Istanbul

If you are bougie and want a luxury hotel!

If you are bougie and want a luxury hotel!

The Egyptian Bazaar/Spice Bazaar is a perfect spot for foodies! Tons of spices and treats! Make sure your food tour includes a stop here!

6:30 PM - Walk across the bridge! Nice to see during sunset

7 PM - Nice to take pics with the tower!

8 PM - This is a fine dining restaurant that has been on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list since 2015. My rating: 3/5 stars. We did the 3 course Prix fixe menu, which came with some small appetizers. It was fun to taste the different dishes, but none of the items rocked my world. For my three-course, I got the duck, braised lamb, and chocolate mousse. The duck wasn't very tender or flavorful. The braised lamb was pretty tender, but didn't have much flavor. The chocolate mousse was very meh.

8 AM - I got a delicious and hearty lamb soup! 5/5 stars!

9 AM - I loved the pink color of this mosque!

10 AM - This is another very popular mosque to visit

11 AM - Quick to just walk around the square

1 PM - We didn't get to try this place, but I had it bookmarked since it was recommended/got good reviews

2:30 PM - You absolutely cannot miss this place! It is touristy, but extremely worth it! It's super cool to see in person

4 PM - If you only want to go to 1 mosque, then this is the one you should choose! It is the most famous and absolutely gorgeous inside

5 PM - Lovely palace with a lot of cool trinkets!

7:30 PM Highly recommend! 5/5 stars We ordered the clay pot beef kebab and the Ottoman moussaka. The clay pot is a must-try! It's super cool because they crack open the clay pot in front of you to reveal the delicious food inside. The beef kebab was absolutely heavenly! The moussaka (combination of eggplant and ground beef) was also excellent and mouthwatering. At the end of the meal, they provide a complimentary dessert so make sure to save space in your tummy! The ambiance is very homey, traditional, and friendly, and the prices are very reasonable.

9 AM - Beautiful palace with great views and tons of places to take awesome pics! Make sure to go early to avoid lines

11:30 AM - Not the coolest mosque, but if you're not tired of mosques, check it out!

1:30 PM - Didn't try this place, but had it bookmarked

5 PM - One of the world's largest and oldest markets! So much to see! Some of the sellers can be pushy about having you purchase a rug or lamp lol!

7 PM - Didn't get to try, but had it bookmarked

This is the city's most popular bazaar. Enjoy browsing and bargaining with the vendors as you get lost among the seemingly endless warren of stalls.

Conveniently located next to the Blue Mosque, this is a smaller and more relaxed alternative to the Grand Bazaar. Great if you just want to grab a quick souvenir or are short on time.

Hammam packages start from 60 Euro. They also offer a range of additional massage and treatment options. The whole experience is very private and feels truly indulgent!

This unassuming spot located down a alleyway behind the fish market might not look like much, but their 'balik durum' are top notch!

A popular spot located near the Kadikoy produce market which is highly rated for their delicious Lahmacun. Seriously addictive!

Relax with a sweet apple tea and a slice of baklava or enjoy one of their delicious kebabs.

Try the meatballs served on a bed of aubergine puree - delicious! They also have an excellent wine list.

A traditional-style sweet shop with branches across the city. Sit in to enjoy one of their decadent desserts or buy one of their beautifully packaged gift boxes to take home.

Stroll around the colourful produce market, hang out in trendy cafes and soak up this area's laid back vibe. Hop on the old-fashioned red and white tram to explore the area.

This historic cafe is said to make the best Turkish coffee in Istanbul!

This area is full of laid-back cafes, characterful streets and apartment blocks splashed with colourful murals.

This is one of the most charming neighbourhoods in Istanbul, located in the traditional district of Uskudar. Admire the colourful wooden houses, linger at a pavement cafe and soak up stunning views of the Bosphorus.

This lively square is set on the waterfront, overlooking the beautiful Mecidiye Mosque. Here you will find a variety of shops, market stalls and tea gardens. Look out for the vendors selling 'Kumpir' (baked potatoes with various toppings) and sweet waffles.

Replacing the Topkapi Palace as the seat of power in the 19th century, this lavish palace was built in the Ottoman-European style and definitely has the 'wow' factor.

This is one of the most popular places to try doner kebab in Istanbul.

For the best experience, you'll want to try this street food at Midyce Ahmet - one of the most famous midye vendors in Istanbul. There are a few locations across the city - my personal favorite is on the Asian side of Istanbul in Çengelköy.

There is almost always a line to eat at this famous vendor - but the wait is well worth it! Expect to wait about 20 minutes.

You can find Lahmacun at many kebab vendors and restaurants across Istanbul, but one of the most famous places to try it is at Öz Kilis Kebap and Lahmacun Restaurant in Fatih. However I personally have never had a bad Lahmacun, so don't be afraid to try it from a different vendor!

One of the most popular places to try Kokoreç is at Sampiyon Kokoreç. They have a few locations so check out the one closest to your area.

The best area in Istanbul to try Kumpir is Ortakoy. This neighborhood is located within the Beşiktaş district on the European side of the city. They have about 25 Kumpir vendors lined up selling the same exact thing - so you can't go wrong with choosing a vendor here.

You can find Helva all across Istanbul at various street vendors, but one of the most famous places to try it is at Helvaci Ali. They have multiple locations across the city, but I love the one in the Galata area.

Most neighborhoods will have a borek shop where you can grab a quick Turkish çay (tea) and borek pastry on-the-go, but some of the best places to try it are located in Sariyer. My personal favorite place to try it is Emirgan Sütiş. Not only is their borek amazing and famous, you can also eat it with a beautiful view as it's located right along the Bosphorus.

One of my favorite places in Istanbul to eat a traditional Turkish Kahvalti is at Çeşme Bazlama Kahvaltı in Nişantaşi. They're so popular that they've expanded to 3 different buildings along the same street to accommodate all their guests. Some people prefer to pick and choose their own dishes, but my favorite part about this place is that they bring you everything included in a typical Turkish breakfast. It's one fixed price and takes the thinking out of it, as they serve everything you could possibly want in a traditional Kahvalti.