DK Eyewitness - DK Eyewitness Top 10 Istanbul

Clockwise from top: Haghia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Rumeli Hisar Fortress, Eyp Sultan Mosque, the Galata Tower and Golden Horn, Great Palace Mosaic Museum

Istanbul is unique. No other city straddles two continents. No other city has been capital of two mighty empires. Its venerable churches, mosques and palaces do justice to its incredible past. This teeming metropolis of 15 million has a vibrant present, too, as a hotbed of the arts, and a shoppers, clubbers and foodies paradise. With Eyewitness Top 10 Istanbul, it is yours to explore.

The city is defined by the sea. Imagine hopping across the Bosphorus Strait for lunch in Asia; gazing out at the Sea of Marmara from the rooftop of your Sultanahmet hotel; or watching the exotic mosque-filled skyline of the Old City unfold as you go up the Golden Horn on a ferry. Istanbul is a city of contrasts, too. The ancient cathedral of Haghia Sophia is breathtaking; so is the Istanbul Modern gallery. Wander the backstreets of devout Fatih among bearded acolytes from the medreses by day; at night sip a cocktail in a chic rooftop bar in Beyolu, the heart of modern European Istanbul.

It isnt just the Bosphorus that divides Istanbul. The Old City sits on a hilly peninsula pointing at Asia. Here, Byzantine monuments, Ottoman mosques, historic markets such as the Grand Bazaar, and venerable Turkish baths predominate. Across the Golden Horn in Galata and Beyolu, three million shoppers, diners, and bar and gallery hoppers throng stiklal Caddesi, on any given weekend.

Whether youre visiting for a weekend or a week, our Top 10 guide brings together the best of everything the city has to offer, from the best Turkish cuisine to the most magnificent historic monuments. The guide has useful tips throughout, from seeking out whats free to avoiding the crowds, plus eight, easy-to-follow itineraries, designed to tie together a clutch of sights in a short space of time. Add inspiring photography and detailed maps, and youve got the essential pocket-sized travel companion. Enjoy the book, and enjoy Istanbul.

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Two Days in Istanbul

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Day 1

Morning

Admire the soaring dome and glittering mosaics of .

Haghia Sophias massive dome is considered to be the epitome of Byzantine architecture.

Afternoon

Visit the sprawling .

Day 2

Morning

Explore the , full of artifacts from the Ottoman Empires former domains.

Afternoon

Stroll to the top of the Old Citys third hill to the to weave through its 4,000 shops.

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Four Days in Istanbul

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Day 1

Morning

Spend most of the morning in the Byzantine cathedral of .

Afternoon

Catch a ferry up the Golden Horn to Ayvansaray and walk the line of the .

Day 2

Morning

Start fresh in the airy courtyards and pavilions of the .

Afternoon

After exploring the bazaar, walk up to .

Day 3

Morning

Enjoy the splendours of the , home to the later Ottoman sultans.

Dolmabahe Palaces 19th-century clock tower stands on a square along the European waterfront of the Bosphorus.

Afternoon

After exploring Dolmabahe Palace, take a cab up to .

Day 4

All day

Around 10:30am, depart from the Eminn ferry pier on the all-day .

The bustling Eminn ferry pier viewed from the Galata Bridge.

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Top 10 Istanbul Highlights

The monumental Byzantine church of Haghia Sophia

Top 10 Istanbul Highlights

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TOPKAPI PALACE

Fresh from his conquest of Constantinople, Mehmet II built Topkap Saray as his main residence between 1460 and 1478. He planned it as a series of pavilions in four courtyards a tribute in stone to the tent encampments of his nomadic forebears. Mehmets palace was also the seat of government, and had a college for training officials and soldiers. While government moved across the road to the Sublime Porte in the 16th century, Topkap continued as the sultans palace until Abdl Mecit I moved to Dolmabahe Palace in 1856.

The picturesque Topkap Palace

NEED TO KNOW

Babhmayun Cad (0212) 512 04 80 www.topkapisarayi.gov.tr

Palace: open mid-AprSep: 9am7pm WedMon, Octmid-Apr: 9am5pm WedMon; adm 60

Harem: open AprOct: 9am7pm WedMon, NovMar: 9am4:30pm WedMon; adm 35

Haghia Eirene: open mid-AprSep: 9am7pm daily, Octmid-Apr: 9am5pm daily; adm 30

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