Travel Guides. Videos Beyond Hollywood Hungerlust Pioneers of love. Reasons to Visit Istanbul. Eric James Beyer. Spectacular Bosphorus views. Historical sights spread across the city. The diversity. The amazing food. Some of the most exciting neighbourhoods on two continents.
The bazaars grand and otherwise. The rooftop bars. Ramadan in the city. The daily getaways. The street cats. Turkish baths. Give us feedback. Read Next View. Georges Hotel Galata. The Stay Nisantasi. Witt Istanbul Hotel. Dilhayat Kalfa Hotel. Romance Istanbul Hotel. Hotel Ibrahim Pasha.
Eminonu is a very busy, slightly chaotic spot in Istanbul. This harbor area sits on the Golden Horn, a famous waterway that runs through the city. From Eminonu you can visit mosques, the Spice Market, famous restaurants, or catch a ferry that will shuttle you to any number of places in Istanbul. Take in the scene here. This is Istanbul in action, a hive of activity all day long.
This bridge spans the Golden Horn, joining the older sections of Istanbul with the more modern neighborhoods. A walk across this bridge is a must while in Istanbul. Rustem Pasha Mosque is a very small mosque that is famous for its Iznik tile work. Well, the tile work in this mosque is some of the best in Istanbul.
While in Istanbul, try some of the local foods. Kofte are meatballs made with lamb or beef. Dolma are stuffed vine leaves or vegetables.
Sis Kebabs, skewers of cooked meat, are delicious. Doner is a meat sandwich made from lamb, beef, or chicken. Turkish delight lokum and baklava are two delicious options for dessert. Istanbul is the only city to span two continents, Europe and Asia. The Bosphorus River divides these two continents. If you have the time, a cruise on the Bosphorus River is a great way to see more of this city.
The cruise leaves from Eminonu in the morning and travels north towards the Black Sea. Midday, have lunch in the small fishing village of Anadolu Kavagi. From Anadolu Kavagi, walk fifteen minutes uphill to the Yoros Castle. From here, you will have excellent views of the Black Sea. By 5 pm you will arrive back at the Golden Horn in Istanbul. This is a low key day, a perfect day to put midway through your tour through the city. Most of the time you sit and watch Istanbul glide by as you cruise the Bosphorus.
For the best, cheap experience in Istanbul, take the commuter ferry from Eminonu across the Bosphorus River to Kadikoy. Mix in with the locals and enjoy the views back to the the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. If you are traveling with kids, bring some bread to feed the seagulls that follow the ferry. This is a great activity to do at sunset because the views back to the Sultanahmet District are amazing. Ortakoy is a trendy neighborhood in Istanbul. Stroll the shops, dine at one of the restaurants, and see the iconic Ortakoy Mosque.
With this pocket WiFi device you get unlimited 4G internet that can connect up to four devices. Istiklal Street is a famous street in the New District of Istanbul. It is a pedestrian street that can get very crowded.
This area definitely feels different than the rest of Istanbul. It is here that you will find Gap and Starbucks and Nike. But it is a beautiful street, especially with the tram that runs up and down the road. This is your place to buy Turkish Delight, fresh olives, figs, pistachios, and of course, spices. Leave behind the more popular tourist areas and stroll through the colorful neighborhoods of Fener and Balat.
These giant walls were built in the 5 th century. They stretch for 3. Designed to keep invaders out of Constantinople, these walls were only breached twice: first in the Fourth Crusade in and later by the Ottoman invasion in While in Istanbul, you can walk a portion of these walls.
From here, you are overlooking the neighborhoods of Fener and Balat, getting a unique perspective of the city. This is a mosque much less visited by tourists than the other mosques on this list. From the mosque, follow the walking trail uphill through the cemetery. It is a beautiful walk and from the top you get a great view of the Golden Horn and Istanbul.
In the Hippodrome are two obelisks. The Walled Obelisk, the older looking of the two obelisks, is actually younger than the Egyptian obelisk. Istanbul is home to some of the friendliest people we have met while traveling. Are you visiting Turkey with kids? Your children will be treated like royalty. The warmth and friendliness of the Turkish people are one of the main reasons why we fell in love with this country.
The Museum Pass is a card that covers your admission to several of the main museums in Istanbul. It is valid for 5 days and with this card you can skip the ticket lines. It costs TL. The Museum Pass offers no savings, although it does allow you to bypass the ticket lines. In my opinion, it is not worth it to purchase the Museum Pass, unless you plan on visiting more sites that we do not include in this article.
Click here to learn more about the Museum Pass. Hotel Uyan. Istanbulites coexist with stray animals and they are more than proud of it. We all know Kebabs are the number one must-try on a Turkey trip. But have you heard of Baklava, a rich, sweet dessert made of layers of very thin filo filled with chopped nuts and honey? How about cigkofte, a raw meatball dish made with bulghur? And midye dolma, stuffed mussels with spiced fried rice?
Over 9 million tourists visit the Istanbul every year, mostly in the summer months from June through the end of August. Istanbul is vibrant and beautiful all year round, but perhaps the best season to pack your suitcase is the springtime, when the temperature is not all-time high and there is a cool breeze, flowers are blooming, the city is waking up from its winter sleep.
Even during Ramadan, which is the month of fasting for Muslims, you can find shops, restaurants, and bars buzzing with crowds. Did you know that Turkey is the leading producer and exporter of fresh figs in the world?
It also has more than 60 percent of the total hazelnut production of the whole world. If you visit a local bazaar in Istanbul, you can get a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, stacked next to each other, reflecting every color of the rainbow.
Armenians, Kurds, Arabs, Jews and many other ethnicities coexist peacefully at the heart of Istanbul. This multiethnic life is reflected in the architecture and culture.
To experience a truly cosmopolitan city, head to Istanbul, order a cup of traditional Turkish tea and observe the passersby. If you are finally convinced that you should absolutely visit Istanbul , now you must be asking yourself how many days would be enough for such a massive city. To make your trip planning easier, we offer you the Istanbul Tourist Pass that aims to be the personal assistant in your pocket, making sure you have the most pleasant experiences in Istanbul. The Istanbul Tourist Pass is more than just a city pass.
It includes guided tours at the most popular tourist attractions, unlimited internet, and private airport transfer. You can choose from 2 days, 3 days, or 7-day options, purchase your pass and just enjoy your trip with a peace of mind.
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