Travel Turkey: istanbul destinations

Showing posts with label istanbul destinations. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Uskudar

Uskudar

Uskudar is a large and densely populated municipality of Istanbul, Turkey, on the Anatolian shore of the Bosphorus. It is bordered on the north by Beykoz, on the east by Umraniye, on the southeast by Atasehir, on the south by Kadikoy, and on the west by the Bosphorus, with the areas of Besiktas, Beyoglu, and Eminonu on the opposite shore. It is home to about half a million people.

Uskudar is also the usual name for the historic center of the municipality. Uskudar was a city in Bithynia founded in the 7th century BC, in a valley leading down to the Bosphorus shore, by the inhabitants of the Greek colony of Khalkedon and was first known as Chrysopolis (city of gold), perhaps because it was a wealthy port, or because of the way it shone when viewed from Byzantium at sunset.

According to an ancient Greek geographer, the city received the name Chrysopolis because the Persian empire had a gold depository there or because it was associated with Agamemnon and Chryseis' son Chryses.

It’s a one of the best place to visit that you should not miss to visit during your turkey travel and Istanbul tours. You can see the Uskudar area from by boat if you take a bosphorus cruise in Istanbul and you can visit by land if you take a full day two continent tour at Istanbul.

Uskudar

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Kadikoy

Kadıkoy

Kadıkoy is a large, populous, and cosmopolitan district of Istanbul, Turkey on the Asian side of the Sea of Marmara, facing the historic city centre on the European side of the Bosporus. Kadikoy it is also the name of the most prominent neighborhood of the district, a residential and commercial area that, with its numerous bars, cinemas and bookshops, is the cultural centre of the Anatolian side. Kadikoy became a district in 1928 when it seceded from Uskudar district.

Kadikoy is a place mostly for local people that there is so many local restaurants, shops and shopping centers. If you have more time in Istanbul that you should not miss to visit during your turkey travel and Istanbul tours.

Kadıkoy

Monday, February 18, 2013

Ortakoy

Ortakoy (literally Middle Village in Turkish) is a neighborhood, formerly a small village, within the Besiktas district of Istanbul, Turkey, located in the middle of the European bank of the Bosphorus.

Ortakoy was a cosmopolitan area during the Ottoman era and the first decades of the Turkish Republic, with communities of Turks, Greeks, Armenians and Jews. Today the neighborhood still hosts many different religious (Muslim, Jewish, Orthodox, and other Christian) structures. It is also a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, with its art galleries, night clubs, cafes, bars, and restaurants.

The Neo-Baroque style Ortakoy Mosque is a beautifully ornate structure, right on the jetty of Ortakoy, bordering the waters of the Bosphorus and thus highly visible from the passing boats.
Several reputable schools, such as Kabatas Erkek Lisesi and Galatasaray University, are located in Ortakoy. The European pylon of the Bosphorus Bridge, one of the two bridges that connect the European and Asian banks of Istanbul, is also situated in this neighborhood.

Ortakoy is one of the best places to spend your free time in Istanbul that there is a park which is close by “Ulus Park” with beautiful views. Also, you can buy some gifts for present and enjoying beautiful view at Ortakoy. So, there is no any daily tours at Istanbul to visit Ortakoy that you can take private Istanbul city tour via local travel agent in Istanbul.

Ortakoy

Monday, February 11, 2013

Galata Tower

Galata Tower

The Galata Tower called Christen Turris by the Genoese - is a medieval stone tower in the Galata district of Istanbul, Turkey, just to the north of the Golden Horn. One of the city's most striking landmarks, it is a high, cone-capped cylinder that dominates the skyline and affords a panoramic vista of Old Istanbul and its environs. Galata tower has a beautiful location that very easy to reach by public transportation. There is tram from Old City, Sultanahment station to Karakoy. Galata Tower is walking distance when you reached to Karakoy tram station. Also, there is available Turkish night show at Galata tower that you can contact one of turkey travel agent to include your turkey trip.

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

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Istanbul Modern Art Museum

Istanbul Modern Art Museum

The Istanbul Modern Art Museum, aka Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, is a museum of contemporary art in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul, Turkey, inaugurated on December 11, 2004, prominently featuring the work of Turkish artists. Chief curator of the museum is Levent Calikoglu, the chair of the board of directors is Oya Eczacıbasi.

The museum, located on the bosporus in a converted warehouse in the Tophane neighborhood, is the first of its kind in Turkey.

The Modern features exhibition space on two floors: work from the museum's permanent collection, as well as a shop and restaurant, are located on the top floor, while temporary exhibitions are located on the lower floor, along with a cinema and arts library.

There is public transportation from everywhere in Istanbul especially from old city to beyoglu. The museum close on Mondays and you can visit from 10:00am till 18:00pm

Istanbul Modern Art Museum

Istanbul Military Museum

Istanbul Military Museum

Istanbul Military Museum is dedicated to one thousand years of Turkish military history. It is one of the leading museums of its kind in the world. The museum is open to the public everyday except Mondays and Tuesdays.

The museum initially opened in Saint Irene Church. Later in 1950, it was moved to the First Army Headquarters building in Cumhuriyet Caddesi, Harbiye, not far from Taksim Square in Istanbul. Harbiye district (an Ottoman derivation from the Arabic word harb for warfare) was the site of the Ottoman imperial military academy, the empire's "West Point" or "Sandhurst" and is still an important military installation. A fine collection of historical weapons, uniforms and tools of various periods of the army are on display. The highlights are the magnificent campaign tents and standards. Outside the museum, interesting Ottoman cannons and mortars, a rail gun, aircraft, helicopters are on display.

There is transportation from old city in Istanbul and you can visit Military Museum from 08:30 am till 17:00pm except saturday and sunday.