Cihangir

Cihangir is one of the neighborhoods of the Beyoglu district in Istanbul, Turkey. The neighborhood has many narrow streets, a park, and street cafes. It is located between Taksim Square and Kabatas. The name means 'conqueror' in Turkish and, in turn, comes from the Persian compound word Jahan meaning "Conqueror of the World" During the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, the area was a forested hunting ground. It was one of the favorite places of Suleiman's son Cihangir, and after Cihangir's death, Suleiman had MimarSinan build a wooden mosque there overlooking the Bosphorus. The neighborhood's name comes from this mosque.

Cihangir is known as a neighborhood where artists and intellectuals live.  When you travel to Turkey, in Istanbul there are lots of places should be seen. Also Cihangir has a different atmosphere, you should go and have a drink in cafes and lose yourself in the streets. 

Golden Horn

The Golden Horn Turkish: Halic is an inlet of the Bosphorus dividing the city of Istanbul and forming the natural harbor that has sheltered Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and other ships for thousands of years. Its Greek and English names mean the same, but the significance of the designation "golden" is obscure, while it’s Turkish name Halic simply means "estuary".  For ‘Golden’ name there are two legends, first one is the Byzantines threw so many valuables into it during the Ottoman Conquest that the waters glistened with gold. The second one is name is given because of the gold light that seemingly comes out of the river when the sun goes down. 

It has witnessed many tumultuous historical incidents, and its dramatic vistas have been the subject of countless works of art..

The Golden Horn is a flooded prehistoric estuary. It is 7.5 kilometers long and is 750 meters across at its widest. It’s maximum depth, where it flows into the Bosphorus, is about 35 meters. It is today spanned by four bridges. Moving downstream, the first is the Halic Bridge, literally Estuary Bridge. The former Galata Bridge was damaged by a fire in 1992; it was moved to the second position in pieces, re-assembled, and restored as the Eski Galata Bridge, literally Old Galata Bridge. The third one is the Ataturk bridge. The current Galata Bridge was completed in 1994. A fifth bridge is currently under construction to connect the subway lines of the Istanbul Metro to the north and south of the Golden Horn.

Until the 1980s the Horn was polluted with industrial waste, but it has since been cleaned. Today its history and beauty make it a popular tourist attraction in Istanbul.

The best places to observe the Golden Horn’s activity and grace are the Galata Bridge if you want ringside seats, and the Topkapi Palace or Pierre Loti Café if you prefer a bird’s-eye view. 

Everywhere in Istanbul smells history and Golden Horn is one of them. When you travel to Turkey, walk around the horn and imagine the history. Stay a hotel which has the view of the horn.

Maiden's Tower

The Maiden's Tower (Turkish: Kız Kulesi), also known as Leander's Tower (Tower of Leandros) since the medieval Byzantine period, is a tower lying on a small islet located at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus strait 200 m (220 yd) from the coast of Uskudar in Istanbul, Turkey.

There are many legends about the construction of the tower and its location. According to the most popular Turkish legend, a sultan had a much beloved daughter. One day, an oracle prophesied that she would be killed by a venomous snake on her 18th birthday. The sultan, in an effort to thwart his daughter's early demise by placing her away from land so as to keep her away from any snakes, had the tower built in the middle of the Bosphorus to protect his daughter until her 18th birthday. The princess was placed in the tower, where she was frequently visited only by her father. On the 18th birthday of the princess, the sultan brought her a basket of exotic sumptuous fruits as a birthday gift, delighted that he was able to prevent the prophecy. Upon reaching into the basket, however, an asp that had been hiding among the fruit bit the young princess and she died in her father's arms, just as the oracle had predicted. Hence the name Maiden's Tower.

The interior of the tower has been transformed into a popular café and restaurant, with an excellent view of the former Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman capital. Private boats make trips to the tower several times a day. In İstanbul, There are travel agencies having private tours to Maiden Tower. 

Cicek Pasaji

Cicek Pasaji (literally Flower Passage in Turkish), originally called the Cité de Péra, is a famous historic passage on İstiklal Avenue in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, Turkey.
Opened in 1876, Cicek Pasaji is a covered arcade with rows of historic cafes, winehouses and restaurants.

The site of CicekPasaji was originally occupied by the Naum Theatre, which was severely damaged by the Fire of Pera in 1870. After the fire of 1870, the theatre was purchased by the local Greek banker HristakiZografosEfendi, and architect KleanthisZannos designed the current building, which was called Cité de Péra or Hristaki Pasajı in its early years. In 1908 the Ottoman Grand Vizier SaitPaşa purchased the building, and it became known as the SaitPasa Passage. 

Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, many impoverished noble Russian women, including a Baroness, sold flowers here By the 1940s the building was mostly occupied by flower shops, hence the present Turkish name Cicek Pasaji.
After the restoration of the building in 1988, it was reopened as a galleria of pubs and restaurants.

The most recent restoration was made in December 2005. 
When you travel to Turkey, you must visit Cicek Pasaji and breathe the history. Enjoy your meal and drinks and have a warm conversation with your friends.

Camlica Hill

Camlica is split into two hills: Kucuk Camlica (‘Little Pine Hill’) and Buyuk Camlica (‘Big Pine Hill’). Buyuk Camlica is the highest point in Istanbul at 267m above sea level. Big Camlica Hill is located in Uskudar. This hill is one of the hills in Istanbul mentioned as seven hills.

The hill is a touristical place. Camlica hill is surrounded by trees. It presents a fantastic perpective. Hill is preferred by lovers, strollers, those needing some peace. The views from BuyukCamlica are truly amazing, with a panoramic vista of all of Istanbul’s main waterways, the Bosphorus Bridge, the historic Eminonu Peninsula, the Princes’ Islands and even Mount Uludag near Bursa.

The Sofa, Cihannuma, Topkapi and Su pavilions, all of which demonstrate the elegance and detail of Ottoman architecture, are all located within the Kucuk Camlıca Woods. Since ottoman empires used this place as a resting and picnic area.

Camlica Hill which has been always subject to the Turkish cinema, literature and songs is a beautiful place to spend time with your family.

If you travel to Istanbul, you should stop by here and enjoy the theperfectionness of the nature. In Istanbul, there are daily tours and you can contact with a travel agency. 

Agva

Agva

Agva is far 92 km from Istanbul. Agva, a village between rivers-Goksu and Yesilcay, is a crossing area for most of the cultures like Hittites, Romans, Phrygians and Ottaman Empire. Therefore, you can see some ruins of Church, gravestones of Romans, ruins of castle and mountain mill.

Agva presents a unique choice to have beautiful and valuable experience in Turkey. Agva is a meeting point for blue and green.  One side of this small town is blue the other side is every tone of green. Get on a boat by  the river let the nature refresh you and enjoy your vacation in Turkey.

  

‘Brida’s Rock’ is a Open Air Museum in Agva. When you look at it from sea, it’s like a bride with snowwhite veil but when you look at from the land, it is a duck.You can hire a boat to go to ‘brida’sRock’which looks like Norway fiords.

Activities are hunting, beach volleyball, trekking and also the activities are organized by the hotels.

There are lots of hotels and restaurants. But before travelling to Turkey, making reservations is advised since the hotels especially in summer season are full. Also there are daily tours from Istanbul to agva and you can book via a local travel agency in Istanbul.
Before visiting Agva, dont forget to take your photo machine and make your memories immortalize.

Agva

Agva

Agva

Beyoglu

Beyoglu

Beyoglu is a district located on the European side of Istanbul, Turkey, separated from the old city (historic peninsula of Constantinople) by the Golden Horn. It was known as Pera (meaning "Across" in Greek) during the Middle Ages, and this name remained in common use until the early 20th century and the establishment of the Turkish Republic.

The Turkish name of Pera, Beyoglu, is linked to the Venetian ambassadorial title of Bailo, whose palazzo was the most grandiose structure in this quarter. The informal Turkish-language title, BeyOglu (literally Son of Governor/Emir) was originally used by the Ottoman Turks to describe LodovicoGritti, son of Andrea Gritti who was the Venetian Bailo in Istanbul during the reign of Sultan Bayezid II (Andrea Gritti was later elected Doge of Venice in 1523, during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.) BeyOglu thus meant "Son of the Bey (Doge) of Venice", referring to LodovicoGritti (alternatively known as AlviseGritti among the Venetians), who was born in Istanbul in 1480 and established close relations with the Sublime Porte, and whose mansion was located at the vicinity of the present-day Taksim Square. Located further south in Beyoglu and originally built in the early 16th century, the "Venetian Palace" was the seat of the Bailo. The original palace building was replaced by the existing one in 1781, which later became the "Italian Embassy" following Italy's unification in 1861, and the "Italian Consulate" in 1923, when Ankara became the capital of the Republic of Turkey.

Beyoglu is very famous with restaurants, old buildings, churches and historical bazaars and restaurants that you should definitely visit to Taksim & Beyoglu when you are travelling to turkey. Also, you can include in your istanbul itinerary with daily tours via travel agent in Istanbul. 

Shopping Center Galleria

Shopping Center Galleria

Galleria attracts with its 140 stores on two floors an average of 1.2 million visitors monthly. The complex housed Printemps, the renowned French department store, in the beginning. It hosts upscale Turkish stores, features fast food restaurants and cafeterias, entertainment centers, movie theaters, bowling alley and ice skating rink. The shopping mall has a covered car park for 2,000 vehicles. In 1990, Galleria was judged the world's most outstanding mall by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) for sophisticated blueprint design, rapid construction, and unique structural features. The Galleria shopping center on the way to Ataturk Airport from Old City or Taksim Square that has a very good location. You can include in your Istanbul itinerary for shopping or for break time.

Shopping Center Carousel

Shopping Center Carousel

Carousel Shopping Center, opened in 1995, is a modern shopping mall located in the Bakirkoy district of Istanbul, Turkey. The shopping center with its 76,500 m² area has 117 shops, gift shops, shoes shop, textile, fast food restaurants, cafeterias, entertainment center and movie theaters. There are 7 elevators and 12 escalators providing easy access to 1.5 million visitors monthly. Car parking is free for the shoppers. Its attractions include discussion panels, music recitals, an art gallery where exhibitions by both amateur and professional artists are held, book-signing sessions by famous authors, and special weeks featuring different countries. Also, Bakirkoy is once center area in Istanbul (Carousel Shopping Center in Bakirkoy) and best way to go there by taxi or you can take a public bus from Taksim Suquare or from Eminonu station. Also, there is another option that you can include in your Istanbul tours itinerary or you can take a private Istanbul city tour.

Istanbul Shopping Centers Cevahir

Istanbul Shopping Centers Cevahir

Istanbul Cevahir Shopping and Entertainment Centre, opened on 15 October 2005, is a modern shopping and entertainment centre located in the Sisli district of Istanbul, Turkey. Called also Sisli Kultur ve Ticaret Merkezi (Sisli Cultural and Trade Centre). Istanbul Cevahir is the largest shopping center in Europe also in Istanbul, and the sixth largest Shopping Center in the world. The shopping center was opened by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and 450,000 people visited the complex on the opening day. Recently, 190,000 visitors coming to the shopping center daily. It is open seven days a week from 10:00 to 22:00 hours and also it may extend at special days. Some of the international brands in the shopping center are as follows: Adidas, Bata, Benetton, BSB, Converse, Debenhams, Divarese, Dockers, Dorothy Perkins, Esprit, Evans, Fornarina, Gloria Jean's, Guess World, Jack&Jones, Kappa, La Senza, Levi's, Lotto, Massimo Dutti, Miss Selfridge, Mothercare, Nine West, Peacocks, Reebok, River Island, Topshop, Top Man, Vero Moda, and Zara as well as food chains, Burger King, KFC, McDonalds, Pizza Hut and Starbucks. There are also many locally based stores and Turkish restaurants, offering local dishes such as milk-based desserts and kebabs. Also, Cevahir shopping center is in Sisli (near Taksim ) and good way to go there by subway or taxi from Old City of Istanbul. Also, there is another option that you can include in your Istanbul tours itinerary or you can take a private Istanbul city tour.

Miniaturk

Miniaturk

The park Miniaturk is a miniature park situated at the north-eastern shore of Golden Horn in Istanbul, Turkey. It was opened on the 02.05.2003. Miniaturk covers a total area of 60,000 m2. It is one of the world's largest miniature parks with it's 15,000 m2 model area. Miniaturk has 40,000 m2 of open space, 3,500 m2 of covered area, 2,000 m2 of pools and waterways, and a parking lot with a capacity of 500 vehicles. The park contains 105 models done in 1/25th scale. 45 of the structures are from Istanbul, 45 are from Anatolia, and 15 are from the Ottoman territories that today lie outside of Turkey. Also featured are historic structures like the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus and the Mausoleum of Maussollos at Halicarnassus. Additional space was reserved for potential future models. Also, miniature park very close to Pier Loti hill Eyup mosque. There is no any daily tour to miniature park that you should take a private Istanbul tour to include in your turkey tours.

Istanbul Toy Museum

The Istanbul Toy Museum is a small museum dedicated to toys. The museum is located in the Goztepe (Asian side of Istanbul) district of Istanbul, Turkey. The museum was founded by the Turkish poet and novelist, Mr. Sunay Akin, in 2005. The museum opened on April 23, which is a national holiday in Turkey, National Sovereignty and Children's Day. Currently, the museum has on display 4,000 toys and miniatures, from Turkey and abroad; many of the exhibits are antiques, some of which date back nearly 200 years. The first floor of the museum is actually the site of the Eyup Toy Shop, a famous toy shop that had closed down in the 1950s. Akin has indicated that the word "museum" originates etymologically from the name for the daughters of Zeus, the "muses"; on this basis, he suggests that the aim of the museum is to furnish a visitor with inspiration. There is no any daily tour to Toy Museum that you should take a private Istanbul tour to include in your turkey trip.

Istanbul Toy Museum

Istanbul Toy Museum

Istanbul Toy Museum

Istanbul Toy Museum

Istanbul Toy Museum

Istanbul Toy Museum

Istanbul Toy Museum

Istanbul Toy Museum

Istanbul Toy Museum

Naval Museum

Naval Museum

The Istanbul Naval Museum is a national naval museum of the Republic of Turkey, located in Istanbul. It was established in 1897 by the Ottoman Minister of Navy Bozcaadali Hasan Husnu Pasha. The museum contains an important collection of military artifacts pertaining to the Ottoman Navy.The museum is located on Hayrettin Iskelesi Sok.80690 Besiktas, Istanbul, near the Besiktas ferry. In the field of maritime, it is Turkey's largest museum, with a great variety of collections. Around 20.000 pieces are present in it's collection. Being connected to the sea-forces commander in Turkey, it is also the countrie's first military museum. There is no any daily tour to Naval Museum that you should take a private Istanbul tour to include in your turkey trip.

Naval Museum

Naval Museum

Naval Museum

Naval Museum

Naval Museum

Naval Museum

Naval Museum

Naval Museum

Shopping Center Akmerkez

Shopping Center Akmerkez

Akmerkez is a shopping mall located in the Etiler quarter of Istanbul, Turkey. It was commissioned on December 18, 1993. The Akmerkez complex covers an area of 180,000 m² and consists of a four-stores shopping area, with two towers offering 14 and 17 stories of office space, and a third tower with 24 stories of residential areas. The shopping area, offering visitors close to 250 stores, is spread over a triangular area connected to the surrounding main roads through 3 atria. There are 41 escalators, 2 panoramic elevators and 30 elevators providing greater speed and easy access for visitors. 2-2.5 million people visit the shopping center monthly. It provides women's, men's and children's clothing and textiles, stationery, toys, sports shoes, eyewear and gift shops along with restaurants, a hairdresser, a currency exchange office, electronic goods, car maintenance, shoe shine services, a dry cleaner, a tailor, travel agents, orthopedic goods and a supermarket. Also, there cinema, restaurants and book shops there. Akmerkez is in Etiler area that best way to go there by taxi or you can include in your Istanbul tours itinerary or you can take shopping tour in Istanbul.

Shopping Center Akmerkez

Shopping Center Akmerkez

Shopping Center Akmerkez

Shopping Center Akmerkez

Shopping Center Akmerkez

Shopping Center Akmerkez

Shopping Center Capacity

Shopping Center Capacity

Capacity Bakirkoy Shopping Center, the biggest shopping center of the spot defined as 3rd District of Istanbul, serves its visitors as a center of life and shopping. Capacity, which took its place among the select and popular shopping centers of Turkey opened it gates in November, 2007, and has reached aimed customer profile with its genuine peculiarity as of the moment it opened its gates, has been visited by about 63 thousand people daily. So, there is many shopping places to buy clothing, shoes, textile, gift shops and there is many restaurants as well. Also, Bakirkoy is once center area in Istanbul and best way to go there by taxi or you can take a public bus from Taksim Suquare or from Eminonu station. Also, there is another option that you can include in your Istanbul tours itinerary or you can take private shopping tour to go to whole shopping centers or private Istanbul tour.

Shopping Center Capacity

Shopping Center Capacity

 

Shopping Center Capacity

Istanbul Aviation Museum

Istanbul Aviation Museum 

The Istanbul Aviation Museum is a military-based museum, managed by Turkish Air Force. The museum is located in the Yesilkoy district of Istanbul, Turkey. The area of museum is 65,000 m². In 1963, he issued a warrant to protect special aircrafts and other units of the Air Force, and on May 15, 1971, Turkey’s first aviation museum officially opened in Cuma ovası. The museum not only presents various warplanes, helicopters and weapons used by Turkish Air Force, but also civilian air transport and many samples of Turkish aeronautics history, starting from Ottoman era. The best way to get there from a city center is to take a train from Sirkeci station to Yesilkoy. The trip takes ~40 minutes, the trains ride every 20 min. 

Istanbul Aviation Museum 

Istanbul Aviation Museum 

Istanbul Aviation Museum 

Istanbul Aviation Museum 

Istanbul Aviation Museum 

Istanbul Aviation Museum 

Istanbul Aviation Museum 

Istanbul Aviation Museum