Travel Photography Blog by Nisa Maier and Ulli Maier. » Istanbul

10 Must-Visit Sights In Istanbul.

Nisa — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 11:04:10 +0000

There are so many reason to love Istanbul: for its history, culture, people, sights or night life. I’ve been to Istanbul twice and it’s one of those enchanting cities, I could return to every year.

I love sitting on a roof-top terraces to watch the sun set over the one of the world’s most beautiful skylines. I love the locals, who are more than friendly. I love listening to the Muezzin – even at 4.00 am – to which you can set the clock. I love the parks and the delicious sweets. What can I say, I’ve simply lost my heart to Istanbul!

Here Europe and Asia meet and this makes it the perfect spot for any travel photographer. It has more jaw-dropping sights you could ever imagine and an incredible cultural experience will follow you each step of the way. There are many must visit sights and places of interest in Istanbul and I would like to share some of my favourite.

1. Süleymaniye Mosque.

Süleymaniye Mosque is an architectural masterpiece. The aesthetic supremacy of its interior and exterior and its perfect proportions have been captivating visitors for centuries. I actually find this Mosque the most impressive in Istanbul.

Süleymaniye Mosque is one of the most impressive Mosques in Istanbul.

2. Gülhane Park.

Gülhane Park is a historical urban park located on part of the Topkapi Palace grounds. It’s one of the oldest public parks in Istanbul which is frequented by many locals & tourist aiming for fresh air and superb nature right in the centre of Istanbul. Sometimes dealing with the masses of people can be daunting, so this is the perfect spot to settle down after an extensive day of walking. You can either rest on one of the many benches, or walk down the tranquil, tree lined path that leads you all the way to the Bosphorus.

Gülhane park the perfect spot to relax a little.

The large trees and beautiful flower arrangements make you feel like you’re in a fairy tale.

Gülhane park is also one of the few spots in Istanbul where can get away from all the hustle & bustle.

3. Grand Bazaar.

Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is the last stop on the Silk Road. It’s truly a maze market and with more than 3.000 shops, it’s one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. Established in 1461 by Mehmet the Conqueror, it houses more than 60 streets of jewellery, textiles, pottery, leather & carpets. Bring a map for orientation, but still expect to get lost at least once. If you’re into books, definitely check out Sahaflar Carsisi (the Old Book Bazaar) which was moved to the picturesque location near the Beyazid Mosque.

Istanbuls Grand Bazaar is a true shoppers paradise.

The entrance to the Grand Bazaar is almost like a door into a far away land…

The book section of the Grand Bazaar offers all sort of reading material.

4. Galata Bridge.

The Galata Bridge spans across the Golden Horn and was built in 1992 to replace an iron structure dating from 1909 to 1912, which had already replaced two earlier structures. A walk across the bridge is an absolute must for every visitor. During the day, the bridge carries a constant flow of people crossing to and from Beyoğlu and Eminönü, as well as a handful of hopeful anglers. Underneath, restaurants and cafés are open day and night. Historically (and in some respect also today), the Galata Bridge was a symbolic link between the traditional city of Istanbul. On one side you had imperial palace and religious institutions, and on the other side the districts of Galata and Beyoğlu, where where foreign merchants and diplomats lived and worked and where today a young hip and more artsy crowd frequents the area.

Although the Galata Bridge is not the most beautiful sights, it has become a must-see landmark of Istanbul.

Every day fishermen come try their luck from the Galata Bridge.

5. Hagia Sofia.

The Byzantine masterpiece was built by Emperor Justinian I as an Orthodox patriarchal basilica. This huge 30 metre diameter dome covers what was once the largest enclosed space in the world. After Constantinople fell to the Turks in 1453, it became a mosque, before being converted into a museum in 1935. The stunning interior is supposed to be well-worth the wait outside (calculate at least 2 hours). We were there on a Monday, which is unfortunate the only day the museum is closed…

Seeing the Hagia Sofia from the inside, means standing in line for quite some time.

The Hagia Sofia is one of the most famous museums world-wide.

6. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque aka The Blue Mosque.

Neighbouring the Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque is an impressive sight from the outside as its one of only a few Mosques in the world with six minarets. Its name comes from the interior, the decorative blue tiles that cover the walls. This architectural masterpiece is one of the most popular must-visits in Istanbul and if you wish to see the insight you have to calculate a great amount of time.

The Blue Mosque in Istanbul is probably the most frequented sight, yet it’s also an active Mosque, therefore it’s important to be respectful when visiting.

7. Bosphorus.

No trip is complete without crossing the Bosphorus to visit the Asian shore. Excursions along shoreline best reveal the city’s beauty and other attractions hidden from street view.

There are many legends about Maiden’s Tower and its location. According to the most popular Turkish legend, an emperor had a much beloved daughter and one day, an oracle prophesied that she would be killed by a venomous snake on her 18th birthday. The emperor, in an effort to thwart his daughter’s early demise by placing her away from land so as to keep her away from any snakes, had the tower built in the middle of the Bosphorus to protect his daughter until her 18th birthday. The princess was placed in the tower, where she was frequently visited only by her father.

On a ride along the Bosphorus you will come across the majestic structures of Rumeli Hisari. Mehmet the Conqueror had it built in a mere four months in 1452, in preparation for his siege of Byzantine Constantinople. For its location, he chose the narrowest point of the Bosphorus. By doing so, Mehmet was able to control all traffic on the strait, cutting the city off from resupply by sea.

8. A Ride On A Heritage Tramway.

There are two heritage tramways in Istanbul – one on the European and one on the Asian side. The Taksim-Tünel Nostalgia Tramway (also called T2 line), runs from Taksim to Tünel. The historic trams are small, can’t hold many passengers, and are full most of the time. The ride is relatively slow but pleasant. The conductor constantly has to ring his bell to clear the way of pedestrians walking on Istiklal Avenue – frequented by approximately 3 million people every day.

CAtching a ride on the Heritage Tramway to Taksmi Square is not easy but definitely worth it.

9. New Mosque & Spice Bazaar.

The Spice Bazaar was built in 1663 as part of the New Mosque. It was the last stop for camel caravans travelling on the Silk Road, which already gives a sense of the history around this marketplace. Spices are displayed alongside Turkish delights and dried fruits as eye candy for tourists and locals who make their way here every day.

Thousand of shoppers in Istanbul frequent the Spice Bazaar each day

All sorts of exotic spices can be bought at this Bazaar in Istanbul.

10. Galata Quarter & Galata Tower.

Last but not least, walking through the Galata quarter is an absolute must – in particular the Galata Tower from where you have an amazing 360° view of the city. Galata is a great place to relax, wander the streets, discover, take pictures and enjoy the city. This part of town is hip, stylish, trendy & young. You’ll come across many local shops; from gift shops to cool shoe shops, vintage boutiques to Turkish designer’s showrooms, great cafés and cosy restaurants. The architecture is also worth seeing; it’s a mixture between run down buildings, old-fashioned wooded houses and modern façades.

The skyline of Istanbul is definitely one of the most impressive in the world – especially at night.

The view of the Galata Bridge and New Mosque from the Galata Tower.

Street Art In Istanbul, Turkey.

Nisa — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:45:42 +0000

Galata’s most distinctive landmark north of the Golden Horn, is the conical-capped Galata Tower. From there, you not only have an amazing 360° panorama view of the city, but I’d also suggest to start wandering along the streets to feel the flair of Istanbul’s hippest part. When strolling the streets of the Galata Quarter (commonly known as Beyoğlu), you’ll come across some pretty amazing street art – especially graffiti.

For example the yellow fists by Berlin based Graffiti Writer Kripoea. The fists are a sign for rebellion, anarchy, and can be found pretty much everywhere in the city, also at places you might not expect…

Street Art in the Galata Quarter in Istanbul, Turkey.

Why I Found Süleymaniye Mosque The Most Impressive In Istanbul.

Nisa — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 05:25:13 +0000

The Süleymaniye Mosque is not only stunning, but in my opinion it’s also the most likeable Mosque in Istanbul.

Sure, the Blue Mosque is the most famous one and therefore better known among tourists, but that’s also its great drawback. The Blue Mosque – still one of the most impressive in Istanbul – suffers from that huge and constant flow of visitors, which the Süleymaniye Mosque doesn’t. Of course, it was clear to me that I needed to visit Istanbul’s largest Mosque, yet I had no idea it would leave me this speechless compared to other sights of the city.

Fewer visitors are not the only quality it possesses; It’s an architectural masterpiece. The aesthetic supremacy of its interior and exterior and its perfect proportions have been captivating visitors for centuries.

The Süleymaniye Mosque was built on the order of Sultan Süleyman I, also known as Süleyman the Magnificent, who was the greatest and richest of all Ottoman sultans, and it crowns Istanbul’s highest of the seven hills.

View of Süleymaniye Mosque from the Galata Quarter in Istanbul, Turkey.

Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.

Inside Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.

Exploring The Galata Quarter In Istanbul, Turkey.

Nisa — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 11:17:05 +0000

Galata, or better Beyoğlu as it’s called today, has been our home for the last four days. Our apartment was about 25 meters next to the famous Galata Tower, one of the most important historical monuments of Istanbul. Up from the tower you have an amazing view of the city, but be prepared … you’ll need to wait at least 30-45 minutes to get up there, since there’s always a line. We were lucky, because our apartment also had a terrace from which we got a 360° view of the entire city. It wasn’t quite as high as the tower, but I was more than happy with what we got…

The view of our 360° terrace – In front: Galata Bridge & New Mosque, Istanbul.

The Galata Tower & its Quarter, Istanbul.

Galata is a great place to relax, wander the streets, discover, take pictures and enjoy the city. This part of town is hip, stylish, trendy & young. You’ll come across many local shops – from gift shops to cool shoe shops, vintage boutiques to Turkish designer’s showrooms – great cafés and cosy restaurants. The architecture is also worth seeing; it’s a mixture between run down buildings, old-fashioned wooded houses and modern façades.

A super cute little retro shop in Galata, Istanbul.

A run down building in Galata, Istanbul.

A man sitting in the doorway of a house in Galata, Istanbul.

Street Art.

I only took about 500 photos of all the different street art in the Galata quarter, therefore I’d only like to share a couple in this post, and keep the rest for a separate article. When wandering the side streets, you’ll come across some pretty awesome street art…

Panda Bear Graffiti in Galata, Istanbul.

Graffiti in the Galata Quarter of Istanbul.

What I liked most about Galata is the neighbourhoods energy, crowded by young people and many foreigners, who roam the streets at any given hour of the day. It’s definitely worth exploring, so take your time when coming to this part of Istanbul.

Istanbul, Here We Come!

Nisa — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:53:52 +0000

It’s been almost 15 years since the last time we visited Istanbul. Far to long if you ask me!

Although Istanbul isn’t the capital, it’s the largest city in Turkey and the leading industrial, commercial, historical, and cultural center. Not only because of the diversity of people, but also geologically; Istanbul is the only major city world-wide that lies on two continents, Asia & Europe. I heard that it’s supposed to be one of the most fascinating places and therefore, I can’t wait to to dive into the “Soul of Turkey” in less than two weeks!

We booked ourselves into a fantastic historical flat right next to the Galata Tower with a 360° roof top terrace, which I desperately need for “bird view” photo opportunities – whether day or night.

Things we want to see:

Hagia Sophia
One of Istanbul’s illustrious landmark, the Hagia Sofia was a former church, mosque and now a museum. It is the most important achievement of Byzantine architecture.

Topkapi Palace
This palace was home to all the Ottoman sultans. Today it’s a museum. The Treasury of the Museum is considered one of the most celebrated treasuries in the world.

Blue Mosque
Although popularly known as the Blue Mosque, its real name is Sultan Ahmet Mosque. It is famous for the beautiful blue tiles and glass work ornamenting its walls.

Grand Bazaar
We love markets, so this is a definite must! Grand Bazaar is the oldest and largest covered bazaar in the world. It’s situated in the heart of the city. Inside the Grand Bazaar you can enjoy shopping and find great bargains in 3.000 shops.

Galata Tower
It was called the Christea Turris by the Genoese and the Megalos Pyrgos by the Byzantines. It has a modern restaurant and cafe on its upper floors with a stunning view of Istanbul. The Galata Quarter is also the trendiest area in Istanbul…

Suleymaniye Mosque
This mosque is the largest and most imposing. It’s an architectural masterpiece. The aesthetic supremacy of its interior and exterior and its perfect proportions have been captivating visitors for centuries.

Old City Walls of Istanbul
Old Constantinople was surrounded by walls described as land walls and sea walls. These walls were considered to be the largest fortress ever constructed in the Christian era. With the numerous towers, it’s a magnificent sight.

As you can see, the fours day we have there are packed. But I’m always open to even more suggestions, especially the ones a tourist would never find. So, any Istanbul insider tips?