GALATA TOWER
Galata Tower is located in Galata district of Istanbul and this tower built in 528 is one of the most prominent symbols of the city. You can enjoy panoramic Bosphorus, Golden Horn and Istanbul view in the tower.
ISTANBUL TRAVELLING GUIDE
MAIDEN'S TOWER
Maiden`s Tower is a small and cute tower built on the rocks in the entrance of Istanbul strait. It is one of the symbols of Istanbul. This tower serving as a benchmark showing the entrance of Istanbul strait was used as a watch tower and lighthouse in the past. The tower that preserved its features from the last century has been opened to tourism and it provides services with its restaurant and terrace.
HAGIA SOPHIA MUSEUM
Hagia Sophia was constructed in 537 A.D. on the orders of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in the centre of the old city Istanbul. "Hagia Sophia" that means "Holy Wisdom" was completed in 6 years. Hagia Sophia is considered as one of the master pieces by art history and architecture circles. Hagia Sophia initially built as a church and converted into a mosque during Ottomans serves as a museum at present day.
BASILICA CISTERN
Istanbul, one of the most frequently seized cities in the history, had a continuous need for water. Therefore numerous underground cisterns were built in the city particularly during Byzantine Empire. Basilica Cistern is the largest and most splendid cistern among others. Basilica Cistern was built in after 542 on orders of Byzantine Empire Justinian I. 140 metres long and 70 metres wide cistern spans over an area of 9800 square meters in total.
TOPKAPI PALACE
Topkapi Palace is the oldest and largest palace in the world that stood until the present day. The place that served as the royal residence of Ottoman State for approximately 400 years on the hills of Sarayburnu was covering the area between Blue Mosque, Golden Horn and Bosphorus shores. The original area of the palace was as large as 700.000 m2. Its construction was initiated in 1465 during the reign of Fatih the Conqueror (1451-1481).
DOLMABAHÇE PALACE
Dolmabahce Palace served as a royal residence for 6 sultans and the last Ottoman Khalif Abdulmecid Efendi starting from 1856 until 1924 when caliphate was abolished. The palace was used as Presidential Palace in 1927-1949. Gazi Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of Turkish Republic, used Dolmabahce Palace as his Istanbul office in 1927-1938 and passed away in this palace. The palace opened for protocol meetings and visits partially in 1926-1984 and it has been opened for visits as a "museum-palace" in 1984.
BLUE MOSQUE
Blue Mosque was constructed by Architect Sedefkar Mehmet Aga in 1609-1616 on orders of the Sultan Ahmed I in the historical peninsula of Istanbul. The mosque is called "Blue Mosque" by Europeans since it is decorated with green and white colour Iznik tiles and its main and secondary domes are decorated mostly with blue hand-drawings. It started serving as the main mosque of Istanbul upon conversion of Hagia Sophia into museum in 1934. It is the first six-minaret mosque of Turkey.
MILITARY MUSEUM
Military Museum, one of the most important museums of the world with its rich and wide range of collection items, was found in the 15th century although it was not as we understand today. Its halls exhibit approximately 5000 pieces that were selected with great care among more than 45000 pieces from Military Museum collections. There are numerous weapons, military uniforms, tents, flags, sanjaks and similar wide-range of military-cultural assets in this fine collection grouped based on various aspects such as term, purpose, etc.
CONGRESS VALLEY
Various events from congress to trade fairs, concerts and exhibitions are hosted in the congress valley accommodating Istanbul Lutfi Kirdar International Congress and Exhibition Centre and Istanbul Congress Centre with their architectures that can be arranged for multiple purposes and capacities as high as 15.000 persons.
GRAND BAZAAR
Foundations of the Grand Bazaar were laid in 1461. Extending in the area between Nuruosmaniye, Mercan and Beyazit Districts, Grand Bazaar is the oldest and largest shopping mall of the world with 64 streets and courts, two Turkish bazaars, 16 caravanserais, 22 gates and approximately 3600 shops. Approximately 2000 persons work in the Grand Bazaar with an enclosed area of 45000 square meters and it receives 300 to 500 thousand visitors in one day based on the season.
EGYPTIAN BAZAAR
The bazaar is called Egyptian Bazaar because it was built with taxes collected from Cairo. This name was given after the 18th century. The bazaar has six gates in total. In the past, in addition to spices, all kinds of remedies were also sold in Egyptian Bazaar. At present day, there are different shops in the bazaar selling jewellery, herbs, spices and souvenirs.
TAKSIM SQUARE
It is only 1 km away from our hotel; you can access Taksim by subway only after 1 station and by taxi within 5-10 minutes. Taksim Square and its vicinity is a large culture, entertainment and shopping centre. There are numerous shops, cinemas, theatres, art workshops, exhibition halls, bars, discos and cafes in Taksim Beyoglu district.
CITY`S SHOPPING MALL
"CITY`S NISANTASI" is based in Tesvikiye Street in Nisantasi which is the heart of retail shopping and the most luxurious district of Istanbul. Nisantasi District is fashion centre of Istanbul and Turkey with stores selling the most prestigious international and national brands.
CEVAHIR SHOPPING MALL
Istanbul Cevahir, one of the largest and popular shopping malls of Turkey is 1 km away from our hotel. It is at 20 minutes walking distance and 1 station away if you choose to go by subway. In the six-floor shopping mall, there are 280 stores including Atlantis Entertainment Centre for your children. Koctas, YKM, Debenhams, Teknosa, Tepe Home, Marks&Spencer, Migros, etc.)
FORUM ISTANBUL SHOPPING MALL
FORUM Istanbul is the largest shopping mall not only in Turkey but also in Europe. Forum Istanbul accommodates 265 stores such as IKEA, Praktiker, Saturn, Teknosa, Bimeks, Decathlon, Intersport, Adidas, Nike, H&M Boyner, YKM, C&A, Mudo, Marks&Spencer and Zara, Turkuazoo, the first public aquarium and Jurassic Land, the first theme park of Turkey. Cinemaximum Cinemas with a capacity of 10 saloons and 2450 persons, Funclub entertainment centre, Atlantis Bowling, Tiox entertainment world, Magic Hands children`s club, ice-skating rink, Gmax reverse bungee are some of the entertainment units of Forum Istanbul built in an area of 30.000 square meters offering 10 different concepts in total.
ISTINYE PARK SHOPPING CENTRE
Istinye Park is the first living and shopping centre in Turkey offering 291 top quality brands such as VAKKO, DOLCE & GABBANA, DKNY, CACHAREL, MOSCHINO, RALPH LAUREN, LOUIS VUITTON, GUCCI, CALVIN KLEIN, LACOSTE, STEFANEL, PIERRE CARDIN, ZARA, MUDO.
Guest Relations Department will be happy to give you detailed information on sightseeing locations and transportation.