Istanbul Things to Do

Istanbul might have a reputation for its cosmopolitan population and increasingly modern attitude, but the heart of the city still beats in the historic old town of Sultanahmet, located on the European peninsula bounded by the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus. First founded by Greek colonists in 667BC, the area of Sultanahmet was once the walled city of Istanbul known as ‘Constantinople’ and today the peninsula is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and teeming with examples of Byzantine and Ottoman era architecture.

With exchange rates plummeting, Istanbul isn’t quite the bargain destination it used to be, but those on budget will still find plenty of opportunities to stretch out their dollars. From marveling at the city’s famous minarets to taking advantage of the legendary Turkish hospitality, here are some ideas for free things to do in Istanbul.

Istanbul’s Çiçek Pasajı, or Flower Passage, is the most renowned example of the city’s ornate late 19th and early 20th century arcades, beautifully restored to its Ottoman-era glory. Running between Istikal Caddesi and Sahne Sok in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul, the L-shaped passageway was once the courtyard of the historic Cité de Péra building, built in 1876. The building was later purchased by the Ottoman Grand Vizier Sait Paşa, who renamed it the Sait Paşa Passage, but the modern name of Çiçek Pasajı was adopted in the 1920s in ode to the Russian flower sellers that lined the passageway throughout the war years.

Exploding with color and pungent aromas, Istanbul’s Spice Bazaar, or Egyptian Spice Market (so-called as the spices were originally imported from Egypt) is one of the city’s most vibrant and most-visited attractions. The historic market dates back to the 17th century and remains a fully functioning market, bustling with locals and camera-wielding tourists.

True to its reputation as Turkey’s most cosmopolitan and eclectic city, Istanbul certainly knows how to party, effortlessly blending the traditional with the modern, for one enormous New Year’s Eve street bash.

Istanbul is ready for shopping! Istanbul, one of the most dynamic cities in the world, will become the global capital of shopping and entertainment during the Istanbul Shopping Fest which runs from March 18 to April 26, 2011. Actually this beautiful city has been a heaven for shoppers since Roman period. It houses the largest and oldest covered bazaar of the world where you can purchase any sorts of goods from jewelry to handmade carpets, antiquities, glass wares, colorful ceramics, silk products and leather fabrics.