8 impressive and photogenic sights in Istanbul
Time for the flashback of the month! Let’s go back to June 2014 when I visited Istanbul, the metropole of Turkey.
I’m a sucker for cities that have a river flowing through them. Why, you ask? Because rivers offer the best views with endless different angle options for pictures! And no other city beats Istanbul when it comes to water views. Not only is Istanbul divided in a European and Asian side by the Bosporus, the Golden Horn also divides the European side by historic and modern neighborhoods. And let’s not forget the Marmara Sea right under the city!
Sultanahmet Square
Without any doubt, this is the most photographed square of Istanbul. No wonder with all these amazing historic sights! The Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sofia are the most famous landmarks but you could spend the entire day here taking pictures of pretty spots. It’s a very lively neighborhood full of restaurants, shops and it is a wonderful place to stay when visiting Istanbul!
Galata Tower
Not only does the Galata Tower offer a panoramic view over Istanbul, the tower itself is super instagrammable too! The waterside view over the Galata Tower with the cute little riverside houses is simply stunning.
Karaköy
Karaköy is a central neighborhood in Istanbul and is full of nice hotspots to relax with food and drinks. One of those hotspots is Veritas, where the street is covered with umbrellas!
Ortaköy
Welcome to one of the hottest neighborhoods of Istanbul. Sit down in one of the many terraces, enjoy a nice meal and drinks, smoke some hookah if you’re into that and enjoy the view over the Bosporus bridge. Isn’t it amazing that you’re in Europe and you’re looking straight into Asia?!
Pierre Loti Hill
Looking for a one of a kind sight? Then I really recommend taking the funicular up to Pierre Loti hill! It’s called Teleferik in Turkish and this hill offers a unique view over the Bosporus and the city.
Fener and Balat
Over the years several minorities lived in these two neighboring areas of Istanbul. The quaint streets of Fener and Balat are super colorful and you’ll find many impressive Greek and Jewish style buildings. Don’t forget to check out the Phanar Greek Orthodox College, this incredible piece of architecture looks more like a palace than like a college!
Çiragan Palace
Don’t forget to put your princess dress on because this place will make you feel like one! This former palace serves as a five-star hotel now ánd as a spot that your Instagram feed will thank you for!
Princes’ Islands
Do a daytrip to the Princes’ Islands in the Marmara Sea, if your schedule allows so. The Princes’ Islands is an archipelago of nine little islands and four of them are open to the public. The biggest and most popular island is called Büyükada. This place will make you feel like you went back in time. Cars are not allowed here; the towns look so lush with whitewashed houses and you can even make it a beach day surrounded by clear blue waters.
Do you know any more instagrammable places in Istanbul? Would love to hear them!
Ayo! AR x
*Some images are from Pixabay
