The following day was dedicated to Topkapi Sarayi and a small cruise on the Bosporus during the evening/night.
We started our day with some delicious breakfast at Foodie-Ist. They serve breakfast buffet, and it was definitely the best breakfast we got in Istanbul.
Hereafter we went to Topkapi Sarayi for another guided tour. Topkapi Sarayi/Palace is the biggest palace in Istanbul, built during the Middle Ages, and expanded by time. From the 1460s to 1856 it served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire. The construction was ordered by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror in the year 1459, and was originally called the “New Palace”, as there was an older palace located in the Beyazit Square. The palace was expanded over centuries, and ended up consisting of 4 courtyards. The oldest 2 courtyards are particularly marked by the fact, that they were built during the Middle Ages. Inside the gates of the whole palace you’ll also find a church – Hagia Irene.
The whole palace is indeed very beautiful and interesting, and without doubt it is a must visit.
After a quick break, we decided to go visiting the Grand Bazar. But well, A mistakenly guided us to a shop called “The Great Bazar” at first, which was so hilarious 😂😅 But we finally found the Grand Bazar, where we checked out the stores. I bought some persian saffron, a cashmere scarf for my mom, some tea, and some sweets 😄
However, it was just a quick visit, and we walked down the streets to visit Suleimaniye Camii (The Suleimaniye Mosque) – also built during the Ottoman Empire, between 1550 – 1557, and was the largest mosque in Istanbul, until Çamlıca Mosque was inaugurated in 2019. Suleimanii Mosque is indeed a very beautiful and PEACEFUL place.
