Istanbul

Istanbul

Istanbul is the largest and most popular city in Turkey, though a modern city, it is still full of traditional vibes and brimming with culture at every corner.

A cheeky fun fact is that Istanbul is the only city in the world that is spread over two continents; it is separated by a body of water called The Bosphorus Strait which straddles both Europe and Asia.

NEED TO KNOW:

Local currency: Turkish Lira (TRY)

Language: Turkish

Transport: Taxi, tram, metro, bus – uber is not widely used in Istanbul

 

MY TRIP:

I did a 3-night weekend stay from Friday to Monday and booked my flights and hotel separately.

 

WHERE TO STAY:

Besiktas Best for luxury hotels and restaurants that are overlooking the water. Though this area is not close to the historic peninsula, it is quickly accessible to the waterfront and you can take a ferry to the Asian side of Istanbul. Similar areas are Nisantasi and Ortakoy.

Sultanahmet This area is best for first-timers to the city as it is in walking distance to Istanbul’s unmissable spots. It is close to The Grand Bazaar, Blue Mosque, Spice Bazaar, Basilica Cistern and more. Whilst Sultanahmet is a bustling area, it is quiet on the nightlife side.

Beyoglu A great area for those interested in nightlife as it is full of bars, nightclubs and restaurants.

Other great areas to consider are Taksim, Galata and Bazaar.

I stayed at the St.Regis Istanbul which is situated in Nisantasi; a very cosmopolitan and luxury feel with great views of the water, it was also fairly quick and easy to get to most places.

Other hotels in Istanbul that I would recommend are:

  • Four Seasons Istanbul at the Bosphorus
  • Sumahan on the Water
  • Georges Hotel Galata
  • Witt Istanbul Hotel
  • 10 Karakoy

 

WHAT TO EAT:

Cesme Bazlama Kahvalti

Cesme was recommended to us by the hotel concierge when our first choice for Sunday brunch was fully booked. I was hesitant because I hadn’t seen it on any ‘must visit restaurants’ lists, however, this restaurant took me by surprise and was easily one of my favourite spots on my trip.

Cesme serves a traditional Turkish breakfast which has a set menu and costs around 75TRY (£7.50) per person. The breakfast consists of Turkish eggs, bread, cheeses, salad, potatoes, olives, tahini, hummus, olives, fresh Turkish doughnuts and more.

The waiter came round with warm fresh jams, honey, and chocolates for you to dip your doughnuts and bread in. As if that wasn’t enough, the waiters constantly came round with more bread served plain, stuffed with spinach or cheese, fresh lemonade and Turkish tea.

Everything at Cesme was freshly handmade, including the bread and jam, and it tasted divine.

As it is a walk-in restaurant with no reservations, there is usually a queue. Despite this, the queue moves quickly, and we were seated in around 15 minutes. Additionally, as it is a set menu, the food came quickly after being seated. I highly recommend!

Lacivert

This restaurant is located on the Asian side of Istanbul and required a boat ride to get there.
The settings were beautiful, overlooking the sea by the Istanbul Bosphorus coastline.

Being a seafront restaurant, the menu was Mediterranean style seafood. I ordered a prawn starter and seafood linguine main course. The food was nice but it honestly didn’t wow me.

Whilst the food was mediocre, I really enjoyed the ambience of the restaurant, the views and the boat ride, it was a lovely evening and experience.

The meal was quite expensive by Turkish standards and I paid around £55, but this must factor in the free boat ride too and from the restaurant and you pay for the nice views.

I would recommend for the experience but maybe don’t order what I did lol!

Zuma

Zuma is a well-known contemporary restaurant which serves modern Japanese cuisine. It is also popular in London and it made sense to have it on our restaurant list.

As expected the food was divine. I had the prawn tempura maki rolls as a starter, beef ribs and garlic broccoli as a main, and the famous Zuma melt-in-the-mouth chocolate fondant cake to finish.

Zuma Istanbul was very affordable as compared to London. In London, a three-course meal with several cocktails can easily set you back £100 – £150 per head whereas I paid £50 for the same in Istanbul.

I enjoyed it so much that I went back the next day for a second time and this time replacing the cocktails, with mocktails I paid £40 for my three-course meal and drinks – need I say more?

Spago by Wolfgang Puck

Having visited other Wolfgang Puck restaurants and being really impressed, I was really looking forward to dining at Spago.

The restaurant offered an amazing sky view of Istanbul and great drinks. Although the food was nice, it didn’t live up to my Wolfgang Puck expectations.

I would still recommend as it was nice, but not the Michelin star-worthy food that I was expecting.

If you’re a fan of cocktails and you visit, I recommend the ‘Peace on Earth’ – I would go back to Spago for that drink alone.

Four Seasons Sunday Brunch

I wanted to attend the Four Seasons Sunday brunch after hearing amazing reviews but unfortunately, it was fully booked. The brunch is served in the afternoon and consists of multiple cuisine brunch buffet overlooking the Bosphorus. If you plan on brunching here make sure you book early.

Four Seasons Brunch Restaurant

 

More restaurants that were on my list:

  • Vogue
  • Riches
  • 16 Roof
  • Paper Moon
  • Galvin Nistanasi
  • Cecconi’s, Soho House
  • You can also try your luck at Nusr-Et. As Istanbul is Salt Bae’s first restaurant location and he is Turkish, there is a good chance he might be around for some salt sprinkling action!

Traditional Turkish

You simply cannot come to Turkey without trying some traditional Turkish cuisine, my must-try dishes are:

Baklava – an extremely moreish sweet dessert made of layers of filo pastry stuffed with chopped nuts and held together with syrup or honey. I like my Baklava warm with vanilla ice cream, how do you like yours 😉 ?

I bought some Baklava to take back to London from a popular dessert shop called Hafiz Mustafa 1864.

Kebab – We’ve all had a kebab – but have you really tried a kebab until you’ve tried it the traditional Turkish way? Whether you are a Doner, Kofte, or Sheesh kebab type of person, you have to try it freshly made as Turkish street food.

Turkish Apple Tea Apple tea is the national tea of Turkey and tastes like hot apple juice. It is a big part of Turkish hospitality and I was offered a cup almost everywhere I went – including in the Grand Bazaar and after my spa treatment.

Gozleme / Bazlama – Both Gozleme and Bazlama are Turkish flatbreads made from unleavened dough, the former is made with fat and the latter is made without. The bread is often stuffed with meat, cheese and spinach.

Apple Tea served in the Grand Bazaar

 

WHAT TO DO:

Taht Istanbul

Taht is a rooftop which overlooks Istanbul offering insane views. The rooftop is set up for photoshoots with traditional Turkish rugs, pillows and shisha.

If you’re not scared of heights and birds then Taht is perfect for beautiful scenic pictures of Istanbul.

Entry is 100TRY (£10) and includes tea and time on the rooftop to take pictures. If you require a professional camera and photographer, you can pay more.

Grand Bazaar

Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is over 500 years old and one of the largest covered bazaars in the world. The bazaar contains over 60 streets and more than 4000 shops.

You can buy all sorts of things in the bazaar including ceramics, scarves, Turkish teas, sweets and spices. You can also get gold and silver jewellery, Turkish rugs and handmade crafts.

The bazaar is usually jam-packed full of people, however, due to Covid-19, it was very empty when I visited. I bought a Turkish eye bracelet as a trinket.

Turkish eye bracelet purchased at Grand Bazaar

If you visit don’t forget to haggle as prices are sometimes tripled if you are a foreigner.

Spice Bazaar

The Spice Bazaar is a vibrant market full of edible goods that visitors can taste before they buy.

There are hundreds of colourful and fragrant spices on offer. You can also buy dried fruits, Turkish sweets, coffees, teas and more.

Turkish Hammam

What is a trip to Turkey without indulging in a hammam bath? Hammams were first found in Arabia but made popular by the Turkish.

A hammam scrub and massage is exactly what the body needs on a holiday and Turkey is made for it. A hammam treatment consists of an exfoliation scrub, rinse and massage as well as relaxing in the bath and steam room.

There are plenty of hammam baths in Istanbul, some are very old and traditional. Because I was on a tight schedule and for a luxury feel, I visited the spa in my Hotel which had its own hammam bath.

Beach Club

If you’re seriously craving a beachside you can get to the beach in an hour from Istanbul city centre.

There are several beach clubs including Solar Beach which is situated on Kilyos beach and is a regular host to festivals and night parties. There is also a variety of activities such as water sports, rock climbing, volleyball etc.

Nightlife

Istanbul has a really good nightlife and you’re guaranteed a night of fun no matter what type of music you are in to.

Being a fan of Afrobeats, Hip Hop and RnB,  the Hip Hop night at Blackk nightclub was the perfect choice. The club was glam, not too big (I dislike huge clubs) and had an open rooftop with views of Istanbul skyline.

Blue Mosque

I didn’t get a chance to visit the Blue Mosque however it is a must-visit whilst in Istanbul. It is one of the only mosques (out of more than 3000) in Istanbul with 6 minarets.

It is known as the Blue Mosque due to the blue tiles that decorate the interior and is one of Istanbul’s most iconic historic sights attracting thousands of tourists.

Blue Mosque Istanbul

Bosphorus Cruise

There are several cruises you can take on the Bosphorus Strait which provide a great overview of both the European and Asian side of the city.

There is a long cruise which lasts six hours and goes all the way to the Black Sea. Or you can choose shorter cruises which last anywhere from one to two hours, and include visits to different historical sites and neighbourhoods.

Boats on the Bosphorus Strait

There are loads of places to visit in Istanbul, a lot more than I managed to visit in my short time. If you want to take in more of the history of the city then you can also visit the below:

  • Basilica Cistern
  • Hagia Sophia
  • Topkapi Palace Museum

I had a great time in Istanbul and I endorse this city for long or short trips. There is so much do see and do in this welcoming and bustling city.

If you have been to Istanbul, or anywhere else in Turkey, or you have any questions, feel free to comment below.

Love Roberta

x

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11 Comments

  1. Nicole
    October 13, 2020 / 10:20 am

    I loved this post! I already considered turkey from watching your stories on Instagram and this has sealed the deal!

    Nicole x

    • Roberta
      Author
      October 13, 2020 / 11:06 am

      Thank you so much ☺️
      Hope you enjoy
      xx

  2. Princela
    October 26, 2020 / 11:07 pm

    Just came across your blog. Love it!

    • Roberta
      Author
      October 30, 2020 / 4:16 pm

      thank you so much! 🙂 x

  3. Tricia
    November 15, 2020 / 8:29 am

    Now booking my trip after reading such detailed review! You never mentioned anything about the visa…. how early do you have to apply for it and what’s the wait plz x

    • Roberta
      Author
      February 17, 2021 / 11:43 pm

      Hope you have/had a great time! I didn’t require a visa for Istanbul as British Citizens travelling to Turkey for tourist or business purposes are able to travel without a visa for visits of up to 90 days! but you can check the Turkish government website to be sure xx

  4. October 4, 2021 / 12:00 pm

    Awesome review Roberta! I would like to ask you about Taht, is it really worth to go? I saw some pictures on google reviews and it looks completely different than the picture you have posted for example. Is the view really so adorable? And did you see the birds like real?
    Thank you so much and have a nice day!

    • Roberta
      Author
      January 8, 2022 / 9:02 pm

      Hi Marketa, the view was stunning and the birds were real. You can see a video on my instagram account @rlanc

      However I have received recent feedback that the birds are no longer around due to safety reasons. I hope this helps xx

  5. Carol
    October 12, 2021 / 9:27 am

    Love this!

  6. Lisa
    February 6, 2022 / 6:57 pm

    Hi Roberta, Any tips of what to wear whilst there. I heard to go in mosques I need head scarf and to be covered up but what is your em recommendation everywhere else?

    • Roberta
      Author
      February 18, 2022 / 2:17 pm

      Hi Lisa, yes modesty is required. You need to cover your hair, arms and legs from the knee u. Hope this helps

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