【なぜかドラクエ3を思い出す】イスタンブールは観光コンパクトシティ！

This time, I visited some of the most iconic tourist spots in Istanbul! Because it was my first time (lol). The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Basilica Cistern are must-sees! But all three are close together, making it possible to see them all in one go. Visiting all three at the same time is ideal. Topkapi Palace, another nearby location, is said to be a good place to learn about the Ottoman Empire, but Topkapi Palace itself is so vast that it takes an incredibly long time to see just one part... I'd rather see a wide variety of things, even if not in great depth! So, Topkapi Palace was a no-go this time. Instead, I visited a viewpoint where you can enjoy the Bosphorus Strait, the cityscape, and mosques all at once, the Rumeli Hisarı fortress (built in a remarkably short period), and the Maiden Tower, whose name alone piqued my interest. Hearing "Maiden Tower" somehow reminded me of Cape Olivia, famous from Dragon Quest III, and I felt nostalgic. Olivia's Point is a place where "the singing voice of a woman who couldn't forget her lover who died in a storm can be heard, preventing you from going further," so it's a different story from the Maiden's Tower where the king tried to protect his daughter but ultimately failed... but is there a theory that it's a combination of the Bosphorus Strait and the Maiden's Tower!? That would make sense! We got all excited about it (lol) It's compactly laid out, so we were able to see quite a lot by wandering around on the day we arrived by flight and packing in sightseeing the next day! By the way, prices aren't cheap for Japanese people! It depends on the shop, but a drink and a kebab will cost around 5000 yen. It fluctuates depending on the item, but on average it's about the same as or slightly more expensive than Japan! It's cheaper than Switzerland where a 500ml bottle of Coca-Cola costs 800 yen (lol) Photo taken: March 2026 [Tourist attractions] Sultan Ahmed (Blue Mosque) Hagia Sophia Basilica Cistern (Underground Palace) Galata Bridge Galata Tower Boss Strait Cruise (2-hour course) Dolmabahçe Palace Rumeli Hisarı Maiden Tower Süleymaniye Mosque