This Ottoman-era mosque with minarets and blue tiles is a major Istanbul tourist draw.

This eye-catching, domed structure recently became a functioning mosque (it was previously a museum), and epitomizes Byzantine architecture.

One of the world's oldest covered markets has over 4,000 merchants and draws hundreds of thousands of daily visitors. Grand, indeed!

Traffic is extremely congested in Istanbul, so visitors may want to consider the vapur (ferry) to go back and forth between the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. The city's growing metro train system has expanded in recent years and is another great alternative.