{"id":185366,"date":"2025-08-28T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/2025\/08\/28\/istanbul-with-costa-croisiere-a-stopover-at-the-crossroads-of-the-west-and-the-mysteries-of-the-east\/"},"modified":"2026-01-12T14:34:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T13:34:38","slug":"istanbul-with-costa-croisiere-a-stopover-at-the-crossroads-of-the-west-and-the-mysteries-of-the-east","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/en\/2025\/08\/28\/istanbul-with-costa-croisiere-a-stopover-at-the-crossroads-of-the-west-and-the-mysteries-of-the-east\/","title":{"rendered":"Istanbul with Costa croisi\u00e8re: a stopover at the crossroads of the West and the mysteries of the East"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>On board the Costa Mediterranean cruise, we discover Istanbul, the city of a thousand faces.<\/strong>  As soon as we disembarked, we felt the weight of history and the scent of another world. Accompanied by a passionate guide, we discovered a city at the crossroads of two continents, two cultures and two spiritualities. A city you don&#8217;t look at, you feel. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.costacroisieres.fr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Costa<\/a> offers several <strong>combinations of excursions<\/strong>, according to your desires: short tours concentrating on the essentials, or longer visits combining art, spirituality and local flavors. Here&#8217;s what we experienced, and what you can experience too.   <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Topkapi Palace: behind the walls of power, a suspended world<\/h2>\n\n<p><strong>Allow 2 to 3 hours<\/strong> to visit this immense site without running.<\/p>\n\n<p>As soon as you cross the <strong>first courtyard of Topkapi Palace<\/strong>, the noise of the city seems to fade away. An almost unreal calm settles in. The shade of the cypress trees, the marble fountains, the birds singing&#8230; everything here seems to have emerged from another century. And with good reason: <strong>Topkapi<\/strong> represents almost <strong>400 years of Ottoman rule<\/strong> concentrated in a single place.   <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1079\" src=\"https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/topkapi-croisere-costa-istanbul-tour-edited.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-180876\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/topkapi-croisere-costa-istanbul-tour-edited.webp 1920w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/topkapi-croisere-costa-istanbul-tour-edited-295x166.webp 295w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/topkapi-croisere-costa-istanbul-tour-edited-880x495.webp 880w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/topkapi-croisere-costa-istanbul-tour-edited-534x300.webp 534w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/topkapi-croisere-costa-istanbul-tour-edited-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/topkapi-croisere-costa-istanbul-tour-edited-1536x863.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/topkapi-croisere-costa-istanbul-tour-edited-180x100.webp 180w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/topkapi-croisere-costa-istanbul-tour-edited-312x175.webp 312w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/topkapi-croisere-costa-istanbul-tour-edited-829x466.webp 829w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/topkapi-croisere-costa-istanbul-tour-edited-372x209.webp 372w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/topkapi-croisere-costa-istanbul-tour-edited-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/topkapi-croisere-costa-istanbul-tour-edited-296x167.webp 296w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p>The palace is not a single building, but a <strong>collection of pavilions, kiosks and walled gardens<\/strong> arranged around several successive courtyards. It&#8217;s a city within a city, a gentle fortress where absolute power coexisted with extreme refinement. <\/p>\n\n<p>We begin with a tour of the <strong>monumental kitchens<\/strong>, where feasts were prepared daily for over 4,000 people! Then, around a bend in a garden of carved paths, we enter the <strong>imperial treasure rooms<\/strong>. Here we discover the <strong>famous Kasikci diamond<\/strong>, 86 carats of mystery and brilliance, and a throne covered in mother-of-pearl and precious stones. Each piece is an invitation to marvel.   <\/p>\n\n<p>But the most enchanting place is undoubtedly the <strong>harem<\/strong>. Behind its discreet doors, you enter a hushed world of delicate earthenware, gilded ceilings and light-filled courtyards. Here lived the palace&#8217;s mothers, wives, children, concubines and eunuchs. Everything is perfectly codified, down to the smallest architectural detail.   <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/palais-topkapi-croisiere-costa-1-1-edited.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-180640\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/palais-topkapi-croisiere-costa-1-1-edited.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/palais-topkapi-croisiere-costa-1-1-edited-295x166.jpg 295w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/palais-topkapi-croisiere-costa-1-1-edited-534x300.jpg 534w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/palais-topkapi-croisiere-costa-1-1-edited-180x100.jpg 180w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/palais-topkapi-croisiere-costa-1-1-edited-312x175.jpg 312w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/palais-topkapi-croisiere-costa-1-1-edited-372x209.jpg 372w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/palais-topkapi-croisiere-costa-1-1-edited-296x167.jpg 296w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p>And what about the <strong>terraces overlooking the Bosphorus<\/strong>, with their breathtaking views? Between sky and sea, with Istanbul&#8217;s minarets on the horizon, it&#8217;s easy to see why this place was at once a <strong>center of power, a haven of intimacy and a showcase of beauty<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n<p>Topkapi is much more than a museum: it&#8217;s a <strong>plunge into the closed world of the sultans<\/strong>, a space where every stone, every mosaic, every rose window tells a story. You come away with the impression of having touched another, almost magical, era. <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Saint Sophia: faith, power and humility<\/h2>\n\n<p><strong>1h<\/strong> to 1h30 are enough to explore the area at a leisurely pace.<\/p>\n\n<p>Built in the <em>6th century<\/em> under Emperor Justinian, <strong>Saint Sophia<\/strong> is a bewitching blend of Christianity and Islam, of light and shadow. The contrast between the half-faded <strong>Byzantine mosaics<\/strong> and the large hanging Islamic medallions is overwhelming. <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1152\" src=\"https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/croisiere-costa-istanbul-saint-sophie-edited-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-180630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/croisiere-costa-istanbul-saint-sophie-edited-scaled.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/croisiere-costa-istanbul-saint-sophie-edited-295x166.jpg 295w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/croisiere-costa-istanbul-saint-sophie-edited-880x495.jpg 880w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/croisiere-costa-istanbul-saint-sophie-edited-534x300.jpg 534w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/croisiere-costa-istanbul-saint-sophie-edited-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/croisiere-costa-istanbul-saint-sophie-edited-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/croisiere-costa-istanbul-saint-sophie-edited-180x100.jpg 180w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/croisiere-costa-istanbul-saint-sophie-edited-312x175.jpg 312w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/croisiere-costa-istanbul-saint-sophie-edited-829x466.jpg 829w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/croisiere-costa-istanbul-saint-sophie-edited-372x209.jpg 372w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/croisiere-costa-istanbul-saint-sophie-edited-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/croisiere-costa-istanbul-saint-sophie-edited-296x167.jpg 296w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p>Our guide tells us that, when the building became a mosque, the angels&#8217; faces were plastered over, but never destroyed. Today, <strong>the first floor<\/strong> is reserved for prayer, while visitors climb upstairs to observe in silence this hybrid place, almost sacred to all. The atmosphere is strange, solemn and suspended.  <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">The Blue Mosque: grace in stone<\/h2>\n\n<p><strong>Allow 1 hour<\/strong> (but avoid prayer times).<\/p>\n\n<p>We took off our shoes at the entrance, as tradition dictates, and entered the gates of <strong>the Blue Mosque<\/strong>, also known as the <strong>Sultanahmet Camii<\/strong>. The moment is solemn. The interior is immediately enveloped in a hushed silence. The light, subdued by <strong>hundreds of colorful stained-glass windows<\/strong>, gently caresses the walls covered in <strong>Iznik earthenware<\/strong>: some <strong>21,000 tiles<\/strong> in shades of blue, white and turquoise, which give the mosque its Western nickname.   <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"4490\" height=\"2997\" src=\"https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/mosquee-bleue-istanbul-costa-.avif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-180676\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<p>Above us, the <strong>central dome, 23 metres in diameter<\/strong> and 43 metres high, seems to float in the air, supported by majestic arches. Four <strong>immense fluted pillars<\/strong>, known as &#8220;<strong>elephant&#8217;s feet<\/strong>&#8220;, ensure its stability. The interior architecture strikes a perfect balance between imperial grandeur and soothing spirituality.  <\/p>\n\n<p>Our guide tells us that in the early <em>17th<\/em> century, <strong>the<\/strong> still very young <strong>Sultan Ahmet I<\/strong> ordered the construction of this mosque in order to assert the Ottoman power, then weakened. He wanted to surpass Hagia Sophia, located directly opposite, and had <strong>a mosque<\/strong> built <strong>that was unique in its size and six minarets<\/strong> &#8211; a privilege then reserved for Mecca. In the face of religious controversy, a seventh minaret was eventually added to Arabia&#8217;s sacred mosque.  <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"356\" src=\"https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/mosquee-bleue-costa-istanbul-.avif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-180652\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<p>Even today, <strong>the Blue Mosque is an active place of worship<\/strong>. Prayers punctuate the day, and visitors are asked to respect the silence. Outside services, access is free, as long as visitors dress appropriately. Veils are lent to women at the entrance.   <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">A cruise on the Bosphorus: a stroll between two worlds<\/h2>\n\n<p><strong>1h to 1h30<\/strong> is all it takes to experience the magic of the Strait.<\/p>\n\n<p>Sitting on the deck of the boat, wind in our hair, we skirted both banks of the <strong>Bosphorus<\/strong>. To the left, Europe, with its decadent palaces and bustling shores. To the right, Asia, quieter, more residential. On one side, the West; on the other, the East. Istanbul, at its heart, links the two worlds.    <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1079\" src=\"https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/turquie-bosphore-istanbul.jpg-edited.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-180660\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/turquie-bosphore-istanbul.jpg-edited.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/turquie-bosphore-istanbul.jpg-edited-295x166.jpg 295w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/turquie-bosphore-istanbul.jpg-edited-880x495.jpg 880w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/turquie-bosphore-istanbul.jpg-edited-534x300.jpg 534w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/turquie-bosphore-istanbul.jpg-edited-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/turquie-bosphore-istanbul.jpg-edited-1536x863.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/turquie-bosphore-istanbul.jpg-edited-180x100.jpg 180w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/turquie-bosphore-istanbul.jpg-edited-312x175.jpg 312w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/turquie-bosphore-istanbul.jpg-edited-829x466.jpg 829w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/turquie-bosphore-istanbul.jpg-edited-372x209.jpg 372w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/turquie-bosphore-istanbul.jpg-edited-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/turquie-bosphore-istanbul.jpg-edited-296x167.jpg 296w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p>Seeing the Ottoman mansions, fortresses and mosques along the seafront&#8230; it&#8217;s like reading a poem in pictures. Some Costa tours offer this walk <strong>at sunset<\/strong>: a must, if time permits. <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Le Grand Bazar: between tumult and temptation<\/h2>\n\n<p><strong>Allow 1h30 minimum<\/strong>, more if you like walking and bargaining!<\/p>\n\n<p>In the <strong>Grand Bazaar<\/strong>, everything is color, fragrance and bustle. Under its ancient vaults, you&#8217;ll find jewelry, leather, ceramics, carpets and spices. It&#8217;s not just a place of commerce, it&#8217;s a <strong>cathedral of barter<\/strong>, where eyes meet, languages mingle and everything is negotiated.  <\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"889\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/grand-bazar-crois-costa-edited.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-180881\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/grand-bazar-crois-costa-edited.jpg 889w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/grand-bazar-crois-costa-edited-295x166.jpg 295w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/grand-bazar-crois-costa-edited-880x495.jpg 880w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/grand-bazar-crois-costa-edited-534x300.jpg 534w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/grand-bazar-crois-costa-edited-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/grand-bazar-crois-costa-edited-180x100.jpg 180w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/grand-bazar-crois-costa-edited-312x175.jpg 312w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/grand-bazar-crois-costa-edited-829x466.jpg 829w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/grand-bazar-crois-costa-edited-372x209.jpg 372w, https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/grand-bazar-crois-costa-edited-296x167.jpg 296w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 889px) 100vw, 889px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<p>It&#8217;s impossible not to be tempted. You often leave with a bag, sometimes two. But above all, you take with you a sensation: that of having plunged into another world, that of the caravans and merchants of yesteryear.  <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">After the monuments: a stroll through the neighbourhoods<\/h2>\n\n<p>After these major visits, we finished our day in <strong>Balat<\/strong>, <strong>Galata<\/strong> and <strong>Sultanahmet<\/strong>. Balat, with its colorful houses, evokes a warm, popular Istanbul. Galata is livelier, more modern, with its caf\u00e9s, iconic tower and art galleries. Sultanahmet, finally, remains the historic heart, best visited early in the morning to capture its peaceful beauty.   <\/p>\n\n<p>With our <strong>guide <a href=\"https:\/\/www.costacroisieres.fr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Costa<\/a><\/strong>, each street had its own story. Each facade, a memory. You don&#8217;t just look, you <strong>understand the city<\/strong>, you touch its <strong>heritage of civilization<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<p>Also read: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/en\/2025\/08\/05\/the-real-costa-cruise-experience\/\">What you really experience on a Costa cruise<\/a> and examples of stopovers on a Mediterranean cruise:<\/p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/en\/2025\/08\/30\/crete-with-costa-croisiere-stopover-on-a-fabulous-island-cradle-of-greek-mythology\/\">Crete<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/en\/2025\/08\/30\/rhodes-with-costa-croisiere-a-stopover-between-medieval-heritage-and-heavenly-beaches\/\">Rhodes<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/en\/2025\/08\/29\/mykonos-with-costa-croisiere-the-glamorous-stopover-par-excellence\/\">Mykonos<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.parisselectbook.com\/en\/2025\/08\/29\/santorini-with-costa-croisiere-an-island-sculpted-by-light\/\">Santorini<\/a><\/p>\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On board the Costa Mediterranean cruise, we discover Istanbul, the city of a thousand faces. As soon as we disembarked, we felt the weight of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":180686,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2808,5286],"tags":[],"quartier":[],"class_list":["post-185366","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abroad","category-travel"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Istanbul with Costa croisi\u00e8re: a stopover at the crossroads of the West and the mysteries of the East<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Istanbul with Costa: Topkapi, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar and Bosphorus. 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