Istanbul, Turkey is a beautiful and
elegant city with a rich and multi-layered history. Straddling the mighty
Bosphorus, this city has all of the exciting clubs, stylish restaurants, and
fine shopping of a modern metropolis combined with the stunning architecture
and deep and mysterious atmosphere of an ancient city. With many cheap flights to Turkey available from
cities all over the UK and Europe, it is easy to spend a weekend or longer
exploring Istanbul.
It can be easy to spend a lot of money in
Istanbul, but this city is also friendly to budget travellers. If you just
barely have enough of a travel fund to afford cheap flights to Turkey and a short stay in Istanbul, there will
still be many fun things to do within your price range. If you have booked cheap flights to Turkey and you are
looking for free things to do during your visit, here are some ideas of
activities that won’t cost you a thing:
·
Admire the beautiful cascading
domes and glittering minarets of the Blue Mosque. This amazing historical
building is one of the most impressive religious structures in Turkey and it
was constructed in the 17th century. Its name comes from the 20,000
deep blue tiles that cover the high ceilings. The Blue Mosque is open from
9:30am until 5:30pm every day and admission is free.
·
Hang out in the lovely green
gardens of Gulhane Park, located just outside of Topkapi Palace. This is one of
the largest public parks in Istanbul and in the summertime it is filled with
locals and tourists sitting in the shade of the trees and enjoying live music. The
view of the Bosphorus from the north end of the park is particularly nice.
·
Head to the Ataturk Museum to
learn more about the history of Turkey, including the story of its founder
Mustafa Kemal. The museum is located within his former home and contains three
floors of displays including paintings and personal belongings.
·
The Istanbul Modern is the
first modern arts museum in the city, and has an expansive collection of
interesting photography, new media, cinema, and other thought provoking
artworks. Admission is free every Thursday.
·
You can also visit the Museum
of Painting and Sculpture, which showcases many famous artworks by Turkish
artists as well as international masters such as Henri Matisse and Pablo
Picasso. The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10am until 4:30pm and
admission is free.
·
Breathe in the exotic scents of
the Spice Bazaar by the Galata Bridge. This is one of the oldest covered spice
markets left in the world, and merchants here sell everything from herbs to
nuts to dried fruit and of course, colourful spices of every taste and aroma. A
stroll through this marketplace is an absolute treat for the senses.
·
If you have booked your cheap flights to Turkey in the summer
and are visiting Istanbul during July, you can check out many free concerts in
museums and parks throughout the city during the International Istanbul Jazz
Festival. Past performers have included Imogen Heap, Tony Bennett, and the
Panorama Jazz Band of New Orleans.
These are just a few of the great free attractions that you can
enjoy when you arrive in Istanbul on your cheap
flights to Turkey.
Author
Bio
If you have managed to find some cheap flights to Turkey and are planning
your time in Istanbul, here are some budget-friendly free things to do in the
city.
