Tourist Attractions & Monuments Istanbul

This passage was conceived in 1885 by a businessman from Aleppo in Syria. It housed the Pera circus at the rear, a theatre and opera room as well as specialized music stores. Even after numerous alterations and restorations, this theatre still remains (Ferhan Şensoy Tiyatrosu): of modern appearance, it mainly attracts a young clientele. Cinémas and Pera cinemas. By its functions, this passage is very lively, especially in the evening.

The convent and its annex buildings were built in 1703 by Sultanahmet III. The ensemble consists of a Tevhidhane for ceremonies, a section for women and another for men, and mausoleums. The structure of the convent has hardly changed since its foundation. The particularity of Cerrahi dervishes is to pray while singing while others dance in a circle. Those who sing are also called howler dervishes in opposition to dancers or turners.

Cem Cayan was born in Istanbul, works in tourism and knows Istanbul like the back of his hand. In almost perfect French, he offers "classic" tours of Istanbul (Palace Topkapı, Blue Mosque...) or "tailor-made" according to your wishes. He can organize a thematic program: participation in conferences, concerts, meetings with Turks of all social levels or with a certain trade, have you participate in a meal with the locals, walk through the interesting suburban districts. All you have to do is ask!

Completed in 1571, it is one of the works of the architect Sinan. The complex consists of a mosque, a medersa, a dervish convent and an ablution fountain. The building is decorated with 16th-century Iznik tiles. The dervish convent consists of a central space topped by a dome and ritual ceremonial rooms(semahan) extending to the sides. The mosque contains four fragments of the Black Stone of Mecca.

This agency has a team of French-speaking guides certified by the State, passionate and in love with their country. The team, led by Dündar Karabenli, guide since 1985, will take you on a superb journey through Turkey. Specialists in history, society, or storytellers of crisp anecdotes, these guides will be precious assets to discover this magnificent country that is Turkey. The proposed tours are adaptable to your desires. Futé : the website of the agency (www.toutelaturquie.com) is a good advice to prepare your stay.

A cruise on the Bosphorus? The state-owned company remains the best alternative, both in terms of its very attractive price and its schedule (and safety) advantages. What's more, it's the only one to sail up to the Black Sea, as far as Anadolu Kavağı. Passengers are more Stamboulians than tourists. For timetables, it's best to get them from the website. Only one boat in winter. The big vapur, the water bus, departs from the "Boğaz iskelesi" pier in Eminönü. Its terminus is Anadolu Kavağı.

Named after a Turkish architect, and not our famous singer, this passage was built in 1883 and restored in 1993. It once housed the Café du Commerce. Shortly after the entrance, souvenir shops of all kinds. It extends over two floors. On the left, you can take a staircase to the basement. There is a bar, comic book shops (only in Turkish) and clothing shops. There is also a billiard room and a sports hall.

It is more of a han (commercial patio) than a passage. Built in the early 19th century in neoclassical architecture, it was used by the Russian consulate until 1924 and was also used as a prison. Recently restored with its salmon-coloured facade, this building unfortunately no longer has much to do with what it used to be. It still has an inner courtyard and now houses some shops and the illusion museum.

This Lego temple is designed for the pleasure of children and their companions. Composed of a Miniland (Lego amusement park), a "Space Mission" area, workshops, shops, a 4D cinema, a visit to the Lego factory, laser games, this Lego park does not leave its visitors, young and old, indifferent. Ideal for families and weekdays but to avoid on Saturdays or risk a severe migraine at the end of the day because of all the screams of the crowd of children. Your eardrums, it's not sure, but your children will thank you!

This museum is the work of the Suna-Inan Foundation Kıraç. He gave the art world and the city of Istanbul an invaluable gift. On five floors, the museum occupies a completely refurbished 1893 building, where works of art from the couple's private collection are displayed. The works are exhibited by theme. The first floor is structured around the Weights and Measures of Anatolia and the Earthenware and Ceramics of Kütahya. The first part is presented as the only collection on this scale in the field: it contains various instruments used in Anatolia over the years. Kütahya's collection includes more than 400 pieces. If you have visited the Topkapı palace beforehand, the second floor will be a perfect addition. In a spacious and airy setting, paintings on the Ottoman Empire are displayed. You can see, spread mainly over the last two centuries, portraits of the sultan but also paintings of the orientalist current, the last one being the imaginary reflection of the painters of the time, since no one was allowed to enter a harem. The foundation of many fantasies in the West, Western literature has been strongly imbued with them, thus mixing imagination with reality. The painting called The Turtle Tamer is presented as the most expensive in the collection. As for the top three floors, they are reserved for occasional exhibitions designed to showcase young talents, representing various trends.