5 Additional Must See Sites Throughout Istanbul

I wrote about the five must see sites in the Historic Peninsula in my previous post that can be found here. All of those locations are within a few minutes walking distance from each other. However there are five other locations I highly recommend checking out that aren't in the same area but are just as important and deemed "must see". These five are the Rüstem Pasha Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Dolmabahçe Palace, and Galata Tower.

Rüstem Pasha Mosque

With its obscure entrance located between vendor stalls inside the Spice Market and it’s twisting unmarked stairs that randomly lead into a spacious courtyard, the Rüstem Pasha is a hidden gem of a mosque. It’s definitely not as popular as the Blue Mosque but this quiet retreat is a beautiful alternative if you wish to avoid lines or crowds associated with the Blue Mosque. When we arrived on a Thursday afternoon, there were only 5 other people there including the guard.

The interior and exterior of the small mosque is also adorned with the elegant blue İznik ceramic tiles. Similar to the Blue Mosque, the interior is covered in a deep red carpet with stained glass windows and a low hanging ceiling. This is actually a great place to get a good look at the tiles and really feel like you’re in a mosque in Istanbul without feeling too touristy. The Blue Mosque is definitely a must-see but if you have extra time or you’re returning to Istanbul for the second time around, definitely pay a visit to the Rüstem Pasha Mosque.

Grand Bazaar

You really can’t visit Istanbul without stopping by the Grand Bazaar. I’m certainly not the only person who thinks this is true because the Grand Bazaar was actually the number one most visited tourist attraction in the world in 2014 with a whopping 91 million visitors annually. It’s mind blowing to think that this historic market beat out Times Square and the Eiffel Tower in terms of visitors.

The Grand Bazaar is one of the largest covered markets in the world. It’s not just a touristy shopping mall, it’s a historic experience to step back into one of the oldest markets that used to be the center of social life during Ottoman times. The bazaar has 4 entrances and over 3,000 shops and once you’re inside and dazzled by the shiny products and smooth talking merchants, you can easily get disoriented and lost. One way to keep track of your bearings is to take a look at the merchandise around you. You can usually find a concentration of similar businesses on the same stretch of road. For example one street near the Jeweler’s Gate seems to only sell jewelry and it’s a magnificent sight to see gold glimmering from every angle. Another road might be dedicated to silk scarves, pottery, or leather goods.

Spice Bazaar

If you’re interested in food related products, check out the Spice Bazaar. Another large covered market, with over 80 shops, you’ll find plenty of stalls selling spices, teas, dried fruit, nuts, and of course Turkish delights.

Whatever souvenir you may want from Istanbul can probably be purchased at either the Grand Bazaar or Spice Bazaar. There’s an endless selection of goods and merchants to haggle with.

Dolmabahçe Palace

By the 19th century, the Ottoman Empire’s 31st sultan, Abdülmecid I had grown tired of living in the dated 15th century Topkapı Palace. He set about to construct a new modern palace, comparable to the other European monarchs at the time. Moving away from the Old City of Istanbul, the new palace was to be built in the Beşiktaş district along the Bosphorous Strait.

Construction of the luxurious ostentatious palace put a huge financial burden on the state and eventually contributed to the bankruptcy of the Ottoman Empire. By the 1920’s, ownership of the palace transferred over to the new Republic of Turkey. Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey and the man who converted Hagia Sophia to a museum, used the palace as his presidential residence and eventually spent his last days there.

The first time I saw Dolmabahçe Palace was actually at night and by sea, on our Bosphorus dinner cruise. With a view from the water, I couldn’t stop admiring the massively symmetrical structure. The largest palace in Turkey was even more impressive when I actually visited in person. Near the entrance to the palace stands the exquisite Dolmabahçe clock tower. Admiring this elegant clock tower will already give you an indication of the grandeur you’ll encounter within the palace.

Now for some tips on actually visiting the palace. Make sure you arrive early! The palace actually has a quota of 3000 guests per day and no more tickets will be sold once that number is reached. Also keep in mind that the line for ticket purchase can be brutally long especially on a hot summer day.

The palace is divided into two viewing sections: the Selamlık, where the administrative affairs of the state took place, and the Harem, where the sultan and his family resided. The only way to view the inside of the Selamlık and the Harem is by guided tour and depending on the day, time, and number of guests tours can run from every ten minutes to every thirty minutes. You have the option of purchasing only one tour or a combination of both. If you’re limited on time, I would suggest choosing the Selamlık over the Harem.

Not the largest chandelier, but this one is adorned with baccarat crystals

Once inside, there are no photos allowed and you’ll be required to wrap plastic over your shoes to lessen the damage to the palace floors. The tour guide may take up to 50 guests at a time so if you’re in the back of the group, you may not be able to catch all the information.

Phew, okay now to my actual experience at the palace. Going in, my only knowledge was that the world’s largest crystal chandelier was somewhere in the palace. It was actually a bit of a tease because during the tour we were shown three enormous chandeliers but each time the tour guide would say something like, “and this is the fourth largest chandelier in the palace”. It wasn’t until we reached the final room where I got exactly what I was waiting for. But more on that later.

When we started the tour we were shuffled around the various meeting rooms and lounge areas that were used for hosting foreign ambassadors. Everything from the carpet to the furniture to the ceiling screamed over the top extravagance. Columns were carved from the finest marble, crystals adorned chandeliers and staircases, paintings were displayed from famous artists, bear rugs were gifts from foreign leaders. Just imagine the finest most intricately and delicately beautiful things and they all fit in as the decor of the palace.

The famous Crystal Staircase was absolutely breathtaking. Imagine the grand staircase in the movie Titanic but cloaked in a ruby red carpet, made from mahogany, and completely covered in baccarat crystals, including the balustrade.

Finally we reach the Ceremonial Hall that houses the largest crystal chandelier in the world. Few places have actually made me stop in my tracks and actually drop my jaw, but that’s exactly what happened to me when I entered this enormous hall. The room is 2000 square meters, approximately 21,500 square feet and 36 meters high or 118 feet high and supported with 56 columns.

It was reported that using the heating system for the entire room would take at least 3 days. In the center of the room is a massive silk carpet, around 1300 square feet and hanging above that carpet is the stunning Bohemian crystal chandelier weighing 4.5 tons with 750 gas lamps.

It’s absolutely stunning and a must-see experience. Pictures of the chandelier and Ceremonial Hall don’t do it justice and can’t show you how it feels to step into that room. Trust me, you’ll want to experience it for yourself.

Galata Tower

One of the city’s most distinctive landmarks, the Galata Tower dominates the city skyline. Built in the 14th century, this cylindrical structure is around 220 feet high. It was the highest point in the city for centuries and used as a watch tower. Beginning in the 1700’s, the Ottomans started using the tower as a post to spot fires in the city. Today the top of the tower is a restaurant as well as a lookout that offers gorgeous panoramic views of the historic peninsula and the Bosphorus.

To enjoy the spectacular 360 degree view of the city, you’ll have to pay an admission price to ride the elevator up. When you’ve reached the highest floor on the elevator, you’ll still be required to walk up two flights of stairs before you reach the viewing platform. Unlike most other skyscrapers that offers views to the public behind thick glass panels, the Galata Tower is open to the free air with just a little bit of open railing to block you from the edges.

You can easily stick your arms and legs through the railings, so just don’t be an idiot. Other than that enjoy the breathtaking views! Also, skip the tower cafe and walk literally a block away to enjoy the most amazing börek at Şirin Fırın.