Our day began early, as we didn’t want to miss out on the complimentary breakfast offered by the hotel. By 7:30 a.m., the dining area was already bustling with guests eager to start their day—no surprise, really, given the organized nature of Turkish tourism.
Efficient and Organized Tourism in Turkey
Turkish tourism is impressively structured, though it might also be my lack of experience in group tours that made it stand out. Our tour organizers arranged daily hotel pickups, with a bus arriving promptly at 8 a.m. This bus would make several stops at other hotels to collect additional passengers before transferring us to another bus specific to our scheduled tour.
Blue Mosque: Exploring Istanbul’s Historical Treasures
Our first tour was the Istanbul City Tour, which began with a visit to the iconic Blue Mosque. Known historically as Sultanahmet Mosque, this magnificent structure was commissioned by Sultan Ahmed I and features six towering minarets. Interestingly, this design choice sparked controversy at the time, as only the Holy Mosque in Mecca had six minarets. To resolve the issue, Sultan Ahmed funded the addition of a seventh minaret to the mosque in Mecca as a gesture of respect.
The mosque earns its nickname from the beautiful blue Iznik tiles adorning its interior. Entry to the mosque is free, but visitors must dress modestly, with women required to wear scarves, and shoes must be removed upon entering.
The Egyptian Obelisk and the Roman Hippodrome
Just outside the Blue Mosque stands an ancient obelisk brought from Egypt. This remarkable monument is one of several scattered across the world, with others located in London and Paris. The Romans transported this obelisk to Constantinople by ship, and it now serves as a reminder of the city’s rich historical layers.
The obelisk stands within what was once the Roman Hippodrome, a massive open area that hosted chariot races and possibly gladiator contests (à la Gladiator). Today, you can still spot remnants of the Hippodrome walls if you wander around the site.
Hagia Sophia
From the Blue Mosque, we walked toward the famous and magnificent Hagia Sophia, a landmark with a rich history of transformation—it has served as a church, a mosque, a museum, and is now a mosque once again. Unfortunately, our package did not include tickets, so we were unable to see its interior. However, Muslims are allowed to enter for free during prayer times, while other visitors must purchase tickets, which cost approximately €25 per adult.
Historically, when the Ottomans converted Hagia Sophia into a mosque, they covered the Christian sculptures and icons on the walls, as Islam prohibits the depiction of figures. These were painted over during the Ottoman period. Later, when Hagia Sophia became a museum, the paintings were carefully removed to reveal the original Christian artworks. Now that it has been converted back into a mosque, the Turkish government has chosen to cover the icons with curtains rather than repainting over them, preserving them for posterity while adhering to Islamic customs.
A Walk to the Grand Bazaar
From the Hagia Sophia, we strolled about ten minutes to the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets. The area surrounding the bazaar reminded me of Lahore in Pakistan, though much cleaner. Streets were lined with shops offering everything from gold jewelry to handcrafted plates, carpets, and scarves. The market is also famous for its “fake” designer bags, which look incredibly authentic—some even mirror the models listed on the original brand websites!
The bazaar’s tight, crowded alleys were brimming with life, and we enjoyed tasting a variety of Turkish coffee and sweets at one of the local shops. As part of the group tour, we had an hour to explore and shop before regrouping for lunch.
Shopping, Food, and Cultural Experiences
Lunch was included in our tour package, and after an exciting shopping spree, we enjoyed a meal of kebabs, rice, and salad. If you’re a chicken lover, temper your expectations—Turkish cuisine doesn’t shine in chicken dishes but makes up for it with flavorful kebabs and other specialties.
Afternoon at Topkapi Palace
The final stop of the day was the Topkapi Palace, a stunning and historically significant landmark that offers a glimpse into the opulent lives of Ottoman sultans. The palace’s intricate architecture and fascinating artifacts provided a fitting conclusion to our first day exploring Istanbul. I will write a separate blog about that that soon.
Next day was Princes’ Islands.
If you want to read more about our 5 Day Istanbul Trip, click on this link. We have another post on Turkish airline which be relevant too.