Istanbul may well be my favorite city in the world, on one side there are huge skyscrapers and malls, on the other cultural mosques, bazaars and palaces. Being the only city in the world on two continents, Europe and Asia, the booming city attracts tourists from everywhere. And in a city like this you struggle to put your camera down, these are the top 10 Instagrammable spots in Istanbul:
You might have heard the name Pierre Loti, he was a famous French novelist who traveled to Istanbul a lot to write and especially on a particular hill, the locals loved him so much they named the hill after him. Now you can sit on the hill where there are many cafes and restaurants overlooking the entire city.
The Hagia Sofia is a museum that was once a church and then a mosque, the building itself has been there for centuries. Inside are large chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and a large dome with an old painting of Mary and Jesus, surrounded by Islamic calligraphy. It is perfect for cultural pictures of beautiful patterns.
Right across from the Hagia Sophia is the Blue mosque which is a beautiful cultural building with amazing patterns and domes inside. The outside is especially nice just before sunset when there is a light orange glow which lights up the outside of the mosque. Make sure to check what time you can go because it is closed to visitors at various times of the day due to prayer.
Just down the road from the Hagia Sophia and Blue mosque is the Topkapi Palace which is a museum full of old relics. In most of the buildings you are not allowed to take pictures but you can in a few and make sure you pay attention to the detail because there are so many Instagrammable shots to be taken. And right at the back of the palace is an amazing view of Istanbul where you can sit on the ledge to take pictures of yourself with the view behind you.
There are two main bazaars in the old part of the city; the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar. The Grand Bazaar is where you’d find almost everything, from a pair of joggers to rugs, everything is cheap there but you still have to haggle. It’s a great place to take shots of the stalls and the lanterns they sell here because they’re surreal. The Spice Bazaar is where you would go to find spices and teas, don’t hesitate to smell and ask for a taste before you buy.
This palace was built by one of the Sultans in the 19th century and was influenced by French architecture at the time which makes it look more European than other buildings. Although you can’t take pictures inside the palace it is just as beautiful outside with surrounding gardens, gates and the building itself. You should find the the big gate on the side of the palace where you can take a picture of yourself.
This is the river that goes through Istanbul dividing the European side from the Asian, you have to book a tour to go on but it is worth it. You can sit at the back of the boat and take pictures of the buildings and palaces that go by. The tour may also stop at the maidens tower…
The Maiden’s Tower is a light house in the middle of the rivers over looking the three parts of Istanbul. The Maiden’s Tower got it’s name from a story of why it was built, a Sultan found out his daughter was going to be killed by a snake so he locked her in this tower away from the snakes, when one day she received a box of fruit a snake came out and killed her. Make sure to look at the art work on the way to the top of the tower.
If your Hotel doesn’t have a rooftop sitting area make sure to go to a rooftop restaurant whilst in Istanbul to see the main attractions from above. It is a great place to take pictures with your food or drink, it makes for a great Instagram picture.
Istanbul is a beautiful place you can find Instagram worthy shots around every corner. The city is surrounded by old city walls and cute cafes, you can also find cute backdrops to take outfit pictures.
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