Hello, I am Serhat Engul. I am a private tour guide in Istanbul, Turkey. I was born in 1980 in the Old City of Istanbul. I later settled on the Asian side of Istanbul and have been living here for a long time. So I had the chance to get to know every neighborhood of the city. History of Rome and Byzantium I am very curious about the history of Rome and its continuation, … [Read more...] about Private Tour Guide in Istanbul, Turkey
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Things to Know About Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is the most precious historical building in Istanbul. Hagia Sophia, which is visited by an average of three million people a year, has become a mosque again since 2020. In this article, you can find things to know while visiting Hagia Sophia. Since Hagia Sophia is no longer a museum, you do not need to buy a ticket at the entrance. However, due to security … [Read more...] about Things to Know About Hagia Sophia
Istanbul Metro and Public Transport Map
The most popular vehicles for public transportation in Istanbul are metro, marmaray, tram and ferry. Thanks to these vehicles, it is possible to travel from one end of Istanbul to the other. However, as the public transport system in Istanbul is constantly expanding, the Istanbul Metro Map also needs to be constantly updated. Istanbul public transport map is updated every … [Read more...] about Istanbul Metro and Public Transport Map
Best Area to Stay in Istanbul 2021
You may be confused when you check the map to find the best area to stay in Istanbul. Because there are various accommodation options all over Istanbul. While luxury hotels and convention centers attract attention in some parts of Istanbul, there are budget-friendly boutique hotels in other places. When considering where to stay in Istanbul, the first places that come to … [Read more...] about Best Area to Stay in Istanbul 2021
Topkapi Palace Ticket Price and Hours
Topkapi Palace is among the most visited museums in Istanbul. You can find brief information about the history and architecture of the palace in this article. In addition, Topkapi Palace ticket price and opening hours are also noted. You can also find a link at the end of the article where you can buy online tickets for Topkapi Palace in advance. If you get these recommended … [Read more...] about Topkapi Palace Ticket Price and Hours
Dolmabahce Palace Ticket Price & Hours
Dolmabahce Palace is a magnificent palace built in the last years of the Ottoman Empire. You can find brief information about the history and architecture of the palace in this article. Dolmabahce Palace ticket price & opening hours are also noted. Before the article, I would like to give you a tip for fast entry to the palace. There are long lines at the ticket offices … [Read more...] about Dolmabahce Palace Ticket Price & Hours
Istanbul Museums Entry Fees and Hours
Entry fees and visiting hours of Istanbul Museums change every year. For this reason, the article needs to be updated frequently. Even the statuses of some museums have changed since 2018, when I first wrote this article. For example, Hagia Sophia and Kariye are no longer museums. Both of them started serving as mosques and are now possible to visit for free. On the other … [Read more...] about Istanbul Museums Entry Fees and Hours
Istanbul Museum Pass Worth It? 2021
Istanbul Museum Pass is a useful tool for those who want to visit museums in Istanbul. It provides cheaper entrance compared to normal museum tickets and saves you from waiting in front of the ticket offices. In this article, I would like to introduce you to the museum card of Istanbul. Types of Museum Cards in Turkey Turkey is the 6th largest tourism country in the … [Read more...] about Istanbul Museum Pass Worth It? 2021
Istanbul Byzantine Tour
Istanbul a city steeped in history that dates back around 2,700 years. It’s a city that is home to over 15 million people and served as the capital for the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empire. Although Istanbul has become a modern city today, churches, walls, monuments and ruins from the Byzantine period can still be seen. Istanbul Byzantine Tour will help you understand this … [Read more...] about Istanbul Byzantine Tour
Hagia Sophia Guided Tour Options
Hagia Sophia is the most precious jewel of Istanbul with its history going back 1500 years. Hagia Sophia is at the top of everyone's list of things to do in Istanbul. In this article, you can find both the Hagia Sophia guided tour options and the necessary information for the self-guided tour. This post is quite long as it's an article where you can find everything about … [Read more...] about Hagia Sophia Guided Tour Options