Istanbul Visit Was Delightful:
Our first visit to Istanbul was a runaway success! We spent a bit over a week exploring just part of this humongous and absolutely fascinating city. We only got to experience just a bit, which was nice as it keeps you wanting to come back for more. The people were extremely friendly and helpful. I had previously been to Istanbul, but it was only a 24 hour layover. You will agree with us that Istanbul is a turkish delight and not just because of the candy.
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l wanted to experience the city with my husband so l did not go sight seeing. As luck would have it, shortly after, Turkish Airlines had a €99 round trip fare that we took advantage of. Yeah :-). It’s always a good idea to search for deals. I like to use Skyscanner (putting everywhere as the destination, so that you get loads of deal fares). Hopefully, you will agree with me that Istanbul is a Turkish delight for sure. It’s full of yummy goodness.
How To Get to Istanbul Turkey:
The new Istanbul International Airport is located in the Anavutkoy district of the European side of Istanbul. It replaces the previous one in Ataturk. Turkish Airlines is the national airline of Turkey and has a hub at the airport. Direct flights to Istanbul is plentiful from different countries in the world. Low cost carriers fly to Istanbul as well.
Istanbul tourism has suffered recently, thanks to the most terrorist attack at the old Ataturk airport as well as continued political unease and public protests at Taksim Square. My feelings about fear ruling your world can be found on this post, so l won’t delve into it too much here. The world as a whole is becoming a boilerplate and you can either live your life or hide in fear. I choose the former.
Where to stay in Istanbul Turkey:
Our hotel in Istanbul:
We stayed in Sultanahmet Square, the old part of the city at this wonderful place called the Basileus Hotel. I had done my due diligence and ultimately chose this place, thanks to the great reviews that it had. I can only tell you that everything you read about it is true! It is a little family run hotel that is situated close to the Blue Mosque and the AyaSofia (Hagia Sophia). Very convenient as far as getting to the tourist destinations.
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The room was a good size, all the little touches were welcome, they even gave you little slippers. We always end up sharing as Federico always forgets to pack his :-). The owners are so nice and they make you feel like family. This l suspect is the secret of their success.
Turkish Delight Istanbul:
One can not visit Istanbul and not try the candy that Turkey is famous for. Turkish Delight or Lokum can be found almost anywhere in the city. From airports to stalls on the side of the road. To truly enjoy some of the best flavors though, it’s best to go to a Lokum store for variety.
What is Turkish Delight?
Turkish Delight is a dense, jelly like candy made by boiling cornflour and sugar syrup over low heat for several hours and flavoured with rosewater or citrus juice. A variety of nuts, mints, fruit etc. are then added and moulded to for a square candy. Delicious.
We enjoyed sampling turkish delight at the store below in the bazaar called Last Ottoman. In addition to the candy, they also had a nice selection of spices and dried fruit. It was a warm and inviting store and the prices were fair.
Another famous store in Istanbul that sells Lokum is the family run Altan Şekerleme (Candyland) which is located close to the Egyptian Spice Bazaar. We didn’t have enough time to visit there after our visit to the bazaar because the stores were closing up. Our friend from the hotel assures us that is one of the local favourites where you’re sure to discover a new love for turkish delight.
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Federico really loved the orange in addition to the walnut and cream flavoured ones. Mine was hazelnut and the pistachio. You have to try the double dipped pistachio ones, it’s to die for. We gorged on pistachio nuts too because they are pretty pricey where we live.
One of the uncles (part hotel owner) gave us a great evening walking tour of the city. We ended up eating kebab at his favorite restaurant. This was after we had first gone to this restaurant whose name eludes me, but they are famous for their roasted lamb slow cooked in a pit/well for hours. It comes served just on the bread, nothing else, so you get to taste the lamb and its natural juices. It was lovely. We must have walked at least 4 miles that Friday night, and never feared for our safety. Not then, not even when we were alone. I was very surprised at how safe it is.
The city of Istanbul is alive 24 hours a day it seems. My theory is that because it is a largely Muslim country, liquor is not readily available, and that factor eliminates your typical drunken behaviour. What a pleasant surprise! By the way, at the end of every meal, they serve you tea, which is great, as it aids with digestion. Ask for the apple one. It is so very good. I’m not usually a big fan of tea after a meal, but that?, l could drink a gallon.
What to see in Istanbul (Istanbul Itinerary):
- Egyptian Bazaar
- The Blue Mosque
- The Bosporus River
- Grand Bazaar
- Basilica Cistern
- Sultanahmet Square
- Taksim Square
- Hagia Sophia
The above list is what l consider the not to miss places in Istanbul. There are o course others such as other famous mosques, Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, Galata Tower, not to mention the spice markets. There is plenty to occupy your Turkey vacation.
Weather in Istanbul Turkey:
The average weather in Istanbul is about 57 degrees average. The summer months can be quite warm and humid. The best time to visit Istanbul is April, May, September and October when the weather is pleasant. The weather in Istanbul when we visited in December was wonderful for the first 4 days, then it turned cold and windy. I didn’t mind too much though. I like bundling up. Istanbul is a very liveable city, and one that l could see myself living in easily.
We ate a lot..most especially a whole lot of seafood (our favorite!) and lamb kebab. We didn’t drink too much as a lot of places only serve soft drinks, being a Muslim country. The usual touristy places had alcohol though, but we avoided them mostly so we could get a more local experience.
We like to eat like the locals, because not only is it usually cheaper, l think more authentic taste that doesn’t cater to the masses. We enjoyed checking out the bazaars and l got a pretty good deal on a designer imitation bag for my sister.
In no particular order, here are some of the places we enjoyed visiting in Istanbul.
Taksim Square:
One of the most known and visited place in Istanbul. Site of many protests and government disruptions. I highly recommend finding out if any protests are scheduled, and if so, avoid venturing there then. It is chaotic. There are lots of hotels, bars, nightclubs and theatres in the area and it seems to be a happening place.
In the center of Taksim square stands the Independence Monument made by an Italian sculptor. It pays tribute to the founder of the Republic namely Ataturk. Did you know the name Taksim means distribution?
We imagined ourselves as Bond in Skyfall and Liam Neeson in Taken 2, riding and running on the roofs. We took lots of pictures. Both movies had recently been filmed there and the Grand Bazaar areas. Lots of locals were still talking about it. Apparently, a lot of the traders were paid handsomely as they shut down the place to film. Nothing like a paid vacation :-).
We highly recommend taking the Viator Big Bus Hop on, Hop off bus whilst there. It is just too big a city to try and take cabs everywhere or even do the trains if you are unfamiliar, and you see pretty much everything, including the Asian side after crossing the river. This way, you have a good idea of places you want to see further.
Hagia Sofia:
Thousands of years old history as it passed back and forth between religions. A small group experience with a knowledgeable guide walks you through historic places suchs as Hagia Sofia, as well as Topkapi Palace and four other sites, and includes a three course lunch. It’s a perfect way to enjoy Istanbul with people with a passion. Book your tour here to experience the rich history.
Grand Bazaar:
The biggest bazaar of them all. It is like a small city inside it, and quite easy to get lost. No matter what you’re looking for, you’re sure to find it here. From food to clothing and souvenirs. A definitely must visit in Istanbul.
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Bosphorous Boat Ride:
An awesome way to see the city from a different angle. There are numerous cruise boats offering rides around the river. I have to say it is a beautiful thing to see the bridge from under. A nice way to spend an afternoon and seeing the when the sun is going down like we did is definitely worth it.
Dolmabahce Palace:
The grounds are stunning and we enjoyed meandering. You get great views of the palace as well as the views across the river. The interior of the palace though was not to my liking, a lot of pink! I’ve never understood why royal families were obsessed with all shades pink. It kind of reminded me of Versailles color scheme wise, but not in grandeur.
Basilica Cistern:
The largest of the ancient cisterns that number hundreds and were beneath the city when Istanbul was still called Constantinople. It can hold over 100,000 tons of water but now has just a little bit with huge koi fish swimming lazily about. It was an enjoyable little tour. Read about our Cistern visit here.
Spice Bazaar:
One of the largest bazaars in Istanbul is the famous spice bazaar located in Eminonu quarter and is also called the Egyptian market. It is the second most visited bazaar and worthy of a visit. We picked up some saffron there too. Built in 1664 and is a colorful market thanks to all the spices and turkish delight amongst other offerings.
Blue Mosque:
One of the best things to visit in Istanbul. It is an absolutely gorgeous mosque. Make sure to find out when they have services as the mosque is closed to visitors then. Read all about this most famous icon of Istanbul on our Blue Mosque Visit
What to eat in Istanbul:
We went to so many places to eat, and everything was delicious. We forgot to take pictures. We ate a lot of grilled meats, Kebabs and seafood. Sometimes hunger takes precedence over images :-), but here are some. Vegetarian food in Istanbul is a given, and you will be spoiled for choice. A street food tour of Istanbul is the best way to enjoy all the city has to offer.
Some of the must try Turkish food in Istanbul are:
- Menemen – a Turkish style omelette
- Kuyu Kebab – goes without saying. A staple Turkish food and delicious. The kuyu (which means well) type kebab is a whole lamb without the organs cooked in a hole or over a charcoal fire and covered with pine tree branches to enhance the flavour. Truly wonderful and one of the most delicious things we had on our Istanbul walking tour with the lovely uncle from the hotel.
- Adan Kebap – skewered kebab served with thin pita with onions and tomatoes. Yummy!
- Manti – Turkish ravioli and served with cold yogurt topping. Federico liked it but l didn’t. Reminded me too much of gnocchi which l hate.
- Meze – Turkish appetizers, sort of like tapas and consists of little portions of food like fried eggplant with tomato sauce, pinto beans, hummus etc.
Istanbul Tea:
Tea in Istanbul is a staple and freely given out , even at shops. We couldn’t get enough of it. The high point to any meal is a cup or two of this delicious tea that helps you digest your food. Mae sure to sample some on your Istanbul visit.
Is Istanbul Worth Visiting?
A resounding YES! A visit to the wonderful city of Istanbul should be on everyone’s bucket list. It is so worth it. There is so much history and beauty in this ancient city. Our visit barely scratched the surface and it’s the kind of city that leaves you wanting more. We will surely be back to Istanbul, as well as other places in Turkey.
Is Istanbul safe to visit in 2019?
I will answer with a question. Is any place safe to visit in this day and age? You never know what life has in store for you. As l see it, one has two choices, cower and let the minority terrorists win, or keep on traveling and enrich your life. Your call.
Inspired to pin it to your bucket list?
Have you ever been to Istanbul? If yes, how did you like it? If not, have l convinced you to add it to your bucket list of places to visit?
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Beautiful pics! I have heard so many wonderful things about travel to Turkey. It’s on my list….with every other place! =)
Welcome back ! Amazing how the list always grows…so many beautiful places in the world. While you’re at it, add Malta in there too! It’s quite beautiful and mi casa.. Su casa..on one of your kid free adventures!
One of the questions I always ask myself before thinking of traveling to another country/city is “Is it family friendly?” From your review it seems as if this would be a great place to visit when my family is a little older. I really want to introduce the world to my children at a young age in order to prevent closed mindedness.
Without the readily available alcohol I believe it will be a great place for kids to run around and have fun as they explore. Thank you for the review!
Hi Marvin… It is definitely family friendly. I am positive your kids will enjoy it. It is always nice to plant the seeds of wanderlust while young. It is built on seven hills though like San Francisco, it won’t be much fun pushing the prams if they are little.
We really love Turkey too. We haven’t visited Istanbul yet, but been there on a couple of occasions for our summer holiday in their amazing (and very cheap) 5 star resorts. It’s indeed a country that’s beautiful and one that knows how to sell everything it has to offer.
PS: God, that’s a HUGE bread.
We really loved it. We were hoping to go to other parts, but we didn’t even see everything in Istanbul. I am looking forward to going again in the near future. Which part did you guys visit? It is pretty nice that the exchange rate is favorable. That bread was pretty huge. We finished it, and actually asked for another, the gluttons that we are..;0)
We went to their summer holiday destinations, around Antalya: we went to Belek once (Alva Donna hotel – totally recommending it) and once to Kusadasi. Hopefully, we’ll be back there soon 🙂
Another part of Turkey l’d never heard of! I looked it up and it looked beautiful, sort of reminds me of St. Paul right here in Malta. Very nice..at this rate, we are going to need a month there..!!!
What lovely photos kemkem! I agree Istanbul is great. I’ve only been once but I was actually on my way to India! I only had 24 hours in the city and I too took the Hop-on-Hop-off bus. It really revealed the city and so did your pictures.
I would so love to go back there sigh! At €99.00 for a return flight, perhaps I will!
P.S. Thank you for coming to my blog 🙂
Thanks for the compliment. I wish l could take credit for the images, but my husband, Fede took them, so what the heck.. I will take the credit anyway :0). I also had a 24 hr layover on my way to Nigeria last October, but l didn’t sightsee as l wanted to experience it with him. I can’t wait to go back. How lucky that you live in Berlin, that’s another trip l have on my Skyscanner wish list. I love indie movies and will be back to your blog. Thanks for dropping by.
OMG, what a beautiful looking place. I love traveling. Since I had my two daughters (age 8 and 5) I cannot travel (well not as often as I would like too). But I’m on a mission to change that! LOL.. My husband ex-boss from a previous employer is from Turkey and I use to see some of the pics from the ex-boss as well. Seeing this reminds me of him, the ex boss. Thanks for sharing.
I’m glad it stirred up some memories. Hopefully good ones 🙂 . I can understand how you have your hands full with two kids. Honestly, l think you moms rock, l couldn’t do it 😉 . Hopefully you will get a chance to visit this absolutely wonderful place. The terrorists shouldn’t and can’t win. That city has survived for centuries, and will continue to do so. Thanks for reading :-).
The architecture is absolutely beautiful, like seriously. I knew the Mosque would be gorgeous but I didn’t know what to expect from the rest of the city.
I’m a big bread lover and that bread looks so good.
That bread was humongous and so good..he actually brought a second one as we devoured that so quickly :-). Istanbul is absolutely gorgeous and l really, really hope it remains that way. So much history.
Your pics are so amazing. I always feel like I’m right there with you from your pics. I’d never considered turkey of a place to visit but you have been opening my eyes to so many places!! Thanks lady!
Awwhh.. so glad to hear that. The world is full of so many beautiful places. We’ve only just scratched the surface, but l am so glad you’re enjoying them. No bigger compliment than you saying it feels like you’re right there with us. Mission accomplished 🙂 . We realize not everyone can drop things and go off at a whim, so thank you so much for saying that.
What an interesting place to visit. Love your pics. You really get around don’t ya!
Haha! We try…som many places, so little time. It really was an awesome place to visit, and the with the favorable exchange rate..it was awesome :-).
Your posts always have me ready to run off somewhere! Great photos! And that big fluffy bread? Need 🙂
Haha! That bread was incredible :-). Thanks for the compliment…feel free to run off somewhere :-).
You know I love a good deal! So I love the fact that you got that round trip ticket for an outstanding price! I never thought about visiting Turkey but you have convinced me to add it to the list!
You should definitely add it to the list. Istanbul is awesome and l wish we had visited Cappadocia which just looks amazing and taken a hot air balloon ride..some other time hopefully. We had to jump on that deal, they never offered it that low again, otherwise we would have gone back. Definitely add it to the list. They treat us like family there :-).
Ahhh I would LOVE to go to Istanbul. I have a 6 hour layover, but I know it’s not going to be enough time. I just really want to do Turkey in general. Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus and Marmaris. My uncle and his family go every summer.
Oh, l would love to go to Cappadocia too especially. It looks so beautiful. How cool that your uncle gets to go yearly :-). I would love to go back to Istanbul too. Their knock-offs are so insanely good :-). You can at least do the old Sultanahmet area if there is no traffic into the city :-). Enjoy..
Wow, these pics are gorgeous! I had never considered visiting Istanbul, but I may have to add it to my list of places I must visit. Sounds like an awesome adventure.
You should definitely add it to the list. I know there is some trouble now, but l hope it stays the way it is, a wonderful city full of history. It really is a beautiful place and l think you would love it..plus the exchange rate is really good 🙂 so the money goes further.
I love your pictures! I definitely have this list on places to visit, and seeing your pictures reminded me! I actually flew Turkish Airlines for my trip to Rome/Greece last summer, and the food was pretty amazing on the flight, so I can only imagine how good it is over there!
I really like Turkish Airlines too. Yep, their food portions are quite generous. You really feel like a guest instead of cattle ;-). I’m glad Istanbul is on your list, it deserves to be..and yep! the cuisine is fantastic :-).
You brought me back for a whirlwind “visit” this morning. How are you? I really enjoyed the post, and I look forward to one day visiting Turkey. The food calls me and its intriguing history. I loved the humor of the sign you featured (warm beer, bad service, etc…)–so funny. Thank you for encouraging us to live aware, but fully, despite our fears. Have a great day, KemKem, and I’ll enjoy coming back when I can. —Terri
Thanks for visiting :-). I know you have your hands quite full. I’ve been very well, thanks. Turkey was amazing and a place l would love to revisit. Yeah, we have to live our lives and enjoy to the fullest. I’m at the age now where it seems l know quite a few people just dying..boom…just like that, and certainly not in terrorist situations. Just reminds one to live your life as well as you can. No regrets.
Totally agree!
Hey great photos! It’s never been on my list of place to visit, but the boat tour sounds good and the fact that there’s a lot of vegetarian food. That Havana restaurant would have caught my attention other than the sign warning about bad food. Reverse psychology? No thanks to the turkish delight. Never been a fan, though my mother loved it. She was from Scotland, so maybe it’s more of a European thing.
The boat tour is definitely fun. The view of the bridge from below is amazing, like a work of art. The plain turkish delight were kind of boring, but the ones with the nuts, especially the pistachio, I could have definitely put myself in a sugar coma :-). Yep! reverse psychology that worked on us, we thought it was funny. Vegetarian options galore, so a win-win for all.
I would love to visit Istanbul! It looks like it is happily living between 2 worlds.
It sure is and it also seems to be loving both sides.
So much useful information for a visit to Istanbul! Until then, I’m going to look for some Turkish delight in NYC:-)
Haha! I hope you find the pistachio one. Absolutely delicious :-).
Love your photos especially with people in them. Gives a feel to things. Turkish Airlines had stopped running tours early in the day so we got stuck in the airport there last year. Your article makes us want to return for a real visit.
I had no idea till recently that they were running tours. I think it’s a great idea if you have several hours of layover. In my case, going back to Nigeria, the layover is 36 hours so it is absolutely necessary to leave the airport and sightsee. I hope you get back soon.
Mmm. Turkish delight.
Love it!
This is a very nice post indeed.
Is Istanbul worth visiting? Yes! Yes! Yes, it is!
I’ve been to Istanbul on my way to India, back in 2005 and I absolutely loved it!
I’m not interested in Turkey as a country as I don’t like exotic beaches (I know. I’m mad), but Istanbul was fantastic!
I’m going to Georgia (Europe) in a few months & I specifically asked to fly with Turkish Airlines. I’ll only have a few hours there this time around, but it’s better than nothing!
p.s. I love your photograhs.
pps. I read comments so I noticed that I’ve made a comment before. Is this an updated piece? Ah well! 😀
How cool! I have Sofia on my mind to visit as it looks so beautiful and l have heard awesome things. I have a new friend here who hails from there and speaks lovingly of home that l am curious and as soon as we can fit it in, we are going for sure.
I don’t like exotic beaches either. Federico does though. No thanks for me :-). I love Turkish Airlines, one of my favorites. I have never had a bad experience with them. Hopefully your layover will allow you to do the tour with them. I want to go back already… even if just for the Turkish delight.
Haha! Yes it is, I sort of combined the old post with a newer Istanbul visit instead of writing a separate one :-).
I must admit to being one who is nervous about travel to regions with recent or frequent, shall we say, ‘worrisome incidents’. However this includes western countries like the US (constant gun violence) & France. I do agree that you have to live your life without fear but for now I feel there are quite a few places to visit without too many safety concerns so…
On another note Istanbul looks gorgeous with lots of historical sites. Maybe one day for the tea & friendliness. A country with welcoming people will always be added to my list.
Nowhere is safe anymore. It seems we went from zero to 100 with regards to safety and really, value of human life. People seem to take it willy nilly and get away with it. Very sad state of affairs. That being said, we all have to do things within our safety zone. If you’re nervous about it, then you wouldn’t be able to enjoy your holiday. Istanbul is extremely welcoming. My way of thinking became “when it’s your time, it’s your time, be it at home or away” :-).
Loved our week in Istanbul attending a conference and sight-seeing some. I missed the Basilica Cistern and Taksim square though. But I had a great tour of the Bosphorus River!
I’m so glad you enjoyed Istanbul. Now you have reasons to go back don’t you? I also enjoyed our tour of the Bosphorus…and the food..oh yeah! :-).
Thank you for the post, Kem Kem. I am so jealous of you and Federico. Istanbul is always my dream place. It’s on my list, too!
Hi Thu, so glad you enjoyed the post. We had an amazing time in Istanbul and l definitely think it’s worth being on everyone’s bucket list :-).
Wow how beautiful Istanbul is! This is amazing city and Turkey as well. I am from Vietnam and wish to visit their country one day. I am impressed by their rich cultures, fancy mosques and their excitement on football.
It is definitely one of the most beautiful cities l’ve ever been. I would definitely love to spend more time there. Haha! They do have passion for football, almost as much as Federico and his fellow Italians do. I hope you get to visit :-).