My beautiful Istanbul

Istikal caddesi

Dear friends i want to recomended to you walking on the busiest street in Istanbul. You can see there many colorful buildings, chirpy people, feasts, concerts, cinemas… You are in the hearth of Istanbul. It is the most active street of Istanbul and there are numerous shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, book shops on Istiklal Street which is rather crowded at any time of the day and year.
All shops cafes etc are open till late hours.



This street lay between the most popular and busy square of Istanbul, Taksim and Tunel (underground). If you go to Istiklal Street for shopping The Aznavur Arcade, Atlas Arcade and Markiz Arcade are must sees.
 






















While you are walking, also you will be surprised how many small passages seem to be hidden on the way. One of those passages is "Cicek Pasaji" or "Flower passage" on a rococo style erected at 1876 which is famous with its restaurants, fish market and small shops. 

We definitely recommend you to walk on Istiklal Street. This is the best way that you can have an idea on how the Turks live their daily life. Walking ahead you will see the old beautiful red color tram which was renovated and still used. The best thing is walking until the end and taking the tram to come back.













Walking straight just one way without stopping might take around 20 minutes. There is St. Antoine Church on the Istiklal Avenue which is like a haven for everyone to have few silent minutes.

Istanbul Museum Pass

What Is the Istanbul Museum Pass, and Should I Get One?

Is the Museum Pass Istanbul something I should apply for? I get this question a lot from people planning to visit the Turkish metropolitan. Unfortunately, there is no straightforward answer to this question.

It all depends on what you plan to visit and/or whether you mind standing (for a long time) in a queue or not. So let me explain what the Istanbul Museum Pass is, what you can (not) do with it, whether it’s right for you, and how you can get one.

What Is the Istanbul Museum Pass?

The Museum Pass is a one-time payment card that provides you access to historical museums and cultural points of interest in Istanbul. There are two types (see below). Both are valid for a certain amount of days, starting from the moment you first use it (not the moment you bought it).

Is the MüzeKart the same as the Museum Pass?

No. The Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry introduced the MüzeKart in 2008. It was, and still is, a huge success among Turkish citizens. It also drew the attention of tourists, but they were (and are) not allowed to buy one. This outcry resulted in the creation of a separate card, the Museum Pass Istanbul.

The MüzeKart is valid for 300+ museums nationwide. Only Turkish nationals and foreigners with a residence permit can obtain it.

The Museum Pass Istanbul is for tourists visiting the metropolitan, hence providing access to a limited amount of venues.

So, as a tourist, the Museum Pass is the one and only card you can apply for!

What Sightseeing Spots Can You Visit with the Museum Pass?

There are currently two types of museum cards – a 3-day and a 5-day card. Please read the specifics and pricing for each below.

Three Day Museum Pass

This card includes free access to the following areas of interest:

• Hagia Sophia
• Topkapi Palace (the Harem within the palace is not included)
• Hagia Irene
• Istanbul Archaeological Museums
• Istanbul Mosaic Museum
• Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts ( currently closed because of maintenance work)
• Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam

 Five Day Museum Pass

In addition to the above mentioned venues, this museum card includes free access to the following areas of interest:

• Chora Church or Mosaic Museum
• Galata Mevlevi House Museum
• Yıldız Palace Museum
• Rumeli Hisar Museum
• Fethiye Museum

Other Discounts

The card, regardless whether you chose the three or five day one, also includes discounts ranging from 10 to 20% in various sightseeing spots as well as shops across Istanbul. The list is too long to include here, but let me highlight a few that may interest you:

• Istanbul Aquarium
• Maiden Tower
• Rahmi M. Koç Museum
• Sakip Sabanci Museum

You can find the full list and the amount of discounts here.

What Are the Advantages of the Museum Pass?

The most important advantage is the ease of use. You no longer need to stand in line to buy your tickets and/or queue to get in.

Also, if you plan to visit all of the above mentioned places, you spend less money. If you don’t plan to visit all, you’ll probably spend more, but still have the ease of use.

How Much Does the Istanbul Museum Pass Cost?

The 3-day Museum Pass costs 85 TL per person. The 5-day Museum Pass costs 115 TL per person. There is also a 2,5 TL fee for administration and shipping, regardless of the amount of cards you order for your family or party. Every card has the applicant’s name on it, and you may be asked to provide identification when entering.

Children under the age of 12 years enter for free in the included venues, so no need to buy a card for them.

How Can I Get a Museum Pass?

As a Witt Istanbul Hotel resident, you can order it on-line prior to your visit and have the card(s) delivered to the hotel, waiting for you and ready to use upon your arrival.

Click on this link to buy the Museum Pass Istanbul, and follow the on-screen instructions

1. Select the amount of cards you want
2. Make sure to provide the correct personal information as well as credit card details
3. IMPORTANT! In the address part, make sure to enter Witt Istanbul Hotel’s address:

   Witt Istanbul Hotel
   Defterdar Yokusu No:26, Cihangir
   34433 Beyoglu, Istanbul

In case you don’t stay in our hotel, no need to despair, you can still buy the card in the following places:

• Topkapi Palace Museum
• Hagia Sophia Museum
• Chora Museum
• Istanbul Mosaic Museum
• Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
• Istanbul Archaeological Museums

Beautiful Seven hills of Istanbul

The seven hills are  located in the area within the walls. Six of them  lie among the Golden Horn, while the seventh lies more  close to Marmara sea. On  each hill we can admire monumental religious buildings (churches under the Byzantines, imperial mosques under the Ottomans).

The first hill – Topkapı palace hill with heihg 30 – 40 metres is located on historical peninsula. This hill was always center of  public  life.  On this  hill we  can admire  bot the Bisantine and  Ottoman buildings.  Such  the Hagia Sofia, the Sultan Ahmed mosque, Topkapi palace, the Ibrahim Pasa palace, Hipodrome, and  so many  others ...

On the second hill  50 m  above the  sea  are to be found the Nuruosmaniye Mosque, Grand Bazaar and Column of Constantine. The second hill is divided from the first by a fairly deep valley running from Babiali on the east Eminönü.

The third hill  - Beyazid hill  60 m hill  It is  occupied by the main buildings of Istanbul University, the Bayezid II Mosque to the south and the Süleymaniye Mosque on the north. The southern slopes of the hill descend to Kumkapi and Langa.

The fourth hill- Fatih hill  was one of the most prestigious. During the  Byzantine  there  stood the Church of the Holy Apostles and then  Ottoman was  the Fatih Mosque and Külliye built  there. It  slopes down rather steeply to the Golden Horn on the north and, rather more gently, to Aksaray on the south.

On the fifth hill – Yavuzselim hill  we find the Mosque of Sultan Selim. The fifth and the sixth hills are separated by the valley running down on the west to Balat on the shore of the Golden Horn.

On the sixth hill – Edirnekapı hill   is highest one  from  seven hills  reaching an altitude of 70 meters.  There  are to be found the districts of Edirnekapı and Ayvansaray. Its gentle slopes run out beyond the line of thedefense walls.  We  can admire  here beautiful work of architect Sinan including Mihrimah Sultan Mosque.

The seventh hill, known in Byzantine times as the Xērolophos , or "dry hill," it extends from Aksaray to the Theodosian Walls and the Marmara. It is a broad hill with three summits producing a triangle with apices at Topkapı, Aksaray, and Yedikule. During  the  Ottoman period was  built  here the Haseki Külliye, Haseki *sultan Mosque and Bayrampaşa  too.