Turkey is truly a country like no other. Bordering both Europe and Asia, it is a cultural hub rich with muslim heritage and culture. After Bodrum (see guide to Bodrum here), here is a little guide to Istanbul based off of my planning in the city.
Where to Stay in Istanbul
Since this was our very first time in Istanbul, we knew we wanted to be close to all the main sites to minimize travel time between destinations. After a lot of research and article pouring, the best area to stay was in the Sultanahmet Area which is home to many of the historic sites, food spots and iconic views.
We opted to stay at the Ajwa Sultanahmet. It was one of the best options I could find considering I was making bookings quite last minute. The rooms were a beautiful mix of modern and traditional and most importantly, we were within walking distance of all the main sites on our to see list within the Sultanahmet Old District.
What to do in Istanbul
Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque
The first and most popular of things to do is to, of course, explore the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque which are right across from each other. It is important to note that in order to enter a mosque/masjid, one must be modestly dressed with your head, arms and knees covered. I would recommend taking a headscarf and wearing long sleeved shirts/pants or longer skirts to cover up before you enter. Alternatively, you will have the option to purchase or rent cover ups before entering the mosques.
At the time of our visit, the Blue Mosque is still under restoration so a large part was closed off and it wasn’t possible to access but you can still enter for free and take a look around. You can save more time for the Hagia Sofia as it is larger and more accessible at this time.
Topkapi Palace
Nestled right next to the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace can be your next stop of the day. It’s super easy to do these three tourist spots all in one day because of their proximity to each other. You will definitely need a few hours to explore the Topkapi Palace and it tends to have a line to even enter and go through security so expect that this will take majority of one of your main days.
We purchased our tickets at the ticketing booth outside the entrance but it’s probably smarter to purchase them online. If you will be museum hopping, it is also probably better to purchase the Museum Pass for which you can pick day validities.
Dolmabahçe Palace
This was one of the top things on my list that I had saved for my last day, but unfortunately I didn’t realize that on Mondays Dolmabahçe Palace is closed! So even though we didn’t get to visit, this is a definite must visit in any Istanbul guide you will come across and will be one of the very first things I plan on doing during my next trip.
The Grand Bazaar of Istanbul
This was hands down one of the highlights of my trip and no guide to Istanbul can be complete without it. I am absolutely obsessed with all things jewelry and the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul was such a haven of stunning silver, gold and semi precious stones. One thing to note is to not purchase anything at the first offered price. Even though I was quite terrible at it, I still managed to lower the prices for many of my purchases. More tips here.
One thing to be cautious of is that the bazaar is very big on counterfeit goods. Not only is everything super sketchy, but the shop keepers will also aim to lure you to purchase more in the ‘back’. I highly recommend avoiding this practice. Not only is it unethical, but you would be placing yourself in increasingly uncomfortable situations.
Istiklal Street and Taksim Square
Think Oxford Street, just in Istanbul. That pretty much sums it up for everything this street has to offer, which then ultimately opens up to the popular Taksim Square. The street is home to all the high street fashion brands (Zara, Mango), coffee shops (think Starbucks and Hafiz Mustafa) and local Turkish fashion brands.
Galata Tower
The Galata Tower and also the Galata area in general is a very busy tourist spot home to a museum in the tower, the famous San Sebastian cheesecake and tiny European-esque streets that house local Turkish shops. We were staying in the Sultanahmet area, so the fastest way to get here was by taking a cab from our hotel.
Traditional Hamam Spa Experience
Turkish Hamams are truly phenomenal. The city has numerous options for traditional and historic Hamam experiences. We opted to book an experience at the Aya Sophia Hurrem Sultan Hamam Spa. Since it was walking distance from our hotel and in the heart of Sultanahmet as one of the top Hamam spas, it was quite an easy choice. I was instantly blown away the moment I walked into the Hamam. White heated marble, gold taps and bowls and the overarching stone cutwork allowed the sun to pour in rays over the slabs. I was scrubbed, massaged and shampooed into the most relaxed state of my life. You can either book directly online yourself or have the hotel call on your behalf for a booking.
The Bosphorus
One of the most beautiful walks is along the Bosphorus. By day or by night, the views are truly spectacular.
