A Walk in Istanbul – Part 2

Amidst the whole madness going on in the world right now, I am reminiscing of my times in Istanbul and thinking of what landmarks and attractions I should feature in my next post about the city. I have thought of some more recommendations to list, taking into consideration that summer is just a few months away.

If you haven’t read my previous blog post about Istanbul, make sure to click on the link below to check it out:

A Walk in Istanbul – Part 1

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The Golden Horn (Haliç)

The Golden Horn or Haliç is a sight with historical significance and the primary inlet of the Bosphorus. Its name originates from the aerial view of the inlet resembling the shape of a horn.

In order to get to the hill that overlooks the Horn, you will have to make your way to the TELEFERIK PIERLOTTI Station. If you are departing from the district of Eminönü, bus number 99 will take you there in no time. I would highly recommend purchasing an Istanbulkart for public transportation in Istanbul. It costs between 6-7 TL, depending on whether you buy it from a machine or a kiosk. You can always check your balance and deposit more money into your card if needed.

Once you’re at the TELEFERIK PIERLOTTI Station you need to get on the Teleferik which is a small lift with cable cars that will take you up the hill and to a terrace where you can enjoy the amazing view and perhaps try Turkish tea and a börek from the Pierre Loti cafe watching the sunset as Istanbul starts to light up full of life.

Galata Tower

There isn’t a book, travel blog, or article dedicated to Istanbul that fails to mention the impressive Galata Kulesi and its beauty. The Galata Tower is a medieval cone-capped tower that offers a panoramic view of Istanbul and is located north of the Golden Horn’s junction with the Bosphorus.

The tower is said to have been the tallest building in Constantinople when it was built in 1348. There are two elevators that carry visitors to the upper levels where they can enjoy a cup of coffee or a nice meal at the restaurant, gazing at Istanbul and the Bosphorus.

Bosphorus Cruise

This has to be one of my most memorable experiences from Istanbul, although it’s extremely hard to pick a favorite. In my opinion, it is best to look up online the different cruises that are available so that you can choose the one that suits you best. There are tours that offer fancy meals and entertainment, some go all the way to the Black sea and back. The one that I have been on is the TurYol Bosphorus cruise that leaves from Eminönü, takes you to the second bridge, and back for around 90 minutes.

The prices for the TurYol tour are 12 TL for adults and 6 TL for children (under 12). There are cruise ships departing every hour and if you can I’d recommend going on it twice – once during the day and once at night (make sure you wear something warm for the night tour as it gets quite windy).

The Princes’ Islands

The Princes’ Islands, also known as Adalar, is an archipelago of islands off the coast of Istanbul. The archipelago consists of four larger islands (Büyükada, Heybeliada, Burgazada, and Kınalıada) and five smaller ones. During the siege of Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1453, the islands were taken over by the Ottomans and were a place where Byzantine royalties and Ottoman sultans were exiled which gave them the name ‘Princes’ Islands’.

The islands are a popular and touristy spot during the summer so my suggestion would be visiting them on a weekday rather than a weekend unless you are planning on staying over at a hotel for a longer period of time. If you are traveling from the European coast of Istanbul you can access the four main islands by getting on a ferry from Kabataş. If you are located on the Asian side of the megapolis, you can get a ferry to the islands from Kadıköy and Bostancı (both neighborhoods are facing the sea of Marmara).

I visited Büyükada (the largest island of the archipelago) during the summer and I was amazed by the beautiful architecture and the view it had to offer. The only transportation available on the island are bikes and carriages (fayton) and their prices vary depending on the island you are at.

If you are planning on visiting Büyükada, you should definitely make your way to the highest hill on the island. Not only does it offer a stunning landscape of Istanbul and the rest of the islands but it is also where the Greek Orthodox Monastery Aya Yorgi (Saint George) is situated.

Other interesting places on the island are the wooden building of the Prinkipo Greek Orphanage and the house of the Soviet revolutionary Leon Trotsky.

Venezia Mega Outlet

I am usually not interested in the shopping aspect of tourism but Istanbul offers something for everyone. What intrigued me about Venezia Mega Outlet was its construction and the canals going around the shopping center, imitating the ones in Venice. The mall is open from 10AM – 10PM and if you want to immerse yourself into the Venetian atmosphere you can enjoy a gondola ride (although the view from the boat is not nearly as nice as the one in Venice).

Istanbul Sea Life Aquarium

If you are out and about in Istanbul on a hot/rainy day, the Istanbul Sea Life Aquarium is a great way to escape the heat/rain and learn more about the ‘rainforest, flooded forest, and tropical seas zones‘.

The aquarium is located in the mall Forum İstanbul and has the longest ocean tunnel in Europe (83m). Sea Life Istanbul offers a variety of tickets that combine multiple tourist attractions in one, however, the standard ticket for the aquarium is between 55-69 TL.

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Whether you’d prefer walking around the megapolis, enjoying its beautiful scenery on a cruise ship, or exploring the shopping districts of the city, Istanbul is able to offer just about anything to everybody.

As a great French revolutionary once said:

If the Earth were a single state, Constantinople would be its capital.

~ Napoleon Bonaparte

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