I have so much to write about when it comes to Istanbul, Turkey. It's definitely one of the most dynamic and interesting big cities I think I've ever visited, and I packed as much as possible into my 2 days there.
But the tales of markets, mosques, and carpet salesmen will have to wait. Today, I just want to share my Istanbul experience with you via a collection of photos.
Here, then, is Istanbul through my eyes (or, I suppose my camera lens):
Istanbul in photos
Outside the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque) in the morning:
The ornate tiled dome of the Blue Mosque — easily the most popular place to visit in Istanbul:
The courtyard of the Suleymaniye Mosque, built by the famous architect Mimar Sinan in 1557. This mosque is the second-largest in Istanbul:
The carpeting inside the Suleymaniye Mosque – I love the bright orange!
Looking out over Istanbul from behind the Suleymaniye Mosque:
Some of the amazing blue-and-white Iznik tiles inside the Rustem Pasha Mosque, in Istanbul's Eminonu district. THIS mosque should be called the “blue mosque” if you ask me:
A pretty residential street in Istanbul:
A water view of the Bosporus:
In the Spice Bazaar (AKA Egyptian Bazaar):
In the square outside Hagia Sofia:
Inside the awe-inspiring Hagia Sophia. This basilica-turned-mosque-turned-museum nearly brought me to tears:
RELATED: In Photos: Inside Hagia Sophia
I don't think I could ever tire of Hagia Sophia:
Men fishing off the Galata Bridge:
Inside the maze-like Grand Bazaar, one of the world's oldest and largest covered markets:
Glass lanterns hanging in the Grand Bazaar:
A view out over Istanbul — check out all the satellite dishes:
With no minarets in the background, you probably would never guess this tranquil scene came from Turkey, am I right:
Istanbul's underground Basilica Cistern:
Cruising the Bosporus during the “golden hour”:
Rumeli Hisari, a fortress on a hill on the European side of the city:
Cruising on the Bosporus at dusk:
If you've never been to Istanbul, I highly recommend adding it to your list. It's unlike anywhere else I've visited in the world — in a good way.
If you're interested in seeing some of these spots for yourself in Istanbul, I managed to see them on a tour of “Hidden Istanbul,” combined with a ride on a hop-on, hop-off bus, and a Bosporus cruise.
Which Istanbul photo is your favorite?
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
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[…] 28, 2012 · 26 Comments Out of all the photos I’ve shared so far from my time in Istanbul, a simple one of colorful glass lanterns inside the Grand Bazaar has been by far the most […]
What a good overview of Istanbul. We had a couple of rainy days so had to miss a few things. Among them the stuff up the Bosphorus. That is on my list for next time though. I like castles.
I lucked out with clear (but hot) weather for most of my trip. You and Ali will just have to go back sometime! Istanbul is one of those cities I don’t think you can possibly visit too much.
You’ve done a wonderful job capturing all of the bright colors and patterns and landscapes that make Istanbul such a beautiful and magical city. It is one of my favorites, and I plan to return one day… especially now that I have a better camera and a little photography knowledge.
Thanks, Stephanie! It’s such an easy city to photograph – I hope you make it back there soon yourself!
I’ve never been to Istanbul (or Turkey for that matter!) but I’m pretty sure that when I go I will absolutely LOVE it! Thanks for posting these photos, and you are SUCH an amazing photographer!
Aww, thanks Rebecca! I love taking photos, and I’m really lucky I have such a great outlet through which to share them!
I hope you make it to Istanbul yourself someday!
Beautiful photos! Strengthens my temptation to visit Istanbul soon! 🙂
Good to hear, Abhi! It’s a very cool city.
Awesome shots my friend! Dying to visit this place!!!
You’ve never been to Istanbul, Andi? Well, you need to get your butt there ASAP! You’d love it!
Oh my goodness, the Bosporus looks amazing. Reminds me of Seoul, which has a river running through it.
I feel like all the best big cities in the world have rivers running through them. 🙂
Love these photos, Amanda! They all bring back great memories of my trips to Istanbul – I have a feeling I will be returning soon 😉 My favorite shot is the one of the glass lanterns in the Grand Bazaar.
Thanks, Dani! That lantern one is a favorite of mine, too.
Looooove the amazing blue-and-white Iznik tiles inside the Rustem Pasha Mosque – the combo of close up wall tiles and rusty red floor … yum 🙂
Loved Istanbul… need to go back!
The inside of that mosque was stunning! It was definitely my favorite out of the ones I visited.
Nice photos! But the photo with the boats is not from Bosphorus, it is from “the golden horn” which is an inlet from Bosphorus and we don’t consider it (and never ever refer to it) as part of Bosphorus itself. And the “typical” residential area is not so typical either. There are some neighborhods and maybe some streets over in other neighborhoods and 98 % of the city does not look like that anymore. It is just typical of what we manage to preserve from the past.
Thanks for the clarification, Nihal! I appreciate it!
Impossible to choose a favourite but I do like the boats on the Bosphorus. I love Istanbul because even though it is a bustling city, it is still possible to find those tranquil moments and scenes.
That’s one thing I really love about Istanbul, too. There are lovely moments of calm all over the city – it was fun discovering some of them. (And that’s one of the reasons I love that boat photo, too!)
I love Istanbul. It’s one of my top five cities in the world. The food is great, it has such a fascinating history and there’s heaps to see and do! I love the photo of “golden hour” on the Bosphorus in particular.
It really is such a fascinating city – like you said, so much to see and do!
Those Turkish spices look great!
They certainly are colorful and very photogenic, aren’t they?
I can’t choose a favorite.. All the photos are beautiful. And yes, I’ve added Istanbul to my list! 🙂
I can’t really choose a favorite, either. Though, the ones showing colorful small details definitely stand out for me!
Glad to hear you’ve added this awesome city to your list!