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Istanbul Travel Blog

An Insider's Guide to Istanbul

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Istanbul Tourist Map as PDF files [Free Download 2024]

17 May 2024 by Serhat Engul

As a local guide, I aimed to provide up-to-date information to those who want to study the Istanbul tourist map before planning a trip to the city. Below you can find maps of Istanbul tourist attractions as free downloadable PDF files. In the article, you can see a compilation of Istanbul maps provided by Turkish Airlines, Istanbul Municipality and Google. I made minor … [Read more...] about Istanbul Tourist Map as PDF files [Free Download 2024]

Istanbul Metro & Tram Map PDF [Free Download 2024]

18 May 2024 by Serhat Engul

The public transportation network in Istanbul has developed rapidly in recent years. In this article, you can find the tram, ferry and metro map of Istanbul updated for 2024. There are links to full resolution maps in the article, as well as downloadable PDF files (for free). For those who visit Istanbul, it is essential to visit Sultanahmet (Old City), Beyoglu (Taksim), … [Read more...] about Istanbul Metro & Tram Map PDF [Free Download 2024]

ISTANBUL MOSQUES Opening Hours (Updated 2025)

28 August 2025 by Serhat Engul

If you want to understand Istanbul, you have to step into its mosques. From the iconic domes of Ottoman imperial mosques to the tranquil neighborhood sanctuaries built in the Republic era, these sacred spaces offer much more than religious function. They are places where architecture, history, and daily life still breathe together—often with birdsong in the courtyard and the … [Read more...] about ISTANBUL MOSQUES Opening Hours (Updated 2025)

MUSEUM PASS Istanbul Worth It? (Updated 2025)

24 August 2025 by Serhat Engul

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Are you planning a culture-filled trip to Istanbul and wondering whether the Museum Pass Istanbul is worth it? You’re in the right place. As a licensed tour guide who has been helping travelers explore this magnificent city for over two decades, I’ve seen firsthand how valuable this pass can be — especially if you plan to visit several museums over a few days. During … [Read more...] about MUSEUM PASS Istanbul Worth It? (Updated 2025)

Topkapi Palace Entrance Fee & Hours [Updated 2025]

7 September 2025 by Serhat Engul

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Where power once wore silk robes and whispered behind golden screens, Topkapi Palace rises like a dream of empire. For nearly 400 years, this sprawling complex served as the beating heart of the Ottoman dynasty — a city within a city, veiled in ceremony, secrecy, and splendor. From jeweled daggers to shadowy courtyards, it holds stories not only of sultans, but of eunuchs, … [Read more...] about Topkapi Palace Entrance Fee & Hours [Updated 2025]

Dolmabahce Palace Entry Fee & Hours [Updated 2025]

24 August 2025 by Serhat Engul

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Where the Bosphorus meets the sky in a shimmer of silver and blue, Dolmabahce Palace rises like a final verse in the poem of an empire. With crystal chandeliers grander than any ballroom waltz, and staircases that seem to float in air, this palace tells the story not of conquest — but of elegance, longing, and change. Built in the twilight of the Ottoman era, Dolmabahce … [Read more...] about Dolmabahce Palace Entry Fee & Hours [Updated 2025]

GALATA TOWER Entrance Fee & Hours [Updated 2025]

24 August 2025 by Serhat Engul

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Where the rooftops of old Istanbul meet the seagulls and sky, Galata Tower rises like a storybook sentinel. Built by Genoese merchants, crowned by Ottoman watchmen, and now embraced by selfie-takers from around the globe — this stone giant has watched empires rise, ships sail, and dreams take flight. Climb its spiral stairs or glide up the elevator, and you’ll find one of … [Read more...] about GALATA TOWER Entrance Fee & Hours [Updated 2025]

BOSPHORUS CRUISE Prices in Istanbul [Updated 2025]

22 August 2025 by Serhat Engul

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Most first-time visitors to Istanbul start their journey with the historic sites around Sultanahmet — Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Hippodrome. While these landmarks are essential, they only reveal one side of Istanbul’s story. To truly grasp the scale and beauty of this city, you need to get out on the water — and a Bosphorus Cruise is the perfect way to do it. A … [Read more...] about BOSPHORUS CRUISE Prices in Istanbul [Updated 2025]

Basilica Cistern Entrance Fee & Hours [Updated 2025]

7 September 2025 by Serhat Engul

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Beneath the buzzing streets of Istanbul lies a quiet world of shadows and echoes — the Basilica Cistern. Built in the twilight of the Eastern Roman Empire, this underground palace of marble columns and dark waters has whispered its secrets for over 1,500 years. As lantern light glimmers across its still surface, you’ll feel the hush of history surrounding you. As a licensed … [Read more...] about Basilica Cistern Entrance Fee & Hours [Updated 2025]

Hagia Sophia Entrance Fee & Hours [Updated for 2025]

7 September 2025 by Serhat Engul

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Rising in golden harmony where empires once rose and fell, Hagia Sophia is more than a monument — it's a living archive of Istanbul’s soul. From cathedral to mosque, museum to mosque again, its soaring dome and fading mosaics have silently witnessed the prayers, power, and poetry of 1,500 years. As a licensed tour guide with decades of experience sharing its stories with … [Read more...] about Hagia Sophia Entrance Fee & Hours [Updated for 2025]

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Istanbul Guided Tours

blankHello, I'm Serhat Engul. I am a licensed tour guide based in Istanbul. I do private walking tours in Istanbul focusing on Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman history. If you want to join a private guided tour in Istanbul, you can check out my references and tours from this page

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Istanbul Travel Blog

Istanbul Travel Blog is designed to introduce you to the history, museums, restaurants and culture of istanbul.

Private Tour Guide in Istanbul

Author of this blog, Serhat Engul, is a licensed tour guide based in Istanbul.

Recent

  • Half-Day Tours in Istanbul [by Local Tour Guide 2024]
  • Istanbul Tourist Map as PDF files [Free Download 2024]
  • Istanbul Metro & Tram Map PDF [Free Download 2024]
  • ISTANBUL MOSQUES Opening Hours (Updated 2025)
  • FENER BALAT Walking Tour (with Private Guide) 2025

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