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Things to do in istanbul
Istanbul is one of the oldest cities in the world. If you can’t find ten amazing things to do there, you’re probably still in baggage claim at the airport. Istanbul is a city well worth visiting. Regardless of your particular interests, Istanbul has something for you. For most travelers, there are several key things that they simply must do in Istanbul.
Istanbul has a couple of big, famous markets: the Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Market) and the Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi, Covered Market). Both of them are must visits on any trip to Istanbul. And they are definitely not just about the original copies. In fact, that’s about one percent of what’s on offer.
Sultanahmet is prime tourist territory and is subsequently well supplied with tacky souvenir stores and pushy carpet sellers who know that first-time visitors are particularly impressed by the offer of a small glass of synthetic apple tea. The best place to shop is in and around the Spice Market near the Galata Bridge, where there are both interesting products and reasonable prices. An entirely different side to Istanbul can be found among the smart boutiques of Nisantasi and Tesvikiye, about a mile north of Taksim.
See the Egyptian Obelisk
During the Roman era, in 390 A.D., this column was brought to Constantinople (now Istanbul) from Egypt. The Emperor, Theodosius, placed this obelisk on a square pedestal in the center of the Hippodrome. The reliefs on the pedestal depict Emperor Theodosius watching the races in the hippodrome and how he erected the column. Egyptian hieroglyphics on the column itself tell of the sacrifices that Egyptian Pharaoh Tutmosis made to the god Amon-Ra.
