Activities&Places In Istanbul city
I am talking about the colour of the cypresses, the forests in the valleys, abandoned wooden houses, rusted boats in bad condition, the poetry of the ships and the villas on the straits that only those who have spent their lives on these shores can understand.

These are the words of the Turkish writer and Nobel laureate, Ohran Pamuk, who in his most famous book, Istanbul, describes his native city with great intensity.
And it is true that Istanbul, a city suspended between East and West, charms and fascinates its visitors with its cultural mix and its unparalleled ambiance !
If you visit it for the first time, here are the 20 things you absolutely need to do and see in Istanbul !

1. Enjoy a fish sandwich on the Galata bridge

Less well-known than the döner kebap (mentioned later in this article), the "balık ekmek" , this small fish sandwich served with pickles is one of the must-have foods of the local "street food"! You will find them near the Galata Bridge but also in the less touristic areas of Beykoz and Yeniköy.
Source: LWYang (Flickr)

2. Visit the Blue Mosque


Built between 1609 and 1616, the Blue Mosque is the main attraction for visiting Istanbul. It owes its name to the ceramics that decorate its interior. It is one of the most visited historical monuments in Istanbul and by discovering its beautiful Iznik earthenware you will quickly understand why !
Source : Davis Doherty (Flickr)
Address : Sultan Ahmet Mahallesi, Atmeydanı Cd. No:7
To get there : Tram stop Sultanahmet
Opening hours: open to the public every day outside the prayer times.
Rates: free admission.

4. Negotiate lamps or tea services from the Grand Bazaar


Spread over 200,000 m2, the Grand Bazaar is well named ! It is indeed the largest in the world and you will find everything in its 4000 shops: jewelry, lamps, carpets, fabrics, leathers, etc. It is