More than 20 million people are currently living in Istanbul, which was the capital of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires. People always find it shocking when I tell them the number, but that is the reality. It is difficult to understand its massiveness at first glance. Tourists, especially foreign ones, find it amazing when they realize that there are so many places to visit.

In some of its streets, it was only me and tens of stray animals at night, but the situation is different in other places like Beyoğlu, Taksim, Ortaköy, Kadıköy or Beşiktaş. Those three were full of life and entertainment.

If you want to feel the never-ending energy of the city, you had better visit those districts in the evenings.

In this article, I wil try to give you some recommendations in terms of what to do in Istanbul. I hope you will enjoy it.

Taking a Bosphorus Cruise Ride

What comes to your mind when I say Istanbul? It is the Bosphorus isn’t it? One of the most fun things to do in Istanbul is to tour the Bosphorus with a boat. And there are 3 options when it comes to the Bosphorus tour.

If you  stay around Sultanahmet, you can take the 1.5 hour tour with Turyol, which is the closest option. If you are staying close to Taksim Square, Dentur departing from Kabatas will be useful. The third option is to take a full-day Bosphorus cruise tour with the Sehir Hatlari official Bosphorus ferry.

I mostly stay in Sultan Ahmet and that’s why i prefer Turyol which is quite convenient and cheap. However, the other two options are also fun and easy.

Historical Monuments in Sultanahmet

People most frequently start their Istanbul trip from Sultanahmet. What is there to see; Hagia Sophia, The Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace. If you love taking photos but still looking for a better place than the ones you have already been, then Sultanahmet is your cup of tea. It gives you the chance to take photos with its mind-blowing historical buildings. The museums in Sultanahmet are very crowded during spring and summer. If you don’t want to wait in line to get a ticket, i would consider taking Istanbul Museum Pass.

Shopping time at the Grand Bazaar

After visiting historical monuments in Sultanahmet, it is customary to go to the Grand Bazaar and crown the day with shopping. The Grand Bazaar, which was built 8 years after the conquest of Istanbul in 1461,attracts people from all over the world like a magnet. Last year, before coming to Istanbul, I spent 3 magnificent days in Cappadocia and I had the chance to buy some souveniers. People told me not to buy any carpets or even little souveniers anywhere else but in Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. Fortunately, I compared the prices and the quality and now i can tell you guys..If you like something, go for it. The quality and the prices are more or less the same. Just don’t forget to bargain to get the best price

The Grand Bazaar, which is a huge historical monument and it has  67 streets and more than 4000 shops.

You can buy leather, jewelry, carpets and ceramics from the Grand Bazaar.

Eminonu Square and Spice Bazaar

Another best thing that you can do while in Istanbul is going to Eminonu Square and visiting the Spice Bazaar. At The courtyard of the New Mosque, which has become the symbol of Eminonu, is a  point where you can feed pigeons like the courtyard of St. Mark’s Square in Venice. The neighborhood of Eminönü  is famous for its Spice Bazaar, but still to experience some local shopping, the streets around the bazaar are worth seeing. The streets between the Spice Bazaar and Sirkeci Tram Station are the ideal places to taste the best backstreet cousine.

Rustem Pasha Mosque that is decorated with beautiful examples of tiles from Iznik is also a good place to see. By the way, the mosque is only five-minute walking distance from the Spice Bazaar.

And lastly, if you want to find cheap but good quality stuff, Uzuncarsi Street, which is a couple of minutes to the mosque, can also be seen.

Tracing Genoese Colony in Galata

Galata means the other side, in Byzantium terminology. They used to call that place as Pera that means remote.Byzantine people saw Galata as a place on the other side.

One end of the large chain that stretches between the two sides of the Golden Horn and prevents enemy ships from entering, was connected to Galata. The Byzantine Empire were making huge amounts  of money through taxes on spice and silk trade between Asia and Europe. Genoese and Venetian colonies exported spices and silk stuff to Europe through Constantinople.  Then it was the Ottomans who continued the same trade in the same way with the Venetians and the Genoese. Today, while wandering the streets of Karakoy, it is still possible to see the traces of the ancient port city of the past. Especially if you go to Karakoy and Galata, you will understand what I mean by the Genoese heritage.

Wandering in Fener and Balat districts

Fener and Balat are two districts whose popularity has increased over the last 20 years. You can visit these neighboring districts easily with a few hours walking tour.

These two districts reflect the true  Ottoman spirit at its best.Fener and Balat with its churces, mosques and synagogues is a true mosaic of multiculturalism.

Fener, where the Greek Orthodox people lived, and Balat, which was the Jewish neighborhood, contain an incredible amount of cultural heritage. To fully understand the history of Fener and Balat, it is recommended to visit these places with a private tour guide.

Eating a Turkish Breakfast with Bosphorus view

Both the Asian and European coasts of the Bosphorus are very popular at the weekends. You can experience Turkish breakfast with Bosphorus view which is very popular among the people of Istanbul.

Breakfast can also be enjoyed in popular neighborhoods such as Galata, Cihangir, Sultanahmet or Kadikoy. However, having breakfast with the Bosphorus view is definitely a more inspiring experience. On the European side, Ortakoy, Bebek and Rumeli Hisari are the most popular breakfast areas. On the other hand, the Asian side stands out with its peaceful neighborhoods such as Beylerbeyi, Cengelkoy and Anadolu Hisari.

Historical Turkish Bath Time

Ayasofya Hurrem Sultan and Kilic Ali Pasha Hamams are two historical baths. They have been recently restored and both were built sometime in the 16th century by Mimar Sinan. In addition to them, Cemberlitas, Cagaloglu, Suleymaniye and Galatasaray Hammams are among the best historical baths in Istanbul. I have been to a proper Turkish bath once in my life time and I really enjoyed the experience. Everything was neat and comfortable.

If I were you, I would try to make an early appointment so that you basically would have the whole place to yourself.

Going to a Turkish bath is one of the most fun things I have enjoyed in Istanbul

Walking from Ortakoy to Bebek

In the upper lines, I suggested having breakfast on the Bosphorus in Istanbul. One of the top things to do in Istanbul is to have a Turkish breakfast in Ortakoy and then take a walk along the Bosphorus to Bebek.

The coastal road between Ortakoy and Bebek is the most convenient route for walking and jogging activities along the Bosphorus. You can photograph the Bosphorus bridges, mansions and fishing people on this road.  If you enjoy, you can extend the walk to Rumeli Fortress.

Cable Car to Pierre Loti Hill

I have already mentioned about the Sultanahmet, Eminonu, Fener and Balat districts  of Istanbul. Now I would love to talk about another historical place called Pierre Loti Hill, which is located in Eyup. You can take the cable car to the top and enjoy the view. There is also Eyup Mosque and Miniaturk Museum to be seen. To see these places, you can either get a taxi or bus and both are not pricey.

A Walk  Up to the Galata Tower

When you get to Galata Tower, you will have the chance to see the seven hills of Istanbul and a bird’s eye view of the Golden Horn and also the Bosphorus.

Make sure that the sun is not at its highest point if you want to take beautiful photos. There is a square down at the bottom and you will see many cafes and galleries there. They were opened quite recently.

Walking through Istiklal Street

What I liked about Istiklal Street is that it never sleeps. It is a very busy location. Probably thousands of people walking at the same time. Decorated with colourful flags and lined by brand outlets and beautiful coffee shops,this street has a unique charm. I almost spent a whole day and no regrets.

Maybe it is the best shopping street in Istanbul. It also contains the oldest tramway in Turkey.

Antique Shopping in Cukurcuma

Cukurcuma is a cute little neighborhood with small cafes, boutiques, antique shops and design stores. In addition to this, I have some good  news for those who love the Turkish Nobel Prize-winner Orhan Pamuk. Cukurcuma is the place where Orhan Pamuk’s Museum of Innocence is mentioned. If you’re into taking photo, there’s no doubt that you’ll enjoy every minute of your time. Other places for antique lovers are Nisantasi, Kadıköy and Üsküdar street.

Byzantine Heritage in Istanbul

The history of Romans in Istanbul dates back to the reign of Emperor Septimus Severus. In 330, Emperor Constantine declared Istanbul the second capital of the Roman Empire. After the separation of the  Empire into two, Constantinople became the capital of Eastern Rome until 1453.

Istanbul, which has been the capital of the Romans and Byzantines for 1000 years, still has an important Roman heritage. There are cisterns and palace ruins from the Byzantine period, as well as a considerable number of Byzantine churches. Today it is possible to visit Hagia Sophia, Chora and Pammakaristos churches as museums. In the old districts of Istanbul such as Sultanahmet, Fener and Balat, Vefa and Zeyrek, Edirnekapi you can visit the Byzantine buildings and take great pictures.

Visiting the Mosques of Istanbul

We can say that the imperial mosques in Istanbul are divided into two in terms of architecture. The first is the Classical Ottoman Architecture, which peaks with Architect Sinan, and the second is the Modern Ottoman Architecture, bearing the signature of the Balyan Family.

In the Historic Peninsula of Istanbul, we see the architectural works of classical period. For example, the mosques built by the sultans such as the Blue Mosque, Suleymaniye Mosque and Fatih Mosque reflect the classical period of the Ottoman Empire.

From the 18th century onwards, the Ottomans began to use neo-classical and baroque elements with European influence. Ortakoy Mosque, Dolmabahce Palace and its Mosque and Beylerbeyi Mosque, such as mosques in the Bosphorus, you can observe this new period architecture.

Of course, the two styles have no superiority to each other. Together, they describe the evolution of a culture that reigned in Istanbul for 500 years. While Classical Architecture preferred a more simple style; Modern Architecture uses eye-catching decoration techniques.

Other Things to Do in Istanbul

Of course, there are many other things to do in Istanbul. If you would like to learn more about Istanbul’s museums, public transport, shopping places and local restaurants, you may contact us 24/7.

Although Basil, Gregory of Nyssa and Gregory of Nazianzus were very close to one another and joined in their faith, their personalities were totally different. Basil was a man of action, Gregory of Nyssa was a great orator, and Gregory of Nazianzus was a great thinker and theologian and is sometimes called Gregory the Theologian.

Today they are known as the Cappadocian Fathers or famous sons of Cappadocia. People and the church in the East and West all over the world respect them. They are honored, respected and loved. They might be three different personalities but still they are  united to serve the same purpose.

The city of wonder,

The city of love,

Since I first saw you,

I can’t take my eyes off you, Istanbul!

This is how people feel about Istanbul.

This city that saw many nations, many battles…Numerous brave generals and their soldiers walked through the streets of it. People fell in love, people had quarrels and they brought their children up into this marvellous city.

The Landscape Is Just So Beautiful!

Is there any other city in the world that is bounded by 2 different seas, connected by a stunning blue strait with the Golden Horn?  There’s also  the forests all around. Once the sun shimmers off the water and shines across the whole city, there’s nothing else like it. Moreover, the city of Istanbul connects two continents of Asia and Europe, literally like a bridge. Finding the right word to express the beauty of Istanbul is quite difficult. You should come and experience it in person.

An Ancient  Peninsula Full of History

There is a lot to see in Istanbul.The Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, the mosques, the museums, the churches, the synagogues.Every street, every shop , every little house has a different story to tell you. You could go for a walk around the ancient streets of this mysterious city for days, may be even for months. What you will get after all

that wandering is nothing but joy mixed with amazing history.

Delicious  Food

There is a saying in Turkey:  The way to one’s heart passes through one’s stomach. You understand how true is this saying when you start tasting delicious cousine of Istanbul. The syrupy and crusty baklava, the breakfast spreads that cover tables and tables, the different types of soups, the kebabs, the pides, the sea food, the street food.. Everything is so fresh and cooked exactly the way you want it. And also the turkish delight.. So yummy. Don’t forget to buy some of those before leaving the city.

The  Joy Of Wandering And Exploring the Unknown

Taking the ferry to the Asian side and back, passing by the Maiden’s Tower, is such an experience that is difficult to put into words without seeing it in person. Walking the streets through numerous parks, climbing up hills and discovering tombs, mosques, churches, and so much more in every spot your visit is a non-stop fun. You never know what to expect next since the city is so full of vibrancy and life. It might be a new friend, a new food, a piece of history you would never know about its  existence – You see one thing and the next thing you see is something totally different. Wander the streets to unsurface the unknown.

The Night Life

Wonderful dinners with views over the Bosphorus, a night at the theater, the opera, the latest pop hit. Catching the latest exhibition in a world-class art museum. You want some jazz and take a sip of your whisky, then a brick building somewhere in Kadiköy. Or may be what you are looking for is a traditional Turkish tavern. Just name it and Istanbul will provide you with the best option to cheer your night.

Turkish Hospitality At Its Best

Every time you visit Istanbul, you will be welcomed with great welcome and hospitality. Every person you come across, every person you meet will treat you as if you were friends like forever. Don’t get tired of free pastries, teas and Turkish delights because these “ikrams” will keep coming nonstop during your stay in Istanbul.

By the way, the mosaics were discovered in 1960 and normally it takes at least 1,5 hour to see the whole museum. You will also love to read the love stories of the mosaics.

What happened to the mosaics?

The mosaics were first discovered  in 1960 but unfortunately five years later, something happened. Bowling Green State University in the U.S took whatever they unsurfaced of the Gypsy girl mosaic back to the U.S.A. However, Turkish archeological team of experts hadn’t fully discovered the Gypsy girl  part of the mosaic yet. Then in 1998, they started to look for the 12 missing pieces of it and finally in 2012, Turkey asked for the missing pieces from Bowling State University. It took another 5 years of negotiation and finally a protocol was signed between the parts for the return of the ‘missing’ pieces. Fortunately, the pieces that were being on display in the university in America were sent back to Turkey on November 27, 2018 to be set back to its original place in Gaziantep.

The Gypsy Girl

At the rear of the museum, there is a darkened room, in which they display the famous “Gypsy Girl.” According to some, it is the face of a young Alexander the Great. However, there is still a controversy over the subject.

How to go there?

The Gaziantep Airport is only  20 km to the city center. There are direct flights through Germany. There are indirect connections to other European countries transferring at Ankara or Istanbul to Gaziantep. There are scheduled intercity coach connections with all cities of Turkey or you could arrange a private shuttle service through your agency.

If you happen to have any questions about the place or on a different subject, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Meeting point of Eastern and Western Civilisations: Heritage of Commagene Kingdom

The Commagene Kingdom reigned the region for about two centuries between 109 BC and 72 AD.It was definitely a great civilisation mixing Macedonian and Persian culture and beliefs.It  also tells us the fact that that Mithridates I Callinicus, the founder of the kingdom had ancestral lineage deriving from both Darius the Great of Achaemenid Empire and Alexander the Great of the Kingdom of Macedon, and that relationship had a bearing on this unifying pprocess. The most powerful kingdom of region was the Commagene for some time. The burial place of female members of Commagene royal family, which is known as the Giant Eagle Royal (Karakus) Tumulus, is adorned with four tall pedestals – today only one of them stand erect with an eagle sculpture on top; the Necropolis of Perre, which was situated in one of the largest settlements (near Pirin Village) where the mosaics on the floor were unsurfaced; Arsameia (Eskikale), one of the temene of the Kingdom where once the palaces were standing, are the other sites to visit for those who wish to learn about that civilisation more closely.

Those who are interested in history of cultures would also find artefacts and structures from other civilisations that survived on this land which cradled various civilisations for thousands of years. One of the oldest Roman bridges in Anatolia is the Severan Bridge (Cendere Köprüsü) from the 1st century AD, which was built by the Commagene Kingdom. The other is the New Castle in Old Kahta, which was believed to be founded in 2nd century BC but extensively rebuilt during the Mamluk Sultane domination of the region.

A Magnificent Sunrise

One of the important reasons of paying a visit to Mount Nemrut is enjoying the sunrise from the summit. King Antiochus, revering his ancestors in Western and Eastern civilisations, erected giant statues of gods on the East and West terraces and cited their names both in Persian and Greek. So you will enjoy watching the unique sunrise together with the statues of gods who have been standing and witnessing it for thousands of  years.

How to Go to The Mount Nemrut

The Mount Nemrut Tumulus is in the province of Kahta that  is about 86 km east of Adıyaman city. There are scheduled flights to Adiyaman Airport from Istanbul and Ankara. Mount Nemrut can best be seen between the months of  April and October.

We, as Magic Map Travel, definitely recommend you to see this magnificent place. If you come up with any questions, please never hesitate to contact us.

But where do these mysterious heads  come from? What is the Commagene Kingdom? Who was King Antiochus I Theos?  Why were they built? Is there any purpose behind them? And why were they erected at this specific spot? It’s one of the few examples in history where we have the remnants of the history and not the memory, so we will set the record correct and find out the history of this land all over again.

What exactly was the Commagene Kingdom?

The Commagene Kingdom was an ancient Armenian one and it was right between Rome and Persian. Moreover,it served as a buffer state in between these two empires. In fact, the kings of Commagene claimed ancestry from Darius I Persia. They were somehow related to the Persians.

Its capital was Samosata and nothing remained from that city. Today we know tiny little information about the place. The valley at the bottom of Mount Nemrut might have been the location for the city. As you can see, even the known history of the kingdom is a little shrouded in history, but it’s reckoned that the kingdom remained relatively independent until 17 AD, when it was conquered by the Roman emperor Tiberius. It regained independence for a couple decades before being incorporated in the Roman Empire once and for all in 72 AD by the emperor Vespasian.

The kings of the kingdom must have been super powerful and wealthy. One can get into this conclusion by looking at the sculptures.

What about  the sculptures?

The sculptures were built by King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene as a tomb-sanctuary for himself. The sculptures are of himself, two lions, two eagles and various Greek, Armenian, and Medes gods, such as Zeus-Aramazd or Oromasdes (associated with Zoroastrian god Ahura Mazda), Hercules-Vahagn, Tyche-Bakht, and Apollo-Mihr-Mithras.

The sculptures themselves show the “East meets West” nature of the kingdom, as the facial features are Greek but the clothing they’re wearing is decidedly more Eastern. They are no longer standing in their original positions, but the scattered effect of the sculpture’s current positions is almost more jarring than if they were neatly in a row as they almost certainly were originally intended.

The site as a whole is massive, with a 49-meter-tall tumulus on site (mound of earth and stones raised over tombs).

Where exactly is this place?

Adiyaman and Malatya are two nearest neighbouring big cities to Mount Nemrut. If you want to see a spectacular sunrise and sunset, Mount Nemrut is definitely a must see since the massive sculptures are bathed in the dawn’s red light, reflect over the marvel of history and the passing empires over these lands. This place has a lot to tell you.

You can either drive there by car, which is the best option, or you can join a tour bus. There are also shared taxis that are called “Dolmuşes” and they will take you all the way to Mount Nemrut.

Göbeklitepe archaeological site is near Örencik village, 15 km northeast of Şanlıurfa aka Urfa, which is one of the most mystical cities of Turkey. It is situated in South East part of Turkey.  It was discovered in 1963. Only 5 percent of the whole site has been unsurfaced so far but the excavation is still going.The city is close to Syrian border. However, that doesn’t mean that it is a dangerous place. The life in Urfa is as safe as the rest of the cities in Turkey. Everyone is incredibly kind and you might even find the hospitality much better than in the tourist beach areas.

Why Göbeklitepe is significant?

Before the discovery of Göbeklitepe also known as Potbelly hill, archeologists thought that temples and religious structures where to be seen only where farming communities presented. However, in Göbeklitepe, temples found are dating back to the era when farming hadn’t started yet. This place is at least 6000 years older than Stonehenge in England and 5.500 years older than the first cities of Mesopotomia. It is believed to be a centre of faith and pilgrimage during the Neolithic Age and also It proves the existence of religious beliefs prior to the establishment of the first cities.

What to see in Göbeklitepe?

This place is considered to be the oldest ruins of Anatolia. It is a temple complex more than a city. It depicts various animal figures, belief systems and sacrificial areas. There is no evidence of people living there, no cooking supplies, no building suggesting that somebody actually lived there. So don’t expect to see somewhere like Ephesus in Izmir or Sobesos in Cappadocia. You will be seeing temple complexes, sanctuaries and spiritual worshipping areas.

There are six of those temples unearthed to date, on the basis of geomagnetic surveys, the total number of those monumental structures is believed to be twenty. There are stone pillars which  are six-metre-tall and  T-shaped carved with reliefs of animals, erected to form circles.

And according to some experts those carvings might be  the earliest three dimensional depictions of animals carved into stones.

Washing bat is a specially designed wooden tool used for beating clothes, rugs, sacks and carpets while washing them. After using water and ashes for soaping the laundry, women would hit the wet laundry repeatedly thus draining the dirty water and cleaning them. The washing bats had to be both light and durable, so certain timber was for them such as mulberry and walnut (durable) or poplar (light weight). Washed clothes would be spread over bushes or hanged on the branches of nearly trees.

Laundry was not done everyday. Clothes would usually be washed on Thursdays. Women would wear old clothes called “dere geyma” meaning clothes worn for doing laundry in the stream. It should also be said that women washed themselves on those days but some washeries were not sheltered enough. If a man was going to pass by on the laundry day, he would first ask if the washing bat’s end was thick or thin. If the answer was “thin” it meant he could pass.

But if the answer was “thick” he would have to wait for the women to make themselves  proper or would change his way entirely to avoid passing by. Children would also be washed on that day and the mothers would keep saying “sular asagi, yavrum yukari” while bathing them, which roughly translates to “water is going down, my child is growing up”.

If you want to see an interesting example of a traditional washery in Cappadocia, please sign up for our tour of Avanos.

His son from Roxane was still unborn. The catafalque had to be the best of the best, unsurpassed in terms of memory and legend. His body was covered with expensive authentic spices and the coffin was made of gold. After all those days funerals were like gifts to honour the dead than a display of mourning. He died in Babylon and he was mummified and buried somewhere in Egypt. The whereabouts of his tomb is still a mystery, but might be somewhere in the Siwah Oasis, at the temple of Zeus Ammon. Being buried there was his wish, that’s why archaeologists are searching for his tomb there in Egypt and also in Alexandria.

Ancient Greek writer Diodorus the Siculus was also there and he witnessed the whole ceremony and wrote about it his book. He says; “The carriage appeared more magnificent when seen than when described. Because of its wide fame it drew together many spectators; for from every city it came to, the people came out to meet it, and followed beside it when it went away, never wearied of their pleasure in the sight.” Book XVII,28.

Before he died, he  gathered all his generals and told them, “I will depart from this world soon, I have three wishes, please carry them out without fail.”

The king asked his general to abide by these last wishes:

1). Alexander said, “My physicians alone must only carry my coffin.” I want my physicians to carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor on this earth can really cure anybody. They are helpless in front of death.”

2). “I desire that when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard be filled with the wealth that I collected.I spent all my life earning riches but cannot take anything with me. Let people know that wealth is nothing but dust.”the king said.

3). “My third and last wish is that both my hands be kept hanging out of my coffin.Bury my body, do not build any monument, keep my hands outside so that the world knows the person who won the world had nothing in his hands when dying.”

His generals agreed to abide by their king’s last wishes.

What made him so successful? Was it pure luck?

He won a lot of battles thanks to his ability to dream and strategize on a great scale. Although he was outnumbered many times, but still he managed to defeat the enemies. He was also very good at motivating his generals. He was approachable, courageous and fierce. After his death, Philip II reigned over Macedonia from 359 to 336 B.C, but he was as good as Alexander the Great.