Istanbul is the most compact and busiest city I have ever visited. It’s all there — the historical sites, people from all over the world, business and commercial centers, unique food and non-stop actions. It was like an extra ordinary adventure every day!
Because of the variety that Turkey has to offer, I decided to avail the tour package offered by Backpackers Travel. It was recommended by Turkey Travel Planner. There’s so much to choose and so it was confusing and yet so exciting!
I had my own accommodation arranged in Istanbul. I picked Tulip Guesthouse to be my home for the first night. It was perfectly located in Akbiyik C. which is in the center of the city. The hostel is good for those who simply wants to sleep at night, eat breakfast in the morning and have decent shower. Neighboring hostels have places for partying.
As I landed in the airport, I was picked up by Backpackers Travel for hotel transfer costing EUR20. Then right away I joined their City Walk Tour…yes…just by walking! I decided to do it immediately to familiarize the area. It was a long day! But it’s worth it.
Our first stop was the Topkapi Palace. It opens at 9AM and closes at 5PM. This place is closed on Tuesdays and have admission fee of TL20 and Harem is additional TL15. If you are on a tour package like I had, you only have to pay for Harem.

Harem
Some sites mention that you have to go first to Harem. But in my personal experience, you should go first to Treasury I in the 3rd courtyard. This place usually have a long queue. Why? I don’t know for there was so many people waiting to get in.
To the west of the palace are the Istanbul Archeological Museum, and beyond them is the Gulhane Park.
After Topkapi, we went to the Blue Mosque. This is just across the park from Ayasofya (which will be our subject later on). This mosque is closed to visitors for 25 minutes after each call to prayer, and for several hours on Fridays.
Istanbul’s imperial Mosque of Sultan Ahmet I is called the Blue Mosque because of its interior tiles. This is one of the premier sights and you are welcome to visit for free but donations are gratefully received. You have to take off your shoes before entering and place it in the provided plastic bag.
The mosque (built 1603-17) is the masterwork of Ottoman architect Sedefkar Mehmet Aga. It’s built on the site of the Great Palace of Byzantium, on the southeaster of the Hippodrome. And speaking of Hippodrome, this was our next point of visit.
Byzantine Hippodrome was the center of sportive events (chariot races, athletics) and political activities through 500 years of Ottoman history as well. This stretches between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
After Hippodrome, we had our lunch then we went to Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia). This was the greatest church in Christendom, and was meant to be. This church remained the largest church ever built until St. Peter’s Basilica was constructed in Rome a thousand years later.
Then we proceed to the Basilica Cistern, (Yerebatan Sarnıçı) is beneath the little park at the northern end of the Hippodrome. Above the hidden cistern is a stone tower that was once part of the city’s system of aqueducts.
Beside the stone tower is the Milion, all that remains of a triumphal gate that served as the zero-mile-marker on the road called the Mese (now Divan Yolu), the Roman road between Constantinople and Rome. For visitors, Divan Yolu (dee-VAHN yoh-loo) is their main street from Sultanahmetand the Hippodrome past shops and restaurants, past Ottoman sultans’ tombs, mosques and medreses (theological schools), pastByzantine forums and monuments such as Cemberlitas(the Burnt Column) to Beyazit Square, the Grand Bazaar and Istanbul University.
Then we visited a carpet center where we were a presentation of different carpets and how it was being weaved. Our next and last destination for the walking tour is the Grand Bazaar.
The Grand Bazaar is the older and the largest covered market place in the world which is located right in the center of the city. This was where I found money changer with higher exchange rates!
After visiting some shops and buying souvenir items, I went back at the hotel on my own. I waited for the night to see the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia in the dark with its magnificent lights.
This was my Day 1 in Turkey.
Tags: backpackers travel, castle travel, istanbul, istanbul turkey travel tips, tulip guesthouse