Fazil Bey's Turkish Coffee

In 2014 as a junior in college, I was roped into a two-month summer trip to Istanbul, Turkey. Growing up loving travel but struggling with history, I had no clue what I was getting into—I couldn’t even show you Turkey on a map. So it came as a complete surprise that 60 days in this city would make me more familiar with it than my own hometown and grow a love I didn’t know was possible. I could never up all I learned and love about Istanbul, but for cities like this that I know well it’s pretty easy to identify the places I would revisit today if I could, and that’s why I’m starting my #khowdozen Lists. Consider this a starting place for how to engage with Istanbul as a first-time visitor; perhaps you could even squeeze these twelve experiences into a long layover! This isn’t a list of the top sites or best fine dining; it’s the honest opinion of a girl who spent two months in the simple Kadikoy neighborhood and grew to love the Turkish people and the ways they connect, eat, and explore their beloved city. All photography by Katie Howerton.

Istanbul sits at the meeting point of two great continents: Europe and Asia. Its unique location makes the city a dynamic and fascinating place to explore, but it can also be hard to know where to begin! In this guide I will share some of the city's highlights, from interesting neighbourhoods and must-visit sights to cultural experiences and delicious food. I will also include some useful tips to help you get the most out of your trip.

Explore this map, I made as the ultimate Turkey guide, to get inspired and discover the places that will become the highlight of your next trip. Many of the places in this map will have helpful booking links and/or links to social media posts with more inside information. I see all my Guide Maps as perpetual works in progress and will do my best to add to and update them as my knowledge expands. Use my Klook promo: ACKUGARTE for 10% off for new users and 3% off for returning users.