5 must do things in Istanbul
I visited Istanbul just around when countries were opening up their borders after COVID travel restrictions. Istanbul is a vibrant city - filled with culture, amazing cuisine, and wonderful people. It’s a place that really opened my eyes to how amazing traveling can be. I spend about five days in Istanbul and loved it so much. I’d love to go back soon and explore everything I missed.
Grand Bazaar
Sitting just adjacent of the Hagia Sophia is the incredible Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. Constructed in the 1400s, the Grand Bazaar is home to 4,000 shops. There is a bit of sensory overload when you first enter - the shops range from tea to textiles to pottery. The architecture of the bazaar is also stunning. If you’re interested in buying gifts for loved ones at home (or for yourself), the bazaar is a great option to shop and also to get a piece of Turkish history.
The Hagia Sophia
If you’re visiting Istanbul, the Hagia Sophia is probably at the top of your list. It’s visually stunning! I recommend coming on a weekday so the crowds aren’t to egregious. We arrived in Sultan Ahmet neighborhood after breakfast. The current structure of the mosque was constructed during the rule of Roman emperor Justinian I. From 1935 to 2019, the space served as a museum due to it’s deep history. In 2020, it was reverted back to a mosque. Visitors should wear loose fitting clothes. For women, cover your head, shoulders, arm, and legs. For men, do not wear shorts.
My favorite districts
Istanbul is home to 39 districts and each has it’s own unique identity. Neighborhoods are best explored by foot. Luckily for us, Istanbul is an extremely walkable city. We only used a taxi three times in our entire trip: to get to the hotel from the airport, to go to the Asian side of Istanbul, and to go to the airport from our hotel. Here are some of my favorites. all explored by foot:
Karaköy: trendy, young, and contemporary. Karaköy is situated right alongside the Bosphorus river. After walking around Galata tower, it’s definitely worth stopping by in Karaköy to get a drink. The people in Istanbul are very friendly, so if you’d like, you can strike up a conversation with young Istanbulites in Karaköy.
Besiktas: Known as the harbor of several upper middle class neighborhoods, Besiktas definitely has a posh vibe. We had dinner at a rooftop restaurant here (Banyan) with a view of The Bosphorus Bridge and the river. It’s totally worth a visit to just grab a drink at one of the many rooftop bars around the river in and watch the sunset.
Taksim: We actually stayed in this neighborhood and it was our intro to what life is like in Istanbul. We arrived fairly late to our hotel and we were worried if restaurants would be open for a late night dinner. To our surprise, the İstiklal street was filled with open restaurants and people. There was so much energy in this neighborhood. Taksim is home cable cars, shops, and museums. Visiting here at night time is recommended as the lights are lit up on İstiklal and the street really shows off what’s it’s all about.
Tea culture
If it’s one thing Turks love, it’s tea. While walking around the city, you will notice shopkeepers and patrons drinking heeps of tea throughout the day. Even when we were visiting the Grand Bazaar, we were invited in with a cup of tea before the shopkeepers tried to sell us a carpet. When you’re looking to wind down your day of walking the city, go to any cafe in Istanbul and order a çay. Maybe add a baklava or Turkish delight to your order!
Visit the Asian Side
Istanbul is one of the only cities which is in both the European and Asian continent. While most visitors stay on the European side, it’s definitely worth spending a day or two on the Asian side. We took a taxi from Taksim to a neighborhood called Moda on the Asian side. The overall vibe in Moda was young, liberal, and cool. Shops, streets, and homes had a totally different vibe from the European side. It was much more relaxed and had it’s own identity, definitely worth the visit.
