Istanbul is the capital of Turkey, and was the eastern capital of the Roman Empire. It is steeped in rich Ottoman history and is located on both the European and Asian continents. Read on to find out how to spend an amazing week in Istanbul!
Practicalities
Currency: Turkish lira
Recommended length of stay: 1-2 weeks
Month of our visit: July
CDC’s Recommended Vaccinations: Click here!
Useful tips: Don’t rent a car here, instead rely on taxis, walking or public transport. P.S. Turkish Airlines offers nonstop flights from LAX!
Packing List for Istanbul
- Head covering for women (light scarf)
- Below the knee pants
- Sandals or shoes you can walk for miles in
- A secure bag
- Sunscreen
Where to Stay
There are many awesome hotels in Turkey – here are some of our favorites, stratified by budget!
Luxury: Check out the Pera Palace Hotel. This hotel has housed the rich and famous from Ernest Hemingway to Agatha Christie to Jacky O. It is known for hosting those traveling on the Orient Express.
Midrange: Look into Amiral Palace Boutique Hotel. Offering rooms with a sea view, it is conveniently located near Topkapi Palace and has an amazing looking pool to relax in after a long day of sight seeing!
Budget: Visit the Acacia Mansion. This hotel provides budget rooms (think $40-50 per night!). They are clean and have everything you need, and are located close to famous attractions.
What to Do
You’ll definitely want to look into the Istanbul City Pass before starting out. Start out with the two mosques which are the signatures of the city. The Blue Mosque is also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque and has six beautiful minarets.
The Hagia Sophia is located across the Sultan Ahmed park from the Blue Mosque.
Further along, you’ll find Topkapi Palace which is a palace and gardens from the Ottoman Empire.
Past Topkapi Palace you’ll get to Gulhane Park which is a beautiful place to stroll through and enjoy the views. Check out this awesome marble book fountain we found!
For the best views across Istanbul, you’ll want to head to Galata Tower. This amazing old observation deck can get really busy, so try to come here early if you can!
You’ll definitely not want to miss the Basilica Cistern. This network of underground waterways served as a water source in ancient Rome. It definitely has a slightly spooky vibe to it and is worth checking out.
Visit the Grand Bazaar and sample some Turkish delights among other delicacies. There are also fragrant spice markets, beautiful luminous Turkish lamps, plush rugs and much much more for sale. Many of the shops actually ship back home. Check out this dagger we bought!
Stroll down the Bosphorus and take the ferry over to the Asian side of Istanbul. You can even do a cruise on the Bosphorus River and watch a Whirling Dervish show – this is a traditional style of Turkish dance.
You might want to visit a hammam for an authentic relaxation experience while visiting Turkey. Be advised though that these either have separate sections for men and women or are open at different times.
Last but not least – check out all the cute kitties that line the streets of Istanbul. They are so gorgeous and cute!