Cheap Hotels Istanbul
What to see by foot: Istanbul
    
Istanbul is a noisy and chaotic city but the Turks seem to take the mayhem in
good spirits. The twisting, crowded old city streets exude an infectious energy.
See the sights, dodge the cars and eat heartily. Like strong Turkish coffee, Istanbul
can be gritty, but its rich flavour is bracing.
The old centre of Sultanahmet, occupying the tip of the peninsula south of
the Golden Horn, is home to the city's main sightseeing attractions. The cathedral
of Aya Sofya, also known as the Church of the Divine Wisdom, now a museum, is
an architectural masterpiece. The Blue Mosque sits opposite with its impressive
interior of hanging crystal chandeliers and intricate mosaics.
The nearby Topkapi Palace contains impressive buildings and gardens. Visit
the Imperial display rooms for their sultans' kaftans, Chinese porcelain and
mind-blowing array of glittering jewels, from diamonds and emeralds to rubies
and pearls. Farther west, near the city walls are the Kariye Camii, containing
the city's finest surviving Byzantine mosaics and frescoes.
The old imperial centre of Istanbul stretches from the Sultanahmet district
northwest to the Süleymaniye mosque complex, the Egyptian spice bazaar
and the remains of the city walls. To the north, across the Galata Bridge, the
old Levantine areas of Galata and Pera are home to one of the city's most famous
landmarks, the Galata tower, which offers superb panoramic views over the city.
Close by is the entrance to the Tünel, an underground funicular railway.
It runs from Karaköy up to the start of Istiklâl Caddesi, home to
many of the city's restaurants and much of the buzzing nightlife, and on to
Taksim Square, the heart of modern Istanbul. High-rise hotels and smart boutiques
radiate from all sides of the square.
Selection of hotels in this region:
Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul | | Nanda Hotel | | The Marmara Hotel | | Swissotel Istanbul The Bosphorus | | Conrad Istanbul | |
Click below for a
full list of hotels and online booking
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