Let’s start
Istanbul was one of those cities we had super high expectations for. Everyone had told us how stunning and full of contrasts it is. Maybe it’s because of all the hype (and definitely also because of the rainy weather that makes every city look a bit worse), but for us it wasn’t exactly mind-blowing.
It’s for sure an important city that everyone should visit at least once, but between the general vibe of the people and the city itself, it just didn’t feel like a 10/10 experience for us.
That being said, here’s our 4-day itinerary, which allowed us to cover pretty much all the main sights in the city.
TL;DR
- Istanbul didn’t blow our minds. Maybe it was the rain or the high expectations, but it didn’t feel like a 10/10 city to us. Still worth visiting once, though.
- Taxi = potential scam. Agree on the price before getting in, but don’t be surprised if the driver pulls a last-minute “extra charge”.
- Don’t miss the Basilica Cistern, it’s totally worth the entry fee.
- The Asian side is a must to have a more local vibe of the city. Take the cheap local ferry from Ortaköy!
- Fatih, Fener and Balat were by far our favorite part of the trip, don’t skip them!
Efficiency tips
Transportation from the airport
To go from the airport to the city center, you can either take local buses or grab a taxi. Since we arrived really late at night when no more buses were running, we had no choice but to go with the latter.
Just a heads up, though: based on our experience, be prepared for a bit of a scam attempt. We agreed on a price before getting in, but once we arrived at our destination, the driver suddenly pretended not to speak English and asked for more money for some random tolls during the trip, basically forcing us to pay extra.
Money
Always use your Wise or Revolut card for the best exchange rate.
Be aware that many activities don’t accept cards, but they often accept euros.
SIM card
Be careful: Turkey is not part of the EU, so your mobile network won’t work unless you pay for roaming!
Since we were only there for a few days, we didn’t get a SIM card. Instead, we downloaded offline maps on Google Maps and connected to Wi-Fi whenever we found an available network.
Where to sleep
We stayed in the Asmalı Mescit area, and honestly, we really liked it. It’s full of bars and little restaurants, so it’s super easy to walk around and find a nice spot for dinner or drinks in the evening.
Plus, during the day, all the main tourist attractions (including the ferry to the Asian side) are within walking distance.
Authentic experiences
- Get lost in the Grand Bazaar and bargain with your life
- Take the ferry to Kadıköy to experience the non-touristy side of Istanbul
- Have some Turkish tea (of course, with a baklava on the side) in a local coffee shop
- Explore Fener and Balat neighborhoods, which give the most authentic vibe
Itinerary
In just four days (and despite dealing with a stomach flu), we still managed to see pretty much the whole city.
DAY 1
After landing, we had lunch near our hotel and then wandered around Asmalı Mescit, the neighborhood just behind Galata Tower (which, by the way, looks especially beautiful at sunset).
We decided not to go up the tower itself, as there are plenty of other spots in the city where you can get great panoramic views for free.
After that, we walked along Istiklal Street up to Taksim Square, which is basically the shopping street. Honestly… nothing too special. It’s super touristy and feels quite Western, pretty similar to shopping streets you’ll find in many other cities.
To finish the day, we went for a first round of shopping at the Grand Bazaar and the nearby Egyptian Bazaar, the latter being better for food and spices. It’s definitely a place you need to see, super colorful and full of atmosphere. But if you actually want to buy something, get ready to bargain hard and know the real value of what you’re buying, otherwise you’ll definitely get ripped off!
DAY 2
On our second day, we explored the most touristy part of the city: Sultanahmet.
We saw the Blue Mosque only from the outside because, unfortunately, it was under maintenance, but we did manage to go inside the impressive Hagia Sophia, the biggest one.
Be careful: it always looks like there’s a super long line, and you’ll probably get approached by someone trying to sell you an overpriced “skip-the-line” tour. But honestly, the line moves really quickly. We got in within 15–20 minutes. Hagia Sophia is absolutely stunning and totally worth a visit!
After that, we headed over to Topkapı Palace, but we only checked it out from the outside. We’re not huge history fans, so the €20 ticket didn’t feel worth it for us.
Instead, we decided to visit the Basilica Cistern (around €15), and it was definitely worth it! It’s a really unique and fascinating underground historical site with a mysterious vibe.
Ticket prices change often, so always check the official websites for the latest prices before you go.
DAY 3
On our third day, we explored the area around our hotel again (Galata), then walked all the way to Ortaköy to catch the ferry to the Asian side.
The ferry from here was extremely cheap (around €1), since it’s the one that locals take to commute. Even if the walk is pretty long, for this reason and for the fact that you get to pass through some less touristy neighborhoods right along the water, we definitely recommend it. It’s a great way to see a different side of the city.
Along the way, you’ll also come across the Dolmabahçe Palace and the nice neighborhood of Ortaköy, where you can stop to check out the beautiful Ortaköy Mosque.
As for the Asian side, we suggest spending at least half a day there. It feels totally different from the more “Western” European side. The vibe is definitely more local.
We recommend just wandering around on foot. Our favorite neighborhoods were Kadıköy and Üsküdar.
DAY 4
On our last day, we explored some less touristy neighborhoods and, honestly, we ended up liking them the most. Definitely our favorite areas in the whole city!
We started with a nice walk through the Fatih district, with its impressive mosque and the local market area, Malta Çarşısı.
From there, we walked to Fener, the historic Greek neighborhood. It’s super colorful, a bit of a maze, and full of charm.
And last but not least, we ended up in Balat, our absolute favorite! It’s the old Jewish quarter, full of cute little cafés and really aesthetic corners. We loved the vibe there: cozy, local, and full of personality.
Food
Turkish cuisine is incredibly rich and varied, offering everything from grilled meats and fresh seafood to street food and sweet desserts. Whether you are looking for a quick bite on the go or a heavy meal in a restaurant, Istanbul has it all.
Dishes and treats that you absolutely must try while in Istanbul:
- Kuzu Pirzola: Legendary Turkish lamb chops usually found at traditional grills.
- Kokoreç: One of Turkey’s most famous street foods. It’s basically lamb’s intestines (tastes better than it sounds).
- Kebab skewers: You can’t say you’ve visited Istanbul if you don’t get a kebab skewer.
- Menemen: A classic Turkish breakfast dish that is also great for lunch if you aren’t used to having dishes like this in the morning.
- Turkish delights and Baklava: The quintessential local sweets. Make sure to try different types of baklava, such as chocolate, walnut, and pistachio.
- Turkish tea: The perfect warm drink to pair with your sweets.
To taste them all without falling into tourist traps, here is a list of spots that we found after thorough research:
- Zübeyir Ocakbaşı/Taksim: A very famous traditional Turkish grill. The Kuzu Pirzola (lamb chops) in this place are legendary.
- Kral Kokoreç Sirkeci: This is a phenomenal spot to try authentic Kokoreç. The meat here is famous for being perfectly seasoned. It has a very casual, fast-paced, and local street-food vibe.
- Balıkçı Lokantası: A super local, authentic restaurant in the Asian part of Istanbul. Incredible spot for fresh seafood. Everything on the menu looked amazing, but in particular, the salmon is next level. The prices are very fair, the portions are very abundant, and it’s quite apart from the most touristy areas, so it’s definitely a must-visit for an authentic experience.
- Balcan Lokantası: All sorts of typical food, and at an extremely affordable price. It’s like a buffet style, where you can choose from the exhibited food whatever you want. It’s very comfortable because they’re open until very, very late! You’ll probably not find many tourists here, so these are the spots we like. Beware of the spice, though!
- Şehzade Cağ Kebap: Can’t say you’ve visited Istanbul if you don’t get a kebab skewer. There are so many places to go and probably most of them are very good. We tried it here, and it didn’t disappoint, but not sure if there’s anything particular about this place.
- Lades Menemen: Menemen is a classic Turkish breakfast dish, but you can find it for lunch if you’re not used to having dishes like this for breakfast (like us). It’s a very famous and historic spot in Beyoğlu, and it’s renowned specifically for serving excellent versions of this dish. So good!
- Cafesehrengiz: Located in the colorful neighborhood of Balat, this café is a great dedicated spot to stop and enjoy some traditional Turkish tea or coffee. The atmosphere inside the shop is awesome, making it a perfectly relaxing break from walking around the city.
