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If you have the time, these additional Istanbul sights
are well worth visiting.
(See Recommended
Itineraries for suggested daily
sightseeing programs, including Istanbul
in One Day and Weekend
in Istanbul.)
13. Great Palace Mosaic Museum
Beautiful 6th-century floor mosaics from
the Palace Aula section of the Byzantine Great Palace, now in a nice small museum
behind the Blue Mosque. More...
14. Little Hagia Sophia Mosque
Byzantine Emperor Justinian built the
6th-century Church of Saints
Sergius and Bacchus before his great Hagia
Sophia, and some see a resemblance.
More...
15.
Istanbul Archeological Museums
The Archeology Museum is
filled with Turkey's best Greek and Roman marble
statuary. The Museum of the Ancient
Near East has parts of the Gates
of Babylon. The Tiled Kiosk (Çinili
Kösk) dates from the reign
of Mehmet the Conqueror (1450s). More...
16.
Kariye Museum
The Church
of the Holy Savior in Chora has
Istanbul's best 12th-century Byzantine mosaics.
(Closed Wednesday.) More... Combine
with a visit to...
17.
Tekfur Saray & City
Walls
The great 4th-century city
walls built by Emperor Theodosius
are still standing, and still impressive.
See them from the Tekfur Saray,
the shell of a Byzantine emperor's
palace. And also...
18.
Eyüp Mosque & Pierre
Loti Café
The imperial mosque of Eyüp is where
the Ottoman padishah (sultan)
was girded with the Sword
of Osman,
the equivalent of coronation. Above
it, on a hilltop enjoying a panoramic
view of the Golden
Horn and Istanbul,
is a café favored by French author
Pierre Loti. More...
19.
Whirling Dervishes
Mevlevi (whirling) dervishes perform
their mesmerizing, mystical sema whirling
worship service every week in Istanbul,
but you must plan ahead if you want
to witness it. More...
20.
Divan Yolu Walking Tour
Once
the road to Rome, this is
now the main thoroughfare through
historic Old Istanbul (Sultanahmet).
More...
21.
Istanbul Bazaars Walking Tour
From
the mammoth Grand
Bazaar along
narrow untouristy Uzunçarsi
Caddesi through
Tahtakale to the Golden
Horn and Egyptian
(Spice) Bazaar. More...
22.
Istanbul Modern Art Museum
The
city's new venue for modern works by
Turkish masters. More....
23.
Beaches
Istanbul is not known for its beaches, but
if you want to
get away to the seaside for some sun
and fun, here are the options. More...
24.
Excursions from Istanbul
Get out of the city and see more of
Turkey, by boat, car, bus, or air.
More...
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