7 places you should never visit in Istanbul as a tourist

Intro   

   Some places in Istanbul are only meant to be experienced by locals. Unfortunately, many tourists who come to the city without doing any research end up visiting some of these places,and they’re appalled bywhat they see and experience. To help prevent you from makingthe same mistakes as the average tourist,here are seven places you should never visit in Istanbul as a tourist.

                       

Outlines:

* The city walls

* Historic monuments

* Sultanahmet mosque

* Galata Tower

* Grand Bazaar

* Hagia Sofia museum

* Covered bazaars

The city walls:

Levent and Bakirkoy are two very commercial areas where high rises, office buildings, and restaurants reign supreme. You will probably find yourself caught up in the bustle of these areas if you visit or live there, but if you crave some peace, the well-preserved walls of the city may be your best bet. Taksim is a popular spot for shoppers with outdoor clothing shops and jewelry vendors on every street corner. If you need more than shopping though, just wander to a quieter section nearby, like Fatih (meaning 'old city') or Sirkeci ('charity'). St Regis also includes some less lively sections for those who wish to avoid the chaosof central business districts - naturally, this kind of accommodation doesn't come cheap though!

Historic monuments:

Istanbul can be describe as one of the largest and most famous cities in the world. It is also one of the most visited, with over 15 million tourists annually. In addition to its cultural landmarks, such as Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace, there are many other attractions for travelers to enjoy. With this being said, there are also many areas that travelers should avoid visiting. Levent has become a place where many new hotels have been built and have become an area where traffic congestion often occurs during rush hour. Bakirkoy is another place where traffic can be heavy since it is located on the Asian side of Istanbul, which makes it difficult for those who live on the European side of Istanbul to commute to work without first crossing over the bridge that separates Europe from Asia.

 

Sultanahmet mosque:

The first place to avoid is the Sultanahmet mosque. Located on Sultanahmet Square, this mosque requires any visitors to have an appointment made in advance. Otherwise, they are not allowed inside of the worship area and can only observe outside of it. The square area does have cafes and historic sites to check out, but make sure you take notice that anything that happens inside is strictly for people of a particular religious sect.

Istanbul's second avoidable spot is Levent, located just on the outskirts of the city center. If your interest lies in luxury brands and upscale shops, then head down there for some good shopping opportunities.

Galata Tower:

                  The Galata Tower, located in the affluent suburb of levent, is the city's only remaining medieval tower and is the most popular historical landmark for tourists. However, because it was commissioned to protect Constantinople during the siege of 1453 and was not meant to be accessible by outsiders or locals, climbing to the top means navigating two treacherous winding staircases inside a crumbling spiral staircase with no railing. Visiting this tower will provide wonderful views of Taksim Istanbul and Sultanahmet Istanbul, but one also runs a high risk of injuring themselves or dying during their climb upits dizzying heights.

Grand Bazaar:

Leventis one of the most up-and-coming neighborhoods in Istanbul. It's home to many of the city'stallest buildings and hotels, including the Swissotel Istanbul. Bakirkoy was formerly outside the city but has since been absorbed into its boundaries, making it part of metropolitan Istanbul. These days it is mainly residential with some industrial activity too. Taksim is one of the more central areas of town that still retains an air of urbanity about it. If you're looking for cosmopolitan decadence amid some rather jarring security presence and barricades then this could be your spot. Fatih makes for a great day out due to its proximity to many historical sites on offer.

Hagia Sofia museum:

Hagia Sofia Museum is now home to new additions of architecture, art, furniture, and design from the Ottoman Empire and has become one of the most comprehensive museums of Islamic art in the world. After undergoing restoration for over 8 years, Hagia Sophia Museum continues to be a haven for more than 1 million visitors per year.1-5) Taksim Istanbul (1), st Regis Istanbul (2), levent Istanbul (3), ritz Carlton Istanbul (4), fatih Istanbul 

Covered bazaars:

 Bazaars are places where things are sold. In Turkey, it's typical to find these types of shops in central neighborhoods like Levent and Bakirkoy. You can also find bazaars in less obvious locations like Istiklal Street, Taksim, and all around Sultanahmet Square, Eminonu, and Karakoy. One of the biggest bazaars is Eminonu Market Hall where you can find almost anything imaginable from leather jackets to cakes or olive oil.