Istanbul
Official website of Istanbul and a promotional video about Istanbul (15 min.) can give information about the city. Some of the iconic places located in the European side of the city are given below.
Hagia Sophia – Ancient Cathedral built in AD 537 when the city was called Constantinople.
Blue Mosque – One of the biggest mosques, there are 260 stained glass windows and around 20.000 shimmering blue-green tiles.
Topkapi Palace – It served as a residence of the Ottoman Sultans for almost 400 years. It features brilliant architecture, manicured courtyards and impressive exhibits.
Basilica Cistern – An ancient 6th century water storage system with tunnels and tanks, the statue of Medusa is also in here.
Grand Bazaar – One of the largest covered markets in the world with 5.000 shops spreading over 60 streets. You can smell the spices and leather goods.
Istiklal Avenue – The most famous avenue in Istanbul where you can enjoy the multitude of shops, cafes, bars, night clubs, art galleries and restaurants.
Galata Tower – It is a medieval stone tower which is built as Tower of Christ by Genoese colony. It offers a panoramic view of Old Istanbul.
Bosphorus – Take a ferry on the Bosphorus. The narrow waterway divides Istanbul into Europe and Asian sides.