Out of all the cities we have been blessed to visit around the world, Istanbul, Turkey is right near the top of our favorites. In fact, I have been to Istanbul twice, once before getting married and once with my wife. Istanbul is Turkey’s largest city and its historical, economic, and cultural center. Istanbul also literally connects Asia with Europe as part of the city is in Asia while the other side is in Europe. The modern, European-style architecture combined with marvelous, Ottoman-era mosques and other structures give the city a unique and glorious appearance and feel.
Istanbul has so much to see that even after two trips to the city, there is still so much more we want to see and it is a city we will definitely be making a return trip to with our children. Istanbul is an amazing city with lots of attractions and a great cultural experience to cherish and learn from. Below are our family-friendly recommendations for visiting Istanbul.
#1 Bosphorus Cruise
The Bosphorus strait is a natural, internationally significant strait as it forms part of the continental boundary between Asia and Europe. Taking a cruise around the Bosphorus is a great way to enjoy a boat ride and see several of the major landmarks around Istanbul including the Bosphorus Bridge, the Maiden Tower, Ortaköy Mosque, and Dolmabache Palace. There are many cruise providers and some offer rides during the day or evening. The evening cruise offers an opportunity to see the city skyline as well as several of the landmarks illuminated with beautiful lights. The link provided here is a good option for a sunset cruise at a very reasonable price (Bosphorus Sunset Cruise).
#2 Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)
The Old City areas of Istanbul are the most ancient and historically significant landmarks of Istanbul. The Sultanahmet area includes two of the biggest landmarks in all of Turkey, the Blue Mosque as well as the Hagia Sophia. This mosque is a signature Ottoman Empire-era construction that was built between 1609 and 1616. The mosque is massive with six minarets and eight secondary domes and is picturesque with its hand-painted interior blue tiles and looks magnificent at night with blue lights around the exterior.
When visiting Istanbul, the Blue Mosque is a must-see. Visiting the interior of the mosque is open to Muslims and non-Muslims but it’s important to check the timings when planning a trip and also be aware of the dress code if you plan to enter this holy place of worship.
#3 Hagia Sophia
Sitting right next to the Blue Mosque is the Hagia Sophia. This landmark was originally built as a cathedral for the Greek Orthodox Church in 360 AD until the conquest of Constantinople (current day Istanbul) by the Ottoman Empire in 1453. From then till now, the structure has served as a museum and a mosque. Today it is a mosque and is open to the public to visit, however just like the Blue Mosque, visitors (Muslims and Non-Muslims) are allowed to visit free of charge outside of prayer times (dress code applies here as well).
The exterior dome of the Hagia Sophia is one of the signature symbols of the city and is one of the most visited landmarks in Istanbul. The interior of the structure has some marvelous early Christian mosaics. There are several amazing mosaics to explore and the Christ Enthroned Mosaic is one the most featured and famous. The coexistence of both Byzantine and Ottoman-era decorations sitting side by side in the same building gives the Hagia Sophia a truly unique look and visitor experience. To gain an in-depth appreciation of the history of the Hagia Sophia as well as the mosaics inside, we highly recommend visiting with a professional tour guide.
#4 Dolmabache Palace
Istanbul has several palaces worth visiting and Dolmabache Palace is definitely worth exploring. This palace served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire intermittently from 1856 to 1922. The modern-day founder of Turkey (Ataturk) lived in this palace as well to give the building even more historical significance. This beautiful palace sits alongside the Bosphorus and has incredible scenery all around it.
While exploring the palace, take lots of pictures of the beautiful exterior and surrounding areas, and note that pictures inside the palace are not allowed because camera lights are believed to be harmful to the preservation of the artifacts inside. Take time to explore the architectural details inside with the central highlight being the Muayede (The Ceremonial Hall). This hall is massive and features the largest, crystal chandelier in the world which is breathtaking. There is a lot more to see around Dolmabache Palace, including a clock tower and mosque. We highly recommend visiting Dolmabache Palace.
#5 Galata Tower
For incredible 360 views of Istanbul from up high, the Galata Tower is a must-visit. This tower was first built in 1348 and parts of it have been damaged and reconstructed several times. The most recent restoration was done over the past few years and now features a museum that was built after we last visited. Regardless, the draw to visiting this iconic landmark is the views it offers from the top and we highly recommend exploring this tower.
As mentioned, there is so much to see and do in Istanbul that it was very difficult to rank and write about what we consider our top five family-friendly things to see and do. We recommend visiting Istanbul for at least 5-7 days and exploring this magnificent comprehensively.
Other things we would highly recommend include visiting the Grand Bazaar, it is an experience as well as an opportunity to buy really cool things to take home such as the very colorful and unique Turkish style lanterns and lamps. The Basilica Cistern, which features an upside-down Medusa head is a sight to see and worth visiting. Take time during the trip to explore amazing Turkish street food and cuisine, Taksim Square is a really cool area for dining and shopping in a very lively and vibrant setting.
