Turkey Conference Tour 1: Sightseeing

Turkey is a country known for rich historical heritage and natural beauty. As the center of many ancient civilizations from thousands of years ago, Turkey attracts many tourists around the world each year.

Nearly all Turkey itineraries begin in Istanbul, a center of cultural beauties you must visit at least once in your lifetime.

As the next destination for the upcoming conferences of the Canadian Institute for Knowledge Development (CIKD), we will discuss the must-see attractions of Istanbul in this article.

Also be sure to check out our other article about delicious Turkish cuisine.

CIKD will hold its next three important conferences, i.e., 3rd International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Management, 4th International Conference on New Directions in Business, Management, Finance, and Economics, and 2nd International Conference on Computer Science, Communication and Information Technology, in Turkey, Istanbul, in February 2020.

Istanbul is the capital of Istanbul province and one of the most visited cities in Turkey, located in the Marmara area. Istanbul has many attractions and is a great destination for tourists all over the world. Every place in this city is representing a rich culture and history. For this reason, it has become an exciting city that attracts many travelers from all over the world.

Here are some of the most popular tourist places to visit in Istanbul:

Hagia Sophia Museum

Hagia Sophia, later an Ottoman imperial mosque and now a museum in Istanbul, is the symbol of Istanbul and was chosen as the most visited Turkish mosque by tourists. It is one of Istanbul’s most famous and valuable museums and churches in the Sultan Ahmed area. The beautiful mosque of Hagia Sophia, with its magnificent arches and columns dating back to Byzantine times, attracts every visitor and tourist because of its unique architecture.

Süleymaniye Mosque

Süleymaniye Mosque, the Ottoman-era monument, is located in the European part of the city and the Fatih area. This place is one of the biggest and most beautiful mosques in Istanbul, famous not only for its staggering size but also for the beauty and elegance of its interior design. The mosque has four minarets and is a combination of Islamic and Byzantine architecture. The various sections of the mosque include a library, a school, a caravan, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a hospital. It is the second-largest mosque in the city and represents the best views of Istanbul.

Bosphorus Strait

One of the most famous and popular places to visit in Istanbul is the Bosphorus Strait, located in the north of Turkey, with unique beauties that cannot be seen anywhere in the world. The Bosphorus Strait is a landmark between the two continents and is one of Istanbul’s most-visited tourist attraction. It is 19 miles (30 km) long and connects the Black Sea with the Marmara Sea.

In this place, you can enjoy seeing attractions and eating alongside the beautiful facade and scenery of this charming place. Due to its importance in ancient times, the area attracts visitors to visit unique monuments, symbols, and sights throughout history.

Topkapi Palace

Istanbul’s Topkapi Palace, now a large museum in Istanbul, was the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans. This glorious palace has been home to Ottoman kings, a Harem (women’s quarters), kitchens, the Second Court, Imperial Council Chamber, and Third Court. This palace is actually the second Ottoman palace built in Istanbul. Topkapi Palace museum displays numerous royal treasures, clothing, swords and prophetic items such as the sword of Prophet Muhammad and the Staff of Moses.

Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii)

A masterpiece of Ottoman architecture, Istanbul’s Sultan Ahmet Mosque (also known as the Blue Mosque) is one of Turkey’s most magnificent monuments. The name “blue” comes from the blue tiles used inside. One of the most important features of the Blue Mosque, which is also visible from afar, are its six minarets. These minarets are very unique because most mosques have only 1, 2 or 2 minarets.

It may be hard to imagine, but the importance of completing the mosque for Sultan Ahmed I was so great that he sometimes participated in the construction process of the mosque himself! We should add, of course, that Sultan Ahmad was only able to use the mosque for only one year, and died at the age of 27, one year after its construction ended. His body is buried on the outside of the same mosque.

Dolmabahçe Palace

This place, with its whitish construction and intricate architecture, was built in the 19th century and is one of the most glorious palaces in the world. It was both the private residence and the main administrative center of the late Ottoman Empire. It is located at the left side of the Bosphorus Strait and is spectacular for its ornate and plush interiors and the most outstanding of all is the staircase with crystal pillars.

Basilica Cistern

Known as an upside-down castle, and one of the most mysterious buildings in Turkey, Basilica Cistern is close to the two mosques of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque and was built during the Byzantine Empire, when Istanbul was called Constantinople. This place is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns beneath the city that provided a water filtration system for the buildings nearby and is home to 336 marble columns, about 9 meters high, and with fine carved capitals, creating a unique space due to their close spacing. The underground place is 140 meters long and 70 meters wide and to enter the cistern, one has to go down a 52-step staircase.

Rüstem Pasha Mosque

Dating from 1560, Rüstem Pasha Mosque is another beautiful Ottoman heritage with unique art of the country’s architects. This place is located in the Fatih area. Rostam Pasha Mosque is a small building, the balance of beauty is visible in its architecture and its interior part is decorated with the most exquisite isogenic colored tiles.

In this article, we tried to explore the best sightseeing spots in Istanbul, but if you travel to this city you will find that Istanbul is well beyond what is mentioned in the articles. Therefore, we would be happy to share your travel experiences with us in Istanbul.