''3 Days at the crossroads of Europe and the East''
It all started when we were looking for a destination to visit 2 years ago and although Istanbul was not in the first places of preference we realized how wrong we were... We traveled for 3 days and did not stop walking and getting to know every corner of the Istanbul, the many memories and the unique heritage...
How we traveled:
Since Istanbul is so close to us, you can visit it either by a 1-hour flight or by road, especially if you live in Northern Greece. We chose Pegasus airlines flight and landed at sabiha gokcen(SAW) airport on the eastern side of Istanbul. For our transfer to the city center we chose the HAVABUS Airport Shuttle with a cost of 52TL and estimate 1.5 hours to Taksim Square. There is also the option of a taxi with a cost of around 300 TL or a city bus with a cost of 7.67 TL but with many stops...
Accommodation:
The choice is huge whether you choose to stay on the European or Asian side, we wanted something that was in the middle of the distance and close to most attractions and we chose the neighborhood around the Galata tower. Our hotel was Daru Sultan Hotels Galata themed character and oriental amenities with a unique view of the Bosphorus at an affordable price
Exploration of the City:
In order to see the city better, we recommend that you search to separate the sights you want to see into 2 parts, those on the eastern side and the one after the Galata bridge and around Hagia Sophia.
On the eastern side, the most touristic and central street is Istiklal where it is pedestrianized and along it you will also see the famous red tram passing by. The road starts from Taksim Square and almost reaches the Galata Bridge, where along it you will find restaurants, cafes, shops with traditional oriental sweets and clothing boutiques...
The main attractions on the east side:
Holy Trinity & Church of Saint Anthony of Padua along Istiklal
Çiçek Pasajı, a historic passage between two streets featuring buildings with ornate architecture, shops and cafes.
Pera Palace, a legendary hotel where the author Agatha Christie also wrote the unforgettable novel in room 411 where even today her photos and books are exhibited. We suggest drinking coffee and being transported to another era
Galata Tower, a restored 5th century tower and former prison overlooking the Bosphorus and rooftop restaurant, also amazingly lit up at night
Kamondo Stairs, all over the city you will find stairs but the specific ones are a work of art and lead you from the Galata tower to the bridge
Karakoy Beyoglu, area below the Galata Tower with many cafes and restaurants as well as bars.
Dolma Bakhce, a grand domed sultan's palace, now a museum with art collections, calligraphy exhibits and carpets.
Ortakoy, the neighborhood that never sleeps, especially in the summer, as it is famous for its cafes and intense nightlife in a uniquely beautiful location on the Bosphorus. Don't forget to try the delicious "Kumpir" baked potatoes.
And of course you should try the sweets of the city such as kiunefe, baklava, kazan dipi and many more... We recommend the patisseries Saray Muhallebicisi, Hafız Mustafa 1864 Pera (the best kiunefe), Savoy Patisserie
Also visit Istanbul without a Hammam; You will find many traditional Turkish hammams that usually separate men and women and really are a unique relaxation experience. If you are a couple and want to do together we recommend the one we went to and it was amazing '' Çukurcuma Hamamı.
Then it's time to cross the Galata Bridge where east meets west and enjoy the unique view as well as the countless anglers on the bridge. On the opposite side we sat and tried Balık Ekmek which means fish in bread and they make it at that time as well as fish appetizers.
The main attractions on the west side are:
Hagia Sophia, this is the largest orthodox church that has now been converted into a mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Blue Mosque, right across from Hagia Sophia
Royal Cistern, huge, Roman underground tank covering an area of 9,800 m2, with a roof supported by 336 marble columns a few meters to the left of Hagia Sophia
Topkapi, a magnificent 15th century palace. It had been occupied by sultans for 400 years. It houses Ottoman treasures.
Kapali Tsarsi, one of the biggest bazaars in the world where you can find anything you want.
Mısır Çarşısı, or Egyptian Spice Bazaar
Beyazit Square, large public square with the main gate of Istanbul University, impressive mosque and street vendors.
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
Tips - Excursions
If you are interested in entering as many attractions as you can and avoid the huge queues, you can get the Istanbul tourist pass which will also give you a discount on all your visits. For information and purchase click here
Also, if you wish to cruise the Princes' Islands with food, we recommend the following excursion, click here
To watch the extraordinary spectacle with the dervishes, book here
Also in Istanbul you will find the famous restaurants of Nusr-Et (with the salt!!!), usually you will find long queues at the main store in Kapali czarsi and we chose to eat at the store near Taksim square, for the location Press here
We chose to exchange currency at Taksim Square upon our arrival from the airport, as also in Istanbul, Uber operates for your transportation.
If you choose to visit Cappadocia and want to take the amazing hot balloon flight click here and for your transfer from Cappadocia airport (Kayseri airport) click here
For more posts from European destinations click HERE
For more Middle East destination guides click HERE
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