34 articles by a licensed guide
Istanbul and Cappadocia are the two destinations almost every visitor to Turkey combines with the Aegean coast, and in this category I share what I have learned about both from many years of guiding across the country. Although my home base is Kuşadası, my national guiding licence covers all of Turkey, and these two regions are ones I know well and return to with pleasure.
A Christian visitor's guide to Cappadocia: its Christian history from the Bible to the Cappadocian Fathers, the rock-cut churches of Göreme and the Dark Church, the Ihlara Valley, the underground cities of Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı, and practical tips from a licensed Turkish guide.
Hagia Sophia, Hagia Irene, the Chora mosaics, the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the fish of Balıklı: twelve Christian sites in Istanbul, grouped by neighborhood, with October 2026 visiting notes from a licensed guide.
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Blue Mosque Istanbul, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, İznik tiles, six minarets, Sultanahmet, Blue Mosque guided tour, Blue Mosque dress code, Blue Mosque opening hours, private Istanbul tour, Blue Mosque, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Blue Mosque Istanbul, Blue Mosque tour, Blue Mosque guided tour, İznik tiles, six minarets, Sultanahmet, Ottoman architecture, Sinan, Sedefkar Mehmed Aga, Hagia Sophia, mosque dress code, prayer times, Istanbul tour guide, private Istanbul tour, things to do in Istanbul, Istanbul shore excursion, Turkey travel, Sultan Ahmed I
French speedflying athlete Valentin Delluc takes off from a hot air balloon over Cappadocia in a new reel, with the valleys and fairy chimneys below.
Leonardo da Vinci never worked for the Ottomans, but around 1502 he offered Sultan Bayezid II a design for a bridge over the Golden Horn in Istanbul. The…
Istanbul is an amazing cultural mosaic because it has been the center of many states for centuries. You can see the minarets and synagogues rising just behind an…
Fifteen facts about the Byzantine and Ottoman cisterns of Istanbul, from rooftop rainwater tanks to the Basilica Cistern.
The Basilica Cistern is a 6th-century underground water reservoir in Istanbul, near Hagia Sophia, with 336 marble columns and two Medusa head column bases.
Sultanahmet Square, which is among the most important squares of Istanbul, sheds light on how deep and rich the history of Istanbul is. Having hosted many different civilizations,…
Spice Bazaar, one of the oldest covered bazaars in Istanbul, attracts the attention of many local and foreign tourists with its orientalist atmosphere. So much so that when…
Sultanahmet Square remains to be one of the most visited spots in Turkey. Sultanahmet Square is situated in the center of the Historic Peninsula of Istanbul or also…
Boji The Wandering Dog Of Istanbul travels by public transport and he changes 25-30 stations a day while traveling 35 km. Boji, which travels around Istanbul with the…
Throughout history, tombs and coffins have been very valuable for all civilizations that have realized that death is not an end but a resurrection in another realm. In…
A Roman mosaic found under the old Zeytinburnu municipality building in Istanbul is now shown under glass in the Zeytinburnu Mosaic Museum.
About the Monoliths of Istanbul Monoliths are high, monumental high stones erected on behalf of any event and person in ancient times and the Middle Ages, often with…
Cappadocia owes its fascinating landforms to the lava erupted by 3 volcanic mountains. The names of these volcanic mountains are Erciyes, Hasan Mountain, Melendiz Mountain. The formation of…
Hagia Sophia… It is one of the most famous architectural structures in the world which has been standing for 15 centuries and is the spirit of Istanbul. It…
Decision to Convert Hagia Sophia into a Mosque Hagia Sophia’s museum status was changed into Hagia Sophia Mosque due to Turkish High Court’s decision on 10th of July…
Istanbul is one of the rare cities which has features that can surprise people at any glance, both above and below ground. Many tourist travel to Istanbul unaware…
Anadolu Hisarı aka Anatolian Fortress was built by the Ottoman Sultan Yıldırım Beyazıt. Anadolu Hisarı is considered one of the most beautiful and advanced examples of Ottoman military…
Aydos Hill It is the highest point in Istanbul with a peak height of 537 meters. Aydos Hill (Mountain), located in Kartal, Pendik, Sultanbeyli and Sancak Tepe districts,…
Balat, which has been able to preserve its historical texture in the heart of Istanbul, is a popular and cultural center because it is a culturally rich place.…
Istanbul was Constantinople until 1930 and Byzantium before that. Here are its nine historical names, with dates and meanings.
Home of the Ottoman Emperor Topkapı Palace Museum has been a magnificent witness of the history of Istanbul for centuries. Topkapı Palace, which was home to Ottoman sultans…
The Ottoman Empire was ruled by 36 sultans in order, from Osman I, who founded the dynasty around 1299, to Mehmed VI, deposed in 1922 — one unbroken…
Turkish baths are fairy-tale worlds where smooth marbles shine with beams of light coming from the dome. Soap scents mix with the steam rising out of hot water.…
Ottoman Harem – Legends, Mysteries and Rumors about Harem The imagination of the western novelists and painters portrayed fantasy like details about the harems without any documents or…
Six interesting facts about Istanbul, from its seven hills to the old Tunnel metro and the Grand Bazaar, plus where to see the hills yourself.
What to wear in Istanbul depends on the season. A short guide to the weather in Istanbul, the rainiest months and what to pack.
Hot air balloons rise at dawn over the valleys and fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, and the wind decides where they go and whether they fly at all.
The tulip festival in Istanbul fills Emirgan Park, Gülhane Park and other city parks with tulips every April.
History of Hagia Sophia Imagine a building that completely unites everyone from all dominant religions and sects in Anatolia. I believe the Hagia Sophia Guided Tour is something…
The Istanbul articles cover the imperial heart of the city — Hagia Sophia, whose dome has crowned the skyline for nearly fifteen centuries; Topkapı Palace, home of the Ottoman sultans; the Blue Mosque with its cascade of domes and six minarets; and the Grand Bazaar, the covered market where four thousand shops have traded for over five hundred years. I also write about the Bosphorus, the neighbourhoods, and how to make sense of a city that sits on two continents at once. The Cappadocia posts introduce the fairy chimneys of Göreme, the rock-cut churches with their Byzantine frescoes, and the astonishing underground cities where early communities sheltered many floors beneath the earth.
Because most of my guests visit these places before or after their time in Ephesus, many articles here focus on planning: how the regions connect, how many days each deserves, and what a first-time visitor should not miss. Turkey is a large country, and a little honest local advice saves a great deal of time.
Whether you are dreaming of the call to prayer echoing over the Golden Horn or a valley of stone chimneys at sunrise, these posts will help you prepare. And since I am licensed to guide throughout Turkey, I would be happy to accompany you in Istanbul or Cappadocia as well — contact me and let us shape your journey together.
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