Walking Tour of Istanbul
For those who visit Istanbul, it should be remembered that the best way to enjoy the city is by taking a walking tour. Istanbul is a major metropolis but thankfully, most of the historic sites are located in the central downtown old part of the city which can easily be strolled. Walking along the monuments gives a more close up view of the city, its history and its people. Most of the walking tours in Istanbul can be accomplished in four to six hours depending on how fast you walk, what you want to see and how long you stay at each historic site.
We thought it would be a good idea, not only to give you information about budget hotels in Istanbul on this site, but also some valuable tourist information for you when you visit Istanbul.
However, a walking tour of Istanbul should be reserved for the young and healthy. There are some parts of the city which have uneven pavement and the traffic congestion is massive. Crossing the roads can be highly risky and pedestrians generally have no rights. What this means is that you had better watch out. Drivers are not very concerned about running you over, or so it would seem. So watch the roads and pay attention to traffic. Most hotels have a copy of “Istanbul’s Bazaar Quarter: Back Street Walking Tours.” Read this guide so that you will know where you are going, details about the site you are visiting, and what to expect.
The walking tour should be started around 9 am and mind you, around 11.30 am to 1 pm, many shops do close down as Muslims stop for afternoon prayers. During prayer time, you will not be allowed to enter the mosques either. Tours of Istanbul are worthwhile on any day of the week, except Sunday.
Start your walking tour in the Grand Bazaar. This large covered market offers good quality shopping at very cheap prices. There are over 4000 shops in the Grand Bazaar. It is not a good idea to purchase gifts here at this time because you will have to lug them around for the next three to four hours. Come back to the Grand Bazaar another time to shop and pick up souvenirs. Exit the Grand Bazaar and ask someone for Carsi Caddesi Street. This place is usually congested with shoppers and you can buy anything and everything here - mostly junk of all sorts.
Follow the road to the bottom of the hill and you will see the Rustem Pasha Mosque. This superb mosque was built by Rustem Pasha, son in law of Suleyman the Great. The Mosque has very unique architecture depicting the artistic talents of people who lived during the Ottoman Dynasty. By this time you might be thirsty so ask for directions to Hasircilar Caddesi where you will find many quaint little coffee shops which sell delicious Turkish pastries and various types of baklava – you will love them. The area is full of shops which sell Turkish delight, almonds, cashews, pistachios and spices.
Next on your tour of Istanbul, walk over to the Grand Bazaar where you will find the spice market and more shops selling every type of food. Walk further to the New Mosque and there is another vibrant market right by the Mosque. At the very end of Galata Bridge you will find the Great Imperial Mosque developed by the Sultan Safiye. From Yeni Cami it is best to ride the tram line to Sultanahmet or go across the Galata Bridge to Karakoy. If you are crossing the street to get to the Galata Bridge, be extra careful of the speeding traffic. If you are still not tired, take time to visit the shores of the Bosphorus. You can even walk along the Bosphorus boardwalk, something many families do in the daytime. You will see jelly fish in the water because the Bosphorus is salt water.
The walking tour of Istanbul can be made more enjoyable if you have company. Finally, do travel light, perhaps using a backpack, as you will definitely be buying a lot of souvenirs to take back home after your vacation in Istanbul.
