walk through the grand bazaar
{image from visit the world}
A cacaphony of noise will assault your ears as you enter the Grand Bazaar — if you are female, you will be called “honey,” “baby,” “girl,” “pretty girl,” or “hottie,” by every male as they try to get you to stop into their shop to buy something. And you can literally buy anything in the Grand Bazaar. If you can’t haggle, you had better learn quickly, because you are expected to try to drive the price down. Knock it down 50% to start, then finagle your way to the price you want. Some of the covered streets are dedicated to certain items, like carpets, lamps, jewelry, or clothing, so when you see something you like, you should definitely keep looking around for a better price.
shop at the spice bazaar
Very similar to the Grand Bazaar, but for all your spice and culinary needs. Find loose leaf teas, spices of all tastes and colours, and a dizzying array of candies – Turkish delight – vegetables, etc. I love wandering through the Spice Bazaar, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar – it’s one of my favourite places in the city.
visit sultan ahmet, yeni cami, and suleymaniye mosques
They are nearby each other, so you can feasibly visit all three in an afternoon. I understand you might not want to, but the religious call to prayer of the Islamic faith is something beautiful to listen to, and there’s almost a siren call in the muezzin. At prayer time, the minarets in Istanbul simply sing with the sounds of calling. They are fully operational mosques, so you may not be allowed in at certain times, and you will have to take your shoes off and cover your head (women.) Know that by not doing that, you’re being disrespectful.
explore the architectural wonder that is hagia sofia
Now a museum, Hagia Sofia was at one time an Eastern Orthodox church, then a Catholic church, then back to Orthodox and finally a Muslim mosque, before finally committing to its present state of museum. It’s awe-inspiring and you can easily spend a few hours there. Don’t just stay on the ground floor – go up to the next level and watch the goings-on below you.
spend a day within topkapı palace
{image from vogue living}
Do this only if you have time. It will take a lot of time – it’s a huge palace, church and harem complex on the peninsula of the old city – but it’s well worth it if you have several days to do other stuff. Formerly the sultan’s palace, Topkapı Palace now houses an extensive Islamic & Ottoman art collection; an array of old Qur’ans, including the Qur’an of Uthman; Chinese and European porcelain collections; and the Imperial Treasury. You will need a separate ticket in order to visit the harem, where the sultan housed his many wives, concubines and children.
try a döner
{image from lonely planet}
In other parts of the world, these are called gyros or schwarma… but here they call them döner and they are so yummy. Find a street vendor that has a line and order yours. You’ll get a flatbread wrapped around lamb that’s cut in front of you off a vertical skewer, topped with lettuce, tomato, yogurt sauce and onions. Other Turkish foods you may want to try: köfte, gözleme, and börek.
While you’re at it… get a fresh squeezed orange or pomegranate juice from the street vendors too!
walk down istikal caddesi
{image from sinan/deviantart}
Istikal Caddesi, the heart of Taksim, goes from the main circle down into the shopping district. A pedestrian street (for the most part,) Istikal is always packed full of people. There are a ton of restaurants, bars and stores along the way, and some of the little alleyways turn into surprisingly awesome streets with hidden gems of bars and restaurants.
ride the funicular between karaköy and beyoğlu
{image from sadattin uysal/500 pix}
The second oldest metro in the world is in Istanbul, and it’s the oldest underground in continental Europe (the oldest metro is in London.) A ride uphill takes only a minute and a half, and you will need to purchase a token.
hang out in beyoglu
A hot little tourist spot near Taksim, with tons of hidden bars and restaurants. Go after dinner for drinks or go after an afternoon of shopping in Taksim.
visit the basilica cistern
An absolute must do. The old cisterns of Istanbul are now a tourist attraction, and you could wander down there for hours. It’s rather eerie… all dark and the sound of water trickling under your feet… but track down the Medusa stone, in the far corner of the cisterns, and the stone with teardrop shaped carvings. Other columns were taken from various ruins, so nothing really matches up. It’s all very impressive.
take a bosphorus cruise
I’ve done this twice now, and it’s really fun. Meet the boats at the downtown launches and head up the Bosphorus for a few hours. You’ll go under both bridges and pass the mansions that line the shore. There’s a ton of history along the shores of the Bosphorus, beginning with Greek mythology and onward to modern submarine findings of an underwater river. Ferries also crisscross the Bosphorus from Kadiköy to Eminönü.
walk the galata bridge
There’s more to this bridge than just a thoroughfare. There’s fishermen fishing from the street level, and then there’s restaurants below at water level. You can wander up and down the stairs that connect the two levels while crossing the bridge on foot. Sure, you could take the bus across… but I prefer to do this one on foot.
climb galata tower
For great views of the city, climb to the top of Galata Tower. It’s not free – a ticket will cost you 25 TL – but the views are stunning. There is a restaurant on the 7th floor, and then you have to climb another two stories. For similar views, you can head to Bar 360 for cocktails and dinner, or dancing at club 360.
tour dolmabahçe palace
When Sultan Abdulmecid decided Topkapı just wasn’t cutting it anymore, he built Dolmabahçe Palace. It’s incredibly ornate – Queen Victoria gifted the sultan a chandelier which just so happens to be the largest crystal chandelier in the world, and the palace is outfitted with gold leaf and crystal, rather than the traditional Byzantine tiles and mosaics.
see artworks at istanbul modern
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A really awesome museum with fantastic art. There are some beautiful watercolours and oils there, as well as more modern works of art by Turkish artists. The location – and the building – are what you’d expect of a modern art museum: an old warehouse on the waterfront. Meander through and then enjoy lunch on the balcony overlooking the golden horn and Topkapı palace across the way.
try simit
{image from delicious istanbul}
These delicious round sesame coated pretzels are all over the place. Street vendors sell them – they’ll load up a cart with them or even a big stick that they carry over their shoulder. Buy from them, not from the bakery, and enjoy while walking down the street!
indulge in baklava
{image from natasha’s kitchen}
The Turks know how to do dessert. Baklava is no exception! Dripping honey, nuts and crispy thin pastry combine into the best combination of flavours ever. Most bakeries will do baklava; I recommend finding a local place.
try some turkish delight
{image from mowielicious}
A gummy sweet treat coated in fine sugar, Turkish delight, or lokum, is surprisingly delicious. Many people are familiar with it thanks to The Chronicles of Narnia, and there are a variety of flavours to choose from, if you find yourself on the hunt for a box to take home. Have a look at this article to find the best place to buy some.
spend a day in istinye
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A seaside ‘burb of Istanbul. Drive out there along the Bosphorus, on water-side winding roads, and then enjoy wandering around the marina and cove. The largest shopping mall – Istinye Park – is there, so you can get your chain-store shopping fix if need be, but it’s also architecturally awesome.
have dinner in bebek
{image from notonlyistanbul/twitter}
Bebek, a seaside neighbourhood of the new city, is a hot spot for restaurants and bars. It’s full of life, and should be on your list for at least one night out.
spend a day in kadiköy
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Kadiköy is across the Bosphorus in Anatolia, and many tourists just don’t get over there. There’s a lot to do and see, though, so I recommend taking the ferry (super inexpensive!) from the old city to Üsküdar and then a dolmus into Kadiköy. Wander the streets of Suadiye for some upscale shopping and head to the waterfront for dinner and an uninterrupted view across the water.
take in a turkish tea ceremony
{image found on pinterest}
Turkish tea is made in two parts. First, they brew the tea in a small pot, then they heat water separately in a larger pot. So, to make your tea, you pour the tea brew, and then add the hot water so that you tea is made to your strength. It’s a process, but it’s done so elegantly that it’s worth it. Traditional tea is served in tulip shaped glasses.
see the mosaics at the chora church
{image from buzzfeed}
Relatively unknown, the Chora church is west of the old city but houses some of the most intricate and well-preserved mosaics in Byzantine architecture. If anything, go only for these. They are exquisite.
visit little hagia sophia
{image from christian senger/flickr}
A few blocks away from the Hagia Sofia is the Little Hagia Sofia, formerly known as the Church of Sergius and Bacchus. It was built in 527, when Justinian ascended the throne and was converted into a mosque in the sixteenth century. The design may look familiar to you if you visited the Hagia Sofia, because the layout is the same, only smaller.
get naked
{image from foursquare}
At a Turkish bath, silly (the men and women’s areas are separate.) The experience is sublime. You enter a large square room with a marble slab in the center. Around the edges of the room are small ledges where you can sit under a tap of hot water and wash off, then you’ll be scrubbed and massaged pretty heavy handily by a Turkish women. After that, you can relax and enjoy the water that runs freely from the taps on all sides. It’s a bridal tradition to go with friends before the wedding, so you can find hamams all over the city. pick one that isn’t super touristy and you’ll get a better price.
What have I forgotten? List your favourite Istanbul spots in the comments below!
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