Istanbul (Turkey)

Istanbul, Turkey Leave a comment

Istanbul: 

After more than two months of easygoing beach life, arriving in Istanbul required a rapid mental shift. This is one of the largest, most populated, and historically profound cities on Earth.  It can easily intimidate first-time visitors due to its sheer scale, but the secret is simple: divide the sprawling city into sections and tackle one neighborhood per day.

                    [ EUROPEAN SIDE (North) ]
                    (Galata, Karaköy, Taksim)
                               ||
                        [ GALATA BRIDGE ]
                               ||
                    [ EUROPEAN SIDE (South) ]
                 (Sultanahmet / Old Center Mosques)
                               ||
             ~~~~~~~ [ BOSPHORUS STRAIT ] ~~~~~~~ (Hop on a Ferry!)
                               ||
                     [ ASIAN / ANATOLIAN SIDE ]
                            (Kadiköy)

With 8 nights to wrap up our 3-month Turkish adventure, we had plenty of time to explore beyond the classic landmarks.  The Bosphorus River splits the city, and taking the local commuter ferries to jump between the different neighborhoods is an absolute must—it’s the best cheap cruise in the world.

Section 1: The European Side (Northern District of Beyoğlu)

This is the modern, buzzing heartbeat of Istanbul, separated from the old city by the Golden Horn.

  • Galata (Our Top Pick to Base): In my opinion, this is the best neighborhood to stay in.  We rented a fantastic Airbnb on Serdar-Ekrem Caddesi, a beautiful cobblestone street lined with local boutiques and cafes.  Wandering the lively streets surrounding the Galata Tower at night was a major highlight.
  • Karaköy: A trendy waterfront neighborhood just south of Galata.  It’s home to cool cafes, independent shops, and the massive new Galataport outdoor mall development.  It’s a fantastic spot to catch a ferry or watch the sunset over the water.
  • Taksim Square & Istiklal Caddesi: Istiklal is a massive, vibrant pedestrian shopping street.  It is packed with eateries and dessert shops serving up the widest variety of Baklava I have ever laid eyes on. This is also where you must try Künefe (a hot, crispy, sweet cheese dessert) and authentic Turkish Delight.  The Taksim area itself is worth a short visit to down a few incredible doner kebabs, though it was a bit too chaotic for our taste.
  • Nişantaşı: An upscale, high-fashion residential area further north.  It felt exactly like walking through New York City—highly sophisticated, but lacking the colorful, historic Istanbul grit we prefer.
  • Besikatas –  We never made it to this area adjacent to Nisantasi but heard it was another possible good place to base with a more local feel and its strategic location on the Bosphorus and easy access to the ferries to easily shuttle around all of the city areas.

Section 2: The European Side (Southern Historic Old City)

This is the historic core of Constantinople, encompassing Eminönü and Sultanahmet.  This is where you find the heavy hitters: Topkapı Palace, the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Suleymaniye Mosque.

Down by the water in Eminönü, you’ll find the colorful Spice Market and the sprawling maze of the Grand Bazaar where a ton of shit is available for sale.   While the Grand Bazaar is iconic, it’s heavily commercialized. 
The Big Doug Shopping Tip: You will find much better prices on fake designer goods and souvenirs by shopping the local alleyways cascading down the hills outside the bazaar as you walk toward the Galata Bridge.

Section 3: The Asian Side (Anatolian Side)

We took a really cool ferry ride across the Bosphorus to Kadiköy.  Spending the day wandering around the markets and streets of the Asian side offers an entirely different, highly local flavor of the city.  If you have time, head down to the shores of the nearby Moda neighborhood as well.


Final Thoughts on Türkiye

We are incredibly sad to leave this beautiful country.  Our three months flew by entirely too fast. Türkiye gave us a road trip we will never forget.

But the RTW journey continues.  We are officially packing our bags for our next global stop: a full month exploring the dramatic landscapes of Madeira Island.

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