Things to Do in Istanbul

Almost hidden among the narrow streets surrounding Istanbul’s Spice Bazaar, the Rustem Pasha Mosque is one of several Ottoman era mosques designed by famous imperial architect Mimar Sinan.  Sitting on the site of an old Byzantine church, an inscription indicates that the mosque was built in honor of Suleyman the Magnificent’s son-in-law and grand vizier, Rustem Pasha.  Despite incurring fire and earthquake damage over the years, the mosque has been repaired and still showcases some of the best of Ottoman architecture.

The Rustem Pasha Mosque is unique in that it sits on a high terrace above the hustle and bustle of the bazaar – many visitors don’t even realize it is there. Two staircases lead from the street up to the terrace and a colonnaded porch that stands in front of the diminutive mosque. However, the mosque may be best known for its extensive use of colorful Iznik tiles set in a variety of floral and geometric designs.  Indeed, it could be considered one of the most lavish mosques in Istanbul, with tiles covering the outer façade, interior walls and four large pillars.  

It’s true, you need a fairly active imagination to people the ruins of Troy and bring this legendary site to life. But of the many names from history books and epic cinema, the legend of Troy is one that truly resonates.

Before being overcome by invasion and earthquake, the fabled city of Troy ruled from around 3,000 BC to 1,000 BC. Today, it is an area of archaeological excavations and ruins.

A stately model of the famous wooden horse of Troy guards the ruins, a replica of the vehicle that brought the invading Greeks inside the walls of Troy. You can climb inside the horse for elevated views of the ruins.

The Excavations House provides several models of Troy over the millennia, to give an idea of the city’s former glory and layout. A circular path leads amongst the ruins with signboards to help explain the various walls, fortifications, temples and remains of houses.

Leave the present day behind and take a wander around Old Istanbul, the wonderful old Sultanahmet District. This World Heritage-listed district is crammed with historic buildings and enough magical atmosphere to keep you enthralled for days.

Also known as the Fortress of Seven Towers, the Yedikule Fortress is located just over 3 miles southwest of Sultanahmet. It was first built as the Golden Gate during the reigns of Theodosius I and II in the 5th century. With enormous doors covered in gold, the gate had four towers and was the ceremonial entrance to the city for those arriving from Europe. After the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, Mehmet the Conqueror added three towers to the structure to transform it into a fortress, treasury and prison.  The towers today are known as the Armory Tower, the Flag Tower, the Sultan Ahmet III Tower, the Dungeon Tower (also known as the Tower of Inscriptions), the Top Tower, the Tower of the Treasury and the Young Osman Tower, where Sultan Osman II died while imprisoned.

The Yedikule Fortress also marks the end of the remaining land walls surrounding Istanbul. If you’re feeling adventurous, it’s possible to walk all the way on or along the walls between the fortress and Ayvansaray, about 7 kilometers north on the Golden Horn.

The Rumeli Fortress sits on a hill on the European side of Istanbul, overlooking the Bosphorus at its narrowest point. Built by Sultan Mehmed II prior to the conquest of Constantinople, the fortress was intended to help him control traffic along the Bosphorus and prevent aid from reaching the city from the Black Sea during the Siege of Constantinople in 1453. With the help of thousands of workers, the fortress was completed in just over four months.

In addition to three main towers, the fortress had one small tower and thirteen watchtowers, as well as three main gates next to the three main towers. It also had wooden houses for soldiers, a small mosque and a large cistern that distributed water to the fortress through three wall fountains. The shaft of the mosque’s minaret and one of the water fountains remain in the fortress today.

After the conquest of Constantinople, the fortress served as a customs checkpoint before later becoming a prison for foreign prisoners-of-war. It was completely abandoned by the 19th century, allowing a residential neighborhood to pop up inside. In 1953, Turkish president Celal Bayar ordered the residents to be relocated so the fortress could be renovated. It reopened as a museum and open-air theater in 1960 and as functioned as such ever since.

Synonymous with Ottoman style architecture, the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul is one of the most historically relevant landmarks, and today sits as one of Turkey’s great gems. It is in itself a statement of Turkish progress from a once feudal society to a great empire, and possesses elements distinctly unique to its people from a once overbearing Islamic influence. As a measure of its empiric significance, the palace served for over 400 years the residence of Sultans, where social events and administrative policy alike took the helms over Turkish civilization and development.

Guests of Turkey interested in understanding the culture and pride of this country's people would benefit from a visit to the complex, where from the outset you experience the grandeur of the Imperial Gate, through the plush landscape of the First Courtyard, then into the overwhelming Gate of Salutation to the Second Courtyard, where Sultan Selim III once presided over the masses ceremonial assemblies and state functions.

The remainder of the palace premises contains a plethora of buildings and courtyards, including a treasury, apartments, bathhouses, harems, and an armory, not to mention imperial halls and royal chambers that make a visit into Topkapi’s inner walls one of the world’s great wonders.

Upon visiting Topkapi make sure to give yourself the day in order to explore the nooks and crannies of this important landmark. Audio-guides are available on site to ensure a depth of understanding of the palace. Entrance to the harem unfortunately requires a different fare altogether, and be prepared for an onslaught of long lines during the peak tour seasons, by booking your trip ahead of time.

The Koza Hani, also known as the Cocoon Inn, was a caravanseri commissioned by Sultan Bayezid II in the late 15th century. Constructed in the city of Bursa, it was intended to provide income for the sultan's mosque in Istanbul. As the final stop on the Silk Road from China, the han was a place where merchants could try to sell the last of their goods, particularly silk.

Intricate turquoise tiling adorns the entrance to the han, which soon gives way to a cozy garden setting in the center courtyard. In classical Ottoman style, the structure features two stories of galleries surrounding an inner courtyard, with nearly 100 rooms altogether.  An absolution fountain and small prayer room sit in the middle of the courtyard and cells to the east of the han were built as stables and storage rooms.

The Koza Hani remains an active bazaar today and its tradition of being a center for the silk trade continues. Visitors can peruse a variety of shops and boutiques selling fine silk products and try their hand at haggling as prices are negotiable.