Istanbul is bursting with history and charm, from the striking mosques of Sultanahmet to the excitement of the Grand Bazaar
The atmosphere of this city is remarkable. Ancient mosques line the glittering waters of the Bosphorus where birds appear like silhouettes in the sky.
Pastel shades of pink decorate the cobbled streets of the old quarter. Bustling market stalls are filled with handmade crafts and garments.
From ancient architecture to chic rooftops, Istanbul has it all. Scroll down to see my favourite things to do and you discover the city for yourself.
1. Get lost in the Grand Bazaar
Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is like a real-life Aladdin’s Cave full of brightly coloured trinkets, thick carpets, and fragrant food and drink. Explore the antique corner, filled with old watches, under-polished silver, and vintage jewellery.
Roll out the Turkish carpets at one of many carpet maker’s shops, full of stylish and high quality tapestries. Browse handmade handbags and garments or stand underneath the Turkish lanterns. The list is endless when it comes to what you can find at the world’s biggest enclosed bazaar, covering an astonishing 30,700sqm.
2. Indulge in a Turkish hammam
Enjoying a Turkish hammam at one of Istanbul’s ancient bath houses is a worthy experience, if your budget allows. Of the many options on offer, I opted for the Hurrem Sultan Hamami which is located in between the famous Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia. The lavish interior will blow you away with its domed reception room and wooden balcony walls which lead into the large marble bath house.
Hammam treatments start at €90. For those who consider this a real bucket list experience, the Zevk-i Sefa Hammam Turkish Bath treatment offers the full works at €185. The 80-minute treatment includes a traditional body scrub, a full body bubble wash on the warm marble stone, and an aromatherapy massage with redbud scented oil in a private massage room. Heavenly!
3. Marvel at the mosques
Istanbul is famous for its extraordinary mosques which frame the river with pastel shades of pink and blue.
Perhaps the most famous is the Blue Mosque which you can enter from Sultanahmet Square. We were not wearing the appropriate attire for our visit and spent the morning scouring the markets of the nearby Grand Bazaar for long sleeved tops and trousers. But after a quick-fire shopping trip, we arrived at the mosque to discover they provide you with clothing for free.
On the other side of the square, the Hagia Sophia mosque certainly lives up to expectations with its dramatic high ceilings and decadent architecture, dating back to 532. As well as the main large mosques, there are dozens of smaller buildings to discover, particularly in this district.
4. Sip on cocktails at rooftop bars
Just like Athens, Istanbul has a fantastic selection of rooftop bars which boast sweeping views over the Bosphorus. These lofty venues can be found along the famous shopping street Istiklal Avenue.
One example is 360 Istanbul which offers great food and drinks, beautiful views, live music and entertainment. During my visit, I was met with a live flute player, a saxophonist, and a trapeze artist.
5. Take in the colours of Balat
Nestled along the waterfront of the European side, Balat is one of the city’s oldest and most spectacular districts, famed for its colourful buildings and vibrant atmosphere. Centuries-old churches, mosques and synagogues are dotted around the neighbourhood which was once the city’s Jewish quarter.
I spent the afternoon wandering the streets and browsing the quaint boutiques, antique shops and cosy tea rooms. This was rounded off with a walk along the waterfront.
6. Tuck into a Turkish breakfast
Turkey is famous for its breakfasts for a reason – they are delicious and Instagrammable and enormous.
Feast your eyes on my Turkish breakfast at the Seven Hills rooftop restaurant in Sultanahmet, near the ancient mosques of Istanbul.
My favourite dishes were the feta cheese, the sucuk, and the crumbly pastries. There are so many dishes to choose from, you’re likely to leave feeling full for the day!
7. Search for the world’s best kebab
Famed for its legendary kebabs, Istanbul does not disappoint when it comes to this dish. From street food vendors to high-end restaurants, have fun spending a part of each day sampling what’s on offer.
My favourite by far was a sit down meal at Zubeyir Ocakbasi – an authentic Turkish restaurant on the edge of Taksim Square. Eat outside on the terrace, or in the restaurant’s elegantly decorated interior.
Enjoy a delicious meal with local soups and appetisers followed by the most flavoursome kebabs. Walk up from Istiklal street towards Taksim Square and take the cobbled street on the left side of the square named Şehit Muhtar Caddesi. Zubeyir Ocakbasi will be on your left.
8. Take the ferry from west to east for the best ice-cream in Istanbul
Escape the main tourist path and catch the ferry from Karakoy in the west to Kadıköy in the east, which is said to have some of the city’s best bookshops and ice-cream shops – which I certainly vouch for!
We stumbled upon a place called Meshur Dondurmaci Ali Usta, which often has a queue for its super creamy ice-cream, made from goats milk and buffalo milk. My go to was salted caramel and vanilla, but you can rest assured there are more than a dozen amazing flavours to choose from.
Next up was a tour of the area’s book shops, and we found an awesome spot at No. 5, Tasarım Bookshop & Cafe which had a similar feel to our local haunt back in east London.
The guy behind the counter was super friendly and recommended his favourite books by local authors, and we sat down with our new purchases at the book shops’s cafe for a read.
We toured more than five book shops in the east, simply punching “book shops” into Google, and it was the perfect way to spend our fourth full day in Istanbul. Kadikoy felt more calm and residential, with local city goers simply going about their day. But had our trip been just three days, I would not have swapped it for the main sights on the western side.