6am: Arrive at Istanbul, Esenler Otogari, Check-in to The Galataport Hotel
Upon arriving at Esenler Otogari, proceed to The Galataport Hotel to check-in. Take a short rest.
9:30am: Breakfast at Brew Coffeeworks
Brew Coffeeworks is a beautiful and cosy specialty coffee place that blends art, blue, grey and wood together really well. It is definitely a nice place to just sit back and chill.
10:30am: New Mosque (Yeni Cami)
New Mosque, New Valide Sultan Mosque in full, and originally named as Valide Sultan Mosque, was finally completed after over 60yrs in construction. The construction of the mosque began in 1597, ordered by Safiye Sultan, wife of Sultan Murad III and later Valide Sultan (Queen Mother) of Sultan Mehmed III, hence its name was “Valide Sultan Mosque”. The mosque was believed to be an unnecessary expenditure, and Safiye was forced to abandon the project upon the death of Sultan Mehmed III.
The new Sultan, Ahmed I, had no interest in pursuing the project after Safiye was demoted to the female quarters, thus the construction was abandoned. After 1603, the partially constructed building gradually fell into ruins and was severely damaged during the Great Fire of 1660. The imperial architect suggested that the project should be completed as a work of piety, and construction was ordered by another Valide Sultan, mother of Sultan Mehmed IV. It was finally completed in 1663 and renamed as “New Valide Sultan Mosque”, “New Mosque” in short.
12pm: Lunch at Massa Bistro
Massa Bistro is a Turkish restaurant, a little bit Italian-style with some pasta dishes. The interior is a mix of Turkish and Italian style, with the classic red checkered design.
2pm: Isfanbul Theme Park + dinner
The Isfanbul Theme Park, previously known as Vialand, is an all-in-one complex that combines amusement park, shopping, entertainment and exhibition centres in one place. It houses the world’s 4th biggest roller coaster, as well a variety of great rides and thrills! The 3-storey shopping mall houses more than 200 stores with a nostalgic tram running in between. Isfanbul is listed as one of the top 10 theme parks in the world, amongst 800 theme parks.
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