What can you see in Istanbul and free walking tours
Istanbul attractions and walking tours? The Galata Tower offers beautiful views of the city. It is located just North of the Golden Horn in the Galata Quarter. We stayed in an apartment looking right up at this tower and it was breathtaking. It is 9 stories high with a restaurant cafe and nightclub. You can take tours up to view the city. There’s a great square at the base of the Galata Tower where you can enjoy some Turkish Coffee and Turkish Delight while people watching on the terrace.
Compared to other attractions, Chora Church is out of the way but it’s worth the effort. A small Byzantine church converted to a mosque before being turned into a museum, it’s home to what many call the most stunning mosaics in Istanbul. Check out my post on Chora Church (Kariye Museum) in Istanbul for more pictures and information. Turkish cuisine is interesting. It’s colorful and nuanced and seems as diverse as the country’s landscape. Enjoy one meal at Ciya Sofrasi and you’ll see what I mean. We did all our own food research but in hindsight, I would have loved to go on a food tour. I think Turkish cuisine is best appreciated (and understood) with the guidance of a knowledgeable local. Culinary Backstreets can help you with that.
Emirgan Park is one of the biggest public parks in Istanbul, covering some 117 acres (47 hectares) and surrounded by a high wall. The land was once covered with cypress trees, and the estate passed through many owners over the years, eventually becoming available to the public in the 1940s. Filled with many plant and flower species, the pleasant park has two ornamental ponds and three beautiful mansions. A popular recreational spot, there are jogging tracks, walking trails, and places to eat and drink. Take a stroll around the extensive park, seeing the wide array of pretty flora. Trees in the park include pine, cedar, beech, ash, spruce, and willow. The plants attract plenty of birds and insects. Don’t miss seeing the tulips in full bloom if you visit in the spring. Keep fit on the running tracks, relax alongside the ponds, enjoy a picnic, and let kids run and play in the wide open spaces. Find more details on Free walking tour of Istanbul.
The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts occupies a building that once was used as the palace of Pargali Ibrahim Pasha, Suleiman, The Magnificent’s best friend since childhood. The mansion was built in 1524. The collection of this marvelous museum comes from all over the Middle East, and the items dated from the 8th to the 19th century. You can see calligraphy artwork, prayer rugs, wooden, stone, and metal crafts, and many more. The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts opens from 9 AM to 4.30 PM every day, except on Mondays. On Mondays, the museum is closed for the public.
A Istanbul walking tour that we will highly recommend anyone who is visiting Istanbul to join! Great information about the history of Istanbul and our guide is very open for us to discuss any topics related to the society and religion of Turkey.We also visited places that are off the usual track of tourist and were pleasantly surprised. The money paid is well worth the time and effort of our guide! Thank you for introducing your beautiful city to us! Explore extra info at https://www.freeistanbultours.com/.