The European side of Istanbul

The European side of Istanbul is the most popular touristic area and more popular then the Asian side.  All business life, shop outlets, hotels and touristic places are concentrated here. The territory is so huge and includes so many objects that need at last few days to visit them and discover. Lets divide it on few areas, that will be easier to understand.

First area of the European side of Istanbul is a Beshiktash (Besiktas) district. 

The Besiktash district

Here you can visit the Dolmabahche palace, walk or have breakfast on the one of the popular and very beautiful area near the Bosphorus – Bebek or climb on the top of Istanbul Sapphire tower.

Second area of the European side of Istanbul is a Beyoglu district.

The Beyoglu district

You can find there very famous and central square of Istanbul – Taxim square with the Gezi Park. It’s the most central square in Istanbul. On the square you can find the Nostalgic Tram (very old tram, that mostly using by tourists). Using the tram you can reach another interesting object – very old transportation line Tunel. It’s a short underground railway that have only two stations and was created in 1876 year. 

The Fatih district

Not far from the Tunel station there is another famous object of Istanbul – Galata Tower. You can get there to have a dinner at the restaurant or enjoy the view from the top of the tower, from 61 meter up.

Going down on the street you can see the Galata bridge with a lot of fishermen and ferryboats, crossing the bridge you will reach Egyptian Bazar. Very famous place with a lot of spices, natural soap, sweets, and other goods. 

It’s a third area of the European side of Istanbul – Fatih district.

After the Bazar, very easy to reach maybe one of the most famous place of Istanbul – Sultanahmet square. There you can visit Aya Sophia Mosque and Sultanahmet Mosque or Blue Mosque, Hippodrome square with a German fontain, obelisks. Not far from the square you can also visit a lot of museums, like Archeological, Museum of Mosaic, walk on the Gulhane park and visit Topkapi palace with Harem.

Very close to Gulhane park you can find a Basilica Cistern – Erebatan Sarnichi. 

From the other side of Egyptian Bazar you can find an old district Balat and a park of Turkey in miniatures – Miniaturk.