What makes your Erasmus internship experience more exciting is definitely to go to tourist attractions for sightseeing. Not only you can have a great time in the city of Istanbul, but also you can learn more about the history and architecture in this city that you call as home during your Erasmus internship. Here is a guide to give you suggestions of places to visit in Istanbul! In this part 1 of the touristic attraction series, I will focus on the Beşiktaş district for some tourist hot spots to visit!
Bebek
Translating into English, the Turkish word “Bebek” means “baby”. It is in the Beşiktaş district along the Bosphorus in the European side of Istanbul. With its prime location, Ottoman aristocrats selected this area to build summer houses back in the 19th century. As a result, many locals believe that Bebek is a wealthier area in Istanbul, as the cost of living in this area is also higher accordingly. Coming to Bebek for sightseeing, you can walk in one of the best sidewalk areas along with the Bosphorus. After that, you can stop by some local cafes or restaurants while enjoying the nice views.
Ortaköy
While also in Beşiktaş, you can take a ferry or walk to Ortaköy from Bebek. One of the most significant dishes in Ortaköy is “kumpir”, which is baked potatoes with a pile of various fillings. The experience of being there makes this local dish even more amazing! The street vendors from different stores will try to get your attention to get kumpir from them. Some of them may speak in several foreign languages to get your attention to go to their booths. The vendors encourage you to pick as many fillings as possible to pile upright on top of your baked potato. Some fillings include corn, pea, sausage, green olive, pickle, black olive, Russian salad, pickled red cabbage, cheese, mushrooms, and ketchup. Surprisingly, all of them can go pretty well together!
After getting kumpir, you can go to the mosque calls Büyük Mecidiye Camii. Built in the 1850s, you can see the rich history and breathtaking architectural techniques that were used in the old time. This is a popular tourist attraction and that many locals do their prayers there as well. Moreover, from the outside, you can get a stunning view of the Bosphorus Bridges.
Yıldız Park
Located near the ferry station in Beşiktaş, Yıldız Park is one of the largest parks in Istanbul. Once upon a time, this park was part of the imperial garden of the Yıldız Palace that only palace dwellers get to visit. This makes the park a great tourist attraction with such history.
It is a great place to go for a picnic or a short hike. Heading up to the hills, you can see lots of natural scenery as well as the Bosphorus. You can spend the whole afternoon with your friends and explore the park.
