Istanbul Turkey is a city steeped in history that has existed for thousands of years, through several empires and a few name changes. That means you can’t have adventures in Istanbul with getting more than your fill of history. Many Istanbul sites, Istanbul activities, things to do in Istanbul and the best places to visit in Istanbul are historically focused. Sightseeing in Istanbul is like walking into history.
Adventures in Istanbul – A Famous Place in Turkey With An Amazing History
Istanbul was once known as Constantinople; a name I’m sure you’ve heard before.
Constantinople was essentially the centre of all world commerce and culture from before the fall of the Western Roman Empire, through the Middle Ages until the early twentieth century.
From the year 330 to 1930, it was the capital of the Western Roman/Byzantine Empire (330-1204), the Latin Empire (1204-1261), the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire (1261-1453), the Ottoman Empire (1453-1922) and Turkey (1922-1930).
In 1930, it was officially renamed to Istanbul Turkey.
Istanbul Points of Interest – Sultanahmet Square, Once the Hippodrome of Constantinople
Part of Constantinople lives on in Sultanahmet Square (Sultanahmet Meydani in Turkish) in Istanbul.
The square was formerly known as the Hippodrome of Constantinople and it’s where all the events and festivities of Middle Ages Constantinople occured.
That included chariot races. There are markers in Sultanahmet Square where the track used to be.
Constantine the Great decorated the inside of Hippodrome of Constantinople with art and sculptures from around the world.
Tourist Attractions in Istanbul – Obelisks and Columns From the Hippodrome of Constantinople
Today you can still see the Serpent Column, which was moved from Greece in the fifth century, the Walled Obelisk built in the tenth century and the Theodosius Obelisk.
The Theodosius Obelisk is actually part of the Obelisk of Thutmose III, which was erected at the Temple of Karnak in Egypt around 1490BC.
Theodosius the Great had the obelisk cut into three pieces and transported to Constantinople in the fourth century. Only the top piece made it.
It’s in amazing condition for something that’s over 3500 years old!
Adventures in Istanbul – Sultanahmet Area: The Place to Visit in Istanbul!
Sultanahmet Square is obviously in the Sultanahmet Area.
The area, the square and the nearby Mosque were named after Sultan Ahmet, a seventeenth century sultan from the Constantinople of the Ottoman Empire.
If you’re wondering what to do in Istanbul, this area should be at the top of your list for sightseeing in Istanbul.
The Istanbul district of Sultanahmet is home to not only Sultanahmet Square, but also the Sultanahmet Mosque and Hagia Sophia, which are both major tourist attractions in Istanbul.
Sultanahmet Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii) – Adventures in Istanbul
Right near the Sultanahmet Square is an absolutely beautiful building built for Sultan Ahmet in the seventeenth century.
It is often called the Blue Mosque, but it is officially known as the Sultanahmet Mosque. It is Sultan Ahmet’s resting place.
If you believe the legend, Sultan Ahmet’s architect misheard ‘altin’, (gold) as ‘alti’, (six) and endowed the mosque with six minarets.
This was controversial as the world’s most important mosque, the Prophet’s Mosque in Mecca was supposed to be the only one with six minarets.
Many claimed Sultan Ahmet thought too highly of himself.
In the end he paid for a seventh minaret at the mosque in Mecca to appease the haters.
Hagia Sophia, A Mistress of Many Faiths – Adventures in Istanbul
Hagia Sophia, (Ayasofya in Turkish) or ‘Holy Wisdom’ is probably the most famous place to visit in Istanbul.
It was built in the sixth century and was the largest Christian church of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire.
This dame didn’t want to be tied down to one religion and dabbled in a bit of Eastern Orthodox before becoming a Latin Catholic Cathedral.
In the fifteenth century, during the Ottoman Empire rule of Constantinople, she was given minarets and became a mosque.
Adventures in Istanbul – Across the Golden Horn Istanbul to Galata
An Istanbul must see is Galata, located across the Golden Horn from the Eminonu area. The Golden Horn is an estuary separating the north and south sides of European Istanbul.
The Galata District Istanbul is a pedestrian paradise. They’re pretty serious about not allowing cars on some streets.
See the spikes on the bottom lefthand side of the picture?
Having almost no car traffic makes Galata one of the best places in Istanbul to visit without feeling overwhelmed.
It’s lovely to meander around the quiet, narrow streets.
But how do you get to Galata?
Istanbul Points of Interest: Galata Bridge – Adventures in Istanbul
From the south side of Istanbul, you can just walk over the Galata Bridge to get to the Galata District.
Galata Bridge Istanbul is an adventure in and of itself.
As far as bridges go, the Galata Bridge is far from average. It has hustle, bustle, food and atmosphere.
There are four market areas under the Galata Bridge that can only be accessed by taking the stairs from the top of the bridge.
If you were wondering what to do in Istanbul for a day, the Galata Bridge is probably the best place to visit in Istanbul to get a feel for the city.
Adventures in Istanbul – The Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi)
Of all the Istanbul sites to see, the Galata Tower, or Galata Kulesi in Turkish, is by far the biggest tourist trap.
It costs 100 Turkish Lira, around US$11, to wait in a line then take a lift up only 9 floors.
The tower of Galata itself is beautiful and it’s worth a hike up the hill to see it up close.
But because you’re already on a hill, the view from outside this Istanbul tower is already pretty impressive.
Save your $11 for some of Istanbul’s awesome food offerings!
Culinary Adventures in Istanbul – Sweet Things From Turkey
You’ve probably heard of Turkish delight, but you haven’t had real Turkish delight until you’ve visited the sweet utopia that is Istanbul.
Almost every second shop in the Sultanahmet area, a great place to stay, sold hundreds of different varieties of Lokum, as it’s called in Turkey.
It’s impossible to resist the lure of these ubiquitous sweet and you will end up taking some home with you.
Adventures in Istanbul on The Asian Side – Buyukada Island Getaway
From Eminonu, on the southside of the Golden Horn, you can get a ferry to one of the best places to visit in Istanbul for an island getaway.
Büyükada, the largest of the five Princes’ Islands in the Sea of Marmara.
Buyukada Istanbul is only just over an hour away from the city by ferry, but it feels like a world away.
Budget Boat and Birds on the Way to Buyukada
The total cost for the ferry ride is less than US$1, making it excellent value for money.
What was most amusing about the ride is that there was a flock of birds following the ferry the whole way.
I did see some people throwing some bread out towards the water, so I guess if people do that everyday, that would explain a lot.
Buyukada Island – Adventures in Istanbul
Once you get off the boat in Buyukada, the area in front of the port is a little busy.
If you’re hungry, don’t eat there, unless you want to pay more than you should.
Just walk a couple of hundred metres away from the port area and things get quieter and cheaper.
You can hire bikes near the port, but it’s also easy enough to walk everywhere.
Hiking Adventures in Istanbul – Aya Yorgi Buyukada
The Aya Yorgi Church sits on top of the hill closest to the middle of Buyukada island. From the port it’s maybe a 30 minute walk, if you stop a lot for photos.
They say the best time to be at the church is around sunset.
They may be right.
There is an unmarked trail from the side of the church that leads to a bit of a rocky opening in the vegetation.
That spot has awesome panoramic views of some of the other Princes’ Islands and the Sea of Marmara.
Horse and Cart Rides: A Büyükada Tourist Trap To Avoid When Having Adventures in Istanbul
So you may see a sign like this and think a horse and cart ride sounds cool.
It’s not.
This probably applies almost anywhere in the world that this kind of thing exists due to tourist demand.
The animals are treated poorly and have a lower life expectancy because of it.
It’s just as fun to explore the island under your own power, whether that be riding or walking.
Walking Adventures in Istanbul
Istanbul is a very walkable city if you stay in a place like Sultanahmet.
All of the places mentioned in this article, besides Büyükada, are within walking distance of each other.
The European side of Istanbul also has a cheap and efficient tram system running through it.
If you are a solo female traveller, there are some things you should know about walking around Istanbul by yourself.
Is it safe to travel to Istanbul as a solo female traveller? – Adventures in Istanbul
If you were to ask is Istanbul safe, I would say yes overall. BUT.. all the males in Istanbul seem to be on heat.
Most of the time they’ll stop you on the street and just invite you for tea then tell you how attractive you are. They’re generally respectful when you tell them you’re not interested though.
I found it all quite amusing because most of these guys were probably half my age, but it can get a bit tedious.
Especially if you’re in a rush to get somewhere. Sometimes you won’t even get 2 metres from the last guy who wanted to talk before the next one starts swooping in.
Should I not go on Walking Adventures in Istanbul by Myself?
Honestly, I would say go for it. Don’t let a little bit of extra attention get in the way of your plans.
Just make sure you allow extra time to get everywhere because you will constantly get stopped by friendly locals, even with your best resting bitch face.
You can avoid some of the extra attention by having someone with you. If the person with you is male, all attentions stops. If the person is female, about 90% of the attention stops.
Adventures in Istanbul – What should I avoid in Istanbul?
I’ve heard people say that you should avoid drinking tea with strangers in Turkey. I do not agree with that at all.
Especially since all my Turkish friends say that it’s rude to deny a request to sit down for tea. Inviting people for tea is a part of Turkish culture, as it is for many other cultures around the world, like in Mauritania and Palestine.
Accepting an invitation for tea is not accepting an invitation for anything else.
Go Ahead and Enjoy Eating Sweets, Drinking Tea and Historic Adventures in Istanbul
Istanbul is a great place to visit for a huge serving of history and sweets for very little money. Please don’t let the last point put you off. I only added it for informational purposes so there’s no surprises.
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Which of these adventures in Istanbul is your favourite? Drop your thoughts below! :o)
20 Replies to “Memorable Adventures in Istanbul on a Budget”
I’ve never been to Istanbul but it certainly seems like an incredible experience! The history and food interest me the most!
It is a great place and the food is something else!
It was so good that I brought a bag of it back home with me so I could eat it for week afterwards!
I would love love loooove to visit Istanbul so it is great to see it through your eyes Kez. I have been listening to a podcast about the fall of civilizations, and there is just so such cool history in that city, both in the European and Asian side.
Its strange people told you not to drink tea- I feel like that would be one of the highlights if you were lucky enough to be invited by locals!
I’m not normally too interested in history, but there’s so much of it in Istanbul that you just can’t help but get a little curious about it.
I love tea and Turkish tea is nice and strong.I drank so much tea in Istanbul, it was crazy. One of the days I was there, it took me an hour to walk two kilometres because I kept getting invited for tea as soon as I set foot on the pavement!
I have been to Istanbul once. It is an electric mix of Asian and European sensibilities. What a gorgeous looking city. Would love to explore the city again! Thanos for the pointers.
It’s such a beautiful city!
This is amazing. I’ve always wanted to go to Instanbul. Someday.
It’s a great city to visit.
This is a great guide! I’ve never been to Istanbul, but it’s so high on my list. So many great recommendations in this post, and a US$1 ferry sounds like the best deal!
That was one things that was awesome about Istanbul, everything was so cheap when compared with my city! A ferry that takes about the same amount of time is around US$3 in my city.
I like how you showed the different vibes the city has to offer, from the flamboyant and flashy European side to the more quaint and vibrant Asian side. Though it is one city, you definitely get the feel that different areas each have their own character. I love it! Thanks for sharing.
Yes, it’s such a beautiful and eclectic city.
On the travel wish list! Would love to visit Istanbul. The architecture would definintely be a big draw for me. So many great sights. And a boat trip would provide a different perspective on this interesting city.
There’s definitely some amazing architecture there and I love that it’s from so many different empires.
I want to go to Istanbul so badly! I had a trip planned and cancelled years ago and never got back to it! Maybe soon!
Oh I hate it when that happens. I had a similar thing happen with South Africa.
So much to see and do in Istanbul. Would love to visit Haghia Sophia and the Sulthanamet Mosque.
Both are amazing buildings.
Istanbul looks like such a cool destination! I had no idea that the city was home to those obelisks, but I would LOVE to see those Egyptian hieroglyph carvings in person! You’re right that they’re preserved impeccably given their age. It’s also a great tip to avoid the horse carriage rides. I personally love exploring on foot at my own pace anyways.
It’s a very cool destination! I loved the heiroglyps. I swear they’re better than most I saw in Egypt!