10 Good reasons to visit Istanbul, the pearl of the Bosphorus

Second largest European metropolis, after Moscow, Istanbul is a giant tableau, a veritable precious treasure that just needs to be discovered in order to tell its story to anyone who is willing to listen.

More vibrant than ever, Istanbul is a museum of life-size. A history of the richest people, whose witnesses, from the most imposing to the most discreet, adorn the city.

She has things to tell us, the pearl of the Bosphorus. The Greeks, the Romans, the Venetians, the Silk Road, the Byzantine world, the Ottoman era laid the foundations of the modern period. Istanbul is like that great grandfather with whom you can spend hours re-creating the world...

Except that Grandpa is in great shape, and he’s never felt this young before! Absolutely turning towards the future, Istanbul has undergone a transformation to allow its youth to rekindle its flame and energize it. This subtle blend of the past and the future offers us an incomparable present. Mission accomplished!

A bond between tradition and modernity, a bond between Europe and Asia – that’s Istanbul, an eternal compromise that offers unlimited reasons to visit it. We’ll give you ten reasons, that’s already quite a lot… 😉

The Basilica of Saint Sophia and the Blue Mosque

Two magnificent witnesses of the Turkish greatness throughout history, these two exceptional buildings of beauty are also history books that are just waiting to be opened.

The Blue Mosque, decorated with this color to excess in its interior, it is the culmination of two centuries of development, Ottoman and Byzantine. Yet another compromise. Saint Sophia, which was a Basilica and then a Mosque over the course of time, is considered the The eighth wonder of the world, That's all.

Go and visit these two historical giants; that is the guarantee of wonder.

(Blue Mosque free visit, Hagia Sophia 11€)

The Galata Tower

A sublime medieval tour, built in the 14th century by the Genoese, overlooking the vibrant Galata neighborhood, a true lung of Istanbul and a bohemian neighborhood where the narrow streets and its ancient houses gently take you back in time.

She is the one The tallest building in Istanbul With almost 70m in altitude, it offers an unparalleled panorama of the pearl of the Bosphorus.

(Council: go during the prayer call or at sunset! Price: 10€)

The Grand Bazaar

With 58 internal streets and more than 4,000 shops spread over 200,000 m², friends of China, it is in the Grand Bazaar that life trades on. Jewelry, carpets, textiles, mosaics, silverware—everything is sold, everything is negotiated in this bustling commercial center located right in the heart of the city., one of the largest covered markets in the world The good mood and smiles, on the other hand, are free of charge, and believe me, no one is shy about it.

Street food culture is giving you a warm welcome

A key element of life in Istanbul and its constant dynamism, the culture of the street food.

Turkish food has its own signature and its own wonders, and it’s a pleasure to watch the countless street vendors delight you with their delicacies, between large stands and small shops. A treat for the taste buds, and also for the wallet.

A cruise on the Bosphorus, or how to travel from Europe to Asia in just a few moments

For only 1.40 €, embark at the foot of Galata Bridge for a magnificent 40-minute walk via the ferry boat, towards the other continent, Asia.

Another view of the city that I recommend for the sunset, with exceptional contrasts on the Mosques and the roofs of Istanbul. Poetic.

(Liaison Karakoy – Haydarpasa, 1.40€ one way/return if you do not disembark the ferry at Haydarpasa)

The Karakoy neighborhood

The Karakoy neighborhood is ultra-trendy, avant-garde and hipster, kind of like Williamsburg (NYC) or Kreuzberg (Berlin) in the heart of the Turkish capital. concept stores the most creative ones Open-air art galleries Passing through the bars where young people gather, Karakoy takes Istanbul on a whirlwind journey to its future!

The Turkish creators

Istanbul is a story without end, a gem of the world and its evolution, and therefore, inevitably, an inexhaustible source of ideas and creativity. And the people of Istanbul are not shy about translating this inspiration and these ideas into reality, bringing their creations to the world.

Les Turkish designer boutiques They are multiplying, always with an identity and a uniqueness that will amaze the little creative spirit that lives within you. 

Turkish baths and hammams

Since Islam places great emphasis on hygiene and cleanliness, it is only natural that Turkish baths and hammams flourished and took over the city.

Some have kept their original role, while others are open to you. Real realms of pleasure and well-being, timeless, where nothing else matters but the present moment. A true wellness break in a city that is moving forward.

The Topkapi Palace

A treasure, a sublime and extravagant marvel for the Topkapi Palace, inscribed on the UNESCO heritage list since 1985. Official residence of the Ottoman Sultans From 1465 to 1853, the palace dominates the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara, offering its visitors 700,000 m² of a journey into the past.

For UNESCO, it is «an incomparable ensemble of buildings built over four centuries, unique for the architectural quality of its buildings as well as for their organization, which reflects that of the Ottoman court»… A treasure We have told you!

( Price: 10 €) Getting around in Istanbul: The tram is very convenient; it costs 1.4 € / metro 1.40 €

We recommend you use the metro for the transfer from the airport; it only costs €1.40 to use the metro!