Istanbul is one of the cities in Turkey. It is rich in culture and history and is known worldwide for its tourist activities. Istanbul has a lot to offer you from historic mosques, to delicious Turkish food and the physical remains of the different empires that all ruled Turkey before the Ottomans decided to take over. There is so much to see in this city filled with culture, romance, history and art. It is truly an experience of a lifetime.
There is much to do in this city and among the things to do in Istanbul is to firstly visit the beautiful grand mosques that are known as tourist attractions worldwide. The Suleymaniye Mosque is not one of the largest mosques in the city, but it is one of the Ottoman mosques that has preserved its buildings and architecture throughout the many years. Suleymaniye means the ‘magnificent’ and it truly holds up to its name. This was the 4th grand mosque that was built at the time. This mosque was built during 1550 and 1557. The mosque is absolutely beautiful from the inside where it has gardens, ablution fountains and a massive 3 sided courtyard. On the right side of the mosque as you enter, are tombs of Suleyman and his wife Haseki Hurram Sultan. Both of their tombs are built with exceptional tile work with jewel like lights shining through. Taking a trip to the Aya Sofya is one of the many things to do in Istanbul. What was once a Church, then a Mosque and then turned into museum in 1935 is now a worldwide tourist attraction. The building is rich in culture and history from both of the religions and beliefs. There is so much to learn from this museum to acknowledge the beauty, architecture and styles of each and every room, floor and artwork.
Topkapi Palace is one of the most stunning palaces to visit in the city. It is home to some of the world’s most historic and cultural stories, and more history than any museum around the world put together. So much has happened in this palace between the 18th and the 19th centuries when it belonged to the Ottoman Empire as their court. When you enter the main gate to the palace, you can see the decorative styled fountain that was built by Sultan Ahmet in 1728. There are 4 courts in the palace where you can walk around and take a look at the different areas where the Sultans would live, sleep, eat, pray, work and so on. The palace is a major tourist attraction all around the world and it is a great place to go with families and friends. Visiting the Grand Bazaar should also be on your list of things to do in your stay in Istanbul. It is located in Istanbul’s old city and has been there for centuries. Tourists come here to shop, enjoy the famous Turkish tea and try their hand at bargaining prices with shopkeepers. Inside the lanes, you will find more shops and many artisans who are at work. It is a lively and culturally open shopping space for people to enjoy and take back a little something to remember your time in Turkey.
The Gülhane Park is a beautiful park located in Istanbul. It is the oldest park in the city and also the one of the biggest parks of the city. The park is very well maintained and if you are taking a guided tour of the city then the park will definitely be included in your itinerary. If it is not then we would highly recommend putting in on your list of things to do in Istanbul. The park is especially great if you are doing a tour of the city with you family. If you have kids then they will love the expansive areas in the park and will be able to play here for hours.
Gülhane Park is also a very romantic park, especially when the blooming season is here. Normally the trees and the greenery make sure this park looks good, but when the time comes for all the flowers in the park to bloom the effect is just magical. The surroundings of the park are also beautiful, as many important historical sites can be seen and will also be visible in the pictures you take in the park. Just make sure you visit the park in spring.
Locally known as simply Takayama, Hida-Takayama is a city to the north of Japan, it is famous for its historical well preserved streets of the Edo period. Visit popular spots like Shinhotaka ropeway and the beautiful Hida Minzoka Mura folk village. Visit Sanmachi Suji, and other museum and heritage sites. Make sure to take the day trips and the historical tours.
If you are looking forward to learning more about Istanbul’s history, then you must visit the Archeology Museum, which is situated near the Topkapi Palace. The museum was originally founded in 1891 by Osman Hamdi as his main goal was to create a space that would exhibit the artwork from other civilizations. His dream did come true as the museum contains more than one million artifacts from Africa, Arabia, Mesopotamia, and even Anatolia. The museum is divided into three sections, the Tiled Pavilion Museum, the Archaeology Museum, and the Ancient Oriental Artifacts Museum.
Amongst other things, the Museum of the Ancient Orient has the copy of the Treaty of Kadesh that took place in 1269, and the famous Ishtar gate from the Babylon era. The Archaeology Museum consists of four floors that hold Roman sarcophaguses, collections from the Byzantine, Thracian, and Bithynian empire, artifacts from Troy and Anatolia, as well as art from other cultures. The Tiled Pavilion Museum consists of artwork and objects from the Ottoman and Seljuk Empire.
The museum is open from 9 to 7 from Tuesdays till Sundays, and the admission fee is 15 liras. In order to reach the place, you can take a tram from Gulhane.
It's another eminent church enclosed by lavish Green Park in the town. Little Hagia Sophia is made up of stone and well preplanned church already eminent for it architecture. Tourist can enjoy musical concert here. Being of the same architectural period, and with an expansive arch, it resembled a study for Justinian's awesome Church of little Hagia Sophia, henceforth its name, which it appears to have taken when it was changed over to a mosque around the year 1500.
Broad reclamation work-inside, outside and auxiliary-was finished in 2007 so the feeling of respectable desuetude that had it for such a variety of decades is no more. Both outside and inside look for all intents and purposes shiny new, with smooth mortar and new paint.
The Ottoman-style embellishment inside is lovely for a mosque, yet looks to some extent like what the building looked like in Byzantine times when gold mosaics gleamed in the arch and shaded marble shined on the walls. In 1504, the structure was altered over into a mosque. In the 1950s, the territory before the town walls close to the structure was claimed from the ocean and opened to traffic movement.
The Maiden’s Tower or the Kiz Kulesi is one of the oldest sites in Istanbul that is conveniently located on the Strait of Bosphorus. It is said that the tower is more than two centuries old. It was originally made from stone, but when the Turks took control, they added a wooden support to the structure. The building was affected by fire in the 1700s, but it was renovated in the 1800s and a light was added right at the top. The building covers an area of 220 yards and is on the coast of Üsküdar.
There are several stories about the tower, but the most famous one is that it was made to hold a beautiful princess in order to save her from the prophecy that she would die on her 18th birthday from a snake’s bite. The princess was only visited by her father. On her 18th birthday, her father bought her fruits in order to celebrate. However, an asp was hiding in the basket and bit the princess, after which she died.
Today, the tower has a bar and a restaurant and is one of the most visited places by locals and tourists. The only way you can reach the Maiden’s Tower is by a boat ride, which usually takes 20 minutes.
New Taipei is a large metropolitan area in Taipei that completely surrounds it. It’s a popular tourist spot with some places of historical significance. Longshan temple is one major destination along with museums and commemorative sites that you should definitely check out. Checkout modern stops as well such as Taipei 101 and Taipei zoo.
Edmonton is one of Canada’s major cities. The city is prominent for its beautiful river valley park system. The North Saskatchewan River valley offers many a kilometer of nature trails for viewing wildlife and the city. The city’s main attractions are the Win spear center and West Edmonton mall. Segway tours are available to the public making it a novel experience.
Quebec City is located on cliffs overlooking the St. Lawrence Seaway. The city’s old town has been designated an UNESCO world heritage site. The city offers biking tours and it is the only city in Canada with its original city walls. The city has quite a few of its French era edifices still standing.
Male is the capital of the country Maldives, an archipelago of islands that is a virtual paradise on earth. Visit the country's historic mosques and take in the multi colored architecture that defines the place. Check out the local markets and take the offered unique submarine tour. This is your chance to try out water sports for the first time in your life.
Atolls are ring shaped reef, island or circular group of coral islets. The Atolls of the Maldives form a number of islands at a time or isolated reefs. They were first mapped by the British in the 1800s and their work still proves invaluable to navigators today, despite the availability of satellite imaging. They provide a number of stunning diving spots for scuba and snorkeling.
