| Grand
Bazaar |
 The
Grand Bazaar was built in the 15th century. It has several
gates: the most used one is at Cagaloglu and Beyazit (15
minutes walking distance from the Hotel). Istanbul's legendary
bazaar is a labyrinth of over 4,000 little shops and is
everything you dreamed an oriental market could be. It offers
gold, jewellery, carpets, silver bibelots, leather, ceramics,
copper and brass objects, hand-woven textiles and meerschaum
pipes. |
Estimated
Travel Time |
|
3 minutes walk |
| Hours
of Operation |
Open |
Close |
| Monday to Saturday |
9:00
am |
7:00
pm |
|
Return to Top |
|
Aya
Sophya (Hagia Sophia) Church/Museum
 The Church of Holy Wisdom, undoubtedly one of the greatest
architectural creations in the world, was built by the Byzantine
Emperor Justinian around 535 AD. It was transformed into
a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of the city in 1453.
Now a museum, it is awesome in size and contains beautifully
preserved Byzantine mosaics. This church is an absolute
must see.
|
Estimated
Travel Time |
|
12 minutes walk |
| Hours
of Operation |
Open |
Close |
| Tuesday to Sunday |
9:00
am |
4:00
pm |
|
|
Topkapi Palace Museum
|
 Built in the 15th century, the Topkapi Palace was the
principal residence of the Sultan. It was the legendary
palace of the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to the 19th
centuries. The palace has low buildings set in a series
of courtyards and is quite unlike its western counterparts.
Be sure to see the Harem (by appointment), the Treasury
and the golden-roofed Baghdad Kiosk.
|
Estimated
Travel Time |
|
14 minutes walk |
| Hours
of Operation |
Open |
Close |
| Wednesday to Monday |
10:00
am |
4:00
pm |
|
Return to Top |
|
| Hagia
Eirene Church |
 This sixth-century church is located within the courtyard
of the Topkapi Palace.
|
Estimated
Travel Time |
|
15
minutes walk |
| Hours
of Operation |
Open |
Close |
| Wednesday to Monday |
10:00
am |
4:00
pm |
|
Return to Top |
|
| Basilica
Cistern |
 This awesome columned cavern was the water source for
both the Grand Palace of the Byzantine Empire and for
the Ottomans' Topkapi Palace.
|
Estimated
Travel Time |
|
11 minutes walk |
| Hours
of Operation |
Open |
Close |
| Every day |
9:00
am |
5:30
pm |
|
Return to Top |
|
Blue Mosque |
 This mosque was built in the early 17th century and is probably
the most famous mosque in the city. It is distinguished
by six slender minarets and walls covered with amazing blue
Iznik tiles. Open daily 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, except during
prayer times.
|
Estimated
Travel Time |
|
12 minutes walk |
| Hours
of Operation |
Open |
Close |
| Every day |
9:00 am |
5:00 pm |
|
Return to Top |
|
Archaeological
Museum
|
Estimated
Travel Time |
|
12 minutes walk |
| Hours
of Operation |
Open |
Close |
| Tuesday to Sunday |
9:30
am |
4:30
pm |
|
Return to Top |
|
Boat
cruise on the Bosphorus
|
 This
cruise stops at various fishing villages on the way to the
Black Sea. The cruise is offered twice daily.
|
Estimated
Travel Time |
|
5
minutes by tram |
|
Return to Top |
|
Spice
Market
|
The
Spice Market was built in the 17th century as an extension
of the Grand Bazaar. It is an exotic food market and bazaar
that sells spices, dried fruits, cheeses and olives, as
well as towels, slippers, baskets and jewellery. Outside
the market there is a wonderful flower and bird market.
|
Estimated
Travel Time |
|
15 minutes walk |
| Hours
of Operation |
Open |
Close |
| Monday to Saturday |
8:00
am |
7:00
pm |
|
Return to Top |
