A Day In Istanbul

Already five years have passed since I visited Turkey! It was a magical trip with great friends, met there or before. It started in Istanbul, as many trips to Turkey do, I suppose. There are so many things to see and do in the capital. I had decided to take it slow… but of course, I didn’t! Here is the story of my first day in Istanbul, Turkey.

A Day In Istanbul: Let’s Start With Hagia Sofia!

Be Prepared To Queue For A While Unless You Take The No-Queue Ticket

On my first day in Istanbul, I woke up early to avoid the crowds. But when I arrived, there was already a queue. I remained patient and thought that I would buy the No-queue tickets and would use it for the next monuments. Later, I learnt that you don’t have to queue to buy the No-queue tickets, you can buy them at the machines. Makes sense…

I was queuing behind a French couple with two children, and we chatted a little. A few meters away, there was an Asian mother and her child. I think that she was into fashion because she had dressed her son with a sailor shirt and a bobble beanie. It might have been cute, but it seemed completely out of place in that heat. I hoped the little boy wasn’t too hot.

Entering Hagia Sofia

Unfortunately for me, they were renovating the mosque at the time and some walls were hidden by the scaffoldings. But still, it was very impressive. Hagia Sofia is a giant building covered in beautiful decorations. It has a long history.

The mosque was built as a basilica commissioned by Byzantine Emperor Constantius in 360 before Christ. It burned in 404, but was rebuilt in 415. A century later, it burnt again… But a brand new Hagia Sophia rose in 537 and this is the one we can visit today.

When the Ottomans conquered Constantinople in 1453, they renamed the city Istanbul. That’s when Hagia Sofia became a mosque. They made some adjustments in the decorations. For example, Orthodox mosaics were covered with Islamic calligraphy and a nave was created in the wall to show the direction toward Mecca.

A Walk Underground In The Basilica Cistern

Another place I wanted to visit on this first day in Istanbul was the Blue Mosque. However, after learning that it was closed for renovations, I decided to go to the Basilica Cistern. I was very curious about that place. The photos I had seen online were out of this world, and I wanted to know what it looked like for real.

The No-queue ticket didn’t work there, but it was ok as there was not much queue.

Why is it called Basilica Cistern? Because it is a cistern (built to supply water to the palace) and it was located beneath a basilica in the past. Today, the basilica has disappeared.

Was it up to my high expectations? Yes and no. The Basilica Cistern is stunning, very scenic, and looks perfect for photos or movies. But. I didn’t feel any particular emotions there, not like in Hagia Sofia. Maybe not the right moment for me, or maybe too superficial. I don’t know.

Motivated For My First Day In Istanbul: Topkapi Palace

I was really motivated on that first day in Istanbul. After these two iconic monuments, I launched myself into the discovery of the Topkapi Palace. And it’s no small challenge, the palace is big and full of interesting rooms. I learnt a lot there and I loved it!

There too, some parts were closed for renovation, but these were not the most fascinating, and I didn’t mind. The kitchens were not my favorite part of the palace, but I definitely enjoyed visiting the Sultan’s private quarters. So majestic, elaborate and beautiful! Everything was so rich and fabulous that I didn’t know which way to look!

The harem was the peak of my visit, absolutely gorgeous!

One Last Stop Before Concluding This First Day In Istanbul

Before heading back to the hostel and getting some rest, I walked in the historical Gülhane Park. They had just cut the tulips, but I liked it very much anyway. It felt nice to see some trees and flowers.

To see more photos of Turkey, you can visit the gallery Turkey.