When it comes to charisma, Istanbul is a perfect example. This charismatic city displays an impressive architecture, wonderful buildings and monuments, an interesting culture, strong religious convictions, and a fascinating history.

If I had to describe Istanbul in a few words, I would say energy, shopping and of course unique mosques. In my opinion, these mosques are a perfect representation of the Muslim culture. These imposing religious edifices urge the believers to prayer five times a day. I cannot even imagine how Istanbul would look without its impressive mosques. It might sound unbelievable but Istanbul hosts almost 3000 mosques. I will only talk about five of them which are in my opinion the most significant and also the ones I liked the most.

1.The Blue Mosque or Sultanahmet Camii is the most famous mosque in Istanbul. Built between 1606- 1616, this imposing mosque has an amazing interior design. It is decorated with tiny blue tiles and this is the reason why Sultan Ahmet’s Mosque is also known as the Blue Mosque. Famous in the entire country, this mosque is considered Turkey’s National Mosque.

2.Situated right next to the Blue Mosque in Sultanahmet Square, the Hagia Sophia is another great architectural monument in Istanbul. Originally built as a Christian church between 532- 537, this imposing building was transformed into a mosque and later on it became a museum. The blend between the Byzantine culture and the Ottoman culture makes this monument special. The beautiful columns, the marble doors and the chandeliers make the interior of this mosque really impressive.

3.The Yeni Mosque or the New Mosque is the amazing mosque that seems to guard the Bosphorus. Situated near Galata Bridge, in Eminonu District, this building has a beautifully decorated interior. I advise you to take a lot of pictures here, especially at night when the lights that embellish the mosque are on. The construction of this place was a difficult process. It began in 1597 and it was completed in 1663. This thing happened because the mosque was destroyed several times during the construction process.

4.The Suleymaniye Mosque is the largest mosque in Istanbul. Built on a high hill between 1550 -1557, the Suleymanyie Camii is my favorite mosque. It is, in my opinion, the most beautiful and impressive mosque in Istanbul. Painted in a pleasant shade of red, the interior of this mosque looks fabulous. The green spaces that surround the edifice and the abundance of colors, shapes and effects that embellish the interior were the things I liked the most about this place.

5.The Ortakoy Mosque or Buyuk Mecidiye Camii is the one that seems to border the waters of the Bosphorus. Situated near Ortakoy Square, in Besiktas District, this imposing mosque is a symbol of the Baroque architecture. Built between 1854 and 1856, it is the newest mosque of the ones I have already mentioned. Another important aspect related to the Ortakoy Mosque is its strategic position which will give you the chance to admire beautiful landscapes on the Bosphorus.

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It goes without saying that I looked up these places on the internet before planning my trips. This is exactly what I did before visiting Istanbul. I visited Istanbul twice and during my second visit there I added a lovely rooftop terrace to my trip itinerary. I’m talking about the rooftop terrace of the Seven Hills Restaurant which is part of the hotel with the same name. Situated in Tevkifhane Street, No. 8, Sultanahmet District, this rooftop terrace is located in the heart of Istanbul just a few steps away from the two of the most beautiful mosques in the city.

The terrace of the restaurant offers you the chance to admire splendid views of the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. It’s a great experience to enjoy a drink or a meal while you admire these beautiful mosques. The beautiful morning when I got to this place is still so vivid in my mind. I remember I chose one of the best tables on the terrace and I enjoyed a great view of the two mosques and the surrounding area. Beautifully decorated with colorful flowers and plants, this terrace is the perfect place to relax and serve a delicious meal.

Even though Seven Hills Restaurant attracts many tourists thanks to its position, the restaurant is also known for its delicious food. When it comes to food, you can choose from a variety of dishes because the restaurant serves a lot of Turkish and Mediterranean specialties. All things considered, make sure you will not miss this place in case you get to Istanbul. Seven Hills Restaurant is waiting for you to enjoy a meal and an amazing panorama on its gorgeous terrace.

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Besides these interesting fairy chimneys, as they are called, the entire area is blessed with churches dug in volcanic rocks, troglodyte dwellings eroded by water and mysterious underground cities.

I have been planning to visit Cappadocia for a long time and fortunately last year I managed to spend four days there. After my experience in this magical land, I must confess that I was simply impressed by the beauty of Cappadocia. It goes without saying that during my trip there I tried to visit as many places as possible. You should know that there are three different routes you can explore in the region of Cappadocia. The red route, the blue route and the green route will help you discover the beauty of this region. I explored all of them and the following 12 places are the ones I liked the most:

1.The town of Göreme is the perfect place to stay while visiting Cappadocia. We chose to accommodate in this town and this is why we had enough time to enjoy our trip. Also known as “the cave town”, Göreme has a spectacular appearance thanks to its idyllic buildings carved in stone. A lot of these buildings are used as hotels, guest houses and restaurants. It’s an amazing feeling to look around and be surrounded by fairy chimneys of different shapes and sizes. You can admire them when you walk in the narrow streets of the town or when you go up to Göreme Panorama. This is the perfect place in case you want to spend a couple of moments of relaxation while admiring the panorama of the entire town.

If you love shopping, there are a lot of shops in Göreme that can satisfy your passion. In this regard, I advise you to visit at least a pottery shop in case you want to find out a lot of details about the mysteries of the pottery and admire or buy unique exhibits. Besides, in front of many of these pottery shops, you will discover the famous wishing trees. A wishing tree is a tree decorated with pots, small pieces of paper or evil eye amulets. As the name suggests, it is believed that a wishing tree can make a wish come true.

Visiting a carpet shop is another interesting experience you can live in Göreme. On this note, I recommend Sultan Carpets, a shop where you can find a variety of handmade carpets and rugs.

Last but not least, Göreme is the best place to try the hot air balloon experience. Somewhere on the outskirts of the town, you can fly in a hot air balloon above Cappadocia, surrounded by hundreds of other colored balloons. As far as I’m concerned, the hot air balloon experience was one of the best experiences I have ever lived.

2.The Love Valley is one of the best places to go to in case you want to admire the sunrise and the sky full of colorful balloons. This valley is blessed with very interesting rock formations. If you let your imagination run wild, you may compare these rock formations with mushrooms, arrows, columns, umbrellas and so on.

On the platform above the rocks, there are swings and benches embellished with decorations. The Love Valley is the perfect place for taking interesting pictures. Taking into account this aspect and the fact that it is close to Göreme, I visited the Love Valley twice. I went there in the morning because I wanted to admire the sunrise and I also came back in the evening.

3.Paşabağı Valley or the Monks’ Valley is another beautiful place that deserves to be visited. Located on the road to Zelve, this valley is remarkable thanks to its interesting fairy chimneys which look like bunches of mushrooms. Besides its mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys, Paşabağı is also famous for a hermit’s shelter built in one of these chimneys.

The valley is also blessed with an old chapel built on three different levels. St. Simeon Chapel has a unique appearance. Attracted by the solitude and isolation that the region provided, St. Simeon took refuge in Cappadocia. I enjoyed exploring this beautiful valley and admiring all these interesting rock formations

4.The Göreme Open-Air Museum is a rocky settlement area that displays the remains of a few beautiful monasteries, churches and chapels carved in stone. These settlements are appreciated by tourists thanks to their well-preserved frescoes and paintings which depict portraits of saints and other Biblical figures and scenes. According to the legend, the locals built these religious places to pray in secret during religious persecution.

The Göreme Open-Air Museum is situated in a beautiful valley, a few kilometers away from Göreme. It was a real pleasure to spend a few hours of relaxation inside this complex.

5.The Uchisar Castle and the surrounding area are also worth visiting. The castle, one of the best viewpoints in Cappadocia, is only a short drive from the nearby town of Goreme. The Uchisar Castle is a Roman edifice built in stone whose rooms are connected through tunnels, passages, and stairs. Unfortunately, only a few of these rooms can be visited because of the erosion.

The castle is located on the road between Göreme and Nevsehir. If you get to this area, you should also explore the surroundings and Mount Erciyes. As far as I’m concerned, I liked the surroundings because the landscapes are simply amazing.

6.The Pigeon Valley which stretches between Uchisar and Göreme is another area that deserves your attention. The name of the valley comes from the pigeons which live in the area. The Pigeon Valley is famous for its pigeon houses which are used to collect pigeon dung. I found out that farmers use this dung as a natural fertilizer for orchards and vineyards. To attract the pigeons inside, a lot of these houses were painted white and this makes the scenery even more gorgeous.

7.The Symmetrical Church or Aynalı Kilise was a great surprise for me. I must confess that I didn’t expect to discover such an interesting and beautiful church in this area. Carved in stone and decorated with interesting geometric ornaments, the church has a unique appearance.

Exploring the church might be quite an adventure taking into account its dark, narrow and steep passages. After visiting the first rooms, a narrow and dark stone staircase leads you to the next floor, where you can admire an old dovecote. Behind the church, following a narrow tunnel, you can find another interesting room. After my experience there, I can honestly say that I don’t regret the decision to visit this amazing place.

8.Devrent Valley, also known as the Imaginary Valley or the Pink Valley, should be on your trip list. This valley is special thanks to its unusual rock formations which give you the feeling that you are in the middle of a lunar landscape. If you let your imagination run wild, these small fairy chimneys might look like animal-shaped rocks. From camels and snakes to seals and dolphins, the entire valley could be considered an atypical zoo. It is said that there is also a rock pillar that looks like the Virgin Mary holding Jesus.

Devrent Valley is only a ten-minute drive from Göreme. Even though I couldn’t discover too many animal-shaped rocks, I must admit that I had a great time here.

9.The Three Beauties or the Three Graces are three beautiful fairy chimneys situated near the town of Urgüp. Besides their interesting appearance, these natural formations are known for their sad story. According to the legend, a long time ago, there was a king who lost his wife and had to raise his daughter by himself. When his daughter grew up, the king wanted her to marry a rich and influential man, but the girl fell in love with a shepherd.

Shortly after that, she escaped the palace and got married to the shepherd. The king didn’t agree with this marriage and after his daughter gave birth to a child, he ordered his soldiers to kill his daughter and her family. God answered the girl’s prayer and turned her entire family into stone pillars before the soldiers had a chance to kill them. Therefore, it is said that the three fairy chimneys are the princess, her husband and their child.

10.Ortahisar Castle is a 90-meter high natural fortress which dominates the town with the same name. This imposing castle which was built on a big rock urges you to explore it. If you follow the metal ladders to get to the viewing terrace, you will have the chance to admire a spectacular panorama of the fairy chimneys of Hallacdere and the peak of Mount Erciyes.

The interior shelters interesting caves connected through tunnels, passages, and stairs. Even though I was afraid to climb to the viewing terrace, I must confess that exploring Ortahisar Castle was a great experience.

11.The Derinkuyu Underground City is a troglodyte cave-city that shelters an extensive network of passages, tunnels, pits and inclined corridors that connect the rooms and the spaces inside. In the underground city, there are wells, chimneys for air circulation, niches for oil lamps, stores, water tanks, churches, wineries, stables and so on.

Even though there are 36 underground cities in Cappadocia, I chose to visit the Derinkuyu Underground City because it is the deepest one. Maybe it’s hard to believe, but the city is about 85 meters deep. Situated in the town with the same name, the Derinkuyu Underground City is located 40 kilometers away from Goreme.

12.Last but not least, you cannot leave Cappadocia without visiting the beautiful Ihlara Valley. Situated near Mount Hasan and Mount Melendiz, the Ihlara Valley is a 100 m deep canyon. Formed by the Melendiz River thousands of years ago, the valley covers an area of about 14 kilometers. According to the legend, the Ihlara Valley sheltered more than a thousand dwellings and a hundred cave churches decorated with frescoes. Besides the spectacular landscapes, the charming village of Belisirma can also be admired in the area.

The village is special thanks to the restaurants built on the Melendiz River. These restaurants are open wooden huts which create the perfect setting for lunch. It is an amazing feeling to eat and relax in one of these wooden huts.

To sum up, Cappadocia is an amazing destination which will impress you with its variety of tourist attractions. Even though there is much more to discover in the region of Cappadocia, these are in my opinion the places you should not miss during your stay there.

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The hotel I booked in Cappadocia was one of the aspects that made my experience there really great. Choosing suitable accommodation is, in my opinion, a really significant detail whenever I travel. It is true that there are a lot of accommodation options in Göreme, but something made me choose Feel Cappadocia Stone House. If I had to think about my choice, I would say that the gorgeous pictures I saw on the internet convinced me to book a room there.

At first sight, the exterior doesn’t betray the wonderful interior at all. The common façade and the simple and small reception made me doubt the choice I had made for a moment. Fortunately, my choice turned out to be an inspired one because leaving aside the appearances, Feel Cappadocia Stone House is a lovely hotel.

Accommodation

Feel Cappadocia Stone House offers gorgeous rooms and suites, beautifully decorated with modern and solid wood furniture. The whole building gives you the feeling that it is made of stone. No matter what type of room you choose (a Deluxe Room, a Superior Triple Room or a King Room), all of them are spacious and tastefully furnished. They are equipped with all the necessary amenities in order to create a home-like atmosphere. From a modern LED television to an electric teapot and a desk, the hotel offers everything you need in order to make your stay really comfortable. All the rooms are equipped with a spacious bathroom which seems to be made of stone, too.

Culinary experience

When it comes to food, I must confess that I only had breakfast there. A buffet breakfast is included in the price of the room and even though it’s not very diversified, it is a pleasant experience because it is served on the lovely rooftop terrace of the hotel. The spacious and welcoming terrace offers a great view of the unusual orange and light-brown rock formations of Cappadocia.

Other facilities

As I have already said, one of the most wonderful facilities of this hotel is the lovely rooftop terrace. Parking will not be a problem either in case you travel by car, because the hotel offers free parking spaces. The hotel also offers a 24-hour front desk, free WiFi, room service and currency exchange.

The staff

The staff of the hotel is very friendly and ready to help you every time you need it. They gave us a lot of valuable information about the area and the tourist attractions. Our stay at Feel Cappadocia Stone House was even more comfortable thanks to its well-trained staff.

How to get there

Feel Cappadocia Stone House is situated in Avcılar Mah. Sağlık Sok. 13/1 50180 Göreme, close to Nevşehir Airport. In case you travel by plane and you don’t have an agency to take care of your transport, you can simply take a cab from the airport to the hotel. You should also know that the hotel offers a shuttle service, that you have to pay for. Feel Cappadocia Stone House is also close to the town center and this is great in case you want to take a walk at night. There are a lot of car rental agencies in the area and an info point in case you need additional information.

To sum up, I don’t regret my choice because Feel Cappadocia Stone House is a great hotel. Don’t overlook Feel Cappadocia Stone House, in case you plan to spend a couple of days in Cappadocia.

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This museum is situated in a beautiful valley, a little over one kilometer away from Göreme. Listed as a Unesco World Heritage site, this museum complex displays the remains of a few beautiful monasteries, churches and chapels carved in stone. These edifices are famous among tourists thanks to their well-preserved frescoes and paintings which depict portraits of saints and other Biblical figures and scenes. According to the legend, the locals built these religious edifices to pray in secret.

After you have bought the tickets you can start exploring the complex. If you follow the cobbled path, you will get to the Chapel of St. Basil, an old edifice which was built in the honor of St Basil the Great, who is one of the most well-known saints in Cappadocia. After admiring the paintings and frescoes in this chapel, you can go on exploring the Chapel of St. Barbara which is situated nearby. The red ochre motifs make the ceiling of this edifice really impressive.

The next edifice, the Apple Church, displays a collection of colorfully painted frescoes that depict biblical scenes. There are two interesting theories regarding of the name of this church. First of them says that the name of the church comes from an apple tree that grew in that place while the second one says that it comes from a misinterpretation of the globe held by the Archangel Gabriel.

A few steps away you can visit the Church of St Onuphrius which is also called the Snake Church. It is believed that its name comes from a mistake made by the locals when they misinterpreted a painting found inside the church. They mistook the picture of a dragon for the one of a snake. The small Pantocrator Chapel and the Nameless Chapel with their simple red-ochre geometric decorations and their Maltese crosses can be admired a little farther along the path. There are also a few caves that were used as kitchen areas and that deserve to be visited.

The path climbs gradually to the highest point where you can explore the Dark Church, which is considered the most famous monument in the entire complex. As the name suggests, the Dark Church got its name because of the gloomy atmosphere inside. Fortunately, the lack of light was perfectly compensated by the beauty of the colorful frescoes.

Near the Dark Church, you can admire the small Chapel of St. Catherine which depicts frescoes of famous saints and other religious scenes. The Sandals Church is another interesting edifice which was named after the footprints you can see on the floor. It is said that these footprints represent the last imprints left by Jesus before he ascended to heaven.

At the bottom of the hill, you can find the Rahibeler Monastery where you can admire a small chapel with remarkable frescoes, interesting tunnels, corridors and stairways. Last but not least, after you exit the museum complex you can visit the Buckle Church, one of Göreme’s biggest and finest churches. This church is famous thanks to its underground chapel and fabulously restored frescoes which depict the life of Christ.

All things considered, the Göreme Open-Air Museum deserves to be visited in case you ever get to Cappadocia. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to take pictures inside any of these churches, but even so, I will let the pictures I managed to take there, convince you that this place is worth visiting.

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From wonderful places and landscapes to different cultures and delicious food, traveling is a variety of experiences. Taking into account the blend of tastes and flavors, food can be a great traveling experience, too. As far as I’m concerned, good food is always one of the ingredients of a perfect trip.

It goes without saying that I made no exception during my trip to Cappadocia. Recommended by the hotel receptionist, Kebapzade Restaurant was a real treat during the four days we spent in Göreme. Kebapzade Restaurant is a great option in case you want to treat yourself with a variety of local dishes. Situated in Bilal Eroğlu Caddesi No. 3, 50180 Göreme, Nevşehir, the restaurant offers a wide selection of dishes belonging to the Turkish and the Mediterranean Cuisine. A lot of fish, seafood and meat specialties are among the dishes that Kebapzade Restaurant urges you to try. In case you don’t like or eat meat at all, there is no problem because you can choose from a variety of appetizing vegetarian dishes. Not to mention the delicious appetizers which anticipate a great meal. The icing on the cake is the tasty fresh baked bread that goes hand in hand with the food served there.

I still remember the delicious appetizers served with Turkish yoghurt and freshly baked bread, the tasty grills served with vegetables, the kebap specialties and the tasty traditional dishes. It was a real treat to try as many of these dishes as possible.

When it comes to the restaurant itself, the second-floor terrace is the main attraction. Embellished with plants and colorful flowers and offering a lovely panorama, the terrace is the perfect space to enjoy a meal. I must confess that it was a great experience to combine the pleasure of eating these delicious dishes with the mesmerizing view of the rock formations of Cappadocia.

Regarding the prices, Kebapzade Restaurant practices the most reasonable prices in the area. All these details are perfectly completed by a friendly staff which provides great customer service. To conclude, Kebapzade Restaurant means delicious food, impeccable service and a great atmosphere. I strongly recommend this place in case you ever get to Göreme.

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I have always dreamed to fly in a hot air balloon above Cappadocia, which is in my opinion, the best place to live such an experience. Fortunately, my dream came true during my most recent trip to Turkey. I have always wanted to live this experience in the magical region of Cappadocia because there is something special about this place. Cappadocia is situated in the middle of Anatolia, 750 kilometers away from Istanbul. This region is blessed with amazing landscapes that seem to be cut out of a fairy tale. Cappadocia is famous for its unusual orange and light brown rock formations of different shapes and sizes which became the image of the entire area. Besides these interesting rock formations, this fabulous area shelters churches dug in volcanic rocks, troglodyte dwellings dug by water and mysterious underground cities.

Beyond all these interesting tourist attractions, Cappadocia gained its notoriety thanks to the colorful hot air balloons. Some time ago, someone came up with the idea of organizing hot air balloon flights above this wonderful area and thanks to the thousands of pictures taken there, Cappadocia started attracting more and more tourists. I must confess that my obsession with flying in a hot air balloon above Cappadocia started the moment I saw a gorgeous picture with the sky full of hundreds of colorful balloons. During peak season more than 200 balloons fly at the same time above Cappadocia and the sky looks like a festival of colors.

I dreamed of this moment with all my heart and maybe this is why I still remember every detail of this experience. I must confess that the morning when the car from the agency came to pick us up and take us to the take-off field, I felt a bit scared and anxious because I was afraid of heights. It was still dark outside when we got to the land where the balloons take off. We had already seen the balloons the previous morning when we admired them rising in the sky. It was great to see the entire preparation process again, but this time the best part was to be in one of those balloons. It goes without saying that I panicked a little at the beginning, but after the balloon went up, I had a feeling of peace and relaxation. It’s an incredible feeling to fly in a hot air balloon above Cappadocia, surrounded by hundreds of other colored balloons.

We tried to immortalize those memorable moments and we took a lot of pictures. An interesting aspect is the fact that the pilot can only handle the balloon up and down, any lateral movement being caused by the air currents. This is why we didn’t land in the same place where we took off. It was a one-hour flight, but time went by too fast and I must confess that I could have spent hours in the balloon. The experience ended with a cup of champagne offered by the travel agency after we landed.

I strongly recommend this experience because it is the most beautiful thing you can do in this fairytale land. If you are already planning a trip there and the hot air balloon experience is on your trip list, there are a few things you should take into account. First of all, you should know that there are two types of balloons, the standard balloons and the VIP balloons. The platform of the standard balloons has a capacity of 20 people and it is divided into five different compartments, one for the pilot in the middle of the balloon and the other four for the tourists. The platform of the VIP balloons is smaller and it has a capacity of 8 people.

During peak season, the flights are organized twice every morning. One flight takes place before the sunrise and the other one immediately after the sunrise. My advice is to choose the first flight because this way you will have the chance to admire a beautiful sunrise in the air.

After choosing the type of flight, the next step is to make the reservation. I advise you to book the flight in advance, at least a few months before you get to Cappadocia because this way you will save some money. Also, the balloons have a limited capacity and you might not find tickets for sale.

Another important advice is to book your flight for your first morning there. The flight might be delayed because of the bad weather conditions and in this case, you will be rescheduled for the next day or you will receive your money back. The standard hot air balloon flight costs between 150 and 300 euros per person, but it is worth every penny.

I hope you are a morning person because the mornings in Cappadocia start very early. I woke up at 4 o’clock every morning to fly in the balloon or to admire the sunrise and the sky full of balloons. All things considered, in case you plan a trip to Cappadocia, you cannot leave this region without trying the hot air balloon experience.

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One of my favorite places in Turkey is Pamukkale. Situated in Denizli Province in southwestern Turkey, Pamukkale is a natural site that seems to be unreal at first site. The hot water springs, the calcium travertine terraces and the spectacular natural pools highlight the beauty of this place. The “Cotton Castle”, as it is called, is indeed a masterpiece of nature. I strongly recommend this place if you are going to visit Turkey and if you take a look at the following pictures it will be easy to decide.

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Tekirova Ekopark is considered to be the first park in the world which became a shelter for a variety of endangered species. Hidden somewhere in Antalya, Tekirova Ekopark is a real Turkish treasure. It is that type of place that will fully gratify your curiosity. Believe me it will be a wonderful experience to discover and admire the beauty of this natural park. I would like to share 12 beautiful pictures taken in this lovely park and let you decide if you should add Tekirova Ekopark on your trip list.

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This fabulous city displays an impressive architecture with imposing buildings and monuments. You will be delighted by the lovely combination between its architectural style, the abundance of green areas and the amazing opening to the sea. Every season is perfect to create beautiful memories in this stunning city. I advise you to choose spring or early summer to visit this city, in order to enjoy its greatness which is portrayed by the beauty of all those green spaces decorated with a lot of blooming flowers. Did you know that the tulip is the symbol of Istanbul? It will be an incredible experience to admire this city embellished with tulips.

Turkey’s heart, as it is called, is the perfect place if you want to relax in a hospitable and friendly city, to explore a new city, to spend pleasant moments at the seaside, to try a special cruise, to shop or to discover the Muslim culture. It is amazing how many things you can do in this city! I could say that a piece of my heart is still there. If you have never thought of visiting Istanbul, believe me there are a lot of reasons you should do it. Here are a few reasons which in my opinion are the most meaningful and compelling:

1. The Blue Mosque or Sultan Ahmet’s Mosque is one of the most significant tourist attractions in Istanbul. This magnificent mosque has a fabulous interior, specially designed with blue tiles. This is the reason why it was also called the Blue Mosque.

2. The Hagia Sophia is an imposing monument whose beauty is displayed by the unique combination between the influences of the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire. Its greatness is given by the blend between these two different cultures and by the fact that it was firstly a church and then a mosque.

3. The Topkapi Palace is an impressive museum which hides exceptionally designed rooms, beautiful gardens and an exhibition of different collections such as: the porcelain collection, the weapons collection, the art objects collection, the costumes collection, the jewelry collection, the clocks collection, the paintings collection and many other types of collections. This amazing palace is the largest and the oldest palace in the world.

4. The Basilica Cistern is a spectacular covered cistern which was built to supply water for the nearby palaces. The interior architecture is incredibly beautiful due to the illuminated columns which create a very special atmosphere.
5. The Galata Tower, one of the highest and the oldest towers in Istanbul, is the perfect place in case you want a great view of the old city.

6. The Dolmabahce Palace, one of the most stunning palaces in the world, is defined by opulence, luxury and greatness. Its beauty is given by an imposing architecture which is thrown out into relief by style, elegance and refinement.

7. The Taksim Square is a beautiful place where you can admire: the Independence Monument, the Ataturk Cultural Center, the Galatasaray Square, the Flower Courtyard, St. Antoine Church, Santa Maria Church, the Armenian Churches and other interesting places.
8. The Ortakoy Mosque is a symbol of the Baroque architecture and one of the most famous and beautiful places on the Bosphorus. Its location is ideal to admire the wonderful landscapes on the Bosphorus.

9. The largest mosque in Istanbul, the Suleymaniye Mosque, is in my opinion the most beautiful and impressive. It is a delight to admire its fabulous interior design which displays an abundance of colors, shapes and effects.

10. A cruise on the Bosphorus is a great experience which gives you the opportunity to travel between two continents. Istanbul is the only city in the world that lies on two continents: Europe and Asia.

12. The Yeni Mosque or the New Mosque is also a beautiful mosque with outstanding decorations, located near the sea. It is an exceptional place where you can take amazing pictures especially at night, because the Yeni Mosque is decorated with a lot of lights.

13. The Turkish Bazaars will offer you an unforgettable shopping experience. The most important are the Grand Bazaar and the Egyptian Bazaar. You will have the chance to buy quality stuff at very good prices.

14. The Turkish Cuisine is diversified and it is based on vegetables, meat and different types of sauces and desserts. The Turks have the best kebap and walnut pie.

I could go on talking about the beauty of this city and about why you should visit it, but the best way to actually understand what I am talking about is to discover Istanbul yourself.

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