Best Things to do in Istanbul
Things to do in Istanbul
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Istanbul is Europe’s gate to Asia. It is the only place where the two civilizations combine and make together the perfect city that it is. This is the Istanbul list:
Fill your Belly
Turkish cuisine is one of the tastiest in the whole world. It is so vast and so rich, that there are not enough beautiful words to describe it. If you are planning on visiting Istanbul, forget about burgers and pizza. Here you should indulge on their delicious comfort food. That is the feeling of the Turkish cuisine, it gives you the impression of comfort food.
This is an article about the “Soul food of Istanbul”, but besides food, the drinks in Turkey are also some of the best ever tasted. I’m not talking about alcoholic beverages, I’m talking about the fresh Ayran, the extremely tasty Turkish Coffee and the çay. The çay is the Turkish Tea. The people drink this all day. Everywhere, in Turkey, you will see somebody holding a cup tea.
Bosporus
Istanbul lays on two continents, Europe and Asia. They are divided by the Bosporus Strait. Almost from everywhere in Istanbul, you will have amazing views towards the strait. But something else will beat those views. Taking a tour on Bosporus, is on the must do list. Seeing the city from sea, is something unforgettable.
As a pro tip, you could get a ferry to the Island of Buyukada. The ferry ride will take about 1,5 hours each way and it is extremely cheap. This way you have a 2 for 1 offer. Seeing this beautiful island and enjoying the Bosporus ride for longer and very much cheaper.
Visit the Historic Center
Istanbul was the capital of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires. It is a place filled with history and stories. Visiting the old town of Istanbul will transport you throughout centuries.
Some of the most important landmarks to take in consideration while visiting Istanbul, are: Hagia Sophia, The Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, Basilica Cistern and the Galata Tower.
Enjoy the parks in Istanbul
Even though it is a huge city and one of the world’s biggest metropolis, Istanbul has a plenty of recreational areas. One of the most beautiful parks is located right near the Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia. Gulhane park is a green oasis near centuries old buildings. The park is very well kept and extremely peaceful. People are gathering there to relax or to have a picnic. Grab yourself a baked corn or a simit and head to the park. After wandering the streets in the old town, a break is very much needed.
Shop
As I previously stated in the Istanbul Shopping Guide Series, this city should be named the shopping capital of Europe. I don’t think that there is something that could cross your mind and not finding it for sale, in Istanbul. The diversity of the shops, the offers and the friendly salesmen, are what makes this city a shopaholics dream.
Visit Istanbul
For us, this city is like a second home. It gives us that good comfortable feeling and we cannot miss a single year not to visit it. Istanbul is a people’s town, where you will get your energy just seeing the thousands that will share the same sidewalk with you. Istanbul is very…Travelicious.