Title: Visit Istanbul: Best of Istanbul Tourism | Expedia Travel Guide - Expedia.ca

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# Istanbul

## Türkiye

![The Blue Mosque with crescent moon (new moon) -Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey.](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/654078240806088704/d6854797-13b2-421b-ab19-53c9b43e0731.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

![The Blue Mosque with crescent moon (new moon) -Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey.](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/654078240806088704/d6854797-13b2-421b-ab19-53c9b43e0731.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

![The Sultanahmet Mosque (also known as the Blue Mosque because of the blue tiles that are used to decorate the interior) is one of the grandest and most famous mosques in Istanbul.

The mosque was criticized early on for having 6 minarets – the same number of the Great Mosque in Mecca. Sultan Ahmet overcame this problem by ordering a 7th minaret to be built at the Great Mosque.

One local anecdote claims that the original design called for several gold minarets. The architect realized that there wasn't enough gold in the empire to construct gold minarets, so he built six minarets instead. When questioned about his decision, the architect claimed that he mistakenly heard the instruction to be six ("altı" in Turkish) minarets rather than gold ("altın" in Turkish) minarets.

#StunningStructures #Trovember](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/1639/2ba40ddf-29c8-43f2-931c-6364b4204538.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

![These fabulous gates are in the grounds of the palace and that's the Bosporus you see beyond! #river #palaces](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/1639/e5a5398a-ac01-4b64-ac29-b97d3238147a.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

![Istanbul](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/1639/1c3229fb-8906-439a-98f6-e5f69f7244df.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=1040&h=580&q=mediumHigh)

### Popular cities in Istanbul

[Istanbul

Known for Dining, Historical and Shopping

](https://expedia.ca/Istanbul.dx178267)

Turkey’s largest city is both European and Asian and has been part of many empires. As a result, Istanbul is modern and traditional, familiar and exotic.

## Reasons to visit

- Hagia Sophia
- Blue Mosque
- Galata Tower

[Explore city](https://expedia.ca/Istanbul.dx178267)[Find hotels](https://expedia.ca/Istanbul-Hotels.d178267.Travel-Guide-Hotels)

## Cities in Istanbul

![Istanbul](https://images.trvl-media.com/place/178267/528fc850-021d-4d9e-a408-5ae238cb5810.jpg?impolicy=fcrop&w=512&h=288&q=medium)

### Istanbul (and vicinity)

Turkey’s largest city is both European and Asian and has been part of many empires. As a result, Istanbul is modern and traditional, familiar and exotic.

![](https://a.travel-assets.com/mad-service/footer/bnaBanners/BEX_Footer.jpg)

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