Weekend Trip to Istanbul

Shelby Rose

Available for hire

How I spent my weekend in Istanbul!

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Updated ago

Mahya Hotel

@shelbyrose

This place is a GREAT price for what you get. The rooms are definitely tight but for a couple days, who cares? The hotel has been refurbished inside but you can tell that they skimped in some areas - you just get the feeling that things "under the surface" may not be as nice as they appear. But, again, for $30 a night, who cares?! The breakfast is alright - some cut up veggies, some sauces, bread, and jam, tea and coffee.

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Kumkapi Cafe restorant nargile

@shelbyrose

This might sound crazy but I actually have booked the hotel for my next trip to Istanbul strictly because it was close to this restaurant. This place is excellent. The family who runs it isn't going to up charge you for being a foreigner, they won't try to double charge you for being a tourist, and the prices on the menu are MORE than reasonable. Everywhere else I went to during a long weekend in Istanbul did at least one of those three things so this restaurant was a haven for me. The food is great - it's not Michelin quality but it tastes good, it looks good, and there's big portions. There's plenty of seating and there's always at least one or two Turkish families hanging out. If I had to guess I'd say the clientele is 50/50 tourists and locals. Try the hummus, milkshakes, honey butter appetizer (I can't remember the name of it), and the lentil soup! OH, and whatever you do, DON'T order the mint lemon tea. It's MENTHOL, not "mint lemon." I've heard other people say they like it but I was not ready for a little cup of hot menthol juice.

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Ziya Şark Künefe

@shelbyrose

Head to this street in Istanbul for excellent Turkish food. Each place on this small street is owned by locals and the cooks are Turkish. The prices are going to be more than in a side neighborhood but they're not exboritant. I got the pida (pita) from this place and it was excellent and big! From the restaurant if you walk roughly two blocks over you're at the entrance to the Egyptian Spice Market!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shelby Rose

Available for hire

Hey, hello, ahoj! I'm Shelby. I live in Prague (but have called 3 different continents home), and have racked up memories from over 50 destinations. I have created hundreds of unique itineraries for myself, my family and my friends and now I'm ready to make them for you! Whether you're traveling solo or you're stressing out about planning an entire hen do or bachelorette party, I'm your gal. Let's talk about time – your most precious commodity while traveling. I'm here to save you the hassle of getting lost in translation or spending hours riding in a cab. With my detailed itineraries, I focus on reducing time spent in transport from one spot to the next. You'll spend less time stressing and more time soaking up the sights and sounds of your destination. When it comes to accommodations, I'm all about the personal touch. If I haven't personally vetted a hotel, rest assured I've done my homework to find you a cozy spot that meets my high standards. Because a good night's sleep is the foundation of any great adventure, right? So, if you're ready to ditch the tourist traps (but only the bad ones!) and embrace the authentic spirit of travel, I'm here to guide you every step of the way. Let's make some memories together – one destination at a time.

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İstanbul, Türkiye