are pierced by numerous glass windows. These windows let the glare of natural light diminish the presence of the supports which gives an impression of a floating canopy. Hagia Sophia has come a long way from being a cathedral, a mosque to finally standing as a museum. No Istanbul trip is complete without a visit to Hagia Sophia. This epitome of Byzantine architecture is covered with marble pillars and a stunning collection of mosaics all over.
There are still continuous renovations and restorations going on in the museum. Hagia Sophia was also known to house thirty three historically relevant artifacts and epitaphs from Ottoman, Byzantine and Roman eras in the garden area before they got moved to the province of Trabzon Museum.

Timing: Summers -9 am to 7 pm
               Winters - 9 am to 6 pm
Entry Fees: The entry fee for adults is 72 Turkish Liras and free of cost for children under the age of 8 years.

3. Basilica Cistern: Basilica Cistern is claimed to be the largest surviving Byzantine Cistern commissioned by Emperor Justinian in Istanbul. The structure was built using a total number of 336 columns and is known for the fine carvings and symmetrical architecture. This is the largest city in Istanbul and was built underneath another Basilica with hundreds of decorated columns. Initially, the basilica was built to supply water to the great palace as it could hold about 80,000 cubic meters of water.
There are about 12 rows, 28 columns and 336 marble columns in total. Another attraction of these columns is the engraved inverted Medusa heads.

Timings: 9 AM TO 5:30 PM
Entry fee: 20 Turkish Lira for Adults and free of cost for children under the age of 7
 
4. Topkapi Palace: Serving as the residence building for Ottoman emperors for over 400 years, the Topkapi palace now serves as the most important museums of Istanbul. Some of the rarest items of the Muslim community are safeguarded here. The Palace contains the largest collection of Ottoman Dynasty jewelry, artwork and heirlooms. They also have the armours of Sultan Mustafa III and the throne of Murad IV.
The third room in the Palace includes gold candle holders that were gifted by Sultan Abulmecid to the holy city of Makkah. There are over a hundred rooms, chambers, and halls and most of them are open to public visits. You will find different courtyards, imperial gates, palace kitchens, imperial stables, the gate of felicity and treasury. There is also an Enderun library belonging to the Ahmed lll with beautiful interiors. Harem or the central chamber is the main area of residence of the Sultan. Visitors can really experience the extravagant lifestyle of Ottomans in this palace.

Timings: 9 AM to 6 PM
Entry Fee: 72 Turkish Lira for the Palace and extra 42 Turkish Lira for entry to Harem rooms.

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5. Istanbul Archaeological Museum: Istanbul Archaeological Museum is basically an amalgamation of three museums. The archaeological museum, the Tiled Kiosk museum and the ancient orient museum together form one of the most renowned museums of Istanbul. Three of these museums together contain about 1 million objects from different civilizations all around the globe.
The museum was founded back in 1891 and was the first-ever Turkish museum to be located on the grounds of Topkapi Palace. There are numerous precious artifacts in the museum which also includes the sarcophagus of Alexander.

Timings: 9 AM to 5 PM (Seven days a week)
Entry Fee: 36 Turkish Liras for adults and free of cost for children below 8 years.

6. Dolmabahce Palace: Another magnificent palace in Istanbul is as beautiful as the iconic Palace of Versailles which was built back in the 19th century. Dolmabahce Palace is easily the most glitzy palaces studded with traditional Ottoman architecture. The palace also beholds the dazzling European styles of Rococo, Baroque and Neoclassical pieces of architecture. The world’s largest Bohemian crystal chandelier proudly resides here which was a special gift from the Queen of Victoria.

Timings: 9 AM to 4 PM (Mondays are closed)
Entry Fee: 60 Turkish Lira and extra 40 Turkish Lira for entry to Harem.  

7. Grand Bazaar: With 5,000 shops in making, Grand Bazar is one of the largest indoor markets in the world. This Bazar witnesses about a quarter million visitors every single day. Grand Bazaar is unlike any other market that you have ever visited. The street consists of a variety of antiques, carpets, jewelry, spices, hand-painted ceramics and more. The bazaar dates back its inception to 1462 and has now become home to four fountains, two mosques, two steam baths and also the Cevahir bedesten. Visitors can easily spend an entire day shopping or window shopping here to witness the old Turkish vibes.

Timings: 9 PM to 7 Pm (Monday to Saturday)
Entry Fee: Free of Cost

8. Blue Mosque: Sultanahmet Camii or the Blue Mosque was built during the 16th century under the rule of Ahmed I and holds an inherent historical value in the city. The iconic Blue Mosque in Istanbul is usually in the bucket list of many travelers.The architecture of the mosque is the combination of two centuries of Ottoman development and Byzantine Christian elements. It consists of a total number of six minarets, one main dome and eigh secondary domes.
The mosque was built by Sultan Ahmed and the name given to it came from the blue tiles studded on its dome and upper levels interiors. There are also about 20,000 ceramic tiles and 200 stained glass windows inside the mosque. Along with being an active place of worship, Blue Mosque holds an integral place in making Istanbul tourism famous all over the world.
Beginning from the early 17th century, this mosque still remains an active place of worship today. The mosque always remains shut for visitors during the five prayer times for Muslims every day. Everyone must cover their heads, dress appropriately and remove their shoes before entering the mosque.

Time: Dawn til midnight (Remains closed during prayers)
Entry Fee: 90 Turkish Liras

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1. Explore the Istiklal Avenue: The 1.4 km long Istiklal Avenue is full of about 3 million people on a daily basis. This street is a beating heart of Istanbul tourism with historic cinemas like Beyoglu, art galleries like Arter, beautiful churches like Santa Maria and St Antoine, historical passages like Suriye and Hazzopulo and a variety of Neo Classical architecture to admire.

There is a historic tram that keeps running all day long from the street to Taksim Square. You can also get other essentials like medicines, departmental stores and more. There are different opening times for banks, indoor shops, cafes and more. Some open at 8 in the morning and goes till 7 in the evening while others open at 10 in the morning and goes on till 10 in the night. Strolling around Istiklal Avenue is an experience to witness the lifestyle of Istanbul locals’ altogether.

2. Local Food Tour: There are numerous restaurants and cafes in Istanbul that will enrich your dining experience with traditional Ottoman cuisine with stunning views of the city skyline and Bosphorus Strait.

However, if you want to taste the typical local cuisine, book dining experiences where you can go to a local’s house and eat the traditional food cooked by the families in Istanbul. You can sit down in comfortable seating and talk about their way of living, their daily routine, the long lost family recipes and more.

3. A Walking Tour: Istanbul is full of architectural marvels like the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, Hagia Sophia, Sapphire Tower, Galata Tower and more. Every street that you visit will be a complete delight to your vision with one of its kind architecture with the intricacies of Ottoman dynasty. Taking a tour with a city map will help you find new and unexplored places, hidden cafés, and restaurants that serve you dishes you have never heard of. Try out the local eat-outs and relish the hummus, tabbouleh salad, pizzas, baklava and more.

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4. Experience Famous Turkish Coffee: You have never truly been to Istanbul if you haven’t tasted the classic Turkish coffee. Unlike the regular coffee, this little cup of Turkish coffee takes a great deal of preparation and a lot of time. If you are a caffeine lover, this rich blend of coffee will woo your senses.

The bottom is full of coffee grind to give an extra dose at the last sip. Every other local café serves this iconic coffee combined with other sweets and bakery items. Watching a beautiful sunset by sitting on a rooftop café in Istanbul is one of its kind experiences in the city.

5. Cruise the Bosphorus: Since Istanbul is situated in two parts of continents, you will be able to witness the geographical and cultural beauty of both sides at one go. The line of Bosphorous divides the two parts of the city. If you want to visit two continents at a time without even crossing the borders or go through the hassle of customs, take a cruise tour on the banks of Bosphorus. Go over to the Asian side of Istanbul and witness the gorgeous shores of both the North and South area. You can relish the frozen yogurt on the way at the very famous Kanlica on your way.

6. Have a Turkish Bath: Experiencing a Turkish bath or traditional hammam can be a daunting experience for tourists if they have never had one. But, once you have indulged in a traditional hammam experience, you will know how rejuvenating and relaxing it is. There are different styles of Turkish baths that you can choose from, starting from traditional style, self-service style and various other styles.

Hammam includes having a bath followed by a body massage including a hot steaming session. If you pick the self-service style, it will cost you 160 TL and you will need to bring your own soap, towel, and shampoo. If you choose the traditional bathing style, you will have an attendant washing and massaging you which will cost you 255 TL. You can also select other services like facial clay massage, aromatherapy oil massage, reflexology and more.

7. Istiklal Caddesi and Taksim: Istiklal Caddesi or Independence Street is one of the most modern bustling shopping streets in Istanbul. There are plenty of cafes, restaurants, shopping stores and more. As you go ahead towards the end of the street, you will reach the world’s oldest underground railway line near the Galata Bridge.

If you do not wish to walk the entire way, take the old fashion tramway till the Taksim square. Along with plenty of restaurants, you will find lots of old consulate buildings, churches and many other museums to visit. The most famous museum of Istiklal Street is Orhan Pamuk’s Museum of Innocence which is based around the theme of his novel.

8. The goodness of Spice Bazaar: Istanbul city is home to colorful and scrumptious spices. Every visitor who wants to explore Istanbul city in its clear essence visits the exquisite Spice Bazaar to bring back the edible souvenir. All these Turkish delights are not only amazingly delicious but also easy on your pockets. Along with the spices, you will also find tons of vegetables, olives, local cheese and a variety of Turkish coffee grounds on the west side of the building.

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1. Bike Along The Prince Islands: Take a ferry down from Bosphorus to the Prince islands and enjoy the beautiful natural escapade outside the city. There are many fine-looking ottoman houses here with meager traffic and lots of natural beauty. Rent a bike and cycle around the Prince islands all day in just 20 Turkish Lira for a thrilling experience.

2. Enjoy the wine and cheese in Kadikoy: You can never go wrong in choosing your drink and outdoor dining experience in Istanbul. Turkish love their outdoors and drinks equally. To relish the finest of drinks, head over to the Asian side of Istanbul city in the Kadikoy neighborhood. You will find many outdoor bars filled with Reiki music, sheesha, local drinks and more. Having a date night in one of the most romantic spots of the city will leave you with a memory of a lifetime.

3. Camlica Hill Istanbul: Another highlight of Istanbul tourism is the Camlica hill situated in the Uskudar district of Istanbul. It is a perfect romantic spot with a panoramic view of the Bosphorus Bridge and even the Golden Horn. Witness the gorgeous sunset amidst the beautiful scenic setting.

4. Dinner cruise at Bosphorus: The beautiful waterways running right through Istanbul develop a beautiful coastline on both sides. There are plenty of cruises that go on and off throughout the day. But the best experience of the waterway is by booking a dinner cruise to spend an intimate romantic evening with your special one on board.

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The peak tourist season begins between June to August and the accommodation prices increase. However, if you want to visit Istanbul avoiding the massive crowd and surge hotel prices, the period between March to May and September to November is the best. December to February are the cheapest months but the temperature is extreme during this season.

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Since the year 2009, the official currency for Istanbul, Turkey is the Turkish Lira. The short abbreviation for Turkish Lira is TL and is represented by the symbol ? which can be easily written down if needed. Tourists can easily exchange the currency at the Airport, Post office, Grand Bazar and various Foreign currency exchange offices in the city.

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Yes, tourists do need a visa to travel to Istanbul. However, what kind of visa is needed and the process of obtaining it depends on the kind of passport holders and the country of your origin. Indians require an e-visa or a sticker visa for Turkey to enter Istanbul.

One can obtain an e-visa for Istanbul through the official website and is valid for a period of 90 days. The visa fee for a single entry for an Indian citizen is INR 3940/- and the cost for multiple entry is INR 13,120/-.

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Below mentioned are the important document required for a Turkey Visa:

1. Original valid passport with a minimum of 6 months of validity and at least two blank pages.

2. The visa application form available online on the official website must be filled and signed by the applicant himself.

3. Two recent passport size photographs with 80 percent face coverage, white background, matt or semi-matt finish with 2.5’ into 2.5’ dimensions.

4. Original cover letter with the applicant’s name, designation, travel details, passport details, duration and purpose of visit. This letter also holds the authorized signature and duly company stamped addressed to the Consulate of Turkey.

5. Bank statements of the last 6 months and if you are self-employed, your salary slips for the last three months with company slip.

6. Travel insurance and hotel bookings are also required.

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The budget for your Istanbul trip totally depends on the number of days in your itinerary, places you want to visit, activities you want to do. However, the average per day expense in Istanbul will be 189 Turkish Lira.