7 things everyone must do in Istanbul

onnaedo

September 8, 2015 4:51 PM

Though a mostly Islamic region, the hint of Europe lends it a cosmopolitan outlook which makes for a fine blend of modern and ancient.

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Istanbul, Turkey is a fascinating city for several things.

First off, there's the fact that Turkey is the melting point of Europe and Asia - a little to the South is Europe while Asia lies further north. It's also a country which has a rich history.

The fashion isn't bad either which is why we recommend this travel spot.

Here are 7 things you should do in Istanbul:

1. VisitTopkapı Sarayı: This was the palace of sultans from the 15th- to 19th-century and also housed thousands of imperial servants. But that's not all, it also housed a magnificent chest of jewellery.

2. Galata Dervish House: Witness traditional whirling dervishes (Muslim monk noted for devotional exercises involving bodily movements) in the oldest lodge in Istanbul, established 1491.

3. Shop at the Spice Bazaar: This place was built in 1663 as a stop for camel caravans traveling the Silk Road. Just like the bazaars at Morocco, virtually anything can be found here.

4. Rüstem Paşa Mosque: This isa 1516 Mimar Sinan Ottoman jewel box, located near the Spice Bazaar.

5. Hagia Sophia: This wasChristendom’s largest cathedral for almost a thousand years. Now converted to a mosque, it now stands as a museum.

6. Grand Bazaar: This is a Labyrinthine market of more than 3,000 shops established in 1461 by Mehmet the Conqueror. It boasts more than 50 streets of jewelry, textiles, pottery, glazed tiles, bronze, leather, carpets.

7. Bosporus Boat Tour: Experience excursions along shoreline best reveal the city’s grandeur and other attractions hidden from street view.

onnaedo