Unusual Things To Do In Istanbul

An Overview of Istanbul

Istanbul, formerly Constantinople, Stamboul and Byzantium, is Turkey’s most populous city, spanning both sides of the Bosphorus Strait between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea. For generations, Istanbul has bridged the continents of Asia and Europe both physically and culturally. As one of the most prominent and influential crossroads in history, Istanbul has hosted numerous civilizations and served as a keystone strategic military and trade point for all of them. Due to the massive city’s influence, history and cultural landmarks, there are many unusual things to do in Istanbul.

Unusual Things To Do In Istanbul

Hagia Sophia

Considered a historical and cultural Wonder of the World, the Hagia Sophia served as the center for religious, political and artistic life for centuries, it’s beauty and influence preserved into the modern era. The domed monument was initially a cathedral for Constantinople, but it was eventually shifted into a vital site of Muslim Worship after Sultan Mehmed II conquered Constantinople in 1453. It’s name translates to “Holy Wisdom.” It is the most enduring and iconic symbol of the city and a prominent tourism destination.

The Blue Mosque – Sultan Ahmed Mosque

The Blue Mosque is an Ottoman-era Imperial mosque which remains an active house of Islamic worship to this day. The impressive structure was built in the early 1600s to emphasize imperial architectural capabilities while complementing the famed Sophia Mosque, which is located across Sultanahmet Square. The mosque is a compelling and elegant feature on Istanbul’s famed skyline.

Bosporus Waterway

This maritime waterway is one of the most important shipping pathways in the world, connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, eventually allowing trade into the Aegean, Mediterranean and Dardanelles. The significant shipping route is a beautiful sight with light-blue waters, dozens of sailboats moving throughout and different skylines of Istanbul on each shore.

Taksim Square

Taksim is one of Istanbul’s most famous public square spaces, containing a massive pedestrian boulevard filled with important landmarks. The area has access to many of Istanbul’s best tourism shops and the nearby alleys lead to popular bars, rooftop eateries, antique shops and hotels. The square is considered the heart of Istanbul’s community.

Grand Bazaar

This is one of the world’s most famous shopping destinations; a massive, enclosed bazaar that’s been operational since 1455. The market was constructed under the Ottoman Sultan Fatih Sulatan Mehmet (Mehmed the Conqueror) to operate as a localized trading zone. The market is filled with strange shops, traditional goods, modern amenities, useful trinkets, clothing and jewlery.

Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar)

The Spice Bazaar of Istanbul (sometimes called the Egyptian Bazaar) is one of the largest functioning bazaars in the city. Located in the Eminönü Quarter, this market sells a massive supply of fresh spices, nuts, honeycombs and street snacks. Mounds of spice are piled high for patrons to purchase, making the bazaar a surprisingly scenic space to walk through.

Galata Tower

Built as a watchtower at the highest point of the long-vanished Walls of Galata, this tower now operates as a popular cultural gathering point, exhibition space and museum. The cylindrical tower is made from pale stone and has functioned as a jail, observatory house, lookout and rally point. From above, the tower can view large swaths of Istanbul and the Bosporus.

Rahmi M Koc Museum

This is a private museum dedicated to the history of transport, industry and communications. The museum was founded by Rahmi Koc, a wealthy businessman with a deep passion for mechanical and industrial objects since childhood.

The Princes’ Islands

This is considered some of the most beautiful natural settings in Istanbul. Located in the Sea of Marmara, these 9 islands are known for their biking trails, seaside lookout points, beautiful pine forests, and historical ruins and structures. Some famous attractions include the high-viewing point of Büyükada, the largest island, the 6th-century Hagia Yorgi Church and the pine forests of Dil Burnu National.

Miniatürk

This is a miniature park located on the northeastern shore of Golden Horn. The small park area is an open-air musuem displaying many of Istanbul’s and Turkey’s most famous historical and cultural attractions. Visitor can find models of the Hagia Sophia, Galata Tower, Roman city ruins like Hierapolis or Ephesus, Adana Stone Bridge, The ruins of Mount Nimrod and many others.

Polina Konaklama (Polonezköy Tabiat Parkı)

This is a nature park and hiking trail located around the village of Polonezköy (from French polonaise “Polish” and Turkish köy “village”). The village has an ethnically Polish history and several unique eateries in the area. The surrounding hiking trails and nature parks contain biking routes, lush forests, mountain streams and local wildlife.

Istanbul Aquarium

This is a popular public aquarium with a wide variety of fish species and interactive activities.

Basilica Cistern

Located beneath the city of Istanbul, the The Basilica Cistern, or Cisterna Basilica contains several hundred ancient cisterns. The underground display is haunting, beautiful and nearly alien in symmetry, with numerous carvings and hundreds of pillars holding up the subterranean structure.

Gülhane Park

This historical-urban park found in the Eminönü District is a wonderful green space adjacent to the grounds of the Topkapı Palace. The gardens include recreation areas, walking trails, fountains, the Istanbul Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam, the Column of the Goths and several playgrounds.

Yildiz Park

This is a large, historical-urbanized park found in the Beşiktaş District of Istanbul. The park is found between the amazing palaces of Yıldız and Çırağan with a nature grove, overlooks of the Bosporus, scenic walking paths, small waterfalls and well-maintained garden spaces. Many portions of the park attract flocks of birds which can often be sighted in nearby trees.

Sultanahmet Square

Otherwise known as the Hippodrome of Constantinople, this is a square in Istanbul previously used for circus events, sporting arenas and social gatherings. The Hippodrome itself has long since disappeared, with many of it’s original materials cannibalized for other structures. However, the square itself is central when visiting some of Istanbul’s most famed and cherished landmarks.

Kariye Mosque

Originally a medieval Greek Orthodox church, this building eventually transitioned to a Mosque It’s famous for its outstanding Late Byzantine mosaics and frescoes.

Gazhane Museum

Also known as the Hasanpaşa Gasworks or Museum Gasworks was a gasworks facility which produced coal gas for the industrializing city of Istanbul. It was eventually redeveloped into a venue for arts, culture and technology. Much of the interior still has gasworks-infrastructure features, making it an interesting venue to walk around.

Emirgan Park

This is a historical-urban park located in the Emirgan neighborhood. The park is especially well known for it’s vibrant tulip gardens which creates a river of color in the center of the park.

Rumeli Hisari Castle

This is an imposing Ottoman fortress dating to 1452, built by Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II (Mehmed the Conqueror) during his preparations to conquer Constantinople. The fortress offers incredible views over Istanbul and served as an important military component in the city’s history.

Yedikule Dungeons Museum

This is a infamous royal dungeon which imprisoned many well-known figures in Turkish histroy. The fortress isa fortified historic structure found in the Yedikule neighborhood of Fatih. The building has been restored several times and now serves as an open-air musuem.

Ottoman Bird Palaces

One of Istanbul’s more unique features are tiny mansions built into the sides of buildings. These “Bird Palaces” served as intriguing and ornate bird-houses in urban areas. The practice was widely practiced throughout Turkey and several are still intact (though weathered). The oldest one in Istanbul can be found on the side of Büyükçekmece Bridge, close to the city.

Tombili

Istanbul is famous for its vast number of cats that patrol the streets and shops. One feline in particular, a chubby tabby named Tombili, stood out. The cat was famed for “sitting” upright on steps, rather than laying down in the normal feline fashion. Her behavior made her a miniture celebrity in her neighborhood, eventually upgrading into a meme. To honor her influence, there’s a small statue of her in Istanbul.

Minyatür’s Nautical Instruments

Hidden inside the Grand Bazaar, this is a stunning shop that specializes in truly fantastic nautical instruments. Antique navigational devices, brass telescopes, nautical measuring instruments, strange captain ornaments and elegant globes can be found within.

Dolmabahçe Palace

This is a splendidly domed Sultan’s Palace now operating as a museum housing massive collections of art, calligraphy and ornate carpets.

Obelisk of Theodosius

Originally a feature at the Temple of Karnak, the Obelisk of Theodosius toured the ancient world before being installed and preserved in Istanbul. The hieroglyphic-covered monument was originally crafted between 1500-1400 BCE in Egypt. It has been shipped from the Temple of Karnak to Alexandria to Constantinople.

Panorama 1453 Museum

This is a cyclorama, a panoramic painting created on the interior of a cylindrical platform, allowing viewers to have an immersive “in-painting” experience. This piece depicts the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman armies in 1453, essentially ending the long reign of the Roman Empire.

St. Stephen Bulgarian Iron Church

While Istanbul is fully-stocked with religious centers and buildings of faith, this church is different, as it’s composed entirely of painted cast iron. Walking inside reveals walls of metal with blooms of rust appearing on interior archways. The church was constructed by pouring iron slabs into casts which were then floated from Vienna to Istanbul, eventually assembled on-site.

The Spoonmaker’s Diamond

This massive gem weighing 86 carats set in silver is the crown jewel of the Topkapi Palace Treasure Collection. The history of the diamond is, astonishingly, unknown. It’s appearance in the city of Istanbul is a mystery, through the most popularly-accepted story was written by Rasid, the Ottoman court’s official historian. Supposedly, a fisherman found it while combing through a rubbish heap, eventually bringing it to a jeweler market, thinking it was a shiny bit of nothing. When he showed it to the jeweler, he was swindled, with the jeweler offering him “three spoons” for his trouble. Believing the gem was glass, the fisherman agreed and the jeweler gained the fourth-largest diamond in the world.

Maiden’s Tower

Otherwise known as Leander’s Tower, this strange structure stands on a thin islet at the southern entrance of the Bosporus Strait. Though the museum tower once served as a lighthouse, it’s more famous for the legend surrounding it. In a famous Turkish story, a princess was confined their for her own protection, after a prophecy claims she’ll die from the bite of a serpent. The prophecy eventually comes true when she uncovers a serpent in a basket of grapes.

Pera Museum

The Pera Museum is a vast musuem of art and culture designed by the illustrious French-Ottoman architect Alexander Vallaury. The palace hosts Istanbul’s most-important collection of Western art from the 19th century onwards, including pieces from Picasso and Matisse. There are other permanent displays including paintings, sculptures, photographs, furniture, metalworks and more, all housed in a building crafted in a fantastic Moorish-architectural style.

Ihlamur Pavilion

This is a former imperial Ottoman summer residence. The building has a unique façade which incorporates five arched porticos with columns made from marble from Greece and Italy. The interior is held up by treated wooden beams decorated in mesmerizing geometric patterns.

Cukurcuma

This is the oldest neighborhood in Istanbul, now fully stocked with recreational sites including street-art stalls, numerous cafés, several bars and a few art galleries. Many of the narrow alleyways lead to hidden shops and other venues, making this a good location for exploring secret nooks of Istanbul.

Grand Mecidiye Mosque (Ortaköy Mosque)

This is a beautifully restored Baroque-Revival Mosque with stunning arced windows designed to catch sunlight throughout the day. The Mosque is situated right next to the waters of the Bosporus, making it a popular photograph location.

Valens Aqueduct

This amazing aquaduct was originally part of the 4th-century Roman Empire, playing a pivitoal role in supplying the city, then called Constantinople, with a freshwater supply. The Valens Aqueduct can easily be reached from the Old City, as it’s only a few minutes away from the Suleymanie Mosque. Vistiors may also enjoy the three nearby parks, Sarachane Archaeological Park, Fatih Memorial Park and Sarachane Park, each with ruins, sculptures, monuments and green spaces.

Feriköy Flea Market

This is a vast covered market which takes place in Bomonti every weekend. The Feriköy Flea Market and Organic Bazaar offers shopping for fresh vegetables, fruit options, local honeys, cheese and jams sourced from different regions of Turkey. Early on Sundays, there are antique dealers here rather than grocery stalls. The dealers sell a strange range of goods, including vinyl records, original film posters and unique treasures.

Çiçek Pasajı

Also known as the Flower Passage, this is one of Istanbul’s most beautiful arcades. The gorgeous interior is pleasant to walk down, as waiters attempt to coax pedestrians into beer halls and restaurants.

Museum of Innocence

This museum was established after a popular book imagined it. The renowned novelist Orhan Pamuk wrote “The Museum of Innocence” which was nestled in the picturesque neighborhood of Cukurcuma. The museum is interesting for it’s material history, containing photographs and bittersweet objects that reference events and the love story within the novel.

Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı

This is an impressive traditional bathhouse originally designed and constructed between 1578-1583 to serve the levends, the active marine forces in the Ottoman navy. The venue was reopened after extensive restorations in 2012.

Read about unusual things to do in Istanbul and seeing the world by visiting the Leftfade Trails Blog

Affiliate Disclosure: Leftfade Trails contains affiliate links, so using services or products through these links supports the website, at no extra cost to the user. All links are to tested services and products designed to aid travelers on their journeys. Some links specifically connect to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate this website earns from qualifying purchases.