Istanbul, Turkey

A city that totally surprised me.    This was my first time in Istanbul and I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I went on a girls trip with 5 friends and they have all been there before.  I was not disappointed! The most famous buildings when I hear Istanbul is the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sofia.  Both are magnificent structures filled with stories and history.  They are definitely worth a stop on your visit to Istanbul.

Our Hotel

We stayed at the Erboy hotel, which is conveniently located in the Sirkici neighborhood of the faith district.  It is on the historical peninsula in the old city.  We walked everywhere from the hotel with the Blue Mosque being a 10-15 minute walk depending on how fast you go.   http://www.erboyhotel.com/

Sultanahmet

Sultanahmet is the heart of Istanbul’s historic district,  and is where many of the city’s most famous landmarks are located, many are within walking distance.  Sultanahmet is also one of the oldest parts of Istanbul with The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the ancient hippodrome located in the district.  You can easily spend an entire day here if you want.

Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque is one of the most famous and iconic destinations in Istanbul for tourists to visit. It represents the Islamic Ottoman era and was built around 1616.   The Blue Mosque is well known for its beautiful blue tiles that cover the interior walls.     The mosque is open for visitors except during prayer time.  The dress code is modest dress, with men and women making sure to cover their knees and shoulders.  Women should also cover their head with a scarf.  The mosque is open every day except for prayer time, when it is closed to visitors.   

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia is a major cultural and historical site in Istanbul.  The Hagia Sophia is the last of three church buildings to be built by the Eastern Roman Empire, which was completed in AD 537.  Some consider it the epitome of the Byzantine architecture and represents the Christian Byzantine Empire.  In 2020 it was reclassified solely as a mosque.

Hippodrome Area

We walked from the Hagia Sofia to the Hippodrome, which was only a 5 minute stroll.  The Hippodrome is located in a square in known as Sultanahmet Square. From the square, you can see parts of the ancient Hippodrome, including the Obelisk of Theodosius, Column of Constantine, and the Serpent Column.

Column of Constantine

The Column of Constantine is a monumental column commemorating the dedication of Constantinople by the Roman emberor Constantine the Great on May 11 330 AD or Constantine the Great on 11 May 330 AD.  It is the oldest  Constantinian monument to survive in Istanbul. 

Serpent Column

It is an ancient bronze column at the Hippodrome of Constantinople.  Originally the bronze column consisted of three intertwined snakes, with the top of the column having the snake heads looking out.  Now it’s just the column of snakes without the heads.   A part of one of the heads is in the Istanbul Archaelogy Museum.

Shopping

There is plenty of shopping along the hippodrome.

 

Sultan Ahmet Park

The Sultan Ahmet Park is a beautiful walking park that is right in front of the Blue Mosque.   The park lies between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, which makes it a very popular place to visit, not only for tourists but also for locals.   It is so peaceful and calming to sit there and take in the warm sun and enjoy a peaceful moment. 

Taksim Square

Taksim Square is a major tourist district that has many restaurants, shops, and hotels.  Some considered it the heart of modern Istanbul.   It’s a great place to stay because of the accessibility to many attractions.

The Arasta Bazaar is one of the oldest markets in Istanbul.   It is a great place to shop because it’s not as big or crowded as the Grand Bazaar. You will find a lot of the same classic Istanbul souvenirs here.   They may also have some treasures here that the Grand Bazaar does not.    You can find traditional Turkish arts, rugs, jewelry, ceramics, teas and lots more here.   There are also plenty of souvenirs shops here too.   There is something for everyone!  

Whirling Dervish

In Taksim Square we enjoyed a coffee at a cafe and watched a whirling Dervish show.  The Dervishes are members of a Turkish order of Dervishes, or Sufis, who were founded by the mystic poet Rumi in the 13th century.  The Dervishes sing and dance and the dance is in part of a sophisticated style of whirling dance.  The skirts spin as they dance to create this amazing illusion, and watching it feels almost reflective.  It’s one of the neatest cultural experiences I’ve had, and I’m so glad I got to witness it.  Take in a show if you can, you won’t be disappointed.  

Sandwiches under the bridge

One of Istanbul’s favorite lunchtime street foods to try is “balik ekmek” or fish sandwich.  The fish is grilled with herbs and crushed red pepper, before being placed inside bread with a fresh squeeze of lemon.  You can choose if you want  lettuce, tomato, onion, and even peppers on it.   We went to a small restaurant under the bridge and enjoyed our fish sandwich there.

Bosphorus Cruise

There are many different cruises to choose from to enjoy Istanbul from the viewpoint of the Bosphorus River.  You can take an hour cruise or an entire day, depends on your time frame.  We did not get a chance to take a cruise and it is on my list of things to do when I go back!

Waterfront Promenade

If you want to take a relaxing walk along the river, the waterfront promenade is your answer.   It offers beautiful views of the Bosphorus River and the European side of Istanbul.   We saw people fishing and even saw a guy scuba diving!  We saw this restaurant on our walk on the promenade.

Grand Bazaar

One of my favorite stops was the Grand Bazaar. It is one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world – built in 1461, stretching 61 streets and consisting of over 3,000 shops!   You can find a variety of shopping treasures here, along with everyday items to purchase.   Make sure to get your spices and fruits here! Lots of things to shop for here!  

Food Tour

Me and the girls decided to take a food tour around Instanbul.   It was a very different experience and we got to explore many ethnic foods that I wouldn’t have tried before. These are some of the foods we enjoyed on our taste of Istanbul. .    

Gulhane Park

We walked through Gulhane Park, which is about a 5 minute walk from our hotel.  It was a rainy day and we went after the rain.  It’s a beautiful park that has so many stunning sections.  Prior to the entrance to the park were food street vendors selling their wares.      

Walking through the park we encountered some traditional dress up.  

Walking around Istanbul

The streets are very walkable and it is easy to get around in Istanbul, especially where we stayed.   We walked everywhere.  Sometimes we had to watch out for cars, as the streets are very narrow.  These are some of the sights from our walk. We came across a small shop where they were making pottery.   Look at the happy faces!

We saw some some beautiful buildings. At some stores they had turkish tea there for us to sample while we shopped. When we were out exploring Istanbul, we came across this Cake Store.  And since dessert and cake are some of my favorite things, we had to stop! On our walk we saw these beautiful souvenirs in a store.   We can’t forget the baklava!

Sunset rooftop dining

Our hotel had a rooftop restaurant, so we took full advantage of that.  It was so beautiful to see Istanbul at night from the rooftop.  Many places have a rooftop restaurant, if you get a chance book a reservation there and you won’t be disappointed. Some photos from the top of our hotel:     Other Places to Visit