Things to Do Near Blue Mosque Istanbul

Istanbul Bosphorus, being one of the most important and popular tourist regions, going on a Bosphorus Cruise Tour is one of the top things to do near Blue Mosque Istanbul. Hop over to this cruise to look at the iconic monuments from the Byzantine and Ottoman periods and learn more about Turkish history. You can witness iconic landmarks such as Dolmabahçe Palace, and Beylerbeyi Palace, and enjoy live entertainment such as Belly dancing and much more on the cruise.

When looking for things to do near Blue Mosque Istanbul, you cannot miss visiting Turkey's biggest palace. The Dolmabahce Palace is one of the most magnificent palaces built by the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century. Explore the royal 285 rooms, 44 halls, 6 hammams, and 68 washrooms of the palace. This place also has the largest collections of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers in the world, for you to admire. You can also go on a Palace tour and look at the beautiful architecture of the entire place.

Also Checkout: Dolmabahce Palace Opening Hours

This Medieval tower built-in 1348 by the Byzantine emperor is one of the most popular tourist attractions in all of Istanbul. The Ottomans used the Galata Tower as a fire detention tower before Sultan Suleiman, "The magnificent" converted it into a prison. The tower now has restaurants and cafes on the upper floors and a nightclub where you can watch Turkish shows, making visiting the Galata tower one of the top activities to do near Blue Mosque Istanbul. You can also find many local shops and stalls on the street where you can purchase souvenirs.

Once the world's largest domed building, the Glorious Hagia Sophia is a beauty and a treat to your eyes. You can enter this magnificent building and admire the architecture from the upper gallery. Hagia Sophia was a church when it was first built but was later made into a mosque and is one of the most important monuments of both the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires.

The Mosque is open for visitors every day and visiting and admiring its beauty is one of the best things to do near Blue Mosque Istanbul. A proper dress code has to be followed to enter inside and women are expected to cover their arms and legs before entering.

One of the largest ancient cisterns below the city, Basilica Cistern used to provide a water purification system for the Constantinople Palace and also the Topkapi Palace. This Underground chamber is 138 meters and can hold 80,000 cubic meters of water. Built by Justinian, this Basilica Cistern is now another famous tourist attraction. You can walk along with the wooden platforms and feel the water dripping from the vaulted ceiling which is supported by 336 marble columns.

Also known as Hippodrome, exploring Sultanahmet Square is one of the top things to do near Blue Mosque Istanbul. The Sultanahmet Square is a popular meeting point from where you can head over to Istanbul's iconic landmarks such as the Blue Mosque and the Topkapi Palace Museum. Built by Constantine the Great, Sultanahmet Square is an excellent place to enjoy a peaceful atmosphere. You can also head over to many cafes and restaurants around to spend a relaxing evening.

Known as one of the world's greatest shopping destinations, shopping at Grand Bazaar is one of the best activities to do near Blue Mosque Istanbul for Shopaholics. Built in 1461, the Grand Bazaar is known for selling the authentic Turkish Carpets and Kilims and many other Turkish textiles. You can also see many modern lamps and lanterns, ceramics, metalware, jewelry, hammam accessories, fashion accessories, and spices. A great place to purchase souvenirs, the grand bazaar has hundreds of stalls and stores to choose from.

If you love learning history and looking at artifacts, visiting the Archaeology Museum in Istanbul needs to be on the top of your list. The museum has three separate complexes The Museum of the Ancient Orient, which displays many artifacts from the Middle east's pre-Islamic heritage. The main Archaeology Museum showcasing Istanbul's history and statuary and tombs. The Tiled Pavilion is known to have a wide range of ceramic art for visitors to adore.

Built by Sultan Suleyman, "the magnificent", this mosque is one of the other famous landmarks in Istanbul. With a 53-meter-high dome, the mosque has amazing architecture that took 8 years to build this iconic monument. The mosque has been designed to get natural lighting with 32 windows, offering an amazing aesthetic for visitors to admire. You can also witness the tombs in the courtyard of Suleyman the Magnificent and his wife Hurrem Sultan.