Discover the Hidden Treasures of Istanbul

Author: John Martin

When I made my way to Istanbul a few months ago, so many tourist attractions that seemed out of the ordinary, left me knocked for six. Istanbul, the capital city of Turkey, has been making every tourist come back for more and more endless fun. Well, any visitor doing their first time would be overwhelmed not knowing where to start from. The dilemma has captured a lot of eager mind’s trying to give a touch of discovery to all Turkish attractions the city of Istanbul’s blessed with. Tourists from all around the world don’t believe in wasting time for booking cheap flight tickets to Istanbul. Considered the Turkey’s jewel, Istanbul is a potpourri of exciting history and interesting culture. Istanbul prides itself for being the capital of Turkey, a country filled with contrasts and contradictions.

Formerly known as Byzantium and Constantinople, Istanbul is the largest city of Turkey and the world’s 4th largest metropolis. Well, there’s a lot to do and see in this mind-blowing Turkish city well-known among every traveler from far and wide. I was a lucky one to have boarded the direct flight that took to the air from London Heathrow and delivered me to the town I had been longing for in just 3 hours and 50 minutes.

Here are some of the hidden treasures of Istanbul that are a must for you to check out.

  • 1. Hagia Sophia - Also known by the name of "Church of the Holy Wisdom" or "Church of the Divine Wisdom", Hagia Sophia is one of the must explore tourist attractions and acknowledged as one of the great buildings in the world. Built way back in the 6th century as a Cathedral by then Christian rulers, Sultan Mehmet II converted the cathedral into a mosque by adding minarets. Look for cheapest flight tickets to Istanbul to explore this ancient wonder for a pleasing experience.

    1. 2. Topkapi Palace - No tour to the city would be deemed complete if Topkapi Palace isn’t a part of tourist’s to-do list. Home of the Ottoman sultans for as close to 400 years, Topkapi was the first Ottoman palace to be built when the capital of the Empire was conquered by Mehmet II. Turned into a museum way back in 1924, the Topkapi Palace has been considered to be one of the most stunning palace-museums in the world.

    2. 3. The Grand Bazaar - Taking an immense pride for being the oldest and largest bazaar in the world, the Grand Bazaar where 65 streets connect the shopping lovers to over 6,000 shops, restaurants, markets, inns and mosques.

    3. 4. Turkish and Islamic Art Museum - Taking a tour of the Turkish and Islamic Art Museum would let you explore an impressive collection of Moslem artifacts in the world. There are 40,000 exhibits and other fine examples of Ottoman Turkish art. Compare cheap flight tickets to Istanbul for making the most out of this art museum.