Istanbul, Türkiye guide
A few facts worth mentioning about the country:
The number of international tourist arrivals in Türkiye totaled over 49 million in 2023. Istanbul alone received around 20 million tourists in 2023, so no matter where you go, it will be packed with people bumping into each other.
Even though the official currency in Turkey is the Turkish lira, prices are often quoted in euros. Many shops, stores, restaurants, and attractions use the euro as their reference currency, so you may receive prices in euros depending on the place you visit. Therefore, don't expect it to be a very cheap destination, although there are options for all budgets.
Istanbul
Istanbul is a vibrant, hectic, crowded, and beautiful city. It has many faces and a myriad of attractions.
To get from the airport (IST) to the city center, there are different options to consider such as a transfer service, taxi, metro or bus.
If you book your hotel through Booking.com for most accommodations in Istanbul, they offer a free transfer service, a great option to use without paying extra. I used it, and it worked fine!
To move around in Istanbul you definitely want to buy the IstanbulCard (usually the red one). It can be used for most of the transport options in the city (metro, tram, bus, ferry, etc).
The card can easily be bought on vending machines/huts located around the city.
Many videos and guides about Istanbul advise against using taxis, claiming that drivers are always trying to scam you. I heeded this advice and managed to move around the city easily by walking or using the public transportation system.
Where to stay in Istanbul
In case it's your first time in the city, consider staying close to the attractions. However, be advised that this is a noisy city, thus finding a quiet place is not an easy task.
Sultanahmet is where a lot of the attractions are located, including the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, The Blue Mosque, the Basilic Cistern, among many other things. If you choose to stay in this region, try to stay closer to the tram stations (which you will find very useful). The Sirkeci area is a very good option.
However, if I ever return to the city, I would stay closer to the Galata Tower or Karaköy Pier areas. Karaköy is definitely worth taking a look at.
This is the hotel that I stayed at - it was located in a reasonably quiet cul-de-sac street in the Sirkeci area:
How many days in Istanbul
Honestly, this is a personal decision as it depends on your time availability, your traveling profile, your budget, etc.
I stayed 6 nights and I would never do it again. I would say that 4 nights is a reasonable time to spend in the city without being overwhelmed by the crowds and everything else.
Attractions
Istanbul has a myriad of attractions. Some are free, some are paid. Among the paid ones, some that are definitely worth paying a visit. On the paid attractions list, I would include:
1. Hagia Sophia (25 €)
2. Basilic Cistern (800 turkish lira) - this was one of my favorites! Such a fantastic place to visit.
Apart from that, there were areas that surprised me and are really worth checking out:
1. Karaköy Pier (and all surrounding area)
2. Galata Bridge (Galata Köprüsü) - try watching the sunset from the bridge, but don't bother trying the tourist trap restaurants along the lower part of the bridge
3. The Galataport Promenade, including the Galataport Istanbul Mall (with restaurants and shops) - lovely place to spend the late afternoon/evening
4. The IBB Sarayburny Parki (with an old Istanbul sign and a wonderful view of the city)
5. Ortaköy Mosque area
6. The Istiklal Street
7. Jump on a ferry and go to the Kadiköy area on the Asian side. It's worth all the way through.
Tourist traps
There are so many tourist traps that I am sure you will possibly have a hard time avoiding them. However, some are worth mentioning:
1. The Grand Bazaar - this is such an iconic place, but it's a nest of traps. Don't bother buying anything inside, although you may find really interesting and kind people trying to sell you stuff, the prices inside are absurd. It's a great place to exchange money tough.
2. Sweets, tea, and spice stores spread around the city - this is also another possible source of traps. The sweets are always overpriced (although some are really tasty).
4. Taxis. I did not use them, but everybody suggests avoid using them.
Where to eat
Again, this is a personal decision which depends on a lot of factors. I did not venture myself into any big food experiences, but I would suggest trying their kebap. I tried the one from Şehzade Cağ Kebap and it was good. It's a small, busy, not fancy, but fairly good place to try a good kebap. Apart from that, I will not say much because my experience was not really great.
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