Symposium Date
The symposium will be held between 26 October 2024
Symposium Venue
Florence Nightingale Hospital Conference Hall / İstanbul
Symposium Language
The language of the symposium is English.
Certificate of Attendance
All participants attending the symposium will be given a "Certificate of Participation" at the end of the symposium.
Where to go in Istanbul...
Suleymaniye Mosque
Explore an Ottoman imperial mosque
Suleymaniye Mosque is a massive mosque that dominates the heights of the Third Hill and serves as an important historical site for the city. It dates back to the 16th century and has remained largely unchanged since its original conception, although it has had repairs and reinforcements conducted in the centuries since. It's a designated UNESCO Historic Site, so you can enjoy dedicated preservation efforts that consistently keep the mosque in good condition.
If you're looking to explore the top sites of Istanbul, Suleymaniye Mosque is a must-visit attraction, and its sheer size makes it hard to miss if you find yourself in or around the Third Hill area. Kids and adults alike are welcome here, though travellers interested in history will find it especially appealing. It takes about 2 or 3 hours to explore everything this mosque has to offer, including its surrounding gardens and their picturesque landscapes.
Location : Süleymaniye Mah, Prof. Sıddık Sami Onar Cd. No:1, 34116 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Opening hours : 24/7
Hagia Sophia
Head to the city's iconic landmark
The Hagia Sophia is one of the world's most well-known mosques and boasts a long history and impressive construction that dates back more than 1,000 years. When you visit, you'll be able to explore its iconic architectural styles as well as the artistic expression inside that showcases some of the best that mosques have to offer. Plus, it's completely free to access.
Anyone looking to experience some of the most iconic attractions in Istanbul won't want to miss out on the Hagia Sophia. This mosque is what comes to mind when most people think of the city, and it's the central aspect of just about any Istanbul postcard. The value of this monument for travellers is in its history and architecture, which is some of the most influential in the city. Most visitors stay for about an hour or so, but you're welcome to stay longer as long as you don't interrupt prayer times.
Location : Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya Meydanı No:1, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Opening hours : 24/7
Topkapi Palace
See the Cannon Gate Palace
Topkapi Palace in Istanbul is a historic building complex that was once the main residence and headquarters of the Ottoman sultans but now functions as a historical site and museum. You can embark on a tour of the palace and explore a fair portion of its hundreds of rooms and chambers, including the Ottoman Imperial Harem and various courtyards. The entire complex is quite vast and made using a combination of Ottoman and Baroque architectural styles.
Anyone can enjoy a visit to Topkapi Palace with its legendary influence that stretches back centuries. Kids and adults alike can find fun here, though it will especially appeal to travellers who are interested in history and architecture. To see everything this destination has to offer, it'll take about 3 or 4 hours, but it can last even longer if you're looking to explore every inch of this vast complex that's open to visitors.
Location : Cankurtaran, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Opening hours : Wednesday–Monday from 10 am to 4 pm (closed on Tuesdays)
Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque)
Discover a world-heritage mosque
Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque) is a massive, historic mosque that sports 6 iconic minarets and is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It dates back to the early 17th century and features fascinating architecture with 5 main domes and 8 secondary domes.
If you're interested in religious structures, history or architecture, you'll find much to enjoy at Sultan Ahmet Camii. Even travellers who just want to take in scenic views will find joy in the sights around this towering mosque. People generally spend about 30 minutes to an hour here when visiting, so it's relatively easy to fit into your holiday itinerary.
Location : Sultan Ahmet, Atmeydanı Cd. No:7, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Opening hours : Daily from 9 am to 7 pm
Galata Tower
Check out a medieval stone tower
Galata Tower is a centuries-old stone tower that dominates the skyline of the city's north side with a viewpoint you can visit. This tower was completed in 1348, and it reaches a height of 67 metres, though its top floor is 52 metres high.
Everyone can find something worthwhile at Galata Tower when they visit, especially if it's one of the first places you visit in the city. Taking in the views from here is a good way to get an idea of the city's layout before you start adventuring out further. Kids and adults alike are welcome here, and most visitors spend about an hour or so here exploring the tower's interior and taking in the views.
Location : Bereketzade, Galata Kulesi, 34421 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye
Opening hours : Daily from 8.30 am to midnight
Dolmabahce Palace
Tour one of the largest palaces in Türkiye
Dolmabahce Palace is a massive 19th-century palace built for the Ottoman sultans and sporting impressive architecture that utilises both Baroque Revival and Rococo Revival styles. It was completed in 1856 after 13 years of construction and acted as the main administrative centre of the empire until its fall in 1922.
If you're even remotely interested in the area's history or impressive architecture, you won't want to miss out on a visit to Dolmabahce Palace. Kids and adults alike can find fun with the exhibits and tour here, as it has something for everyone to enjoy. It takes about 2 or 3 hours for a complete tour of this massive palace complex, though you're free to take longer if you like.
Location : Vişnezade, Dolmabahçe Cd., 34357 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Türkiye
Opening hours : Tuesday–Sunday 9 am to 4 pm (closed on Mondays)
Grand Bazaar
Shop around a covered market
The Grand Bazaar is a historic covered market that's still used today for its original purpose, housing thousands of different shops that span 61 covered streets. While the market was up and running by 1455, it greatly expanded over the centuries, growing to its current size after 1730.
Don't hesitate to bring the whole family to the Grand Bazaar, as you'll find plenty of shops that have items kids would be interested in. The sheer diversity of goods on offer across its seemingly limitless shops means that everyone can bring home a treasured souvenir. Most people spend about 2 or 3 hours here, but you can easily turn your visit into an all-day affair if you're committed to seeing everything on offer.
Location : Beyazıt, Kalpakçılar Cd. No:22, 34126 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Opening hours : Daily from 10 am to 6 pm
Istanbul City Walls
See historic walls that were only breached twice
The Istanbul City Walls were some of the strongest in the world during their heyday, and you can still see a good portion of them standing today when you visit. In the 1600 years they've been standing, they were only ever breached 2 times. That's quite impressive for something dating back to the 5th century.
When you visit the walls today, you'll find the most well-maintained parts to be the gates and towers. Many of the gates were restored in the late 20th century, but several parts of the wall are still left showing the scars of time. You'll find them stretching from the Golden Horn to the Sea of Marmara.
Istanbul Archaeology Museum
Immerse yourself in world history
The Istanbul Archaeology Museum is one of the most comprehensive museums in the world, with over a million objects from about every era and civilisation humanity has recorded. Inside this museum, you'll find a wealth of historical knowledge and artefacts, including the Alexander Sarcophagus.
Among the collection, you'll find several world-famous pieces, like fragments from the temple of Athena at Assos, tile images from Babylon's Ishtar Gate and the Sumerian laws of king Ur-Nammu. You can even see part of the Egyptian-Hittite peace treaty that was signed in 1258 BCE. The museum is located in eastern Eminonu.
Location : Cankurtaran, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Opening hours : Daily from 9 am to 7 pm
Galata Mevlevihanesi Museum
Visit a dervish museum
Galata Mevlevihanesi Müzesi is a museum set inside a historic dervish lodge that displays a wide variety of Sufi artefacts dating back for centuries. On display, you'll find accessories the dervishes used for ceremonies as well as musical instruments and their iconic turbans.
Visiting this museum is especially important since the dervish orders it memorialises don't really exist anymore after the Turkish Republic banned their practice in its early days. You can check it all out in person in northern Galata.
Location : Şahkulu, Galip Dede Cd. No:15, 34420 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye
Opening hours : Tuesday–Sunday 9 am to 6.30 pm (closed on Mondays)
