Istanbul is a beautiful large city with many elegant mosques scattered throughout. Located in Europe and Asia, the city offers a unique blend of cultures that will satisfy anyone looking for a city rich with history.
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Where is Istanbul?
The City of Seven Hills
Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey with a population of around 15 million people. It is also the biggest city in all of Europe!
It has a unique location in the Bosphorus Strait, the boundary between Europe and Asia.
The history of Istanbul dates back all the way to 7th century BCE where it was founded as Byzantium by Greek settlers.
The influential city served as a capital during many dynasties including Byzantine (330-1204), Latin (1204-1261), Late Byzantine (1261-1453), and Ottoman empires (1453-1922). Istanbul is known for being a key city in the Silk Road Trade which contributed to the delicious variety of food and spices.
Şehzade Mosque at night, Istanbul, Turkey
Is it safe to travel to Istanbul?
When traveling to Turkey with my brother, we made sure to check and see whether it was “safe”. Usually, I check the destination on the US Travel Advisory website, in this case Turkey Travel Advisory, to read news about the political climate and travel warnings. During our time in Istanbul I felt very safe. Waiters and hotel staff made us feel very welcomed, and I was never uneasy while walking the streets of downtown.
Getting to Istanbul
Istanbul has two major airports you can fly into:
Istanbul Airport (IST)
Located near Arnavutköy on the West/European side of Turkey, this airport is 1 hour away from Istanbul by car. You can also take public transportation by using taxi, bus or subway.
Using a Taxi will cost around $30 USD and can be arranged simply by walking up to one outside the airport. However, heavy traffic on Istanbul streets may make this commute around 1 hour.
Tip: Due to taxi scamming being a common issue in Istanbul, I would recommend using a ride share service like Uber to book a ride to your place of stay. Spending the extra couple dollars ensures your safety and garuntee of getting to your destination.
Taking the Metro will only cost around $2-3, takes around 40 mins, and is an option I highly recommend. The M11 line links Istanbul Airport to Istanbul. Head to exit 11 toward the subway station on the front side of the car park. After hopping on, you’ll get off at Gayrettepe Station and transfer to Line M2 to Vezneciler Station, a 20 minute walk from Sultanahmet Square.
For information about transfers from IST, head to this website.
Sabiha Gökçen Int. Airport (SAW) –
This airport is located on the western/Asia side of Istanbul and is 1 hr and 20 min from Istanbul. This airport is a little further from the city but still provides convenient access if you can fly here for a cheaper price. You can also use public transportion by private shuttle and Metro. For Metro, take the M4 line. This will take you to the T3 line to access Kadikoy on the west side of Instanbul.
For more information on public transportation from SAW, head to this website.
Which US Airport should I choose?
If coming to Istanbul from the U.S, the best way to find a competitive ticket price is to fly from major airports such as JFK, EWR, and LGA on the east coast, DTW, in the Midwest, or LAX on the west coast. Flying from a smaller airport will lead to a bit more connections and a higher price. I decided to fly in the summer, and a ticket from JFK to IST cost around $1000, and this is on the more expensive side because we traveled in the summer time. If traveling in the off season, tickets can be as low as $550. Be sure to use Google Flights to get the best ticket price!
East Istanbul across the Bosphorus River
Staying in Istanbul
When you arrive to Istanbul, there are a plethora of options for resting your head depending on your budget:
Budget options: Instabul offers many hostels for tourists and backpackers looking for a cheap place to stay. Hostels offer a chance to meet new friends if you are looking for someone to adventure with you! Check out the Cheers Hostel.
Mid-range: there are many nice hotels in downtown Istanbul that provide a comfortable stay while making sure you don’t overspend. We chose to stay at the Queen Hotel in Fatih which provided us with a with all the standard amenities and a balcony! It was very close to many good restaurant and a quick taxi ride or walk to many famous monuments.
Luxury: for a high-end stay, the Ciragan Palace offers stunning views of the bosphorus while also being very close to the famous mosques.
Staying in a small neighborhood in Fatih, Istanbul
Keeping Safe in Istanbul: Travel Tips
- be sure to always keep your personal items secure. Pick picketers can easy steal your wallet and other valuables in crowded areas like the Grand Bazaar or Public trains. I recommend carrying a small strapped bag like the Osprey Daylite Shoulder Bag (amazon).
- Stick to public spaces and avoid heading into secluded areas. When exploring the city, walking getting around in the day time is your best bet.
- Make sure to have cellular data for your phone: being able to use your phones map to navigate is vitally important when trying to get around Istanbul. You will also want your phone to call a Uber or Lyft. Most phone carriers allow you to access international data automatically by charging you for the day. For example, AT&T will charge you $10 per day while abroad for up to 15 days per month. If you want a cheaper option, you can purchase an international SIM card. If you have an unlocked phone, you can buy this easy-to-use Europe SIM card for $30 that will last you 14 days.
Getting Around in Istanbul
Public transportation map in Istanbul
While in Instanbul, I mainly traveled by foot and used the train system. The rail provides a great way to travel to all popular destinations for very cheap. There are also ride-share services like Uber that you can use to get around. However, be mindful that traveling by car may take much longer because the city is very crowded.
Which Mosques can I visit?
The Queen of Cities is known for its picturesque, beautiful mosques. Here are two that are definitely worth visiting:
Blue mosque
the most famous mosque to visit. This was the last great mosque constructed during the ottoman classical period in the 17th century. For the best views of this mosque, head to Sultanhmet Park where you can enjoy many different mosques, including the Blue Mosque, along with a snack and drink from a local food vendor.
Hagia Sofia
located right next door to the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sofia was constructed as early as 537 AD and features a beautiful interior design. In the summer, wait times can be longer than 2 hours. Make sure to get tickets to this mosque here if you wish to skip the line!
The Hagia Sofia Mosque, Istanbul
The Blue Mosque, Istanbul
Where should I eat?
Instanbul is full of delicious restaurants that offer many types of food from an American burger to a traditional doner kebap with a Turkish coffee. Here are some places I visited:
Enjoying some Turkish Coffee at Mom Cafe, Istanbul
Elite Armada Restaurant: Located in Fatih, the Elite Armada provides traditional Turkish food that isn’t too pricey. I got the saç tava and it was very savory and flavorful. My brother opted for the steak kebap with rice and fries.
Mom Cafe: right under our hotel was Mom Cafe. It’s located again in Fatih, and is a great small cafe for grabbing Turkish coffee or tea and a small snack.
Turk Art Terrace Restaurant: enjoy a great view of the Blue Mosque while eating some traditional Turkish food.
After-dinner Hookah at Lotus Rooftop Lounge, Istanbul
Lotus Lounge and Hookah: This one is more of a higher-end restaurant that offers a variety of dishes from sushi to pasta. After dinner, you can enjoy some Hookah, an essential aspect of social culture in Turkey.
What else is there to do?
Enjoy an island of the Istanbul coast
Book a trip on a ferry ride and head to Kizil Adalar, a small chain of islands next to Istanbul like Kiniliada. Here, you can go for a swim, stroll through the small streets, and eat a delicious meal on the water. The cost is only around $1. Tickets can be bought at a variety of ports the same day as travel, and depart many times per day. Ports include Kabataş, Beşiktaş, Kadıköy, Bostancı, and Maltepe.
Take a Turkish bath
Enjoy a really relaxing spa trip to one of Instabul’s many traditional Turkish Bath House. When I went to the Sultan Süleyman Hamam, my experience started with a relaxing 20 minutes in the sauna. I then headed to the steam room with elegant stone tile work. After, laid down for a head-to-toe wash with warm soapy water and a relaxing massage. My experience ended with Turkish tea and sweets.
Shop the Grand Bazaar
a popular tourist site in Istanbul, the grand bazaar is a large shopping area filled with merchants selling clothing, accessories, spices, desserts, and more. The grand Baazar is located in Fatih. Be sure to pick up some Turkish delight!
Heading to the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey
Conclusion
Istanbul provided me with the opportunity to experience the blending of multiple cultures and see unique architecture in a city with a huge historical significance. One of the things that I loved the most was taking the ferry to the small island a being able to see Istanbul in its glory from a unique perspective. Being able to experience a traditional Turkish bath was really relaxing and gave me energy to explore the rest of the city. If you have the chance to travel to this beautiful city, make sure to take in all of the culture and history that helped shape the world we live in today
Watching the sunset from Lotus Lounge, Istanbul
