Istanbul is a major city in Turkey that straddles Europe and Asia across the Bosphorus Strait. Its Old City reflects cultural influences of the many empires that once ruled here. In the Sultanahmet district, the open-air, Roman-era Hippodrome was for centuries the site of chariot races, and Egyptian obelisks also remain.
We went during Ramadan so we were worried many places will be closed but we generally didn't have any issues. The local just pushed all their social activities to the evenings making the area extremely lively after dark.
Accommodation
Gezi Hotel Bosphorus is located around 5 min walk from Taksim Square links to one of the major tourist avenues, Istiklal Street. The hotel is modern and over looks a leafy hillside and they have their own restaurant which was very nice. We had brunch there on the day we landed.
Sightseeing
Istiklal Street
Istiklal Avenue or Istiklal Street is one of the most famous avenues in Istanbul, Turkey, visited by nearly 3 million people in a single day over the course of weekends. This cobblestone street attracts both locals and tourists who walk its length to enjoy the many restaurants, cafes and shops. Many of the city's movie theatres are also located here.
Çukur Cuma
This area is made up of narrow streets/slopes and filled with unique antique shops and cafes. Spend an afternoon here and explore the local art and craft scene.
Galata Tower, Bridge and Area
The Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi in Turkish) — called Christea Turris (the Tower of Christ in Latin) by the Genoese — is a medieval stone tower in the Galata/Karaköy quarter of Istanbul, Turkey, just to the north of the Golden Horn's junction with the Bosphorus. It is a high, cone-capped cylinder that dominates the skyline and offers a panoramic vista of Istanbul's historic peninsula and its environs. The area is fill with boutiques and specialist shops ideal for souvenir shopping. There are also restaurants underneath the Galata Bridge which makes it a great lunch spot.
Dolapdere Bit Pazari
This flea market is as rustic as it gets. Vendors on blankets and shoppers fills the narrow street and to be honest it was a bit ghetto. You can find all sort of unimaginable junk but the location of this place is so hidden that even our taxi driver didn't know where it was. The only good thing was that we got to explore the northern side of the Istiklal Street as we walked back. You really get to see how the local lives in this neighbourhood.
Topkapi Palace Museum / Topkapı Sarayı Müzesi
The Topkapı Palace, or the Seraglio, is a large museum in Istanbul, Turkey. In the 15th century, it served as the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans. Construction began in 1459, ordered by Mehmed the Conqueror, six years after the conquest of Constantinople.
The Blue Mosque / Sultan Ahmet Camii
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is a historic mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey. A popular tourist site, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque continues to function as a mosque today. The Blue Mosque, as it is popularly known, was constructed between 1609 and 1616 during the rule of Ahmed I
Hagia Sophia Museum
Hagia Sophia is the former Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal cathedral, later an Ottoman imperial mosque and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. Built in AD 537 at the beginning of the Middle Ages, it was famous in particular for its massive dome.
Basilica Cistern
The Basilica Cistern, is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul, Turkey. The cistern, located 150 metres southwest of the Hagia Sophia on the historical peninsula of Sarayburnu, was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.
Çemberlitaş Hamamı
Çemberlitaş Hamamı is a historical Turkish bath located on Divanyolu Street in the Çemberlitaş neighborhood of Istanbul, Turkey. It was constructed by Mimar Sinan in 1584. In the Indian city of Bhopal, the 18th century Hammam-e-Qadimi, was built in the style of Çemberlitaş Hamamı. Expect bare minimum english. You will be lead into your own little room to change and leave your personal belongings behind. The most basic version is just a scrub.
Dolmabahçe Palace
Dolmabahçe Palace located in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul, Turkey, on the European coast of the Strait of Istanbul, served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1887 and 1909 to 1922. They have a cafe outside that overlooks the ocean ideal for a coffee after exploring the palace. Note they have a very slow service.
Restaurants
Cuma Cafe
This is a cute cafe in the Çukurcuma neighbourhood serving up some hearty middle eastern brunch options. Cosy with spacious seatings this is a great place to relax before or after exploring the area.
Ficcin Kallavi
Tucked away in one of the small streets off Istiklal Street, Ficcin is a local establishment with branches opened up on either side of the alleyway. They specialised in local cuisine. I enjoyed the flavour but it was certainly something that my pallet needed to get used to.
Journey
Journey lounge is where you can find delicious food that is made from the local products within season, all freshly brought in and prepared with good taste and tender loving care… Journey Lounge serves two floors, and like our home cooked foods, Journey is designed with a meticulous comfortable yet unique atmosphere to make you feel at home.
The Han Restaurant
Conveniently located between the Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia, The Han Restaurant rug filled restaurant is a great lunch spot before you continue on with your visit. As we are so close to the city's main attraction you can't help but to feel a bit of touristy in these restaurants, but we enjoyed our meal here nonetheless.
Zübeyir Ocakbaşı
Located near Taksim Square this vintage restaurant is famous for the grilled meat platter. We were set right next to their iconic copper griller and this made a perfect place for our last meal in Turkey.
Tarihi Eminönü Balık Ekmek
This riverside establishment has been serving Balik Ekmek since 1895. Balik Ekmek, (meaning fish in bread) is a very popular street food in Turkey. The sandwich is simply made of grilled fish fillet placed in a half-loaf of bread. Peppers, onions, fresh lettuce and tomatoes can be added to the sandwich to enrich the flavour.
Cafe Ara
If you want to give your pallet a rest from the middle eastern flavours this modern cafe is a good alternative. Cafe Ara is well tucked in away from the busy Istiklal Street and serves modern international dishes.
Nightlife
We did do any partying but if you want do go for a few drinks there are plenty of decent al fresco bars in the Dernek Sokak street area. You can also have a shisha at one of the coffee shops on the steps. They are great for people watching. Cezayir Sokak is steep staircase filled with live music bars. They are call this street French Street for some reason.
Around Istanbul
Cappadocia, a semi-arid region in central Turkey, is known for its distinctive “fairy chimneys,” tall, cone-shaped rock formations clustered in Monks Valley, Göreme and elsewhere. Other notables sites include Bronze Age homes carved into valley walls by troglodytes (cave dwellers) and later used as refuges by early Christians. The 100m-deep Ihlara Canyon houses numerous rock-face churches.
I didn't get to go this time as we didn't know we need to allow a few days for this. I strongly recommend you guys to factor this option ahead as you plan your trip. You will need to fly to another airport to do this as part of a Cappadocia packages from Istanbul.
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