A great walk around Istanbul. Second day in Istanbul: Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Grand Bazaar and Valens Aqueduct St. Anthony's Church

It’s already been written and rewritten about Istanbul, but the lazy one hasn’t noticed it, but when we were going there, we prepared thoroughly. It’s not that we are such wild provincials that we haven’t seen megacities. We saw it, but... Okay, I admit, I scared everyone, remembering my impressions from the long docking and stupid running around the city - “Madhouse! Babel!". For some reason, I felt more comfortable in Bangkok for the first time.

In general, we collected information, tormented “honored Istanbul residents” from the site, but most importantly, sat down on ready routes. Time was running out, only 4 days, how to cram an incredible amount of attractions into them and just interesting places? Although it’s an inexpensive destination, you won’t run into it. And there are still so many interesting things in the world... well, you know.

As a result, my own route was born, which I post here. Surely there will be similar sufferers who are going to Istanbul for the first time, but it is not clear where to run. I also include those places where we did not reach and did not reach. To the one who masters it all, I will shake his courageous hand, I promise)

Sorry about the quality of the photos, a lot of them were taken from my phone, I had to illustrate them with something. All beautiful photos.

Hotel. We originally booked this hotel: Stone House Oldcity. For four people, a room with two rooms for 5 nights cost less than 200 euros. But for some reason they didn’t like our card, a working dollar card (they checked with the bank, all payments are open). We corresponded with them for a long time through Booking and through their website, but in the end, a week before the trip, they canceled our reservation “without declaring war.” Without regaining consciousness, we rushed to look for something else, the choice, frankly, was no longer so great, but we found this option: Art City Hotel Istanbul and, on the whole, were satisfied. The hotel is located next to the Sokollu Mehmet Pasha Camii Mosque. Even here Serbia sends me greetings)

Transport. We decided not to rush to take the IstanbulKart card, and in general, we did the right thing. We only used transport once. Everything else is on foot, over 777 hills, 20 km a day. We took a transfer from the airport to the hotel at the hotel, because we arrived late in the evening, we would probably get lost while we got to the hotel in the dark, over the hills and along narrow streets. Back - Kiwi. Taxi. It worked out quite well for four people. You can calculate the amount of a taxi trip in advance, for example. You can also ask to call a taxi at the counter at the airport exit, and it is still possible to order a car in advance (city taxi service).

On public transport from Ataturk Airport you can get to the city by metro, route map (metro runs from 6:00 to 00:30), and also by Havatash buses (from the airport from 4:00 to 1:00).

Cards. The Maps.me app will definitely come in handy. Well, at least it helped us out. We recommend.

First day

So, on the first day the route looks like this: Sultanahmet - Gulhane Park - Eminonu Port and Bosphorus Boat Cruise - Dervish Dance . Actually, it’s all along the southern part of the European side of Istanbul.

First, we examine what is nearby - the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Basilica Cistern. Gulhane Park we pass right through.

On the right, before exiting the park, there is a hill with some kind of ancient gazebo, and further on you can see the Bosphorus. I’m trying to climb onto the stone fence to take pictures, but a local law enforcement officer with a machine gun drives me away from there. I don’t argue and retreat, I respect people with weapons. I can’t even imagine why it was impossible. By the way, we do not recommend leaving the park right there; it is better to return to the entrance through which you entered it.

We got out and probably walked another kilometer to the pier along the highway, no views - on one side there was a high fence of the railway station, on the other - some private mansions. Everything is covered in dust, cars are rushing. When we realized that we were near the station, we went in and bought tickets for the performance dervishes(about dervishes).

Picked up at the pier Bosphorus cruise from the operator, whose ships moor immediately to the right of the Galata Bridge. The cost of the small circle was 12 lire, I don’t remember the large one, it’s not too expensive.

Right there, in the alleys, we found a large store L.C. Waikiki- Turkish mass market brand, things are inexpensive, but good quality. We have to dress the children. There are plenty of such stores all over Istanbul; there are departments in any shopping center.

Second day

The second day was devoted to the northern part of the European side of Istanbul. The original route looked like this: Galata Tower - Istiklal Street - Taksim Square - Sapphire Skyscraper - Rumeli Hisari Fortress - Galata Tower. As a result, the fortress fell away, and in general, by the evening, something went wrong.

Since we have to go through the Hippodrome anyway, we walk through it and take pictures again - of cats, mostly. By the way, near the Egyptian columns in the morning you can see people with posters inviting free excursions in Istanbul in English and Russian. We didn’t need it, and we didn’t really believe in anything being free, but it turned out to be true. I found three similar projects, but there are clearly more of them, and among them there are definitely in Russian: Istanbul Free Tour, Free Walking Tour (2 types, in the old and new city), Free Tours in Istanbul. People write that the guides give 100%, there is no payment, but tips are desirable.

1 of 7

From the Basilica Cistern we go along Yerebatan Street. We sincerely advise all Instagrammers to turn here: here are the very bright hotels with equally vibrant food courts (like the Kybele Hotel). Take a selfie, you will get hundreds of likes and you will be an Instagram star, we guarantee.

Along the Galata Bridge with fishermen and their catch we cross to the other side of the Golden Horn Bay, from where we rise to Galata.

The tower is open 09:00–20:30, ticket price for April 2018 is 25 liras. We didn’t go to the tower, we have a lot of observation points in the Suleymaniye area, why should we? But you can.

From Galata we go to Istiklal. And then we disappear into local stores. Well, we just went to look at the prices and woke up in the fitting room of the fifth store with a bunch of things. By an effort of will we stop this disastrous business. Don't do that. On Istiklal we take photos of the famous trams, go to the Cathedral of St. Anthony of Padua and almost at the metro we remember that we didn’t eat. We eat here: Beyoğlu Halk Doner(address: Şehit Muhtar Mahallesi, İstiklal Cd. No:10, 34435 Beyoğlu/İstanbul).

If you don't plan to hang out in stores (although we didn't plan either, hehe), you can visit French Quarter. You can get there by going around the Galatasaray school, a green building in the middle of Istiklal. Actually, the French Quarter is the street of the same name Fransiz Sokagi with Parisian lanterns: restaurants, shops, colorful houses, a flea market (nearby, in the Cukur Cuma quarter). It is recommended to have lunch or drink coffee at the Tavan Arasi cafe with a terrace, which can be reached by an old elevator. Here Turkish cuisine and reasonable prices.

From Taksim we need to take the metro to Sapphire (LevenT metro station).

More about Sapphire: in 2011 in a shopping and office center Istanbul Sapphire The observation deck has opened. The building itself has a height of 261 meters - it is the tallest in Turkey. The observation deck is located at an altitude of 236 meters, and a high-speed elevator takes visitors there. So fast that it hurts your ears like on an airplane. They say that the site has two levels. The first one is completely glazed, and the second one is 2.5 m. So, during our visit we didn’t even see the second level, there was some kind of small staircase up with a platform a couple of meters, but they didn’t let us in there. We had to be content with the views through the glass. The ticket price in April 2018 is 27 liras (for students - 22 liras).

It seemed to us that from Sapphire it would be close to the fortress Rumeli Hisari, which we saw from the boat during a tour of the Bosphorus. Many call the fortress one of the most interesting places on the European side of the Bosphorus. But everyone is inclined to believe that it is better to go there in the morning, when there are few people and the sun’s rays highlight it favorably. We didn't go, but you can. Maps with bus route numbers are in the slides, scroll through. You can return back to Taksim like this, by bus from the Sultan Mohamed Fatih Bridge.

1 of 3

We went down to the metro at Sapphire and wanted to get to the metro bridge. But they came out before him. It turned out that the station in front of the Şişhane bridge is a pretty big Shanghai. There is crazy traffic along the bay, a lot of feral cats, local teenagers smoke and drink behind the school (*I wonder, does religion allow them? Seriously?*). We had to get off at the bridge itself - there is a Haliç station there. And I suspect that from the bridge beautiful views both on the left and right banks of the Golden Horn. Well, we cross the bay along the next, third bridge - Ataturk. He's for walking intended very weakly.

A mosque looms on the hill ahead Sulaymaniyah, why not come in. We walk God knows how long to the mosque, up the ancient narrow streets - stone masonry houses, narrow windows and rare doors. There are few people) Honestly, we despaired of ever getting to the mosque, when suddenly we see an inscription on the wall in red paint with an arrow Süleymaniye -> Thank you, unknown kind person!

Although the mosque is already closed to the public, the sunset from it observation deck simply amazing! It wasn't all in vain)

Third day

On the third day the route is as follows: Topkapi Palace - 1) Sultanahmet, everything else you want to see in the area or 2) Asian part Istanbul .

Oh, I forgot to say, we didn’t have a kitchen unit in our hotel room, and it’s simply a crime to cook at such prices. As a result, in search of a breakfast, we went to the streets behind Hagia Sophia, closer to the strait - there are a bunch of establishments that serve a normal European breakfast in the morning, and not for crazy money, like in our hotel (6 euros per person, just in case). The owners of these restaurants said that in the evenings they lower the roller blinds, creating some semblance of privacy, and pour (alcohol, I mean), people dance until they drop, etc. I didn’t have a chance to check, somehow, even without alcohol, “a city of contrasts” » inserted be healthy. But if you need it, it's there.

On Topkapi It takes a lot of time, at least three hours. There are a huge number of museum premises, including a harem. There is a separate ticket to the harem, part of our company went there, the second part was limited to the established territory. At the entrance to Topkapi there is an ancient Byzantine Church of St. Irene, in which the Second Ecumenical Council once took place.

1 of 2

1) In addition to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern, here at the entrance to Gulhane Park there is Archaeological Museum with a collection of objects from the Byzantine era and Ottoman Empire.

Regarding Museum card. All of the above attractions are included in the list, that is, they will be free with the card. But: the three-day card is no longer available, only for 5 days, costs 155 liras. You can view a list of all places or order it in advance on the website: www.muze.gov.tr. You can buy the card directly at the ticket offices of attractions and in some hotels.

2) On Asian sides You can get there in two ways - by boat or by metro. The metro is faster, but the boat is more interesting.

Ships from Eminönü are coming to two marinas! Kadikoy and Uksyudar are two districts in the Asian part of Istanbul. The famous Maiden Tower is located in Uksyudar, the Fashion quarter is in Kadikoy.

The route is: Eminönü - Uksyudar pier - Çamlıca park - Kadıköy district (Moda quarter) - Kadıköy pier - Eminönü . Or in reverse order.

About Maiden's Tower everyone already knows, it can be seen from board a boat cruising along the Bosphorus, and even from observation platforms in the old part of the city. They write that there is nothing to do in the tower itself, and it looks best from the outside.

Çamlıca Park(Çamlıca Tepesi) was included in our plan after rave reviews from tourists. The park is located on the hill of the same name - the highest in the Asian part of Istanbul. There are few people here, pleasant groves, flower beds, buffets and picnic areas. But the main thing is the views of the city: the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn, and even the sea and the Princes’ Islands.

From the park we go to Fashion quarter, one of two neighborhoods in the Kadikoy district (the other is Fenerbahce). Routes with bus numbers are in the slides, scroll through them.

1 of 4

What to do here? A lot of shops - from antiques to fashionable local brands, cafes, restaurants, including on the roofs. And also the Kadikoy market, this is for those who like to get to know cities by visiting such traditional places. They write that everything is there: spices, sweets, sausages, cheeses, fruits, but most importantly - fish and seafood. The market has a lot of fish restaurants serving the freshest seafood - from shrimp and anchovies to monkfish.

Day four

Route: Sulaymaniye - observation decks and cafes with observation platforms near Sulaymaniye - Chora Museum - Valens Aqueduct . You don’t have to return to Valenta, but go (or go) to the Yedikule fortress, this is the Golden Gate of Constantinople, well, remember about Prince Oleg?

Let's go to Sulaymaniyah right before the opening, we are the first visitors, and for this we have a bonus - the complete absence of Chinese. I already talked about ostrich eggs hanging from chandeliers in the comments, so pay attention to them - you won’t see this anywhere else. The mosque complex also includes a cemetery with mausoleums in which the remains of Sultan Suleiman I and Roksolana, Sultan Hurrem, are buried.

1 of 6

Sorry for the details, but only for tourist benefit: there is a free toilet here. Not the one in the depths of the complex, but the one right in front of the main entrance (and a very decent one). Well, all useful things are useful)

In the morning rays of the sun, the views from the Suleymaniye site are no worse than the sunset ones.

Let's go to cafe with observation decks- there are a lot of them here, you will definitely notice them from above and choose what you like. Initially we were looking for this - Kubbe-i Aşk. But in the process we came here: Sefa-i Hurrem Cafe Restaurant (). And they were satisfied, although they ate too much. You don’t eat so much, then you still have to walk somehow.

The Turkish metropolis of Istanbul, diverse and noisy, stretching along both banks of the Bosphorus Strait, was founded almost 3 thousand years ago. It was the capital of the Roman Empire called Constantinople in honor of Emperor Constantine (330-395). For more than 1000 years the city served as the capital of the Byzantine Empire, and from the 15th century. became the center of the Ottoman Empire and later (until 1923) of Turkey. Istanbul, which embodies the features of three world empires, huge museum unique monuments of architecture, religion and culture. It takes a lot of time to get to know them. This recommendation article suggests what to see in Istanbul in 4 days and a route around the city.

From Ataturk Airport to the center of Istanbul you can take a taxi ($25-30), TN1 bus (11 liras, first flight at 4 am) or the red Havalimani metro line, where signs lead from the arrival terminal. To travel, purchase a one-time coupon or an Istanbul card. 6 stops by metro, then transfer to the T1 high-speed tram going to the center. From Sabiha Gokcen Airport to the center of Istanbul, only ground transport runs - taxi (approximately 45 €) and Havabas buses (15 liras, 1.5 hours on the way, departing every half hour).

Where to stay

If you don’t want to overpay for food in restaurants and want to avoid huge crowds of tourists, we recommend staying in one of the hotels or hostels in the Istiklal Street area in Beyoglu. Mostly local residents relax here and spend their free time in cafes and restaurants, so prices are lower than, for example, in the center. If you want to stay close to the main attractions, we recommend choosing the Sultanahmet area. Another one of the most popular places for accommodation are Aksaray and Laleli. If you purchase a tour, the agent will most likely offer you accommodation in one of these areas.

Titanic City Taksim

Just 5 minutes walk from Taksim Square

394 reviews

Very good 8.3

Booked 12 times today

Book

Opera Hotel Bosphorus

Swimming pool and rooftop restaurant

69 reviews

Very good 7.8

Booked 10 times today

Book

Swissotel The Bosphorus Istanbul

With stunning views of the Bosphorus

922 reviews

Very good 9.0

Booked 50 times today

Book

Rixos Pera Istanbul

200 meters from Istiklal Street

148 reviews

Very good 8.8

Booked 28 times today

Book

Radisson Blu Hotel Istanbul Pera

Indoor pool and Turkish bath

739 reviews

Very good 8.3

Booked 28 times today

Book

1 day

Finding yourself in the center of Istanbul, you immediately feel its polyphony, city bustle and noise, crowdedness and diversity. Slender towers of minarets alternate with avant-garde high-rise buildings made of glass and concrete, ancient cathedrals - with entertainment centers, ancient narrow streets - with modern wide boulevards. A colorful crowd of people “flows” in a stormy stream in different directions.

Hagia Sophia Mosque

Turkey's most famous religious monument, the Hagia Sophia (Hagia Sophia), is in fact now a popular museum of Byzantine architecture, symbolizing the “golden age of Byzantium.” For more than 1 thousand years, the cathedral remained the most grandiose Christian church (537-1626). Erected on the site of previous basilicas destroyed by fires, the cathedral was intended to symbolize the power of the Byzantine emperors.
The unique church was erected through the painstaking daily work of 10 thousand people.

The walls are decorated with white marble, delivered from the island of the same name, green marble columns are their Ephesus Temple Artemis, porphyry columns - from the Roman Temple of the Sun. The cathedral, which suffered from earthquakes several times, survived. It was thoroughly plundered by the Crusaders (1204), and after the conquest by the Ottomans, after partial reconstruction, it was converted into a mosque - an undoubted decoration of Istanbul and a popular tourist attraction. 4 minarets, a rich library, a madrasah, and a shadirvan make it in demand among local residents.

Blue Mosque

The modern cosmopolitanism of Istanbul is not able to overshadow the unique Islamic flavor, the symbol of which is a priceless architectural masterpiece, captivating with its beauty and grace of form. The Blue Mosque, which attracts the eye, is visible from afar - it is impossible to pass by it indifferently. The grandiose religious site was erected by decree of Sultan Ahmed I as a sign of his prayer for God's help in defeating his enemies. The construction of a masterpiece made of expensive stones and valuable varieties of marble took 7 years. The architectural style of the building merged Byzantine and Ottoman features, creating unique look mosques.

Masterly engineering solutions and the original decor of the building gave the right to call the project manager a jeweler. The prayer niche (mahrib) is carved from a monolithic piece of marble. The walls and ceilings inside are decorated with highly artistic tiles in blue and white shades (20 thousand pieces), which gave the mosque its name. The prayer pulpit (minbar), also carved from a single piece of marble, is covered with filigree carvings. Golden paintings, black and red ornaments on the walls, magnificent stained glass windows complement the rich and lush decoration.

Topkapi

The pompous, majestic Topkapi Palace, built at the behest of Sultan Mehmed, was a luxurious refuge for 25 Turkish sultans for 4 centuries. Occupying an area of more than 170 hectares, it is the personification of the unlimited power of the sultans and their untold wealth. Under the first president of Turkey, who freed the people from the power of the sultanate, the palace became a museum. A massive entrance structure, called the “cannon gate” (as top kapa is translated) leads to the palace. Each entry or exit of the sultans was accompanied by a cannon shot, hence the name. In essence, it was a mini-state: mosques, hospitals, Janissary barracks, workrooms and state offices.

The decoration of the palace amazes with its luxurious decoration and the grandeur of 4 courtyard expositions, introducing tourists to the life of the sultans. 1st yard – various office premises; 2nd – Sultan’s office, treasury; 3rd – Sultan’s chambers, harem premises; 4th – thematic pavilions. Among the exhibits are the richest collections of porcelain and jewelry.

Mosaic Museum

Excavations carried out in the 20s. 20th century near the Blue Mosque, they exposed a platform among the ruins, surrounded by a destroyed colonnade (peristyle) - the remains of a Byzantine palace. The most valuable find was the mosaic covering (area 2 thousand sq. m.) that decorated the palace and the portico of the gallery. Archaeologists were shocked by the extraordinary preservation of the mosaic and artistic expressiveness. A museum was organized at the excavation site (1953), which was first part of the Museum of Archeology, and then the Museum of St. Sofia. The mosaic panel was “covered” with a wooden building, which poorly protected the rarity from humidity and temperature contrast. Then a stone building was built (1987), modernized in 2012 in order to better preserve the mosaics.

The masterly skill, incredible talent and painstaking work of ancient mosaic masters amazes the imagination and delights with maximum realism. Numerous scenes of everyday and mythical themes widely introduce the life and worldview of prehistoric ancestors: feeding a baby, hunting, everyday affairs, mythological animals, etc. - 90 genres in total.

Bayezid Mosque

Located in the center of the historical part of Istanbul, the Bayezid Mosque is the 2nd largest domed mosque in the city, built on the orders of Sultan Bayezid II in the 16th century. instead of the Byzantine Forum of Theodosius. When the latter was demolished, all valuable materials: marble columns, colored stone, marble decorations were used in the construction of the religious complex. Since Bayazid conceived not just a mosque, but an entire complex, this also affected the unusual architecture of the structure. The tall minarets are located 100 m apart from each other, and the appearance of the buildings is a mixture of early Ottoman and Western styles.

The central dome and 2 semi-domes on which it (the main dome) rests are equipped a large number windows (34). Massive porphyry columns support the dome group, and the entire courtyard is paved with marble slabs. Now the buildings that were part of the religious complex have different purposes: a library is located in the former caravanserai and canteens, and a unique Museum of Calligraphy is located in the religious school. The remains of Bayazid are buried in one of the mausoleums. A book bazaar is regularly held on the territory of the mosque, where tourists buy rare books.

Aqueduct of Valens

Looking at the grandiose structure located in the Fatih district, the Valens Aqueduct involuntarily comes to mind catchphrase Mayakovsky “worked by the slaves of Rome.” A traditional Roman aqueduct of colossal size, built in the 4th century. AD, stunning with its gigantic arches of gray stone. Named after Emperor Valens, under whom it was built, the aqueduct was an important part of the water supply of Constantinople. The length of the structure, made of gray stone taken from the walls of Chalcedon, was 1 km, height - 26 m. Everyone who has the opportunity to contemplate the monumental ancient structure is shocked by the technological capabilities of the ancient builders, who did not have any heavy vehicles. The excellent preservation of the arches and the fact that the aqueduct functioned until the 19th century are surprising. Now it is another symbol of the city.

Suleymaniye Mosque

The largest and second most important mosque in Istanbul, Suleymaniye, is located in the Vefa region, being its main decoration and famous landmark. Within its boundaries lie the remains of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (the initiator of the construction) and his legendary wife Hurren (Roksolana).
According to legend, the architect Sinan, the author and executor of the project, exclaimed at the celebrations in honor of the opening of the facility: “This mosque will stand forever!” The past centuries confirm his prophecy: the brainchild of Sinan, having survived 96 earthquakes, survived practically without destruction. The architect fulfilled Suleiman's requirement to make the mosque seismically resistant.

The basis of the mosque is a powerful foundation (60X57 m) with a reliable fastening system that prevents the building from sliding down the hill and is resistant to shaking. After laying stones, the ditch was filled with water, the foundation stood for 3 years, forming a monolith, and then the walls were erected. 4 slender minarets, located in the corners, proudly look up; the ascetic beauty of the walls and domes delights and fascinates.

Rustem Pasha Mosque

A true pearl among its “sisters,” the Rustem Pasha Mosque is not as accessible to tourists as others, because it is located in a remote corner of the Old City. This is another brainchild of the architect Sinan (author of Suleymaniye), his poetic touch in construction (1561-1562). All visitors leave the mosque in complete admiration. The majestic Ottoman-style domed building is erected on a square podium. Numerous arched entrances, vaults, columns and pillars decorating the podium reliably support the dome, decorated with lattice windows. The mighty gray walls bear the imprint of past centuries and the embodiment of the hard work of thousands of workers.

It is impossible not to freeze with delight when entering the sanctuary - everything here is so beautiful and solemn, rich and artistic! The decoration of the walls with expensive Izmir tiles with floral patterns in white, blue, blue and brown tones is amazing. The floor, finished with slabs of warm orange shades, seems to illuminate the space from below. Garlands of teardrop-shaped glass lights adorn the top like raindrops.

Day 2

If after the first day of traveling around the city it seems to someone that everything interesting is behind them, then this will be a mistaken opinion. It’s worth getting a good night’s sleep, gaining strength and continuing to explore the unique sights of the heir to Constantinople. Walking around the city on the 2nd day will reveal new secrets of Istanbul, introduce you to more modern buildings, and allow you to get into the rhythm of life of the metropolis and its inhabitants.

Dolmabahce

In one of the most colorful districts of the city there is the most big palace, more precisely, palace complex Dolmabahce, amazing its beauty and size. Built in the mid-19th century. (1843-1856) as the new residence of the sultans, the palace symbolizes the unprecedented luxury and wealth of the Ottomans.
Sultan Abdulmecid I, who planned to “outdo” European monarchs with luxury, ordered the construction of a monumental palace in the Baroque style. A colossal amount of money was spent on its construction - 5 million pounds in gold. The decoration of the buildings required 14 tons of pure gold and 40 tons of silver.

Tourists actively visiting architectural gem In Istanbul, one is amazed at the scale of wealth and luxury in the decoration of palace buildings. They are surprised by the clocks showing the same time – 9. O5 (the moment of Ataturk’s death). Now the palace has been given the status of a museum and a national heritage site, which in grandeur and beauty can compete with the outstanding palaces of the world.

Taksim

A modern form of high-speed travel around Istanbul is an underground funicular, the entrance to which is located next to the Kabatash stop (tram T 1), which will allow you to quickly get to Taksim Square. This legendary place of the city, associated with the most fateful events of the country, around which the famous sights of the city are located. This is where the conventional border between the old part of Istanbul and the new is located. "Taksim" literally means "distribution" because for many years the area served as a distribution point for water through the city's water supply system.

In addition, many transport lines originate from here, tourist routes around the city. Celebrations, festive processions and protests have been and are being held here. Tourists are interested in the majestic monument of the Republic (1928), with sculptural images of Ataturk and his associates. A visit to the Church of the Holy Trinity leaves a deep impression as an island of Orthodoxy in the Muslim faith. A pedestrian street starts from the square. Istiklal, ending with the ancient Galata Tower (the hallmark of Istanbul).

Istiklal

The former main avenue of Constantinople, Grande Rue de Pera, began to be called Istiklal (“independence”) in 1928, when the square. The Republic Monument was erected in Taksim. Now a vibrant democratic life is in full swing here: crowds of tourists and local residents walk along numerous establishments, street musicians amaze with their skills. In the street infrastructure, the two-facedness of Istanbul is felt at every step - the juxtaposition of fashionable restaurants with unpretentious eateries, religious institutions with noisy nightclubs, oriental style architecture - with Western style.

Although st. It is considered a pedestrian street; a rare tram runs along it (since 1871), which is a tribute to tradition. Considering the huge flow of tourists, hundreds of hotels have opened on Istiklal various categories, from luxury hotels to the cheapest hostels. There is a large selection of apartments, hotels with swimming pools and spas.

Church of St. Anthony

This is not only the largest Catholic church in Istanbul, but also a real architectural masterpiece, captivating with its majesty and splendor. Built in 1911, the Catholic Church is a tribute to local authorities to the Catholic faith, preached by Franciscan monks. The long-suffering history of Franciscan monks, who first appeared in the city in 1221, is connected with the temple. The consequence of this was the construction of the Church of St. in 1230 in the vicinity of the Galata district. Francis (or St. Sophia). The temple was restored 2 times after severe fires, and although it survived after the 3rd fire, it was turned into a mosque at the request of Sultan Mustafa II.

We must pay tribute to the monks who stubbornly wanted to have their own temple, and who rebuilt the church, named after St. Anthony (1724). But she, too, was destined for a sad fate - the construction of tram tracks destroyed the creation of the monks. New life The Church of St. Anthony, built in the neoclassical style, was acquired on February 15, 1912, when the first service took place. Today, many parishioners from different countries gather here every day.

Galata Tower

The ancient old-timer of Istanbul - the Galata Tower, located on a high hill (140 m above sea level), is located in the Beyoglu region and is visible from all parts of the city. The tower, built in the 6th century, presumably under the Byzantine emperor Justinian as a wooden watchtower, in the 14th century. was rebuilt from stone. The dimensions of the stone giant, as if floating above the waters of the Bosphorus, are impressive: height 65 m, diameter 16.5 m, wall thickness 3.7 m. Once upon a time, the tower was surrounded by disappeared fortress moats, which gave their names to the old neighboring streets nearby .

After a strong earthquake (1503), which caused significant damage to Galata, it was restored and a superstructure was made. In the 17th century, when the inventor and first aeronaut of Turkey, Hezafren Kulesi, flew across the Bosphorus on the wings he designed, starting from the top floor of the tower, it began to be called Hezafren’s Tower. For several centuries, the lower floors of the structure housed a prison, and the upper platform was an observation post.

Galata Bridge

The unique crossing connecting the shores of the Golden Horn Bay - the Galata Bridge with an adjustable mechanism cannot but amaze with its beauty and scale. The 2-story, handsome bridge, 142 meters wide, stretches 484 meters over the turquoise waters - the brainchild of the Turkish company STFA. First wooden bridge arose in this place in 1845 at the behest of Valide, the wife of Sultan Mahmud II, after whom it was named. After serving for 17 years, the structure fell into disrepair, and for the visit of Napoleon III to Istanbul (1863), the bridge was almost completely rebuilt.

A significant reconstruction of the Galata Bridge was carried out in 1875, after which passage across it became paid. The current crossing is the fifth grandiose structure (1992-94). Today, the Galata Bridge is not only a popular crossing, but also a popular tourist attraction, where thousands of people come. The 2nd floor is a busy transport line, along which not only cars, but also trams travel. The 1st floor is a pedestrian and leisure area where many different establishments are located.

Egyptian market

A special exotic touch in the colorful panorama of Istanbul is the Egyptian market or bazaar, where they sell oriental spices. The market received this name because spices were delivered from India through Egypt, and the Egyptians traded them. According to history, there was also a market at this place back in the Byzantine era. The Old Egyptian Bazaar began to be built of wood in 1660 as an object of sponsorship financing for construction. New mosque, which has survived to this day.

Later, the market building, rebuilt from stone and brick, burned down twice, and in 1940, during the process of major reconstruction, it acquired its modern appearance. The monumental building, built in the shape of the letter L, has 6 arched entrances and a lead dome crowns the roof. Even from a distance you can smell the intoxicating aroma of all kinds of seasonings, so it’s hard to go wrong when looking for a bazaar. In addition to spices and herbs, dried fruits and dairy products are sold here.

Day 3

During the first 2 days of your stay in Istanbul, you learn so many interesting things that it seems that there is nothing more surprising here. But no, ancient city, located on 2 continents, is capable of giving many new impressions even on the 3rd day of traveling through it. The objects to be seen on day 3 will allow you to delve deeper into the history of the city’s glorious past and experience its Byzantine authenticity. You will get to know legendary personalities who contributed to the fate of the city.

Kariye Museum

In a remote area of Istanbul there is an outwardly modest, but internally very meaningful building, the Kariye Museum. From a historical and cultural point of view, this is a real treasure trove of priceless rarities from the Byzantine period. The building was built in the 4th-5th century. as the Church of Christ the Savior, which later served as the monastery of Chora. The rebuilt building changed its purpose twice in different eras: from a church it was transformed into a monastery and vice versa, then it served as a mosque.

The history of Byzantine Constantinople and Turkish Istanbul is embodied within the walls of the building. Under the layer of plaster applied under the Turks, the artistic paintings of the Byzantines were preserved. Nearby, the Temple Museum, officially opened in 1958, consists of 3 halls, each of which is stunning with amazing mosaics and frescoes. These are true masterpieces of Byzantine art of the 14th century, reflecting biblical scenes. The overall decoration of the museum-church can compete in beauty with any other Byzantine temple in Europe.

Mihrinah Sultan Mosque

Next to the Kariye Museum is the Mihrinah Sultan Mosque, a beautiful architectural and religious monument with a romantic history. The mosque was named after the beloved daughter of Suleiman the Magnificent and Roksolana and was erected in her honor by the architect Sinan, who was in love with Mikhriny. Many people believe that the appearance of the mosque resembles the figure of a girl in a long robe. This similarity is created by 2-tier porticoes at the base of the building and under the domes.

The central dome crowning the mosque smoothly merges with the lower domes. A special role here is played by daylight, penetrating into the halls and creating an unprecedented impression, reflected on the stained glass windows and openwork walls. There is a rumor around the mosque about its heavenly connection on Mihrinah's birthday, March 21st. It is believed that if you stand between 2 mosques on this day (the 2nd is located in the Edirnekapi region), you will see the Moon and the Sun between the minarets at the same time. The mosque is highly revered by local residents.

Walls of Constantinople

The remains of powerful fortress walls and towers are a unique architectural monument, a clear reminder of Byzantine Constantinople and its former greatness. They are otherwise called the Theodosian Walls, because they were built on the initiative of Emperor Theodosius Ii (408-413), when the city grew beyond its borders.
Having stood for the 3rd century, the walls were partially destroyed by a strong earthquake in 747, but were rebuilt and strengthened with an additional ditch.

After the conquest of the city by Mehmed (1453), the damage to the walls of Constantinople was repaired. But in the 19-20 centuries. The fortification structure began to be dismantled as unnecessary. Having assessed the historical and cultural significance monument, the public took the walls under the protection of UNESCO, in the 80s of the 20th century. they were restored. Although the earthquakes of recent years have significantly damaged the new masonry, we have the opportunity to see symbols of the power of Byzantium.

Hill and coffee shop Pierre Loti

This iconic place is located in the Eyup district, on a large hill of a former Ottoman cemetery. The top of the hill is unique observation deck, which opens amazingly beautiful views bay and city. You can climb it on foot or by cable car. The enterprising owner who opened a cafe in this picturesque place, surrounded by slender cypress trees, named the coffee establishment after the popular in the 19th century. writer Pierre Loti. This is the pseudonym of the French naval officer Louis M. J. Viau, who described the countries he visited in his works.

Loti's novels, dedicated to the life of the ancient, mysterious East, its traditions deeply excited readers, and the cafe named after him attracted many visitors. Now it is also not empty - hundreds of tourists along the way explore the surrounding area with marble tombstones, admire the views of the Golden Horn, then drink apple tea and coffee in Pierre Loti's cafe.

4 day

The 4th day of exploring the city, which connected East and West, embodied rich history 2 empires. A visit to the Archaeological Museum, the Ottoman fortress, the original basilica and the grand bazaar will impress.

Rumeli Fortress Hisary

The historical fortress of Rumeli Hisary, striking in its scale, was erected in 1452 by order of Padishah Mehmed (the Conqueror) as a strategic structure for the siege of Constantinople. 2 thousand builders and 1 thousand designers erected powerful walls and towers in 4.5 months to “cut off” the city from the sea. The basis of Rumeli was the foundation of the destroyed ancient Byzantine fortress Foneus, on which walls 7 m thick, 3 huge main towers with gates and 13 small ones connecting the 2nd row of walls were erected. Soldiers' barracks and a mosque were built in the courtyard (only the minaret remained from it). In the 17th century the fortress has lost strategic importance and began to be used as a prison, which became known as the “castle of oblivion.” In the 50s of the last century, the fortress was restored, an Artillery Museum and a Summer Theater were organized in it and opened to the public.

Archaeological Museum

At the time of its creation, the Istanbul Museum of Archeology was called the “museum of sarcophagi” (they became its first exhibits). The first neoclassical building in the city became a museum in 1896. With the appearance of many other artifacts, 2 more buildings were built, and today there are 3 thematic museums. Not all museums in the world can boast of such a number of unique, authentic exhibits reflecting different eras of our era. e. in the development of humanity.

Invaluable finds from excavations carried out in Istanbul, Africa, Afghanistan, the Balkans, found their place in the Archaeological Museum, in the pavilion Ancient East and the Tiled Pavilion. Sarcophagi of A. Macedonian or royal are the most significant artifacts brought from Ancient Syria. The mummies of Egyptian pharaohs, fragments of sculptures from the ancient Greek temples of Zeus and Athena, collections of cuneiform texts, Ottoman coins and much more are kept here.

Basilica Cistern

If someone thinks that there is nothing left to be surprised in Istanbul, then he will be mistaken if he has not yet visited an absolutely unique structure - the Basilica Cistern. This former reservoir (that’s how “cistern” is translated) is a technological and architectural miracle created under Emperor Justinian. When there was no longer a need for a reservoir, Yerebatan-sarai, that is, an underground palace, was opened in this unique room, which became most interesting museum. There are no limits to tourists' admiration for the skill of Byzantine builders when they descend here.

The gigantic hall is lined with 336 8-9 meter tall marble columns supporting the ceiling. They were mainly brought from ancient temples, which is noticeable in their processing. The most notable of them are 2 columns, the bases of which are designed in the form of the heads of the Gorgon Medusa. The original lighting of the room creates a truly magical atmosphere.

Grand Bazaar and Cemberlitas

One of the most visited districts by tourists, Cemberlitas, is famous for the Column of Constantine, hammams, the square of the same name and the Grand Bazaar. The first column with a statue of the emperor was installed in 330, the last - 2 centuries later. Turkish hammams, now famous all over the world, have a special flavor here.
An ancient covered market arose on this site during the reign of Mehmed the Conqueror in 1453. Repeatedly rebuilt and expanded, the Grand Bazaar turned into main center trade and business of Istanbul and even the slave trade (until the 19th century).

At the beginning of the 17th century, the market area had 67 streets, 5 mosques, 7 fountains, 18 gates. Otherwise how oriental fairy tale this huge market complex cannot be named. Having come here for an hour, you can stay here for half a day - the market space is so colorful, bright, beautiful and diverse. It seems that its pavilions have everything you could want - the range of goods is off the charts. You shouldn’t demonstrate your wealth here; you should definitely bargain when purchasing.

I was in Istanbul in the spring and told you about. It was very fast one day excursion and along the way I had to run around the city.

A huge city with a lot of history and a lot of modern interest. Here you need to walk around the city for a week in order to somehow understand it more seriously.

Well, look at the fleeting shots of how I saw Istanbul...

First, according to tradition, a video version of the walk:

Subscribe to my YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/MasterokST

This is a phone booth

Everything for tourists.

Of course, we walked more around the historical part of the city. We go to Sultanahmet Square.

This obelisk was originally erected in Egypt in the 16th century BC. Pharaoh Thutmose III. It is made of red granite and its height was previously 30 meters. Each of its four sides tells the story of the victories of Pharaoh Thutmose III in the battle on the banks of the Euphrates River in 1450 BC.

Centuries later, the Roman Emperor Constantius II transported the obelisk along the Nile to Alexandria, where it was installed in honor of the 20th anniversary of his reign in 357. However, the obelisk's journey did not end there. It stood in Alexandria until 390, and was then transported to Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) by the last emperor of the unified Roman Empire, Theodosius I.

As a result of numerous transportations, dismantling and re-installation, the base of the obelisk was damaged, and today its height is only 25.5 meters.

On the bas-relief of the marble pedestal you can see the image of Theodosius I, who hands out the crown of victory to the winner in a chariot race. He is surrounded by spectators, musicians and dancers. Another story is dedicated to the installation of the obelisk itself on the Hippodrome Square.

A curious landmark of Istanbul's Sultanahmet Square is the Snake Column. This is an antique bronze column cast in 478 BC. - the surviving part of a sacrificial tripod, created from the weapons of the Persians killed in the Battle of Plataea (September 479 BC) during the Greco-Persian Wars. The Serpentine Column was once located in Delphi, Greece, and was later transported by Constantine to new capital Roman Empire Constantinople. Initially, the 8-meter column was crowned with three snake heads.

Initially, this was a column supporting a dedicatory golden tripod to Apollo. Like the tripod, the Serpent Column was a gift of a tenth of the spoils of 31 ancient Greek policies in the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi in honor of the Greek victory over the Persians at the city of Plataea, (Boeotia, Greece) in 479 BC. The serpentine column was cast from scrap bronze parts of Persian shields using the sfirelatos technique (a method of casting or forging hollow statues). According to Herodotus “... From this tithe a golden tripod was (made and) dedicated, which stands in Delphi on a three-headed copper snake directly at the altar...”

The picture shows a reconstruction of this tripod standing on the Serpentine Column.

This great gift of the Greeks was located directly in the temple of Apollo at the altar next to his golden statue. Initially, the entire composition had a height of about eight and a half meters and represented three snakes coiled in a rope, whose heads diverged from each other at its top in different directions at an angle of one hundred and twenty degrees. The column trunk has a classic entasis (per medias columnae), i.e. expansion of the trunk diameter at approximately the end of the first third of its height, followed by narrowing. Based on the images of snake bodies, there is a list of all allied Greek cities.

In 326, Emperor Constantine the Great (306-337) ordered the Serpent Column to be delivered from Delphi to Byzantium, along with many other famous artifacts of that time. Later, after 390, it was installed on the dividing barrier of the Great Hippodrome, but it was not in its current location, but closer to the center of the back, on the other side of the Egyptian obelisk.

I don’t know what it’s like there usually, but this time there were a lot of people in the square. We had to squeeze between tourists.

Photo 10.

Flags are everywhere. This is probably a tradition - national flags EVERYWHERE!

Photo 11.

Hagia Sophia. Unfortunately, there was very little time and I didn’t get inside.

Photo 12.

And this is a hammam. Hamam Hurrem Sultan, which was built for the legendary wife of the Sultan - Roksolana. Even after five centuries it continues to delight and welcome visitors. A distinctive feature of the Roksolana bathhouse is the huge size of the bathhouse. Luxury, white marble, abundance of wood, a huge dome, exquisite details will remain in the heart forever. Located: between the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia Museum.

Photo 13.

Photo 14.

Photo 15.

Many mobile retail outlets for tourists

Photo 16.

And we entered the market

Photo 17.

Istanbul's most famous bazaar is one of its main attractions. It was founded in 1461 and now houses more than 5,000 shops and shops under its roof. The Kapala Charshi Bazaar was founded by Sultan Mehmed II 8 years after the conquest of Constantinople, ordering the construction of a bedesten in 1461. Now this small building has been preserved in the bowels of a huge bazaar. Today, a network of shopping streets and galleries has formed an intricate labyrinth where you can buy whatever your heart desires.

Hundreds of thousands of people under the arches of Kapala Charshi every day create here an indescribable atmosphere of a mixture of cultures, languages, and traditions. You can buy absolutely everything at the Grand Bazaar, but don't be surprised high prices- ordinary Turks do not shop at this market at all and it operates exclusively for tourists.

Photo 18.

I understood that everything here was at a crazy markup, but I still couldn’t resist and bought some little things.

Photo 19.

Photo 20.

Photo 21.

Photo 22.

Photo 23.

Photo 24.

Photo 25.

Photo 26.

Photo 28.

This entire structure is designed to store water. Everything here should be filled with water up to the ceiling.

Photo 29.

Photo 30.

Photo 31.

Photo 34.

Local ceramics

Photo 35.

Photo 36.

Photo 37.

But these organic dyes are used to make multi-colored yarn for Turkish carpets

Photo 38.

Photo 39.

Photo 40.

Photo 41.

I didn’t see a lot of police and military, but I did see armored vehicles on the street.

Photo 42.

Photo 47.

And bagels... delicious bagels!

Photo 43.

Shop souvenirs.

Photo 44.

Photo 45.

Photo 46.

Photo 48.

Photo 49.

Photo 50.

These are the fountains in Turkey

Photo 51.

We sailed on a ship along the Bosphorus (I will make a separate post) and moored to the shore. The fishermen were catching something there, and almost from under the ship they continued to catch.

Photo 52.

What can you catch from under the departing and arriving ships!!!

The most expensive hotel in Turkey, which was abandoned

This is a copy of the article located at

Istanbul: features of tourism and recreation. Useful information for travelers about Istanbul.

Tours for May to Turkey
Last minute tours all over the world

Gulshat Zakirova

No other way to discover new places evokes as much emotion as a guided walk. local resident, capable of showing the most hidden corners of his city. My recent trip to Istanbul for the wedding of a close friend can be compared to re-reading a favorite book - the plot and characters have long been familiar, but as soon as I took a fresh look, the story sounded completely different.

On the eve of the wedding, the bride’s relatives and I were invited to dinner with the family of Turker, the groom. My friend's future relatives greeted us warmly and seated us at a table with refreshments. The dishes were replaced one after another in an accelerated manner, and while I was leaning on bereki, traditional pastries made of puff pastry stuffed with cheese and meat, delicious sweet peppers baked in the oven and covered in yogurt, which I had left for a snack, had already been taken away. About forty minutes later we had eaten our fill, and we were invited to sit on the sofa and drink tea with home-made baklava. Only then did they start asking us if we had been to Turkey before what we were doing, what we had seen in Istanbul.

As it turned out later, in Turkey it is not customary to talk at the table: eat before it gets cold. And conversations are conducted over tea, of which, according to tradition, several glasses are drunk per evening. How different this is from our feasts with leisurely conversations over a glass - not even tea at all.

The next day we were very worried while my friend and her chosen one were getting married according to Muslim laws, that is, they were undergoing the “nikah” ritual. The marriage is celebrated by a mullah, and only two witnesses are allowed to attend the ceremony - always men. A small festive dinner, at which women sat separately from men, ended the official part of the day, and within a couple of hours after acquiring a new status, my friend and her husband were in a hurry to show us the city. It is worth noting here that the real wedding, which attracted more than 350 guests, took place a couple of months later. The official registration of marriage in the registry office was a few days before the “nikah” and the significance for the couple was much less than a religious ceremony.

We didn’t have much time to explore the luxurious imperial Istanbul, so we immediately went to the city center to Sultanahmet Square. Climbing a steep hill along one of Istanbul's cobblestone streets, we were puzzled when Turker invited us to enter through a wooden door, sometimes full of holes, indicated by a "Painting exhibition" sign. Imagine our surprise when behind this unprepossessing entrance there was a workshop and exhibition of works by the famous Turkish artist Ilhami Atalay! Having met the master himself, who came out to us in a robe stained with paint, warmed up by the potbelly stove, and looked at the colorful oriental paintings, full of rich colors, we moved on.

Previous photo 1/ 1 Next photo

Even on this day, we took a funicular up to the observation deck over the Golden Horn Bay, had dinner at a fish restaurant with very reasonable prices (while less knowledgeable tourists ate the same fish at exorbitant prices in a neighboring establishment), rode along the Bosphorus and admired magnificent sunset over the Sea of Marmara. And throughout this long day we had the feeling that our guide was meeting his acquaintances everywhere. Not understanding the conversations in Turkish, we were sure that Turker’s good friends were charging for parking, pointing out the best way to the sights, and serving heaped lokum at the market. Our amazement knew no bounds when it turned out that these were all strangers to him. This is the mentality here: a compatriot is almost like a brother, and this applies equally to the inhabitants of a small village and to the inhabitants of an almost European metropolis - Istanbul.

Hello! My name is Olga, and I am glad to offer guests of our City walks different levels"advancement".

Hiking:

Route No. 1, which I call “First Walkers of Istanbul,” includes a visit to a special iconic places which every new arrival to Istanbul must visit:

The free territory of Topkapi, with the adjacent Gulhane Park (I’ll tell you how and where to purchase a museum map, audio guide and transport card, operating on all types of urban transport)
Sultanahmet Square, where you will find an educational story about the creation of two of the most places of worship Istanbul - Hagia Sophia and, in fact, the Blue Mosque.
Hippodrome Square with artifacts that have a history of hundreds of years, after which we will go to a real cistern, where we can see what the Hippodrome looked like during the heyday of Byzantium
In the Kadirga area we capture two magnificent places: Little Hagia Sophia (with a sunset) and the Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque (fans of the Magnificent Century - this is YOUR theme!)
We walk along the former Forum of Constantine to the Grand Bazaar (aka Kapala Charshi), there we adjust the route depending on the time of the excursion - we can go “to the roofs of Istanbul” if it is not Sunday, or we sacrifice this trip for the last point of the walk, but we will add Mario with his famous “fish in pita bread”.

We pass through the square of the Beyazid Mosque and Istanbul University to Suleymaniye. The tombs of Suleiman the Magnificent and Anastasia Lisovskaya (Hurrem): legends associated with the construction of the complex and a gorgeous observation deck overlooking the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus are at your service, but first I will tell you about the monastery of the dervishes of the Kalender Order!
Have you heard anything about the geometric center of Istanbul during the time of Suleiman the Magnificent? I will enlighten you on this issue, and we will also visit the courtyard of the Shehzadeh Mosque (the same one to whom a concubine sick with smallpox was planted).
From Suleymaniye we will go down to the Golden Horn, cross it through the Halic Bridge and get to Karakoy, from which we will go up through the Kamondo staircase to the Galata Tower and further, through Istiklal with a retro tram, we will reach Taksim Square (We will fulfill this point if you and I do not go to the roofs of Kapala Charshi).

Route No. 2, which I call “Advanced Guest”

We begin our long journey with you from the former shrine of Christian Constantinople - the Pantokrator monastery, which now bears the name ZEYREK. If the mosque is open, we will certainly look into it; the architectural style of this building will strike you to the very heart. And from the height of the observation deck of a nice home cafe, under the glove compartment with delicious Turkish tea, I will “test” you on your knowledge of the surrounding area, which from this point has a great view. There I will also enlighten you about the Church of One Day, which can be seen simply magnificently from there.
Through the Women's Bazaar (you will also hear the history of its name) we go to the holy of holies of Istanbul's ancient water supply system - the Wales Aqueduct and penetrate into residential areas
The mosque of Fatih Mehmed Sultan - the conqueror of Constantinople - with a chilling story of its construction, which I will definitely tell. The square itself and the interior decoration of the main Sultan's mosque of its time will strike you to the very heart.
Next, we take the bus to a sacred place for Muslims - the Eyup Sultan Complex. If desired, we make a stop and go out to look at the European Mihrimah Mosque and the Edirnekapi gate through which Fatih entered Constantinople. Eyup Sultan is a place of pilgrimage for Muslims, as it is here that the footprint of the Prophet Muhammad and his personal belongings are located!
A market with unique rose creams, rose oils and rose water from Isparta is HERE!
We go up through the ancient cemetery to Cafe Pierre Lotti, from where we take stunning pictures of the surrounding area. I will reveal the secrets of our Family in this place!
Funicular, bus - and we are in the Balat area, which is so loved by Instagram bloggers. Let's plunge into the atmosphere of ANOTHER Istanbul!

We can adjust these two routes during the walks, the average duration is 7-8 hours. Good physical fitness, comfortable shoes, no children. Up to 4 people

These same routes can be combined with standard 4-hour walks (+1 hour as a gift) by agreement with you.

Walk through the Asian part “ISTANBUL THROUGH THE EYES OF ELCHIN”: Moda district, Nostalgia tram, residential areas, cozy places, a wonderful park... - Kadikoy is at your service! Then we take public transport to Üsküdar: either Kuzguncuk or a picturesque park for a walk - our choice. Walk for 4 hours (+ 1 hour as a gift).

Up to 4 people, children from 12 years old. Meet for the walk strictly at the Eminonu pier to save time.

I also create individual walks according to your wishes - 4-5 hours, children over 12 years old.

Automotive:

AUTHOR'S walk "HISTORICAL RESEARCH ON THE VERGE OF A FOLK"— Yusha tepesi, Yoros Kalesi, Bolshaya Chamlydzha, Uskudar embankment. The legend about WHO is actually buried in that picturesque place? Your worldview will change after this walk, and wonderful views from the highest hills of this part of the City will give you a fabulous feeling. It's not forbidden to admire!

A company of up to 3 people - by personal vehicle, for more than that - I order a minibus from a transport company. A VERY popular walk, in fact, and other guides DO NOT conduct it!

These walks are strictly on Sundays, no more than 3 people (by personal vehicle).

[email protected]

My Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gencholga

WhatsApp/Viber +90 530 124 75 44