For Visitors, the best places to visit in Istanbul. If we talk about Istanbul, it is one of the best cities in turkey that wears its history and culture well, making it an exciting city with plenty to offer tourists from all over the globe. It was founded in the Neolithic period, Today Istanbul is a modern city that stays in its historical roots through its churches, mosques, and old bazaars.
Best places and destinations for visitors to visit in between the West and the East Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, offers an atmosphere of mystery and charm that appeals to visitors of all ages. Here’s a list of the most popular tourist destinations in Istanbul:
Best Places to Visit in Istanbul
The best and most beautiful places or destinations for visitors, to visit Istanbul’s top 10 places which are also historical destinations. The best destination to visit the tourist in Istanbul turkey is all the following destinations are historical places:
1) Galata Tower
![Galata Tower](https://www.travelguylive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/galata-tower.jpg)
The best and biggest destination in Istanbul for visitors to visit is Galata Tower with a height of 219 feet at 219 feet, one of the best places in Istanbul is Galata Tower dominates the Istanbul skyline and offers stunning views of the city’s old parts and its surrounding areas. The tower of stone, which was once also known as”the Tower of Christ, was the highest building in Istanbul when it was constructed in 1348.
The tower has undergone numerous modifications throughout the years, at times, it was utilized as an observatory for spotting fires. The upper levels of the tower comprise a restaurant as well as a nightclub that are both accessible via an elevator within the nine-story structure, from which you can enjoy the breathtaking panoramas.
2) Istanbul Archaeological Museum
![Istanbul Archaeological Museum](https://www.travelguylive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/istanbul-archeology-museum-2.jpg)
One of the largest and best place museums in Istanbul Turkey for tourists or visitors. The Istanbul Archaeological Museum is housed in three distinct buildings that include more than 1 million items from different civilizations across the globe.
It was established in 1891. It is the first Turkish museum in the country and is situated in what were areas of other parks that were part of Topkapi Palace. The museum houses many precious artifacts including the sarcophagus from Alexander the Great.
3) Chora Church
![Chora Church](https://www.travelguylive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Chora-Church-Museum-Istanbul.jpg)
Its Chora Church may be slightly off the tourist trail, but many comments that the stunning Byzantine artwork is well worth the effort there. The stunning mosaics and frescoes show what happened to Jesus along with his wife Mary.
In the time of Constantine, The Chora was a monastic institution in its beginnings; after a couple of centuries, it was transformed into an Islamic mosque. In 1948, the Chora was changed into a museum which is the 2nd best place or museum in Istanbul for visitors.
4) Basilica Cistern
![Basilica Cistern](https://www.travelguylive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Basilica-Cistern.jpg)
Forth the best place for visitors in Istanbul to visit the Basilica Cistern has been providing Istanbul inhabitants in the city with drinking water since the 6th century when it was to be built in the 6th century by Roman Emperor Justinian I.
Visitors are left talking about the technological advances the ancient Romans employed to construct this marvel of architecture which was extremely modern for the time. The cistern is known by the name of Sunken Palace, the cistern is an important location featured in the film From Russia with Love, which was a James Bond movie filmed in 1963.
5) Dolmabahce Palace
![Dolmabahce Palace](https://www.travelguylive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Dolmabahce-Palace.jpg)
Gorgeous, lavish, and luxurious are only a few of the adjectives that define Dolmabahce Palace. Dolmabahce Palace has been likened to that of the Palace of Versailles. Dolmabahce Palace is the best and most visited place in Istanbul. It was constructed around the turn of the century with fourteen tons of gold leaf the country’s most beautiful palace blends the traditional Ottoman architecture with European styles in Neoclassical, Baroque, and Rococo.
The palace was home to six sultans between 1856 to 1924. The palace’s surroundings are stunning The palace was built on the Bosphorus coast.
6) Suleymaniye Mosque
![Suleymaniye Mosque](https://www.travelguylive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Suleymaniye-Mosque-in-Istanbul.jpg)
The most visited mosque in Istanbul turkey is the Suleymaniye Mosque which is the best place or destination for visitors. The people who visit the Suleymaniye Mosque say its beauty and tranquility give them an uplifting sense of spirituality.
The mosque is situated at situated on the Third Hill of Istanbul, the mosque was constructed in 1550 by Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. The mosque is breathtaking that blends the best features of Islamic as well as Byzantine architecture.
The mosque was severely damaged throughout its history as well as the time of World War I when a fire broke out as the gardens were being used as a weapon depot.
7) Grand Bazaar
![Grand Bazaar](https://www.travelguylive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Grand-Bazaar.jpg)
Where People who love shopping must not miss an excursion to the Grand Bazaar, with 5,000 shops, making it one of the biggest indoor markets around the globe, which is the best marketplace in Istanbul for all tourists and visitors from all around the whole globe.
With more than a quarter-million daily visitors, The bazaar is home to such objects as jewelry, carpets that could or might not fly, antiques, spices as well as hand-painted pottery. The bazaar was founded in 1461 and is now the site of two mosques with four fountains, two hammams, and a market for jewelry in which the most precious and most valuable objects are found.
8) Topkapi Palace
![Topkapi Palace](https://www.travelguylive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Topkapi-Palace.jpg)
Another palace in Istanbul is Topkapi Palace one of the must-see sights in Istanbul which combines historical significance and breathtaking scenery into an experience that isn’t to be missed. The palace is believed to date back to the 15th century and is located on a hill that overlooks the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus, and the Golden Horn. Topkapi Palace is the also best palace for visitors to visit in Istanbul it is also a famous palace after the Dolmabahce Palace.
It was once an official residence for it was a residence of the Ottoman Empire sultans and the seat of the Turkish government. However, it is now it is a museum. Visitors can take a look at the harem’s quarters in which the government was based and the palace kitchens, with an enormous collection of porcelain as well as the treasury, filled with clocks and jewels.
9) Blue Mosque
![Blue Mosque](https://www.travelguylive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Blue-Mosque.jpg)
The Blue Mosque, built in the 17th century, in the beginning, It is still an active and best place of worship in Istanbul even today. It is important for visitors to be careful when they visit since the mosque is not open to visitors during the five prayers for Muslims.
All visitors must take off their shoes and female visitors must wear hair covers. It’s a small cost to pay to see the incredible treasures it has to offer, which include thousands of ceramic tiles with various styles of tulips, as well as 200 windows made of stained glass each decorated with elaborate designs.
The mosque was constructed by Sultan Ahmet and named from the blue tiles that cover the dome and the higher floors the inside. Most visited Mosques in Istanbul and the best destination for tourists and visitors to see the beauty of the mosques of Istanbul turkey.
10) Hagia Sophia
![Hagia Sophia](https://www.travelguylive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Hagia-Sophia-Mosque-the-glory-of-architecture-in-Istanbul1.jpg)
The Hagia Sophia was once a temple of Hindu visitors’ beautiful destination of worship in Istanbul that was used by many religions over the decades.
It began as a Greek Eastern Orthodox basilica that was the residence of the Archbishop of Constantinople at the time it was built in 537. For nearly six decades during the 12th century, it was a Roman Catholic church.
It became a mosque around 1453 and remained so until 1935 after which it was reopened as an exhibition space. It was the biggest church in the world. It also was the source of inspiration for mosques around the world, such as the Blue Mosque.
It is famous for its mosaics which depict different religious scenes.