Istanbul is one of the oldest and most historically rich cities in the world. There’s so much to see and do it can be overwhelming, especially if you’re paying a flying visit. Here’s a list of Istanbul must-sees, plus two you should consider passing over…

Hagia Sophia (Ayasofia)

One of the sights synonymous with Istanbul is the stunning Hagia Sophia, a basilica, turned mosque, turned museum. The mosque is a prime example of Byzantine architecture, complete with a massive dome.

In the 1400s, the Ottoman Turks conquered it, plastered over the gorgeous, golden Christian mosaics and added massive minarets the roof. Most of the mosaics have been uncovered in the last two centuries, so visitors can now view them. It’s astounding to stand somewhere so historical and with such mixed iconography.

Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)

Named for the blue tiles in its interior, this architectural marvel was built in the early 1600s. It features dozens of domes and six spiky minarets, and the gorgeous interior features walls of intricate mosaics and massive chandeliers that are suspended low over the ground.

While it’s a popular tourist attraction, it is also still a functioning mosque; visitors cannot enter during prayer time so be prepared to wait a while if you arrive at the wrong time. You’ll have to remove your shoes upon entering, and ladies, be sure to wear something modest.

Basilica Cistern

The Basilica Cistern is a gem that I hadn’t heard of before my visit to Istanbul. It is the largest of many underground water systems in Istanbul built by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century. It is so creepy that it feels like the set of a scary movie (in fact, it was featured in the James Bond film From Russia with Love).

It consists of many series of massive stone columns and it is lit with dimly eerie orange lights. Two ancient columns rise up from a base-statue of Medusa; it’s a mystery why one is sideways and one is upside down, but it is thought that they were taken from an ancient Roman building.

The floor is still filled with a shallow layer of water, so you walk throughout the columns on a wooden plank. As you pass through the silent cavern, you can hear occasional drops of water from the ceiling into the water below.

Spice Market

Walking in the Spice Market, you’ll experience a total sensory overload. There are incredible smells wafting throughout and colorful bins full of spices, teas, and herbs. You can buy the spices, teas, and herbs in bulk or in a variety of pre-packaged gift sets. You can also buy henna, dried fruit, soaps, honey, Turkish delights, baklava, teacup sets and more.

Ferry ride along the Bosphorous

Istanbul has the unique distinction of being the only city in the world that straddles two continents. It is divided in half by the Bosphorous strait, with Europe on the west side and Asia on the east. One of the best ways to visually explore Istanbul is to take a cruise down the strait.

You can hop on a commuter ferry, but you may have to deal with multiple stops and routes. For just a few more lira, take a ferry tour. My travel partner and I cruised past massive bridges, the Topkapi Palace and stunning mosques.

Go to a Hammam

Hammams (steam baths) are the place to head to unwind, detox, and get clean. Some are divided by gender, some are co-ed. The hammams have a menu of services, so you can do self-service and bathe yourself, or have an employee do the dirty work for you.

Some hammams offer additional add-ons, such as a 30-minute oil massage. They give you an ugly pair of knickers to wear, but they expect you to go topless, so ladies, no modesty here! You will leave feeling refreshed and squeaky clean.

And what to miss…

Topkapi Palace

If you have time to kill, it’s not a bad idea to go to this palace, which is a short walk from Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. However, it’s very spread out, and the admission is expensive.

The Grand Bazaar

While this bazaar is the largest indoor bazaar in the world, it’s not a must-see unless you are set on doing some major shopping. The problem is that nearly all the vendors carry the same goods, so you quickly begin seeing the same things over and over again. It’s also a bit overpriced; you can find the same teas and spices for less money at the Spice Bazaar.

This is a guest post from Emily Starbuck Gerson, a writer based in Austin, Texas. She currently works in the travel industry by day and runs her own travel blog, Maiden Voyage in her free time, in addition to doing other freelance writing and editing.

Inspired by Emily’s guide to the cultural heart of Turkey? Then check our our hand-picked collection of luxury hotels in Istanbul.

Technorati Tags: City breaks, Istanbul, Travel Writers, Travel Writing

Tags: City breaks, Istanbul, Travel Writers, Travel Writing

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 29th, 2010 at 11:36 am and is filed under TI Tips, Travel News & Views, Travel Writing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.