Tag: historyistanbul

  • 1st Day in Istanbul

    After a delicious Turkish breakfast, we recommend visiting Hagia Sophia early in the morning. In fact, we suggest arriving at the ticket office just before 8:30 AM. This is an important tip if you want to avoid waiting in a long line. Once you leave Hagia Sophia, you’ll see the tram tracks. Cross the road…

  • Istanbul’s Asian Side: A Comprehensive Guide to Must-See Places and Things to Do

    First, we recommend starting your breakfast with something light. If you are staying on the European side, getting to the Asian side and exploring it will take some time. There are so many enjoyable things to do, so let’s start the day with a warm, crispy börek and a Turkish tea. Assuming you are staying…

  • How to Visit Hagia Sophia: What to See & What Not to Miss

    First, let’s make one thing clear. The first floor of Hagia Sophia, which is the main prayer area, is closed to visitors. Only Turkish citizens can enter this area. The upper floor, or gallery level, is open to visitors. You can also see the lower floor from the upper level. In our opinion, the view…

  • historyistanbul: Kız Kulesi (Maiden’s Tower)

    This elegant structure, the symbol of Üsküdar, stands at the mouth of the Bosphorus, just 200 meters from the shore. According to an old legend, the mythological hero Leandros was in love with Hero, a priestess of Aphrodite (Venus) who lived in the city of Sestos on the European side of the Hellespont (today’s Dardanelles).…

  • From Topkapı to Your Table: Ottoman Royal Cuisine👑

    The sultans of the Ottoman Empire, who succeeded in making their name known to the world, are not only fascinating for their war policies but also for their eating habits. Let’s take a look at the Palace Kitchen together! Make sure you’re not too hungry!😊 Or just get a ticket! Straight to Istanbul!✈️ In the…

  • How to Make a Perfect Turkish Coffee?☕

    The pride of Turkish coffee lies in its rich foam. Serving coffee without foam to a guest is not well received, as it suggests the person did not put care into making it.😊 Let’s jump right into the recipe! Ingredients (per person): 2 teaspoons of coffee 1 teaspoon of sugar 1 cup of water Equipment:…

  • Ebru(Paper Marbling): Where Color Meets Water and History🖌️

    History and Origins of Ebru Ebru is a decorative art made by transferring patterns created with specially prepared paints on water thickened with tragacanth onto paper.The exact time and place where the art of Ebru began is not definitivelyknown. However, there are some sources indicating that it was practiced in the 13th century in Turkestan,…

  • historyistanbul: Hagia Irene (Aya İrini)

    Cradled within the tranquil grounds of Topkapı Palace, Hagia Irene stands as one of Istanbul’s most quietly mesmerizing relics, a place where history does not shout but breathes. Often bypassed for the imposing grandeur of Hagia Sophia, this sacred space tells its story in stone, shadow, and silence. First built in the 4th century by…

  • historyistanbul: Adalar (Islands)

    Honestly, We spent quite some time wondering which category the Islands should fall under and we’ve decided they belong not just to historyistanbul, but also to streetistanbul and viewistanbul. They’re simply too enchanting to fit into just one box. Dream of the Islands: A Fairytale in the Middle of the Marmara Sea The Adalar District,…

  • historyistanbul: Sultanahmet Cami (Sultanahmet Mosque / Blue Mosque)

    Imagine being 19 years old and deciding to build one of the most magnificent mosques in the world. Sounds like a bold move, right? Well, that’s exactly what Sultan Ahmed I did. In 1609, he set out to create a mosque that would rival.No, outshine: the legendary Hagia Sophia, which stood just across the way.…