Introduction
Straddling the Bosphorus Straight between continental Europe and Asia Minor, Istanbul is a fantastic place to visit. The Turkish “City on the Seven Hills” is a sight to behold. Home to almost 16 million residents, Istanbul is a bustling metropolitan center. It is the largest city in Turkey and the most populous in Europe.
Like many great cities throughout Europe, one could easily spend weeks exploring all the little areas of interest. However, two full days and three nights proved to be sufficient to see many of the highlights. Whether you take a boat cruise up the Bosphorus from Kabataş terminal or decide to explore the city by foot, Istanbul is a thoroughly enjoyable city full of rich history.
Friendly people, delicious food, vibrant nightlife, numerous archeological sites, decorative tilework, and the resident felines and canines await any visitors to this waterfront city. We greatly enjoyed our first visit to Istanbul and eagerly await any opportunity to return.
Weeping Column in Basilica Cistern
Getting There
Most travelers visiting or connecting through the city will arrive at the relatively new Istanbul Airport (IST). Located northwest of the city along the Black Sea, car travel to the historic peninsula takes approximately one hour.
Completed in 2018, the enormous airport blends elements of traditional Turkish architecture with modern contemporary design. It is easily navigable and hosts a plethora of amenities for visitors to enjoy. Security is efficient, robust, and timely.
Flight times from the Eastern Seaboard of the United States range from just under ten hours from New York City to eleven and a half hours from Miami. A direct flight from Chicago is only ten and a half hours while traveling from San Fransico will take just under thirteen hours. Turkish Airlines offers non-stop flights daily from most major cities in the United States.
Galata Tower c. 1348
Districts of Interest
Fatih - Most visitors will want to spend the majority of their time in the historic peninsula neighborhood of Sultanahmet. Many places of interest exist within this easily walkable neighborhood. Sites are inclusive of famous mosques, underground cisterns, the Grand and Spice bazaars, historic hans, and the Topkapi Palace Museum. It is easy to spend an entire day exploring this district and we highly recommend staying in this centrally located area.
Beyoğlu - Just across the Galata Bridge to the North of Sultanahmet lies the neighborhood of Galata. Steep and narrow passageways surround this hillside quarter leading up to the famous Galata Tower which overlooks the city. Both the Galata Bridge and Tower are highlights for anyone visiting the city to see. Fishermen line the bridge, and it is most enjoyable viewing the Golden Horn teeming with vessel traffic.
Üsküdar - the district of Üsküdar is a charming place to become acquainted with the Asian side of Istanbul. Unobstructed views of the Maiden’s Tower can be seen from the shoreline walking path with Sultanahmet seen in the background across the Bosphorus. This neighborhood is also home to small cafes and rows of brightly colored rowhomes.
Orientbank Hotel - James Bond Skyfall Location
Where to Stay
The Sultanahmet neighborhood is one of the most popular areas to stay on the historic peninsula.
Orientbank Hotel Istanbul - situated in the historic Deutsche Orientbank A.G. building, this hotel is part of the Autograph Collection owned by Marriott Hotels. Designed by Prussian architect, August Jasmund, and built in 1912, this fantastic building was featured in the opening sequence of Skyfall. The building underwent a major renovation in 2021 and is now considered a premier accommodation in the heart of the historic city.
Sultanhan Hotel - ideally located in the central part of the historic peninsula, the Sultanhan Hotel provided the perfect place for our first visit to Istanbul. The hotel features a rooftop terrace, where breakfast is served daily, providing superb panoramic views of the city. The Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Grand Bazaar, and Topkapi Palace Museum are all within walking distance from this centrally located hotel.
Legacy Ottoman Hotel - this luxurious hotel sits a block away from the Spice Bazaar while overlooking the Golden Horn. Perched directly above the Galata Bridge, magnificent views of the Galata Tower, the Golden Horn estuary, and Yeni Cami Mosque. The hotel hosts the Brew Coffee Works café and is within walking distance to many major attractions.
Favorite Restaurant
One restaurant in particular, the Hidden Garden, was superb. This charming restaurant, nestled in the Sultanahmet neighborhood, served superb traditional Turkish and Ottoman dishes. Patrons can dine inside or al fresco in the lush courtyard garden.
On both evenings our group ordered a platter of grilled meats (lamb, beef, and chicken), various kebabs, char-roasted tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, and peppers. Appetizers we sampled included freshly made hummus, Baba ghanoush, olive medlies, stuffed grape leaves, and Aubergine salad. Everything was delectable and the service staff treated us like family. On both occasions, the owner took the time to stop at our table and speak with us.
Overall, this restaurant provided two phenomenal meals in a lovely atmosphere. We cannot recommend it highly enough!
Turkish Delights at the Spice Bazaar
Getting Around
Our group enjoyed exploring the historic peninsula by foot, but public transportation is great and makes reaching further away locations easy. The Istanbul Metro is an efficient and economical option for covering large areas with ease. The T1 tram line will take visitors to most places of interest within the historic peninsula, including up to its final stop at the Kabataş terminal.
Taxis are also prevalent throughout Istanbul. A highly recommended option is using the BiTaksi app. This app allows travelers to enter their destination, view estimated fairs in advance, go cashless, and hail a taxi in a very similar fashion to other popular ridesharing apps.
Lastly, we highly recommend taking a Bosphorus boat cruise. Departing from the Kabataş terminal, we greatly enjoyed our time on the water that sunny day. Breathtaking sites such as Dolmabahçe Palace, the formerly Ottoman Çırağan Palace which has been converted into a 5-star hotel, Ortaköy Mosque, the massive Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridges, and the Küçüksu Pavilion can be seen. The 90-minute cruise provided a nice overview of both sides of the straight and was a great introduction to the city.
Basilica Cistern
Places to See
Hagia Sophia - built under the rule of Byzantine Emperor Justinian the Great, Hagia Sophia was built as a Christian cathedral for the Eastern Roman Empire between AD 532 and 538. It initially served as an Eastern Orthodox church for the first 844 years of its existence. Thereafter, it served briefly as a Catholic church, then again as an Eastern Orthodox church, and finally as a mosque following the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. It served as a museum during the early 20th century and became a mosque once again in 2020.
The structure itself is immense. Upon completion, it was the world’s largest structure to employ a pendentive dome. The interior features fantastic basket capitals atop verd antique marble columns. Beautiful frescos and mosaics adorn the walls and ceiling. This destination is well worth the visit and the historical significance is unparalleled.
Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) - arguably one of the most beautiful mosques in all of Istanbul, the Blue Mosque sits just a short distance away from Hagia Sophia. Also a behemoth structure, the Blue Mosque is a much younger building that was completed in AD 1617 under Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I. The structure itself is breathtaking. Six massive minarets frame a plethora of domes that cap the building. The interiors are decorated with hand-painted mosaic tilework that will leave most visitors astonished. This mosque is a must-see while visiting Istanbul. Prayer times dictate when visitors are allowed access, but information is easily available at the entrances.
Basilica Cistern - consisting of 336 columns, the Basilica Cistern was originally commissioned by Byzantine Emperor Justinian the Great in AD 532. A mixture of Doric, Corinthian, and other unique columns is a result of many of the columns being salvaged from various Roman temple ruins. This subterranean cistern was originally built underneath the Stoa Basilica. It was originally fed by over 20km of aqueducts from a reservoir near the Black Sea. Over 7,000 slaves built the cistern, and the weeping column is said to be a tribute to those who lost their lives during the construction. The grandeur of the room makes a visit very worthwhile. We highly recommend purchasing a skip-the-line ticket and going early in the morning.
Büyük Valide Han - founded in 1651 by Kösem Sultan, the mother of the Ottoman sultans Murat IV and Ibrahim, the Büyük Valide Han is the largest historic han in present-day Istanbul. Originally, hans were commercial structures with enclosed courtyards used for many purposes. They acted as inns for nomadic people to rest, provided housing for artisans to work, held spaces to conduct dealings, and could also be used for the storage of goods. They were prevalent along the Silk Road. This han consists of three interior courtyards surrounded by two floors of shop spaces.
Hidden Gem: within the han is a small café that sits on the second floor in the northeast corner of the building. In between the first and second courtyards, look for a staircase going up to the upper level and proceed to follow the dimly lit corridors until you reach the corner space. Red and white string lights welcome visitors into this cozy space. It was the perfect place to try our first Turkish coffee while overlooking the city and the Yeni Cami Mosque.
Galata Tower - built during the mid-14th century by the Genoese, the Galata Tower has been an iconic landmark of Constantinople for centuries. It served as both a prison and fire lookout tower at various times. Today, it is a museum and was restored in 2020. Fantastic panoramic views of the city can be seen from the top of the tower.
Spice Bazaar - although the larger Grand Bazaar is more renowned, the Spice Bazaar was one of our favorite bazaars in the city. Built in 1660, the Spice Bazaar is the center of the spice trade in Istanbul with 85 shops selling spices, dried fruits, teas, souvenirs, and jewelry. Strolling through the Spice Bazaar was very enjoyable and is well worth a visit during your stay.
Ortaköy Mosque - this smaller albeit highly ornate mosque sits along the shoreline of the Bosphorus. We did not tour the interior of this beautiful structure, but one of the most iconic views is seen from the adjacent Ortaköy Pier Square. The small mosque is featured with the massive Bosphorus Bridge towering above in the background. This is a beautiful location to take in the sunrise or sunset. However, sunset ensures highly crowded and congested conditions.
Borusan Contemporary - is an institution devoted to contemporary art, hosting events, exhibitions, and educational activities. The building also happens to have one of the most spectacular rooftop terraces overlooking the Bosphorus straight just below the towering Faith Sultan Mehmet Bridge.
Turkish man plays music on a traditional cümbüş at Büyük Valide Han.
Conclusion
Istanbul is a magnificent place to visit. The vastly storied city, previously known as both Byzantium and Constantinople, has played a major role throughout history as a strategic gateway between the East and West. Situated upon the isthmus connecting Anatolia to Greece, Istanbul is a thriving waterfront city with countless locations to explore and breathtaking views to enjoy.
Should you ever find yourself in this part of the world, do spend a couple of days exploring this jewel of Turkey. We greatly enjoyed our time here and look forward to any opportunity to return in the future. The spice bazaar, Büyük Valide Han, any of the mosques, and the Basilica Cistern are all must-see places we’d highly recommend! Cruising the Bosphorus Straight is also an excursion we are glad we experienced.
Thank you for reading this article and please feel free to leave any comments or questions below.
Spice Bazaar