10 Outdoor Activities to Enjoy in Istanbul in 2024
Do you intend to visit Istanbul? Do you already live in Istanbul? Do you want to visit Istanbul, but you usually put it off to avoid risking your time and money without enjoying your trip? or do you want to travel with your family and are afraid of falling into the traps of advertisements, so you cannot find places that guarantee enjoyment and the happiness of your children or just yourself!
In this article, we will direct you to the 10 outdoor activities that you can do when you visit Istanbul, whether you are single or married with a family and children. So, if you really want to visit Istanbul, just read this article and pack your bags right away.
Why Istanbul?
Istanbul has been the capital of several countries and empires, the last of which was the Ottoman Empire, which made it rich with ancient and wonderful monuments, such as palaces, castles, mosques, ancient churches, old neighborhoods and others. It is also located in a strategic place between two continents; Asia and Europe, which made it characterized by the diversity of its climate and various natural places, such as forests, waterfalls, lakes, and others.
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What is the best time to visit Istanbul?
The answer to this question depends on how much you like summer, winter or mild weather. Therefore, you should know that the weather in Istanbul is usually very cold in winter, accompanied by snowfall. If you are a fan of cold weather, winter will be a pleasant opportunity for you, but in this case, it is not recommended to bring children, to avoid their exposure to winter diseases. Yet, if you are a summer fan, summer temperature in Istanbul is pleasant, and it may be accompanied by some rain from time to time. If you want moderate temperatures away from the harsh cold of winter and summer humidity, spring and autumn may be the best choice, whether you want to visit Istanbul alone or with your family.
How to get around in Istanbul?
To enjoy a pleasant and cozy trip when you arrive in Istanbul, you must buy an "Istanbul Card" so that you can move around the city by public transportation, which is advanced, speedy, and safe, as it is available everywhere. It varies between: metro, metrobus, tram, dolmus and others. Of course, this does not prevent you from taking a taxi if you like so, or renting a private car.
Now we come to the most important part of this article. . . .
The most famous outdoor activities and tourist places in Istanbul:
Galatasaray bath:
If you intend to visit Istanbul alone or with your friends to take a break from work and its noise, this is the perfect place to relax your body and mind. The Galatasaray bath is one of the most suitable tourist places in Istanbul for young people, where visitors are received beautifully in the lobby of the bath, then they are given their own clothes, then they get in the hot section, where they lay out for some time, then the bath begins. Visitors are free to rest in the bathroom lobby and drink hot tea or whatever pleases them.
Putting in mind that the history of the famous Galatasaray Bath goes back to many centuries, but the current construction of the bath was built with a traditional Turkish design, in 1715, to simulate the world-famous Turkish baths.
Paragliding:
Do you want to live the atmosphere of adventure, get away from the noise of the city, and enjoy the view of the world, specifically, Istanbul, from above? So, jumping from paragliding on the coast of Catalca is the solution. Paragliding is one of the most popular outdoor activities carried out by young people in Istanbul. You can fly freely with the supervision of expert paragliders. You can enjoy watching the charming city from above while flying. You can also take photos and videos to share this experience with your friends on social media.
That's not everything, you can also eat organic vegetables and fruits from this charming village and enjoy natural life by hiking in its forests.
Equestrian Club:
The club is located in the European side of Istanbul, in Sariyer, Hidayat Street, where sports, fun and recreation are found. The club was established in 1956, and it is one of the famous places in Istanbul. If you are a fan of horse riding, do not miss the chance to go to this place to spend some fun time riding horses. In case you visit Istanbul with your family, this is an opportunity because the club contains training courses for horseback riding. You can also hold birthdays for your children there.
Forstanbul Park:
Forsnanbul is the largest adventure park in Turkey with an area of 65,000 square meters. If you are a fan of adventure and excitement, this park is the perfect place for you, as it contains activities such as: climbing walls that reach a height of 13 meters, swings, jumping through ropes, and skiing from forests that reach a height of 14 meters.
Istiklal Street:
Istiklal Street is located in Taksim, in the European part of Istanbul. Most of those who visit Istanbul for the first time can’t do without visiting the famous Istiklal Street and walking in it. This street is considered one of the most famous streets in the city. The name and photos of Istiklal St. have become associated with Istanbul, as it gives Istanbul its vibrant image. Istiklal Street contains various shops, cafes, restaurants, and hotels, to suit all tastes and nationalities. You will notice, while walking on the street, hearing nice music, as it attracts playlists. One of the most famous places of this street is the Museum of the Dervishes, in which Mevlevi performances are held that address the soul in every person with its music, regardless of their culture and beliefs.
Vialand Istanbul amusement park:
Its name was recently changed to Esfanbul, and it is considered the largest amusement park in Istanbul with an area of 6,000 square meters. It consists of many entertainment sections if you want to entertain and have fun with your family, such as: children video games, electric cars, water slides. It also contains games for young people such as: roller coaster games. Pasfanbul has the largest cinema in which the most powerful adventure and suspense films are shown. In addition to: a show and entertainment center for parties and wonderful theatrical performances for adults and children. It also has restaurants with the most delicious and various food items. Besides, it has the largest shopping mall. In brief, this amusement park is a multi-destination world in one place.
Hagia Sophia Museum:
The Hagia Sophia Museum is located in the European section of Istanbul, in the Sultanahmet. It is one of the most famous places in Istanbul that you can often go to by tram. It receives tourists from all over the world, especially from Europe and the countries of the Middle East, who enjoy its amazing building and wonderful decorations that goes back to the wonderful periods of the era of the Turkish state.
The museum was built on a church about 16 centuries ago, but it turned into a mosque in the Ottoman era after the conquest of Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1453 AD, by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, nicknamed Muhammad Alfatih. Later it turned into what is now called the “Hagia Sophia” museum. The museum contains several different sections, including the Istanbul Museum of Antiquities of the Messenger, in addition to other sections. Each section is characterized by different antiquities and ancient artifacts.
Masquerade Istanbul:
The most interesting aspect of this club is the decoration, it would attract those who like to have fun in a luxurious setting. When you enter the Masquerade Club by walking on the red carpet you will be greeted by people wearing masks that are part of the decoration. Each part of the space, which has a capacity of 3,000-4,000 people, is designed differently. You can watch the performances of many international artists and DJs.
Masquerade usually offers solutions for special events, big company dinners, after-work parties and VIP tourist groups.
Balkon Restaurant Cafe Bar:
Balkon is one of the unique top roof restaurants & bars that attracts many tourists, from all over the world, especially from Europe. It is located in Asmalımescit, Şehbender Street offers quality service to its guests with a wonderful view of Istanbul's historical peninsula. It offers a blend of international cuisine, together with snacks, Italian pizza and drinks. During day hours, you can enjoy the view with jazz & soul music. As the sun sets magically in Istanbul, the lovely atmosphere on the balcony will embrace you with the amazing music and food. You will also enjoy watching the stars with the glittering houses below.
Certainly, Istanbul contains many places and activities that tourists may want to spend their time in to entertain and to get away from the hustle and bustle of work. In this article, we tried to cover the most important activities that may be of interest to new visitors to Istanbul in 2024, but they are not really the only activities. Talking about this unique city, which is located on two continents, takes a very long time.
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