Стамбул - город тысячи минаретов. Istanbul is a city of a thousand minarets.

For the first visit to Istanbul, we chose a hotel with the most suitable location - within walking distance of all the main attractions. And we stopped at the Ipek Palace hotel. An excellent choice for those who need a comfortable and inexpensive hotel! Settled in 5 minutes, issued a map of the city and a password for wi-fi. The room provided was small but very comfortable. The double room has three beds, a wardrobe, a mirror with a table, a TV and a minibar. There is a kettle and free tea and coffee. Also in the room there are slippers, well, soap, shampoo, etc. Breakfast is very diverse - soups, a huge number of salads and all kinds of snacks. Everything is very tasty! Now about the location - to the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia - 10 minutes on foot. To the Galata Bridge - 7 minutes. To the Grand Bazaar and the Suleymaniye Mosque - about 20 minutes on foot. Near the hotel there are a huge number of restaurants and cafes, so there will be no problems where to have lunch and dinner. Istanbul is amazing!! ! A stunning city with its own special, unlike anyone else's taste! Three days were enough to see all the most interesting. On the first day, we started from the Hippodrome, which, by the way, has nothing to see, the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Entrance to Sofia costs 25 lira and you should definitely visit it! Islamic inscriptions next to Christian frescoes - you will not see this anywhere else! The Blue Mosque is striking in its grandeur! Huge, beautiful, and, it seems, eternal! And the seagulls circling above it give a special, Istanbul flavor! After visiting the Blue Mosque, we went down to the Bosphorus. . . the path is not short, we walked through the streets through the streets, where you can feel the real Turkey. . A walk along the Golden Horn is an indescribable pleasure!! ! Huge merchant ships, picturesque views of the opposite shore. . . Very nice! Along the embankment we reached the Galata Bridge. From there, every half an hour, steamboats depart, rolling tourists along the strait. . . all the pleasure costs 12 lire, and there are a lot of impressions !! ! Don't forget to buy bread and feed the seagulls! Upon returning from a boat trip, you can return to the hotel through the Egyptian Bazaar, which is located immediately behind the Yeni Mosque, near the Galata Bridge. At the bazaar you can taste Turkish sweets and buy souvenirs. the first half of the second day was dedicated to the Topkapi Palace. An incredible building in its beauty and very interesting in terms of history. The ticket costs 40 lira and includes a visit to the palace (25 lira) and the harem (15 lira). On the territory of the palace there are the most interesting expositions - the clock room, the room with weapons, with ancient clothes, jewelry and Islamic relics, such as the footprint of the Prophet Muhammad and the staff of the prophet Yusef. The palace has several viewing platforms that offer stunning views of the Bosphorus. After Topkapi we visited the Basilica Cistern (10 lire). The entrance to it is inconspicuous, but is located very close to Hagia Sophia. Curious place, mysterious! From the Basilica, along Divan Yolu Street, we went to the Suleymaniye Mosque, the very one where Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent is buried. The mosque is large, beautiful, the entrance to it is free. Right behind it there is a place with another view of the Bosphorus, from where you get great photos. . And if you go beyond the territory of the mosque at the back, you can find a small cafe with a terrace, and drink a cup of coffee, admiring the panoramic view of Istanbul! The third day started with a visit to the Grand Bazaar, which is more like a museum. Endless rows with all kinds of goods! Then we went to the opposite bank, crossing the Galata bridge. It has a huge number of fishermen, without whom this bridge will cease to be itself. On the opposite bank, we quickly found the Galata Tower, which, fortunately, is climbed by an elevator (25 lira). The view from there is breathtaking! I highly recommend climbing the tower only on a clear day! From the tower we walked to Istiklal Street. A very crowded street, with the most ordinary shops, as in any European city. You won't lose anything if you don't see her! In conclusion, I want to say that Istanbul is a must to visit!! !