Things you need to know before your Istanbul Trip!

Anyone who has ever seen a picture of Hagia Sophia, has probably added a bucket list item for traveling to Istanbul and seeing it in person. In addition to the impressive architecture, the city has more to offer – history, culture, food, shopping, relaxation – all in one place. You can walk your legs off visiting the landmarks in Sultanahmet Square and end your day with a relaxing hammam bath. You can haggle over every single item at the Spice Bazaar but spend your evening having a quiet dinner with a beautiful view, at a rooftop restaurant.

Based on my experience of visiting Istanbul, I am listing some tips for you so you can make the most of your time there.

Tips to save money

Public transport is your friend – There is no Uber in Istanbul; so the faster you learn to navigate the public transport system the more you save. You should definitely buy Istanbul Kart which can be used for all kinds of public transport. It is a pre-paid card which can be recharged at one of the train or tram stations. You can buy it at any major transit stop or small stores for 10 TL.

Blue taxis are cheaper than the orange ones – As you land at the airport and try to get a taxi, you might not pay attention to the color of the taxi cab in the rush to reach your hotel. Let me tell you in advance – blue taxis are cheaper than the orange ones. Also, I would advice loading your hotel address on google map when you have access to wifi inside the airport – this way you can make sure your taxi driver is not taking you for a ride to make some extra money.

Buy a museum pass – If you are a museum person and plan to visit many museums in Istanbul then buying a pass would be a good choice. You can buy it for 50 Euros which gives access to 8 museums and is valid for 5 days. It will help you save some money as well avoid the line to buy the ticket at the counter.

Explore Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar but do not shop there – It is nice to look at the beautifully decorated shops in Grand bazaar but if you really want to buy something then take one of the exits and venture out to the nearby streets. I wanted to buy a Turkish tea-set which I was quoted 465 TL in a shop near Hagia Sophia, then ~ 265 TL as final price after quite a bit of negotiation in Grand Bazaar which I finally bought for 180 TL in a store outside Grand Bazaar.

What not to miss!

Visit Suleymaniye Mosque – Most tourists spend a lot of time in Sultanahmet Square which boasts to have Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque, but, away from the crowd of Sultanahmet, Suleymaniye mosque was a pleasant surprise to me. It is an Ottoman imperial mosque with great views of the city. The interior is really beautiful too. Do check it out!

Spots with the best night views – Legacy Ottoman hotel and Seven Hills hotel, both have great rooftop views. Seven Hills has the views of Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and the city, whereas, from Ottoman Hotel you can enjoy the scenic Galata tower and the Bosporus. They both have restaurants at the top floor – you can visit them for a meal or a night cap. In case, you can’t see the view, ask a server to direct you to the view point. Depending on which floor they are operating, you might have to go a level up to enjoy the view.

Enjoy a hammam experience – I would say this is a must do as it is a unique experience. It is like going to a spa but not for a massage, for a bath :). Although, you can combine it with an oil massage too. You can pick from a list of services based on your willingness to spend. I went to a mid range hammam and opted only for a bath experience. For more details on a hammam experience you can read through this blog.

Sip on local beverages – Turkey has a few different unique beverages that you must try while you are there. Tea is something that you cannot miss. It is generally offered after every meal in most of the restaurants without any cost. Their tea is black without any milk but you can add sugar. Coffee is also offered as an option along with the tea. My favorite was savory yogurt drink called ‘Ayran’. You can easily find it any local store. And, of course, you can’t miss Turkey’s national drink – Raki. It is an alcoholic beverage made out of grapes and Aniseed. It is often served with ice or water. Am not a big fan of it but it was definitely worth a try!

Enjoy a cultural dance show – After a long day of walking, this is a good way to give some rest to your feet while have a great time. I went for a belly dance performance in Hodjapasha and loved every moment of it. You can buy tickets online. They had about 8-9 different kinds of performances, originating from different cultures, lined up. The music, lighting and costumes also varied from performance to performance. The artists were very talented and full of energy. There was not even a single dull moment. I would highly recommend it.

Go for a dervish ritual experience – This is something I had never heard about until I reached Istanbul. I found out it is a way of meditation that originated in Persia and is still practiced in some Sufi groups. You can watch this at multiple locations but a couple of well know ones are Hodjapasha and Galata Mavlevi Museum.

Visit Hagia Sophia at night for best pictures – Sultanahmet square, where Hagia Sophia is located, is extremely busy during the day but it is surprisingly quiet at night. With lights on, it has its own charm. You might even be able to get a picture no one else in the background (like I did!). Also, walk on the street right behind Hagia Sophia to see some of the high end restaurants and hotels like Hilton Mansions.

You can skip Princes’ Island during off season – You will find many tour companies offering you a tour of Princes’ island. It is a group of nine islands in the Sea of Marmara. Four of them are accessible to public. Büyükada is the most popular one. I visited it in the month of February when it was pretty quiet ( a little too quiet for my taste). I had read about the horse-drawn carriage tour of the island but they were not operating then. Most restaurants were closed other than the ones close to the ferry terminal. So, if you really want to visit the islands, do it during the summer when it is bustling. I definitely enjoyed watching the city of Istanbul from water while I was sitting in the ferry for the island. To do that, just take a tour of Bosphorus – a water channel that separates the Asian Turkey from European Turkey.

Try some of the most delicious kebabs – Istanbul is a foodie’s heaven. Sehzade Cag Kebap in Hocapasa has the best lamb kebab you can ask for. Bitlisli and SultanAhmet Koftecisi are other good options for lunch or dinner. Other than kebabs, I also truly enjoyed this dessert called ‘Kunefe’. It is molten cheese with lots of sugar filled inside a crispy crust. I had it at Bitlisli and Asi kunefeliri – it was great at both places. The restaurants I have listed here are recommended by locals (and tested by me!) so definitely try them out.

Other helpful tips

Dress modestly, carry a head covering – There is no dress code for visiting most places but some mosques like Blue Mosque and Suleymaniye are active for daily prayers – so they require you to dress appropriately and cover your head with a cloth before entering the mosque. In Blue Mosque, they hand you a head cover if you do not have one.

Carry cash with you – You will need it for things like paying for a taxi, at a cash only restaurants or loading your tram pass etc. I was able to withdraw cash from an ATM at the airport.

Do not drink tap water – If you are traveling from the US or some countries in Europe, you might want to assume drinking tap water is safe but it is not. Your best bet is buying water bottles at a nearby corner store.

Hope these tips are helpful. If you have any questions, put them in the comments section.