Istanbul is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. If you have not visited this country and are at least trying to have a sneak peek at the city for one day, this article is for you. This article recommends the most iconic places, which you must visit in your one day in Istanbul. Well, a 24 hour Istanbul itinerary is never enough to see the 1/10th of the largest city of Europe.
Over the last two years traveling around the world has changed a lot, and probably changed forever. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to revisit the way we have traveled and the way the tourism industry has operated. This article is going to be a workable 2022 travel recommendation for Istanbul City. So, let’s start exploring the list.
The Blue Mosque also Known as The Sultanahmet Mosque
The Blue Mosque is also known as the Sultanahmet Mosque is an Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey. This mosque is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world. It is also one of the most beautiful mosques in the world according to the culture trip. You can spend the whole day exploring the history and architectural wonders of the mosque. Well, as you have only a day to cover most parts of Istanbul we prefer you to start the day with this mosque. One important thing to note is to please confirm the mosque opening and closing time. As this mosque is a functional mosque during the prayer times it does not allow all kinds of visitors but the devotees only. There are dress codes for entering the mosque. Please check our detailed article about the Sultanahmet Mosque here if you are interested to know more about the mosque.
Hagia Sophia also Known as Ayasofya in Turkish
Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya in Turkish), officially known as the Holy Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque and formerly the Church of Hagia Sophia is a late antique place of worship in Istanbul. It is presently being used as a mosque and a museum too. This iconic place is just opposite the Blue Mosque. So, you should enter the Hagia Sophia after the Blue Mosque. You have to stand in the queue to get the entry pass. I have visited this place number of times both alone and with family, and every time I was overwhelmed by the majesty and beauty of the structure. For the last couple of years, the Turkish government is reconstructing the structure to preserve the details and keep it intact. If you have seen the Turkish series ‘The Protector’ on Netflix, you have seen a lot of it already. If you are visiting this place with your family, and if your family includes toddlers, please be careful while climbing the stairs. If you are keen to know details about the Hagia Sophia, you may get audio guides at the entrance spending some extra money.
Basilica Cistern
The Basilica Cistern is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul, Turkey, which has been built in the 6th century during the reign of the Byzantine Empire. This cistern is 138 meters long and 65 meters wide (source: Wikipedia) and it used to provide filtered water for the great palaces of Constantinople and later to the Topkapi Palace. It is located just 150 meters southwest of the Hagia Sophia, and therefore we recommend you to visit this place right after Hagia Sophia. Well, since at present the Basilica Cistern is temporarily closed due to reconstruction of part of the places, you should confirm its functionality before hitting there.
The Grand Bazar
From the Basilica Cistern, you may either go to the Grand Bazar or to the Galata Bridge as well Tower. If you have plans to do shopping at the Bazar, we recommend going there later. But, if you have a place to leave your packages somewhere around the Blue Mosque/ Hagia Sophia, you should visit Grand Bazar right after the Cistern. The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. It has 61 streets and over 4000 shops on a total area of 30,700 square meters. Every day more than 250,000 to 400,000 visitors visit this Bazaar. This market has almost everything someone needs. When you are visiting this place, we request you take care of your belongings and not be fooled by the vendors. Though the market still attracts visitors from all over the world it has lost a lot of its charm due to cheap products, pickpocketers, unethical vendors, etc. Please remember, it’s not a good place to buy gold and other expensive products. If you want to take some souvenirs along with you, you may get some fridge magnets, Turkish lights, ceramics products. Besides, Spice Market is also a good place to get spices and Turkish delights. However, bargain ruthlessly for a better price, and do not be ashamed to ask something’s price Lira 500 if the vendor asks for Lira 5000. Well, it’s your own skill and choice, so read the market first and make your decision. And always verify the quality and price of your product from a few other shops. Usually, the guides guide you to their chosen vendors, from whom they get a commission. So, every time we have visited the market without any guides.
Galata Bridge and Galata Tower
From the Grand Bazaar, you should take the tram and go up to Eminonu. If you wish to walk over the Galata Bridge from where you will get a spectacular view of the Bosphorus, getting down at Eminonu is OK. Well, if you prefer not to walk much you may get dropped at Karakoy, the far end of the Galata Bridge. From there you have to walk up to Galata Tower. To get to the top of the tower you have to get a pass. On top, there’s a restaurant, and from there you will get a spectacular view of Bosphorus, Topkapi Palace, and overall Istanbul. We recommend you to go there before the sunset so that you can have both day and night views of Istanbul. Well, if you have plans to go for a night cruise, confirm your time of the cruise before planning for the night view of Istanbul from Galata Tower. Because most of the touring operators, pick up their guests in the afternoon for the night cruise.
Taksim Square and Istiklal Street
Technically Taksim Square and Istiklal Street are two different attractions, but as they are too close to each other we are covering them as one destination. From Galata Bridge/ Karakoy you should take a taxi directly to Taksim Square as taking a tram would cost you too much time.
Taksim Square is considered the heart of modern Istanbul. Turkish people consider Taksim Square a place of great political significance like Red Square to Russia, and Tiananmen Square to China. The Republic Monument, which was crafted by Italian sculptor Pietro Canonica, and unveiled in 1928 is the main tourist attraction at the Taksim Square. This whole place including Istiklal Street and the surrounding area are the ideal place for shopping, party, tattooing, drinking, and whatnot! Istiklal street is also known as the Grand Avenue of Pera is one of the most famous avenues in Istanbul, visited by nearly 3 million people in a single day over the course of weekends. If you are visiting Istanbul during weekends, especially on Saturday, you must visit this place in the evening if required discarding some other destinations. This street has both high-end brands’ outlets and also cheap replica product shops. This street is also full of cheaters and opportunity seekers. So please guard your valuables sincerely. These people are professional, and they are good at manipulating people. So, be aware of these kinds of people. A few of the most famous Turkish delight and donor Kabab outlets are there in this street. Please treat yourself with some delights and Kabab.
Istanbul Night Cruise/ Bosphorus Dinner Cruise
Whatever you name it, it is the same thing. You have to board on the ship at the evening, and the ship will cruise along the Bosphorus. In between, you will be served with dinner if your package includes dinner. There will be some arrangements of belly dance, music, Turkish folk dance, etc. And after a while, you will get a drop upto your hotel by the operator. Depending on the budget this tour often includes drinks on the ship. And on most of the ships there are bars, so you may get the drinks of your choice by paying at the bar. Well, we have very briefly said what happens in the cruise, but please remember depending on your operator this experience may be the best experience of your one day trip. On the other hand you may end up disappointed. So before booking your place, confirm the ranking and customer reviews of the service provider. For us, it was really an unforgettable night.
Night Walk Around the Sultanahmet Square
Probably you will not be able to enter any of the places at Sultanahmet Square at night as the visiting hours will be over by now. Still, we recommend you to come back to this place at night after touring around all the places we have already mentioned. There’s no hurry. You may go to your hotel, rest for a while, and come back. Night view of the square is overwhelming. You will be fascinated to witness the beauty of the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the German Fountain at he square at night.
What to Eat and Where to Eat
You may be worried about the food anywhere in the world but not in Istanbul. The Turkish foods are one of the best foods in the world for certain, but to me it’s the best. Around Sultanahmet Square, you will find number of restaurants covering all ranges from very high-end to very cheap street foods. There are a number of fast-food restaurants such as McDonalds, Burger King, Starbucks, etc as well. Well, to me tasting local food during any travel is a top priority. So, throughout our stay not only in Istanbul but in all other places we have always explored Turkish Foods except a few exceptions. You should not miss tasting street foods. Almost all the Turkish delights shops allow customers to taste their delights, so please do not hesitate tasting Turkish delights whereever you can.
Where to Stay
There are hundreds of hotels around Sultanahmet Square covering all kinds of budget. We recommend you to stay around Sultanahmet. It’s better if you stay at any hotel near Sultanahmet along the Divan Yolu Caddesi (Street). Though hotel prices here may be little more in comparison to other places, but it will give you dividends as you need to utilize every minute of one day. During one of our visits to Istanbul we have stayed at Star Holiday Hotel, which is right on the street we have just mentioned. Moreover, they have rooms of various sizes and prices. On top of everything, the best part is the manager and other staffs are very cooperative and friendly. If you are traveling to Istanbul, try to book your room from any online platform like Agoda, Hostelworld, etc. You may book rooms from Star Holiday Hotel directly from their website as well.
Museum Pass Istanbul
Well, if you are interested to visit more museum-like places like Topkapi Palace, Archaeological Museum, Basilica Cistern, etc you should get a day pass which would allow you to enter these places without standing in the queue for the pass.
Tips for Photographers
Inside the Blue Mosque do not use flash for photography.
Respect people and do not cause any disturbance to the worshipers or any fellow travelers.
Do not take random shots of people inside. People may feel offended and that might result trouble for you.
Istanbul and this mosque are heavens for street photography. Look around; mosque premises, entrances, parks, etc. You will find extraordinary frames if you can afford some time and can look from a different perspective.
Must return to Sultanahmet Square in the evening as well to get some night shot of this magnificent place.
The Grand Bazaar is a heaven for Street Photography. Unfortunately off late the security checks the bag at the gates and do not allow people to enter with big cameras. We faced problem in March 2021 entering the bazaar with cameras.
If you do not plan any Night Cruise, you should spend the evening at Galata Bridge or the Tower for amazing sunset photos.
If you want to take photos of famous structures without people in the frame, you should go to these places very early in the morning.
If you want to have some drone footage, please do get approval from the Turkish authority to fly a drone. But this is going to a challenge to manage in one day. Otherwise, flying a drone from anywhere near the mosque might put you in trouble.
Important Notes
Well, this article has mostly covered the most iconic places, which any first-time traveler must-see. Do not think we have put a few places on this list, and these are only the places which you should visit. Remember, we have covered the places of our interest and thought you would like those too. But, well you should study other suggestions and make your own list as per your priority and likings. There are so many important factors for planning a one-day trip. Such as, depending on your available day hour and night hour your list may vary, depending on your return/ next flight time (morning/ midnight/ afternoon/ etc) your sequence of places and places to visit may change. Depending on the visiting hour, weather/ season, etc your places to visit may also change. Consider everything and plan your trip, please. Remember you need at least one hour from Sultanahmet to Istanbul Airport. And a few more hours to complete airport formalities. So, we guess you will not risk your flight to cover one additional attraction. two Depending on the available 24 hours of (Day hour and night hour) and your return/ next flight time
Final Thoughts
Happy to know that Istanbul Airport ranks second in the ‘World’s Top 10 Airports’ List’ (Source: Istanbul Airport Official Website). This airport is really going to significantly contribute to the Turkish tourism sector. If you are interested to know more about this airport, please read our transit guide for this airport. We are sure that the Turkish government has invested so much here that they are certain it is going to host more and more passengers every day. Not just because of the airport amenities and services but for more travelers every day.
Many years back Napoleon once said ‘If the world was only one country, Istanbul would be its capital!”. Over the years travelers and emperors have proven the significance of this city.
If you are reading this article now, we assume you are either at the Istanbul Airport (Code: IST), or you will be at IST, or maybe you are planning to be here for a layover, overnight sleepover, transit. Or maybe you are planning to visit Turkey. In any of the cases, you are at the best place on the internet to have a complete Istanbul Airport guide. Here, you will find information on almost everything available inside the IST including details about airport lounges, food options, airport hotels, sleeping arrangements, stationery stores, duty-free shopping, WiFi, mobile charging points, etc.
New Istanbul Airport (Code-IST)
Istanbul Airport, also known as Istanbul New Airport (Code-IST) is the new passenger airport in the city that started its journey on 04 June 2019 though the construction was not yet completed. IST is located in the Arnavutkoy area, on the European side of the city, 40 km from Taksim, and 52 km from Kadikoy. It serves more than 350 domestic and international destinations in 110 countries while its duty-free is one of the largest worldwide. The services and facilities provided at the airport are one-of-a-kinds and cutting-edge technology is applied everywhere. This airport is expected to host more than 200 million passengers annually by 2025. Despite the Covid-19 global pandemic and closure of the airport for months, this airport is still in the race of fulfilling its expectation.
‘At present, one terminal is functional with 7 concourses (A, B, C, D, E, F, and G) with a total of 143 passenger boarding bridges. However, the C and E concourses connect directly to the main terminal and are therefore not independent concourses Concourse G is reserved for domestic flights only. Please be careful. Boarding gates are far from each other, so always be aware of time, and be at your boarding-gate way ahead of time, please.
From our back-to-back six different tours where we have passed through Istanbul Airport, we can certainly claim that Istanbul Airport has everything one may need in transit, short layover, overnight sleepover, etc. The airport currently has one terminal for both Domestic and International flights. The airport has only opened Phase 1 to date, and construction is likely to continue until 2027. However, due to Covid-19, this timeline may be extended. The new terminal of Istanbul Airport is currently the largest, single terminal building (under one roof) in the world and it’s growing. The airport has hundreds of options for different kinds of cuisine including thousands of options of Turkish food. It has a number of coffee shops, luxury brands’ outlets, stationery and book shops, etc. It has duty-free shops, Airport Lounges, hotels, sleeping arrangements, banking service, free WiFi, and many other modern amenities.
Here comes the most important thing to know. At Istanbul Airport you will be able to use Free WiFi for one hour. There is a number of Kiosks (attached photo) at the airport, where you should use your passport to get a password to use free WiFi for just one hour. If you need more hours, you may purchase extra hours from that Kiosk. Once you will swap your passport, you will receive two options. If you chose the free one-hour option, you will receive a password from the machine. Then go to the WiFi of your device and use the password and enjoy one hour of free internet.
Food and Drink
There are plenty of outlets for almost all kinds of food and beverage inside the airport. Available food at the airport includes Turkish traditional foods, coffee shops, fast food, etc. A few of the brands available at the airports are Burger King, Brewmark, Carl’s Jr, Deli Aux Pain, HD Doner, Sbarro, Popeyes, Seferi, Simit Sarayi, Starbucks, Shake Shack, and many more. A few of the Turkish Food stalls and the duty-free sales various types of Turkish Coffee, Tea, and Turkish Delights too. We would recommend buying these kinds of items from shops other than the duty-free, though duty-free offers many lucrative offers. Because, when you buy from other stores, you will be able to choose your required items after necessary testing.
Hotel, Sleep, Shower, and Personal Care Arrangements
If you are here for a long transit and do not want to exhaust yourself both bodily and financially, you may get sleep cabins from YOTEL Istanbul Hotel. Besides, you may also rent IGA Sleepod. They can be rented on an hourly basis at a rate of 9 Euro per hour, while blankets and pillows cost 2 Euros. You can use the gym and take shower in any of these arrangements. However, Ambassador Spa offers a spa, and massage, where you can take shower as well.
Airport Lounges
There are many lounges at the Istanbul Airport. Apart from the lounge for Business Class passengers and Turkish Airlines Lounge Miles & Smiles, there are passengers for regular passengers who may avail lounges e.g. IGA Lounge, SkyTeam Lounge, etc by paying at the door. Besides, if you have memberships programs like Priority Pass, Diners’ Club membership, etc you may also avail lounges at the airport. However, be sure about what your membership offers you. Otherwise, you may be surprised by the bills once you would receive those.
Shopping at Istanbul Airport
Istanbul Airport offers a unique shopping experience blended with selected brands and a modern retail concept before and after your travel. There are numerous local and international fashion brand stores around the airport to enable passengers to meet their needs for accessories, jewelry and watches, kids’ wear and toys, home textile, electronics, and so on. These luxurious and prestigious shops include Atasay, Beymen Club, Bisse, Altinbas, Bvlgari, D&R, Dior, Bottega Veneta, Ecco, Casio, Emporio Armani, Fendi, Gucci, Hermes, Hugo Boss, Lacoste, Mavi, Montblanc, Nautica, Michael Kors, etc. However, these sophisticated brands know how to manipulate people and turn them into potential customers. Do not just buy anything from your impulse. Remember what Warren Buffet said “If you buy things you do not need, soon you will have to sell things you need”, and things here are very expensive.
Unifree Duty Free
Istanbul Airport Unifree Duty-free remains open 24/7. It offers a unique, never-been-experienced shopping adventure, with its innovative store concept. It houses almost all the prestigious and luxurious fashion, beauty, food and beverage, and technology brands. For purchasing anything duty-free you will have to show them your passport and boarding pass. Without the boarding pass, it is not possible to purchase anything here. However, compared with Dubai Duty-free, Istanbul Unifree Duty-free lacks variations, and also prices seemed higher to us.
There are 22 rooms available for men and 22 rooms available for women. These can be found in each concourse at both landside and airside. Besides, there are many points for ablution too.
Rest Zones
The new Istanbul Airport has a few ‘Nap Zones’ dispersed in the international terminal. These are equipped with day beds, round couches, easy chairs, etc. At times, many passengers rest at the prayer rooms, many just find a place somewhere in between and utilize the time for resting.
Financial Services at Istanbul Airport
Many ATMs are available inside the airport from seven different institutions. If you need cash, you may get cash from any of these ATMS. But, remember there might be fees for that. Besides, there are bank branches available at the airport in both the domestic and international areas. If you need to change the currency, you will get a number of currency exchanges very handy at the airport. However, their rates are a bit lesser than the currency exchanges outside the airport.
Mobile, Laptop, Tab, or Any Other Device Charging
There are charging points are available at every gate, almost all the restaurants, and lounges. While charging your device please be considerate. Have an eye around whether someone needs that too or not. Though there are cameras everywhere, yet please do not leave your items unattended.
Bus Services from Istanbul Airport
If you are visiting Istanbul, this is for you. The airport is well connected with Istanbul City Center and important places by both local and luxury coach buses. Havaist offers luxury passenger (with luggage) transportation and connects every 15 and 40 minutes to/from the airport. You may get a drop up to the Blue Mosque at Sultanahmet. Local bus transportation is also available to a variety of destinations at a lower price. Well, to reach up to the bus bay, please seek assistance from airport staff. You have to walk out of the airport main building and go to the bus bays downstairs using the lifts. See the attached photos, please.
If you prefer privacy and in a requirement of traveling alone, you may hire a taxi instead of getting a bus. Taxis at the airport are available 24 hours a day. They can be found outside the arrival and departure halls. Usually, three services are provided at the airport; they are Black ‘E’ type, Blue ‘D’ type, and Orange ‘C’ type.
Tips for Photographers
Airports are our favorite places after any other places in nature. When we travel and pass through the airports, we feel like we are in a small world full of wonders. People from all over the world, from different regions, from different religions, from different tribes, people of all colors and races are in a relatively small place for a limited period of time. They all have their own destinations, own schedules, own requirements, own priorities, issues, etc. And this diversity attracts us like a magnet attracts irons. We feel like taking a lot of photographs, but restrain ourselves because it will not be wise to point the camera to somebody and take photographs without an individual’s consent.
So, if you are a video blogger/ YouTuber, you may keep taking your videos, and hardly anybody would care.
But if you want photographing people please understand your requirement and risk of violating the rules.
Usually, there’s no restriction of photographing food, beverage, items in the stores, etc. However, there are a few products at the stores, where you are not supposed to take photographs. Do not take photographs there, please.
For photographing/ videography inside the airport better to carry small mirrorless/ point & shoot/ or action cameras. Bigger camera will draw more attention unneccessarily.
COVID-19 Preventive Measures
At present Covid-19 negative certificate and vaccine certificates are a must to get inside the Istanbul Airport for both domestic and international passengers. So, if you are flying sooner or later please be confirmed from your airlines about the latest regulations. Or else you may have to be surprised, and your travel plan may get disrupted.
Final Thought
We have traveled through some of the finest airports in the world and there cannot be any comparison between one another. However, by far our experience of traveling through Istanbul Airport was one of the best. We have been passing through this airport since July 2019, just after the opening ceremony, and found that it has addressed passengers’ all types of requirements. Well, if you think this article has addressed your required information please do not hesitate to share it with others. Maybe someone is looking for such information. And if you think, you need further revision and improvement please contact us.
‘Cappadocia‘; the land of historical landmarks with rugged landscapes and Fairy Chimneys is a World Heritage Site in the central Anatolia region in Turkey. This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Turkey with many touring options. There are so many things to explore in Cappadocia that anyone can plan to stay a week in Cappadocia. However, usually, tourists plan for 3 to 4 days tour in Cappadocia. The two most popular tours are known as Red Tour and Green Tour. We have availed these tours and we recommend tourists to plan 3 Days in Cappadocia, Turkey and avail Red and Green Tour.
How to Get There
By Plane: the Cappadocia region covers the five provinces (Nevşehir, Aksaray, Kayseri, Kırsehir, & Niğde) in the central region of Turkey. The main tourist area is 15-20 km away from the city of Nevşehir known as Goreme. For traveling to Cappadocia from Istanbul, you have to fly to Kayseri Erkilet Airport located in Kayseri, which is nearly one hour away from the center of Cappadocia. However, if you book your hotel ahead, they have shuttle services from Airports to hotels.
By Bus: We have traveled to Cappadocia by Bus from Denizli. As we were having a long tour starting from Istanbul, passing through Bursa, Izmir, and Kusadasi, we have availed this Bus journey. There are extraordinary buses and moreover, they are cheap. They do also help you save a lot of cash. However, if you have time constraints, and flexibility in the budget, you should get flights from Istanbul.
Where to Stay
As Cappadocia is a very popular tourist destination, there are hundreds of hotels ranging from budget hotels to luxury hotels. We stayed at Anatolia Cave Pension at Goreme. This hotel is very nice and the staffs are very cordial and friendly. This hotel is worth staying in. They have a very good view of the terrace and provides a good breakfast. You can plan and book your hot air balloon trip and red/green tour from there. They will give you one of the best rates of all. You may book your hotel from booking, Agoda, hotels, hostelworld, or any other
Tour Plan/ Itinerary
From our point of view you may plan your 3 days in Cappadocia as follows:
Day 1: Arrival at Goreme and City Tour. If you arrive very early morning and can afford to go for a Day-Long tour, we recommend availing one. In this case, you should book your tour well ahead of reaching Goreme.
Day 2: Hot Air Balloon tour and plan for another left over tour.
Day 3: Reserve for Hot Air Balloon tour in case if you miss your previous day tour because of inclement/unfavorable weather. Return to Istanbul or travel to the next destination.
Night Activities: Goreme is a small town but it is full of life. Right after the evening, tourists come to the streets of Goreme and enjoy local foods and other activities. We recommend you to try different restaurants and foods. We had one of our best experiences of food in Goreme.
Red Tour and Green Tour At a Glance
Here a comparison between Red and Green tour is presented. Prices for the tour may vary depending on the time of travel/ booking and agent.
Details
Red Tour
Green Tour
Price
35 Euro, 270 Turkish Lira
50 Euro, 390 Turkish Lira
Duration
6.5 Hours
8.5 Hours
Difficulty
Easy
Moderate
Attractions
Uçhisar Castle Göreme Open Air Museum Love Valley Pottery Demonstration Paşabağı valley Devrent Valley
Göreme Panorama Onyx Factory Derinkuyu Underground City Ihlara Valley Selime Monastery Pigeon Valley
We usually are not a big fan of guided tours as we love to explore by ourselves. However, as traveling in Cappadocia involves long drives, therefore we recommend to avail these guided tours. This will save both time, money, and energy for a trip of 3 days in Cappadocia
Red Tour Attractions
Green Tour Attractions
Important Issues of Above Packages to Remember
– List of attractions often vary depending on time of travel and agent.
– During the travel/ tour agents usually do not sponsor/ provide any drinks or snacks.
– Usually lunch is included in the tour package.
– Almost all the entrance fees are included in the package. However, if you want to get any audio guide (which is usually not required), you have to get that by your own expenses.
– Usually, drivers and guides are very efficient and cordial. If you want to give them some tips, that’s on you.
Hot Air Balloon Tour
Hot Air Balloon ride is undoubtedly the best attraction of Cappadocia. Anyone traveling to Cappadocia looks forward to enjoying this ride. However, this tour is expensive and very uncertain. Depending on the season/ time of travel price for one person varies from 150 to 200 euros. We said ‘uncertain’ as there are lots of related issues with balloon ride such as air temperature, wind speed, weather forecast, etc. So, always plan a reserve day for the balloon ride in case if you miss your first-day ride. This is another reason, we recommend a trip of 3 days in Cappadocia. However, if you cannot ride because of the bad weather, your agent will give you a full refund.
Hot air balloon ride from almost every agent includes light breakfast, pick up from the hotel and drop off and a minimum of one hour in the air.
Important Issue to Remember for Hot Air Balloon Ride
– Usually, children below 5 years of age are not allowed for the ride. So, if you are parents of a child below 5 years and traveling together, either you plan separately (mom and dad in different days) or with another family/ friends so that you or your friends can do the babysitting.
– Sleep the early night before the ride as you have to wake up by 3.30 AM to 4 AM in the morning. Hotel/ your agent will have to collect many other tourists like you. So, don’t keep others wait or miss the ride.
– If you can avail ride as per your plan, don’t miss to watch the balloons flying in the sky from your hotel terrace. That’s a great opportunity for anyone to have an iconic photograph.
Tips for Traveling
– Both Red and Green tours require quite a good amount of walking and climbing. So, if you have any issues with your knee, leg, waist, etc it’s better to avoid places like the Underground city, Ihlara Valley, Uçhisar Castle, etc.
– Wear cap and sunglass. Apply sunscreen.
– Carry a water bottle. At times, in dire need of water, you may not find any drinking water around.
– If you are traveling to spots with your toddler, must carry a carrier. You will not be able to walk with them in the Ihlara valley or even Open Air Museum. The stroller will be of no assistance.
– If you have breathing problems, do not enter the Underground City. Do not take your child as well. They may get scared and may feel suffocated.
– Maintain time very strictly. Your few minutes’ delays may upset the whole plan of your team.
– Carry 1/2 extra t-shirts. If you sweat, you will be able to change. Or else your journey will not be comfortable.
– Remember, you have to walk. So, wear shoes that would be comfortable for walking.
Tips for Photography
– Save your equipment from dust by using scarfs, or any other cloths. I never used to carry them in the bag. If you are comfortable, should carry a bag.
– Be as light as possible. If you used to carry more than one camera body, reconsider before getting inside in the Underground City. Because of the very tight space, it’s difficult for an individual to move around. More camera bodies and lens would cause too many difficulties for you. For the underground city just carry one body with your wide-angle lens.
– Same is the case with Ihlara Valley. Try to be light. At least if you have family with Kids.
– Drone pilots should carry more (& more) batteries or a car charger. Convince your guide and driver so that you can charge your batteries if the vehicle.
– If your purpose is photography, do not get any tour package. Rent your car/ scooter/ motorcycle and go to places, remain there as long as you can, go at whatever time you want to. Because of the tour packages, you will find yourself in all those amazing places at very odd time for photography.
– Sunset is very beautiful. Do not miss photographing sunset views.
– Streets at night are colorful and eventful, and very good for street photography.
– Drone pilots should not miss photographing Goreme City view at night.
– Do not miss photographing balloon ride from your hotel terrace.
3 days in Cappadocia, Turkey is never enough if you want to explore every bits of it. However, in the most cases majority of us may not be able to afford more than 3/4 days for covering one area. If you plan your trip wisely, at the end of 3 days in Cappadocia, Turkey you will not be disheartened.
If you have traveled to Istanbul for at least once, certainly you have visited Sultanahmet Mosque (Turkish: Sultanahmet Camii) in Istanbul, Turkey. The mosque is also used to be called the Blue Mosque because of the Blue Tiles surrounding the walls of the mosque. Over the years, this mosque has become one of the most famous tourist attractions in Istanbul. This iconic mosque was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1985.
Top View of the Sultanahmet Mosque
The Sultanahmet Mosque
History
Sultanahmet Mosque has been built between 1609 to 1616 during the rule of Ahmed 1. It has been named by the name of the emperor Ahmed. The mosque was built on the site of the palace of the Byzantine emperors, in front of the basilicaAyasofya aka Hagia Sophia and the hippodrome, a site of significant symbolic meaning as it dominated the city skyline from the south.
Architecture
The Sultanahmet Mosque has one Main Dome, Six Minarets, and Eight Secondary Domes. Six minarets caused quite a scandal, as the Haram Mosque in Mecca (the holiest place for Muslims in the world) also had six minarets. However, in the end, the sultan solved the problem by adding a seventh minaret to Haram Mosque. The design of the Sultanahmet Mosque is the culmination of two centuries of Ottoman Mosque development. It incorporates some Byzantine Christian elements of the neighboring Hagia Sophia with traditional Islamic architecture and is considered to be the last great mosque of the classical period.
How to Visit the Sultanahmet Mosque
Besides being a tourist attraction, this is also an active mosque. Muslims offer five-time prayers at the mosque, therefore, it closes for tourists for 30 minutes to 45 minutes during regular prayer. However, during Friday prayer, it closes for the tourists for approx 90 minutes.
Tourists often look for answers to many questions before visiting the Sultanahmet Mosque. Here are some answers, which would certainly assist you in your next visit to Blue Mosque.
Time for Visit. Try to visit the start of your visit at the early hours of the day and finish before midday prayer. This is the largest slot of the day you will get for your visit inside the mosque. By all means avoid visiting the mosque during the prayer, especially during Friday midday prayer.
Dress Code for Visit. Male visitors must not enter the mosque putting on shorts shorter than your knee length. Female visitors should wear a headscarf and must cover their legs. Headscarves and rob to cover legs are available at the entrance. If you collect headscarf and rob at the entrance, you may return those at the exit. However, despite the availability of free headscarf and rob, I suggest you have your own in this present COVID-19 situation for safety. You will be able to purchase from around the mosque. Moreso, this will be another piece of cheap souvenir. 🙂
Take off Your Shoes. Before entering the Mosque all should take off their shoes and put those in plastic bags provided at the entrance free of charge. This is required as it has been mentioned, this mosque is an active mosque, and Muslims never enter the mosque with shoes on. Well, we would suggest you carry a small backpack 🎒 (which every traveler usually carry) and put your shoes inside it. It is not easy to take care of your shoes, seeing things, and again taking photographs altogether. At the exit, you may dispose of your carry bag.
Entrance Fee. There’s no entrance fee for visiting the mosque. However, once you step out you will find a booth for donation. You may donate any amount at your will. However, if you make any donation, they will provide you a slip.
Special Tips for Traveler
– If you are traveling with a toddler(s), leave the Stroller of your baby outside (somewhere safe). Security will not allow you to enter with a stroller.
– If you are in a long queue and someone approaches you for any shortcuts, ignore them. They are probably some broker of any vendor. In the worst scenario, they might leave you in the hand of security personnel.
– In the crowd take care of belongings and never carry your backpack at the back. Carry your bag/ backpack on your chest for safety.
– Once you are inside the mosque please be quiet. As this is a place of worship, you will always find people worshiping including female worshipers. Avoid staring at them. Visit the mosque respectfully and quietly.
Special Tips for Photography
– Once you are inside the mosque do not use flash for photography.
– Respect people and do not cause any disturbance to the worshipers or any fellow travelers.
– Do not take random shots of people inside. People may feel offended and that might result trouble for you.
– Istanbul and this mosque are heavens for street photography. Look around; mosque premises, entrances, parks, etc. You will find extraordinary frames if you can afford some time and can look from a different perspective. Most of my photographs are captured using a Canon 5D MK3 camera with Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8 lens.
– I suggest you visit in the evening as well to get some night shot of this magnificent architecture.
– If you want to have some drone footage, please do get approval from the Turkish authority to fly a drone. Otherwise, flying a drone from anywhere near the mosque might put you in trouble. I use DJI Mavic 2 Pro. You may get this drone for magnificent cinematic footage/ photographs.
Night View of Fountain and the Mosque
Night View from the Park Area
Outcome In Camera Process of 3 x Shots
At the main entrance
The Sultanahmet Mosque is one of the premier architectural monuments of the Sultanahmet era. This monument deserves much more elaboration from the historical perspective. However, you will find tons of details on history and heritage if you want to educate yourself. Our principal focus is to present some details of the spot which would really assist you in seeing and exploring the place better. If you think these details would be helpful to others, please share and subscribe to our blog.
If you are traveling to Turkey and love nature; visiting Uzungöl is a must. This is a copybook example of what people call ‘heaven on earth’. Lake Uzungöl AKA Long Lake in Trabzon (in the local Romeyka language: Şeraho), is a lake situated to the south of the city of Trabzon, is Turkey’s most beautiful lake. Uzungöl is also the name of the village on the lake’s coast. This piece of heaven is at a distance of 99 km from Trabzon’s city center, and 19 km from Çaykara’s district center. Lake Uzungöl AKA Long Lake has emerged in recent years as a famous place for its breathtaking serene natural environment and various adventure activities.
Best Time to Go
Though Summer is always considered as the tourist season, yet if you love to see snow-clad mountains and the frozen lake, it’s better to visit Lake Uzungöl AKA Long Lake in Trabzon during winter. However, consider the difficulty of traveling as well. We have traveled in the month of June and felt like, we were witnessing the beauty of paradise. The Lake and the whole region was amazingly beautiful during this season.
Getting There
Lake Uzungöl AKA Long Lake in Trabzon is not that far from the city center. As such, it can be covered in a day if you do not want to stay a night at the lake. If you are traveling on a budget, it’s better to take a bus from Trabzon. You can book a ticket from any online service like rome2romio. Well, if you can spare a little amount of money, we recommend taking a taxi or hire a car. There are a lot of beautiful places en route, where you would feel like to stop and enjoy the scenic beauty. Driving experience from Trabzon City Center to Irfanli for 50 Km along the shoreline is stunning.
Things to Do in Uzungöl
Lake Uzungöl AKA Long Lake in Trabzon is a place to enjoy a retreat from chaos and rush of city life. We could have stayed there for weeks if we could avail really a long vacation from our work. Since this place has emerged as a busy tourist hub in the region recently, therefore, travel companies, adventure sports companies, etc have brought a lot of options for activities.
However, in our opinion, the best thing to do here is to enjoy the serenity of the place and walk around the lake and greens. In recent years various agencies have brought options of paragliding, helicopter tour, ATV tour, and many other activities. If you wish, you can enjoy those as well. While enjoying the beauty of nature, do not miss visiting Uzungöl Cami (Uzungöl Kuran Kursu).
Food to Eat
Turkish food will always dominate our list of food, which we are fond of. There are hundreds of hotels and restaurants in this small valley to meet your desire for mesmerizing Turkish food. We tried food in many restaurants. It would be a shame to mention one’s name without mentioning others. So, it’s better to preserve our stand for any single or two restaurants. 🙂
Places to Stay
Surely Agoda, booking, hostelworld, Airbnb, etc will offer you hundreds of options for staying in Lake Uzungöl AKA Long Lake in Trabzon. You can choose your hotel as per your preference and budget. However, I would recommend choosing any hotel nearer to the lake even if you need to count a few extra bucks.
Hotels and Locals’ Residences at Uzungöl
Hotels and Locals’ Residences at Uzungöl
Photography Tips
There are no special tips for photographing in Lake Uzungöl AKA Long Lake in Trabzon. However, you may keep these points in mind if you are interested in Photography.
– We always prefer good timing for photography to synchronize with good light. For Uzungöl there is no exception.
– You may walk around the villages to try to get portraits/ environmental portraits of Turkish local. However, please be considerate and humble. Never try anything without permission.
– Language is a barrier throughout Turkey. However, in remote places like this, this is way more difficult than city centers. Learn/memorize a few basic words like greetings, introducing, etc. That would be of great help for sure.
Final Words
For traveling and for travelers there is no ‘the solution‘. There are always scopes of incorporating and customizing something maverick. Our this blog is also not ‘the solution‘ for travelers/ tourist, who intends to visit Uzungöl. Even though if you find this write-up a useful one, please refer to others and subscribe. You may also check our blog post on Cappadocia, Princes Island, and Sultanahmet Mosque in Istanbul if you are interested. Enjoy traveling.
For hundreds of years, Istanbul attracted tourists from all around the world because of its historical, archeological, and diversified significance. In addition, it’s located in such a significant place that it truly became the center of the earth. Therefore, Napoleon once said, “If the world was only one country, Istanbul would be its capital!” However, out of many spectacular and amazing places/ attractions, today we are going to know about Prince’s Island. And in my opinion, Prince’s Island is a must travel destination in Istanbul, Turkey.
Now let’s know about this amazing destination. The Princes’ Islands are a cluster of 9 islands southeast of Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara. This is a very unique place in this present world. The islands are car-free. The islands are known for their horse-drawn carriages (phaetons). People/ tourists mainly use Cycle or Horse carts for transportation. However, in recent days you may also see some battery driven motorcycle.
Getting There
The tourists usually travel to the island from Istanbul. In that case, you have to come up to Kabatas. If you are coming from the Europen side of Istanbul or Sultanahmet, this is the last stoppage of the tramway. Thereafter, you have to cross the road and go to the Kabatas Ferry terminal. There is two terminal side by side. Go to the USKUDAR terminal and get tickets of MAVI MARMARA (check the photos below). Each ticket costs 10 Lira. The journey will take approx 50 minutes. While going to the island you will witness the spectacular view of Istanbul’s iconic attractions e.g. Topkapi Place, Hagia Sofia, Sultanahmet Mosque, etc.
After approximately 50 minutes, you will arrive at BUYUKADA Island. The route is amazingly beautiful. You will witness the beauty of Istanbul Skyline, USKUDAR and other small islands of Princes’ Island. Prior to reaching BUYUKADA, you will arrive at Heybeliada island which is the second largest of nine islands. Here at the top of the central mountain, you will see an eleventh-century Greek Orthodoxmonastery, it houses the Halki seminary, the only Greek Orthodox seminary in Turkey.
Things to Do in BUYUKADA
We already came to know that Princes’ Island is a car-free zone and as a means of transportation, you have the option of hiring Horse Carriage or Cycle. After getting down from the ferry at the terminal first you may do is to hire a bike or a horse carriage. Depending on your interest, you may decide your itinerary for the day. Here, we would recommend a list of places and things to do and hope this would be enough for a day.
Bike Tour or Horse Carriage Ride
The best thing to do in Buyukada Island is to hire a bike and travel around the island see enjoy spectacular view of the island. If you want to avoid biking as it might have been tiring, you may also hire a horse carriage for island tour.
Hagios Giorgios Monastry
If you love history you must visit Hagios Giorgios Monastry. The monastry is located on the highest point of the island and it was built in 1751.
Adalar Museum
Adalar Museum is another spectacular destination for the travelers. This is considered the first contemporary city museum in Istanbul. One can have a comprehensive idea of history of Istanbul from thousands of photographs, historical items, and evidences.
Beaches of Buyukada Island
Few other mesmerizing destinations are profound beaches of the island if you are traveling there in Summer. Few of the fantastic beaches are Aya Nicola Beach, Blue Beach, Nizam Beach, Halik Koyu Aile Beach etc.
Adalar Market
The market at Adalar was an amazing place for us. We loved walking through the streets in the market. The aroma of Turkish traditional food, the sound of trinkets and bells of the bikes, and the mesmerizing view of the various stalls and restaurants will surely blow your mind away.
Turkish Food
Buyukada Island is famous for Turkish traditional food. Naming a few of the restaurants and cafes will be unjust to others. Restaurants inside the market or along the beaches will surely offer you fresh and amazing Turkish cuisine.
Return Journey to Kabatas/ Eminonu
If you have traveled to Prince’s Island for a day then you should end your traveling by 3/4 PM as return ferry leaves Buyukada by 4/5 PM depending on the season. Well, while returning you may get down at Eminonu if your hotel is in Sultanahmet.
Tips for Photography
Buyukada Island is a heaven for landscape lovers. However, timing is important for photography here as it is everywhere.
Once you will land in Buyukada Island, by then it will be almost a sunny day. Try to utilize the time maximum before the light becomes too harsh.
For taking a photo of people traveling in a horse carriage or the horse cartel keep your wide-angle lens ready.
Adalar Market is a heaven for lifestyle, street, and travel photography.
Beaches are a wonderful place for landscape and travel photography. Utilize the afternoon hour for better photos.
If you wanna fly a drone, this entire island is a fantastic place for capturing amazing photos.
Once you will reach Eminonu or Kabatas, you will get amazing light to capture moments in the street.
Sunset over the Marmara sea en route is amazing. Do not miss that.
In the end, I would strongly recommend planning a day tour at least to anyone traveling to Istanbul. This place is a fantastic day out destination for travelers of all ages, all tastes.
Well, if you feel that our humble effort makes you better educated than before regarding Prince’s Island, please subscribe and share it with your friends. If you feel, we might improve, please share your valuable thoughts so that we can assist you in the future.
Daily Travel Qoutes
“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page”
Saint Augustine
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