Top Things to Do In Istanbul- Turkey Travel Guide
My first day in Istanbul began at Sabiha Gokcen International Airport on the Asian side of the city. I took a Havaist bus to the city center. I had read the metro was faster (and cheaper) but after two long plane rides (and jetlag)- the last thing I wanted to do was figure out transportation. The bus wasn’t very expensive and I could sit and marvel at the scenery instead of staring at subway walls.
I arrived at my hotel (south of Taksim Square) after 4pm. The bus took a long time to get into town (Istanbul traffic is no joke). I was back out the door within ten minutes, heading downhill past Galata Tower to the Bosporus River. I was treated to my first (of many) spectacular sunsets on the river. I still cannot believe how many mosques and beautiful buildings dot the city’s skyline.
(Suleymaniye Mosque at sunset in Istanbul, Turkey)
(Sunset over the Bosphorus River- things to do in Istanbul Turkey)
(Medieval Galata Tower in the Beyoglu district illuminated at night)
(Selfie on the Bosphorus river during sunset. I NEVER take pictures of myself but wanted to prove to my GF that I was alive and actually working :))
I finished the evening with a delicious meal in the Taksim area of town. There are a lot of restaurants in this area. This was the location where I was dropped by the Havaist bus earlier. I knew there were a lot of restaurants (and I was too tired to wander looking for one). I forced myself to stay awake until 9pm- not a bad way to start a two-week trip (my next stop was Armenia- click HERE to read about my Armenian experiences). Keep reading to follow the next stage of my 1st stop in Istanbul…
Resources
Flights:
I booked my flight on Expedia with British Airways. I was not super happy with their service (they charge for water on the London-Istanbul leg). I think that is ridiculous. Just my two cents.
Hotels:
For a city of 13 million, it is safe to assume there are a LOT of hotels. I found mine on Expedia:
For the first part of the trip I stayed in the Taksim/ Galata Tower area. I do not spend much on hotels- all I need is a clean and quiet room. Urban Quarters 42 met the requirements. A short walk to the Metro and Galata Tower, this was a nice area to stay in. It was not very busy. There is no one on staff (entry is with code at door) so make sure you have your code before arriving.
Tours:
There is so much to see in the city. Luckily, there are tons of tour options:
Guidebooks:
Lonely Planet Istanbul– Even with the internet’s unlimited resources, I love to research trips with a real guidebook. I usually use the Lonely Planet guides (they have nice photographs). I like having a bedside book to look through at night. Yes, I am that old.
Istanbul: City of Majesty at the Crossroads of the World– great read on the history of Istanbul. Paperback or kindle
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Ryan Fox Painting
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