What makes Istanbul special is an interesting question. You can devise a list of the many attractions this city offers. Or point out some historical locations. However, we believe the answer comes down to three main points. Istanbul is special because:
- It has a unique geographical location.
- It has a diverse history and a rich culture.
- It is the most visited city in the world.
Ultimately, everything that makes Istanbul special is related to these three points. And they offer many exciting things to do in Istanbul. Now, let us dive a bit deeper into each item.
Things to Do in Istanbul: Cross a Bridge from East to West
Istanbul is geographically unique. This city has a famous bridge called The Bosphorus Bridge. It is a remarkable bridge because it connects the Asian and European sides of Istanbul. This bridge highlights a unique characteristic of Istanbul as well. This city is among only a few of its kind worldwide and spans two continents. This special location allows the Bosphorus to bridge not only Istanbul but also the Eastern world to the Western.
This feature of Istanbul brings a lot of opportunities. Crossing the bridge itself can be one of the things to do in Istanbul. Other than that, take a Bosphorus cruise. We suggest taking a sunset cruise over the Bosphorus Strait to elevate your experience. While you’re floating on the Asia and Europe border, you’ll enjoy the astounding views of Istanbul’s skyline.
Moreover, Istanbul has many beautiful beaches. They are the perfect spot for a calm evening, running, or swimming. Here is a list of the best Istanbul beaches you can check out:
Caddebostan Beach
Burc Beach
True Blue beach
Solar Beach
Suade Club
Lastly, Ulus Park is among the most popular places in Istanbul. This park gives you the best view over the Bosphorus from high above. If you’re excited enough about Istanbul, Ulus has a lot to talk about. Find a relaxing spot and gaze upon what makes Istanbul special.
What Makes Istanbul Special: Diverse History
- Istanbul is a city with two identities
Not so long ago, people used to call Istanbul Constantinople. The name dates back to the Byzantine Empire. Up until 1453, Constantinople was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. After that, the Turks Conquered the city and eventually named it Istanbul during the 20th century. This fact highlights another interesting side of Istanbul. Two completely different people with different cultures and traditions have ruled over the city. And now, they are rooted in Istanbul’s rich history.
- Hagia Sophia: one of best istanbul places to visit
There is a place that showcases this dual identity the best. Among any list of things to do in Istanbul, there is a place mentioned called Hagia Sophia or Ayasofya. Arguably the most popular place in Istanbul, Hagia Sophia is an architectural masterpiece. It has been around for over fourteen centuries. Originally, it was constructed to be a Byzantine church. After the invasion by the Turks, they turned it into a mosque until this very day.
Visiting Hagia Sophia is a peculiar but fascinating experience. You’ll be presented with a unique blend of Islam and Christianity, almost nowhere to be found. Walk through the building. Let the captivating style of Byzantine architecture throw you. This place is filled with colorful mosaics and designs mostly attributed to Christianity. However, you’ll be surrounded by Islamic elements like passages from the holy Quran.
- Famous historical sights of Istanbul
However, being the capital city of two great empires has given Istanbul many more exceptional sights. Check out the Sultan Ahmet Mosque. See how Ottomans’ genius comes into place when it’s about building praying places. To dig deeper into the daily lives of Ottoman Sultans, go to Topkapi Palace. It was the residential palace for Turkish kings for over 400 years. Now, it is turned into a museum. Besides, it showcases a vast collection of Ottoman treasures.
One more iconic landmark of Istanbul is the Galata Tower. The remains of a twin tower structure from the 15th century have a height of 52 meters. Besides its magnificent structure, it offers a 360 view of Istanbul. Other historical places worth visiting include:
- Süleymaniye Mosque
- Rumeli Fortress
- Dolmabahçe Palace
- Chora Church (Kariye Museum)
- Basilica Cistern
- Archaeological Museum
Each of these places shows Istanbul’s importance through the years. They show us the love that generations have had for this city over the past two millennials.
Are you looking for things to do in Istanbul? Well. Eat! That’s the easiest yet most incredible thing you can do in Istanbul. No one can ever understand what makes Istanbul special unless they eat their food. Many tourists come back to this city only to taste Turkish cuisine again.
Their dishes are fresh, vibrant, and surprising. You will be astounded by the diversity of flavors found in these Turkish foods. It’s like tasting years of Istanbul’s cultural and historical diversity on an evening dining.
Best Turkish food to try in Istanbul
When visiting Istanbul, don’t forget to try out:
- Doner Kebab: A cooked meat made on a vertical rotisserie.
- Baklava: A sweet layered pastry with a coating syrup
- Kofte: Turkish meatballs.
- Meze: A famous breakfast dish that includes meat, cheese, olives, beans, pickled vegetables, and bread.
- Borek: An Ottoman pastry similar to a pie.
For a more enriched experience, we highly suggest testing Istanbul street food as well. Preferably eat these foods as you’re walking on the streets:
- Simit: A sesame bagel-like bread.
- Balık ekmek: A popular Istanbul street food made of fish sandwich.
- Kesten: A Balkan cuisine made of roasted beef, fish, or lamb.
- Gozleme: A street food with a crispy bread exterior and filled with flavorful ingredients.
After you’ve messed up your lose-weight diet with some Turkish cuisine, it’s time to find somewhere more relaxing. You can go to one of Istanbul’s hammams. It’s a traditional version of a modern spa bath you can find in many cities. Lying on a warm surface as someone scrubs off your dead skin and massages your body must be everyone’s Istanbul bucket list.
Tourists Are What Makes Istanbul Special
In 2023, Istanbul hosted about 20.2 million tourists. This number made Istanbul the most visited city in the world last year. Most of these tourists are here to discover the attractions of Istanbul, things we’ve discussed so far in this article. However, a major part of what makes Istanbul special is this insane amount of tourists. Do you want to learn about things to do in Istanbul? Ask its tourists. They’ve been the number one factor in shaping modern-day Istanbul.
And they are responsible for a lot of new attractions.
The historical aspect of Istanbul is alluring. But it’s not everything this city has to offer. There are many other attractions for tourists in Istanbul.
Things to Do in Istanbul for Tourists: Shopping
Almost every tourist dedicates some time to shopping in Istanbul. Two old shopping centers are among the popular places in Istanbul: Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar.
Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is one of the world’s oldest and largest covered marketplaces. Besides its historical importance, Grand Bazaar hosts over 4000 stores selling almost everything. The special part about this place is the Turkish goods like jewelry, lamps, or carpets you can find here.
Spice Bazaar or the Egyptian Bazaar is not as large. However, it can be even more exciting. As the name suggests, this place is full of shops selling spices, dried fruits, nuts, and Turkish delight. It’s the vibrant colors and aromatic smells that make this bazaar extraordinary. Wandering here is more than just a simple shopping experience.
On the other hand, Istanbul has many modern shopping centers. There are a few malls you can check out. They offer a luxurious environment with world-class designers and companies’ goods for sale. The most popular places in Istanbul are:
İstinye Park
Mall of Istanbul
Zorlu Center
Cevahir Mall
Kanyon Shopping Mall
Emaar Square Mall
Popular Tourist Places in Istanbul: Visit Its Nightlife
Istanbul is full of nightclubs. Many of them have renowned DJs and musicians. If you have a more diverse taste in music, you can check out a jazz cafe. From Turkish folk music to EDM, there’s a place for everyone in Istanbul.
Karaokes are also a fun part of Istanbul’s nightlife. Moreover, throughout the city, there are places called Meyhane. They are Istanbul’s equivalent of taverns. Turks love to party in Istanbul. Throughout the night you’ll find many of these Meyhanes that keep partying. If your perfect weekend includes partying and meeting new people, you’ll have a fantastic time in Istanbul. Just follow some cautionary guidelines, and you’ll be fine.
The best hubs for clubs, cafes, and meyhanes in Istanbul are Taksim, Moda, Kadikoy, Esteghlal, and Maslak. Move around the city. Discover Istanbul’s lively nightlife. If you think taxis or public transportation aren’t reliable enough, we suggest renting a car. It also gives you the freedom you need and costs relatively lower.
Last Word
In the end, our list of things to do in Istanbul looked similar to other cities. We simply told you to eat, buy, visit a couple of historical places, and have fun (and obviously free some time for a Turkish hammam!). But Istanbul does all of these things like nowhere else in the world. There are a million reasons why Istanbul is special, and we mentioned only a few of them. This city is meant to be visited and has adapted itself through the years to be exactly that.
Visit this place. Be a part of what makes Istanbul special. Interact with the city and make it even more lively. Have fun. And don’t forget to pet some cats!
FAQ
There are many essential landmarks in Istanbul for every visitor. On top of those places are:
- Hagia Sophia
- Blue Mosque
- Topkapi Palace
We suggest visiting the iconic historical landmarks, trying Turkish cuisine, and checking out Istanbul’s shopping centers.
The most prominent shopping centers in Istanbul are bazaars, streets, and malls. Malls are more modern and luxurious compared to the bazaars and streets of Istanbul.
There are many options for getting around in Istanbul, including metro, taxi, ferry, taxi-sharing apps, and buses. Renting a car would also be a practical and more affordable choice.
