"If one had but a single glance to give the world, one should gaze on Istanbul"
- Alphonse de Lamartine
The quote above? Not an understatement. True as can be, Istanbul is a site for the world, and in it are treasures for the eyes and excitement for the mind. Kevin and I were a bit swept away by Istanbul..and it only grew on us.
Despite the endless supply of activities, Kevin and I pinpointed our top favorite things to do/see/eat in this city! I hope you enjoy!
1. Moques:
Capturing the skyline are the impressive and highly ornate Mosques of Istanbul. It can be a little overwhelming to figure out which mosques to visit, however, we would recommend visiting the Hagia Sophia (which is now a museum), the Blue Mosque, and the Suleymaniye Mosque (which is the biggest mosque in the city). Each has their own unique story to tell, incredible architectural feats, along with gorgeous mosaics and colors:) It is a feast for the eyes. Visiting each Mosque gave us a pulse on the religious life of the city, as well as a context for the historical underpinnings of the last few hundred years. {for more pictures of the beautiful mosques while on our trip, click here}
2. Turkish Baths {Hammam}:
This was by far our favorite experience in Istanbul. To begin, attending a Turkish Bath is an extremely cultural experience. I was bathing side by side (naked!) with many local Turkish women, and it felt so genuine. I would recommend visiting one of the Baths at the end of the day, when your feet need a break and you could use some extra pampering. The Baths around around $50-60 a person, and you can either find a co-ed bath (where they give you a bathing suit) or a segregated bath (where you go naked). It will feel a bit crazy intimidating at first (!!!) but soon you will relax and just enjoy the process. The first bath Kevin and I did was segregated. I changed out of my clothes, and took my towel and bath bag (they gave me) into a gorgeous room that was hundreds of years old that was essentially a sauna..it was hot! I laid down on a marble slab in the middle of the room, and let my body sweat all the toxins out. Then, a Turkish women pours hot water over you, and begins to use a loofa to scrub the heck out of your body! (it actually feels really good!). Then she covers you in a bubble bath and massages you, followed by rinsing off your body and a good hair wash. I have never felt more relaxed. Then, when your wash is done, you can take all the time you want to sit in the hot tub/pool before you go back out and change. I would recommend the Cemberlitas Hammami {segregated} or the Süleymaniye Hamamı {co-ed}. But whatever you do, DO THIS!
3. Grand Bazaar and Spice Market:
4. Topkapi Palace:
The Topkapı Palace was the primary residence of the Ottoman sultans for approximately 400 years (1465–1856) of their 624-year reign. As well as a royal residence, the palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments. Essentially, this palace will give you a taste of how the royal sultan's lived for centuries! I literally kept thinking about the little sultan in Aladdin, hoping Princess Jazmin would pop out at any time haha! One word of warning…the Topkapi palace is at the top of a hill, and requires some exercise to get up there. I would recommend seeing the palace at the start of your day, as opposed to the end of your day. Kevin and I were like walking zombies at this point, and fell asleep in the gardens, haha whoops! But it is an amazing site, and there are some beautiful views of the ocean below! {More pics of Topkapi from our trip, see here}
5. Walking tour of Istiklal Street
{Taxsim Square & Galata Tower}:
The main attractions in Istanbul are divided between the "old city", called Sultanahmet {where the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace are} and the "new city" of Beyoglu {where you will find Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, and the Galata Tower}. This street is filled with incredible shops, cobblestone alleyways, vines climbing walls, and adorable coffee shops. I could have spent all day on this walking tour! If you are going, make sure you do the Rick Steve's walking tour! Start at Taksim Square and end at the beautiful Galata Tower! {buy some fresh squeezed juice along the way!} For the entire walk of Istiklal street from our trip, see here.6. Bosphorus Cruise:
One of the most unique things about Istanbul is all the waterways converging on its shores! Istanbul is a transcontinental city, straddling the Bosphorus—one of the world's busiest waterways— between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. So much water is just flowing through this city it's unbelievable! The views are just stunning! Take a cruise along the Bosphorus to see the gorgeous homes, palaces, mosques, forts, and other interesting buildings along the coast. Make sure you have your camera, because it's just stunning! For the basic hour and a half cruise (which is like $5 a person) just head over to the Emınönü port. Just as an FYI, you will have So many people coming up to you when you are around the Mosques asking you if you want to take a Bosphorus cruise. Simply decline {unless you want to be scammed} and just head straight to the port! More Bosphorus pics, see here.
7. Food:
Istanbul is full of all kinds of surprises, and food is no exception! Kebabs, a major staple in the city, are literally found on every corner! If you are searching for cheap food on the go, look no further! Kevin bought a kebab almost every day for $2.50 and it was enough to fill his hungry traveler belly! I loved trying the vegetarian dishes, filled with lots of cooked tomatoes and other vegetables! The white beans were my favorite! They also had some wonderful falafel, hummus, and other mediterranean dishes! One of our favorite things to do in the city was try new foods! Be adventurous in Istanbul, and I think the cuisine will surprise you:) Our favorite night in Istanbul was when we found a rooftop restaurant, and ate our yummy meal while staring out at the dreamy lit skyline!
Anything I missed? I'd love to hear!! Happy Monday!
