As soon as I got to Istanbul for the first time, I fell in love... With the Bosphorus, with the panorama with minarets of mosques, with palaces, bazaars, streets. I can say about Istanbul, like no other city, that it is a fairy tale. For many, Istanbul is associated with bales of shuttles. If you are one of these people, then I am ready to dissuade you and tell you about what to do in Istanbul, where to go, what to see. Of course, my note is subjective, but every journey is an emotion, isn't it?

Istanbul Airport: how to get to the city center

Most likely, your flight will land at the airport called Ataturk (Istanbul Ataturk Airport), which is located about half an hour from the center of Istanbul. The modern airport, it seems to me, is no different from any other large one.

Airport map departure hall

Arrival hall map

There are several ways to get from the airport to the center of Istanbul: by public transport with one transfer, taxi or order a transfer from a Russian-speaking company. On how to get there, read in a separate note.

Public transport in Istanbul

Istanbul suffers from serious traffic jams, so I will start talking about public transport with the metro and high-speed trams. In fact, tram lines are often called light metro, because they move along a fenced off road, they run as often as the metro. If you look at the Istanbul metro map (download), you will see that some lines are marked with the letter M (metro) and some with the letter T (trams). In general, both modes of transport create a common system for moving around Istanbul, but you will have to pay again when transferring from one mode to another.

As you know, Istanbul is located on 7 hills, so it was not without funiculars and cable cars. There is a short line in the public transport system, marked with the letter F. This is an old underground funicular that will take you from Kabatas to Taksim in a matter of minutes. You will have to pay for the funicular again.

There are also cable cars, they are marked with the letters TF. Among tourists, the TF2 (Eyup-Pierre Loti) line is popular, raising everyone to the cafe of the same name on the hill, from the terrace of which a stunning view of Istanbul opens.

The know-how of local authorities is metrobuses. These are buses for which a separate lane has been allocated and fenced off. The principle is very similar to trams.

Moving, even changing from one type of transport to another, is very convenient, they are united by common passages, there are many signs.

Payment for public transport is made with tokens, the vending machines of which are located at each stop. One token is 3 lira. You will not be able to pay for travel in cash.

If you plan to actively use public transport, then it is better for you to purchase an Istanbul card (in Istanbul it is commonly called akbil, because it used to be something like a key to an intercom), top up your account and apply it every time you pass through the turnstile. Thus, the cost of the trip will be lower. Savings are especially noticeable when transferring from one mode of transport to another within 120 minutes: each transfer becomes cheaper. Cards are sold at many kiosks, including specialized ones labeled Albil or Istanbul card. The deposit for the card is 6 lira, it will be returned when the card is returned. However, no one will return the unused money on the card to you, therefore, you should not replenish the card account with huge amounts. Very Turkish, isn't it?

Description of routes of high-speed public transport can be studied here .

Istanbul is a huge city, of course, high-speed public transport does not fully cover the needs of people. Many sights will have to be reached by bus. Schedule and routes of buses can be found here. I recommend keeping this link for yourself, because in Istanbul, like us, there is no complete information about routes, stops and bus arrival times. That is, you need to ask or know in advance which bus is needed, where it is better to get off. By the way, the Turks are very willing to help sort things out.

Buses are big, but they are like our minibuses (in Turkey they are called dolmushi).

Another convenient form of Istanbul public transport is ferries. Water transport for such a densely populated city is just a salvation. All berths are marked on the map of the city, which will be given to you at the hotel.

There are small ferries that only carry people, they are called Vapurs. Here you can see the schedule and routes.

There are large ferries for people and cars, they are called Ferries (feribot). Ferries run along the coast of Istanbul, and sea buses (deniz otob?s) are provided for trips to more remote points.

Istanbul water transport website .

If you are traveling to Istanbul for the first time, then most likely you will need the T1 tram line, which passes by the top attractions and markets of Istanbul, and the F1 funicular to Taksim Square and the upper start of the Istiklal pedestrian street. Well, then ... most likely, Istanbul will charm and drag you, and all the wisdom of moving around the city will become understandable and a little familiar.

Taxi in Istanbul

How much is a taxi in Istanbul? And how do you agree! This is an eastern country, which means that a taxi driver can make good money on tired tourists who are ready to give any money just to get to the hotel as soon as possible.

We always agreed with the taxi driver on the fare in advance, and even had to bargain. To bargain more confidently, you can use online taxi fare calculator .

In general, I determined for myself that a taxi in Istanbul is the worst way to travel. Firstly, it is quite expensive, because gasoline in Turkey costs crazy money. Secondly, it takes a long time, because the city is suffocating from traffic jams. Thirdly, they drive just awful, I'm always scared.

Where to book a hotel in Istanbul

Where it is better to book a hotel in Istanbul is a very difficult question. To answer it, you must first decide on the goals of the trip, personal priorities and budget. I will not try to act as a hotel expert on Istanbul, but rather I will talk about personal experience and observations.

When we went to Istanbul for the first time, we definitely decided for ourselves that we wanted to live in the very heart of the old city of Sultanahmet. Therefore, we determined that you need to choose a hotel on Divan Street or near the Topkapi Palace. As they say, the lip is not a fool. We were lucky, for the promotion we were able to book the Ambassador Hotel, magnificent by the standards of Sultanahmet. It is magnificent with a fresh renovation, excellent staff and a fantastic rooftop terrace. When we climbed it, we squealed with delight in the truest sense of the word. In addition to all the sights that we managed to see in three days, we walked without any problems, plunged into the atmosphere of old Istanbul.

Of course, I recommend everyone to live in Sultanahmet if you are willing to pay about 6,000 rubles per day for a hotel. I couldn't find a decent hotel for less money. By the way, the cost is also not always a guarantee of comfort. In Sultanahmet, the buildings are very old, miniature, often standing close: window to window. Spiral staircases, small elevators, tiny rooms, miniature showers - you need to be prepared for such surprises. Hotels in Sultanahmet

For the second trip to Istanbul, I chose the hotel differently. I liked the location of the hotels along the street along which the T1 light rail runs in the direction of the Galata Bridge. Here are more budget hotels, but at the same time, colorful and located within walking distance from all the most interesting things in the old city of Istanbul. I recommend to pay attention to this part of the city. Hotels near Galata Bridge

I also liked the location of the hotels overlooking the Bosphorus, i.e. in the area of ​​the Galata Bridge. I booked a hotel with a view of the sea and Sultanahmet and ... upon arrival I found that the hotel was on the street where they sell pieces of iron, garden equipment, etc. A kind of market that filled the entire street. Terrible place, I would not recommend anyone to stay there. This is the first line of hotels on the banks of the Bosphorus from the side of the city, where the Galata Tower stands.

If you want to save money or want a modern normal hotel near the historical center, then pay attention to the Laleli area. If you read the reviews carefully, you can choose a good hotel at a reasonable price. Although Laleli has the fame of a “so-so” district, he did not seem like that to me. Just a few streets with small shops for rags and bags, outwardly very decent. Yes, and to the center a couple of stops on the light rail. Hotels in Laleli

My ratings for hotels visited in Istanbul: Ambassador 3* (rating 5 out of 5), Gold Hotel 3* (rating 2+ out of 5), Aladdin hotel 3* (rating 3+ out of 5).

Istanbul hotel features

Audibility in Istanbul hotels is generally a separate song. We somehow settled into a room on the 3rd floor of the hotel, and on the first floor there lived a company of Russians who drank heavily. At 2 o'clock in the morning they were returning from parties and yelling like they were cut. I was especially surprised by one girl who behaved like a tipsy woman in the company of truckers (Aladdin hotel, if a girl reads my review, then a big “hello” and “bow” to her). In general, because of her, the whole hotel did not sleep.

Breakfast usually in hotels consists of cheese, eggs, olives, pastries, muesli and inedible sausages and sausages. Modestly, but this is how the Turks themselves have breakfast.

Many hotels in the center have terraces with beautiful views of the city, mosques, Bosphorus. For me, this is a real fad, I ignore the offers of hotels where you can’t have breakfast while enjoying the panorama.

If you take the time, you can choose a hotel with an oriental interior to add even more flavor to your trip. Satin pillows, carpets, bright bedspreads, a canopy...great, right?

If you meet suitable hotels in wooden houses, then this will be an additional plus: after all, such buildings belong to Istanbul during the Ottomans.

If we talk about hotels located in the business part, near the airport, then everything is European there: Ibises, Holidays, etc. In general, who cares about comfort in the European sense of the word, I recommend choosing the usual hotel chains.

Rules for visiting mosques

As you know, there are a lot of mosques in Istanbul, which are not tourist attractions, but active religious places. At the entrance to the most popular "tourist" mosques, there are signs explaining the form in which you can visit them; at the entrance, an employee checks compliance with the rules. But, if you want to go to less popular mosques, then do not forget about the rules, because there are no special employees there, and local residents can take violations very seriously.

So, first of all, we must remember that you cannot enter any mosque with shoes on. Usually shoes are left in front of the door. I carry a bag in my purse where I can put my shoes and take them with me to the mosque (but more often I just leave them like everyone else).

Women are not allowed to enter the mosque with their bare hands, feet and bare head. Usually, in front of the entrance are skirts that you need to put on over your clothes and scarves.

Men are not allowed to enter the mosque in shorts, it is better to wear a jacket over a T-shirt.

And remember that during namaz (prayer) you cannot enter the mosque. Namaz occurs 5 times a day: early in the morning, around noon, after dinner, in the evening and at night. The exact time varies with the seasons, as the call to prayer is linked to the position of the sun.

I don’t even remind you that you can’t talk loudly, laugh, discuss those who are praying, walk in front of them. This cannot be done in any religious place.

By the way, you can take pictures in mosques, if it is not expressly prohibited by a sign (I have not seen such restrictions).

What and where to try in Istanbul

Before traveling to Istanbul, drop the diet. This city constantly, at every step, chews and drinks, fries or cooks something, treats and offers to buy various sweets. Well, if the first day you can still hold out, then you will still be tempted.

Unconditional gastronomic chips of Istanbul are roasted chestnuts, roasted corn, bagels with chocolate paste, pomegranate juice, Turkish ice cream and oriental sweets. And how to get past the doner and kebab? And you also want to drink real Turkish tea from miniature glass cups, try Turkish coffee ... And you should definitely try the fish, because the Bosphorus is famous for red mullet and other sea delicacies. I am sure that your idea of ​​Turkish cuisine will change dramatically if it has developed on the basis of all-inclusive hotels.

You understand that at such a pace in Istanbul you can only do what you eat, eat, eat. But what about the sights?

I have put together a kind of food guide (again very subjective) of what to try in Istanbul. And even then it is not complete, because during three trips to Istanbul I did not manage to try everything, to learn about everything. ( read a delicious post about food in Istanbul)

What souvenirs to bring from Istanbul

Istanbul is one of those cities from which you can bring excellent souvenirs, and not a banal magnet or a postcard.

At the Egyptian Bazaar, you can buy high-quality towels, bedspreads and other textiles. And you can pick up fragrant spices that will appeal to all people who know how to cook a little more than just scrambled eggs. And I also found magnificent Turks there, elegant silver-plated Turkish coffee cups.

The Grand Bazaar also has a lot of spices, Turks (both dishes and real ones), hookahs, and textiles. In addition, there is a large selection of Turkish sweets by weight. Everything that is sold in factory boxes is better not to buy. Real sweets are sold by weight, they are quite expensive, but they are delicious. Feel free to try.

I bought gifts in the Laleli area, because towels and bed linen are much cheaper there.

Personally, my favorite among souvenirs from Istanbul are absolutely magical oriental lamps. They just mesmerize me. Let there be nothing oriental in the apartment, but such a table lamp fits very organically into the usual modern interior.

Ordinary souvenir shops can also be visited. Along with banal charms from the evil eye, cups, plates, figurines, you can dig up cool slippers, CDs with Turkish music, and stylish notebooks. The list is endless.

In shops that sell sweets, you can buy Turkish coffee, tea, which is also never superfluous.

Everything has been done in Istanbul for tourists to buy, buy, buy. They ate, ate, ate, and then bought again.

Shopping in Istanbul

Shopping in Istanbul is best planned in advance. Istanbul is too big a city to randomly run around shopping malls. Imagine if you need to run Mega in Khimki and Vegas in the south of the city in a day.

I bought textiles in the Laleli area. Having wandered through the streets among shops with strange clothes, I came across a textile row. From greed, I got towels for myself, my mother and sister, grabbed an excellent set of linen and gave only 100 euros for everything. Girlfriends were able to find a wonderful sheepskin coat below the knee on Laleli for 600 euros. In general, you can walk there. Although some stores just shocked me (photo). I don't understand who buys these dresses.

Fashionable shopping is better to arrange in one of the large shopping centers, which are far from the historical part of Istanbul. If you are counting on a specific fashion run, then set aside at least one day just for that.

I wrote about all sorts of cute trinkets and souvenirs above. I really liked the Egyptian market because you can find a lot of funny things there. For example, you may find yourself on a street full of handkerchief shops. No matter how much Istanbul boasts of its European orientation, many women still wear headscarves. Of course, this accessory is important for them, I can imagine how many fashionistas have them. I went into one of these stores and my eyes widened. In general, lovers of "scarves" here.

On the next street, I managed to find an awesome green hat, romantic gloves with bows and a bright orange suitcase. And yet, in the Egyptian market there are a number of shops with jewelry. Mostly it is for oriental women - more glitter and more stones. But among this glamor there is a shop with monochrome silver jewelry. You will definitely see it. For 10 lira, you can pick up such beautiful earrings there that your girlfriends will get. Most importantly, do not give out appearances and passwords.

You can talk about the Grand Bazaar for hours. You can find anything there. And if you like to bargain, you will get incomparable pleasure. My girlfriends, for example, left with leather jackets. I wanted to buy decorative pillows, but I stopped in time, because I was not ready to turn the apartment into an oriental palace. The market itself, by the way, is a landmark, it is like a city within a city.

I will not talk about carpets and antiques. This is a very specific shopping experience, but if you are interested in it, then Istanbul will not disappoint.

I won’t talk about leather, fur coats and sheepskin coats, because there was only a “tourist” experience of buying in tourist places.

This is where I finish writing about shopping, because for me Istanbul is, first of all, a storehouse of sights of Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire. And serious shopping can be done in other, less interesting cities.

The main attractions of Istanbul

Istanbul has a huge number of attractions. If you are going to Istanbul for a couple of days, then I offer the following list of the most important sights of the city that everyone should see.

Topkapi Sultan's Palace and Harem

Topkapi Sultan's Palace

This is the palace of the Ottoman Sultans, which is incredibly interesting to visit, where you can see the chambers of the Padishah, the Divan or office for working receptions, the treasury, the library, the chambers of the Sultan's mother and much more. It is also interesting to visit the harem. Many are struck by the harem, and not by the splendor of the chambers of the young concubines, but, on the contrary, by the narrow and terrible corridors where so many bloody events took place, conspiracies were embodied, intrigues were woven. What did you want from a place where so many women live in a closed space? I recommend allocating at least 4 hours to visit the palace. With an audio guide in Russian, walking around Topkapi will be doubly interesting. Online guide to the palace

Blue Mosque

Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque is located in the heart of tourist Istanbul - on Sultanahmet Square, opposite the Hagia Sophia. You can visit the mosque for free during the time between prayers, you can take pictures inside, and to create an acceptable appearance at the entrance they give everything you need: skirts, scarves, scarves. The Blue Mosque is a very large-scale building that is interesting to see from the outside, but inside everything looks even more interesting. It is because of the interior decoration, which is dominated by blue tiles, that the mosque got its name.

Hagia Sophia Cathedral

hagia sophia

Very ancient, very large, very impressive... There is always a long line of tourists to Hagia Sophia, because everyone wants to go inside the Byzantine church, see the unique preserved frescoes and mosaics. After the capture of Constantinople by the Turks, the Cathedral was turned from a church into a mosque, as the attached minarets remind of. Now it operates as a museum. As a result of the restoration, it was possible to partially restore the examples of Byzantine culture smeared with paint. By the way, if you are interested in this topic, then I recommend visiting the Kariye Museum (the former church of Chora), in my opinion, even more impressive traces of the Byzantines have been preserved there.

Bosphorus

Definitely, for Istanbul, the Bosphorus is a real attraction. Without it, it would be a completely different Istanbul: without bridges, without fishermen, without impudent and noisy seagulls, without the smell of fried fish, without boat trips, etc. You can take a tour of the Bosphorus, which is offered at almost every step in Sultanahmet, or you can swim on the ferry, which is part of the public transport network. In any case, Istanbul from the water is very impressive.

Galata Tower

Galata Tower

The Galata Tower rises above the typically low old houses of Istanbul. In the past, its purpose changed depending on the needs of the city - from a lighthouse to a fire tower, and now the Galata Tower is interesting for tourists as an observation deck. From its height, unrealistically beautiful views of Istanbul open up, even the spirit in the truest sense of the word captures. And lovers of unusual places will appreciate the restaurant and nightclub, which are located within its walls. More about the Galata Tower

Basilica Cistern

basilica cistern

The cistern is an underground water storage that used to be part of the city's complex water supply system. Before the advent of modern plumbing, various structures were built throughout the city that distilled water (for example, aqueducts) and accumulated it (for example, cisterns). The Basilica Cistern is the largest one currently open to the public in Istanbul. The place is mysterious and mysterious, where, in addition to water, you can see columns from different times, as well as the famous head of the Gorgon Medusa, which is turned upside down. Otherwise, whoever looks at her will forever turn into stone (well, they say so ...). Feedback on visiting the cistern

Suleymaniye Mosque

Suleymaniye

Suleimaniya was built by order of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, when he reached, by those standards, a fairly mature age - 30 years old. This is not just a mosque, because baths, schools and other social facilities were located within its walls.

grand bazaar

grand bazaar

How can you come to Turkey and not go to the market? The Grand Bazaar is a giant covered market, you can even say a mini-city within a city where you can get lost. It even has its own mosque. You can buy anything at the Grand Bazaar, you can bargain even until you are blue in the face. In general, if all this is close to you, then be sure to visit, especially since it is located in the central part of tourist Istanbul. More about the Grand Bazaar

Dolmabahce Palace

Dolmabahce Palace

This is the last palace of the Ottoman Empire, which was built after Topkapı. The Ottomans tried so hard to prove to Europe that their palaces were no worse, and even richer, that they built a completely European building, decorating it with an oriental scale: the more gold and crystal, the better. Actually, this completely ruined the Ottoman Empire (let's say it helped), because the treasury was devastated, everyone was thrown into the new palace. In addition, the palace is famous for the sad fact of the death of the father of Turkish democracy, Kemal Ataturk, in it. Review of visiting the palace

Archaeological Museum

Archaeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum is very close to Topkapi. I liked the collection of sarcophagi, but I recommend visiting the collection with an audio guide, you will learn a lot of interesting things.

If you buy an Istanbul card 72, then these museums will be free: the Mosaic Museum, the Chora Church or in another way the Kariye Museum (highly recommend), the Museum of Islam.

Security in Istanbul

To begin with, Istanbul is quite a modern and civilized city. People rush to and from work, tourists walk with their mouths open and camera shutters, merchants loudly call to their store (no one grabs their hands, this is not Antalya for you). In the tourist center of Istanbul, I never felt uncomfortable, even in the dark. However, in Istanbul there are religious areas, poor areas, so I wouldn’t walk there in the evenings, and even in a short skirt.

Well, in the tourist center you just need to follow the usual tourist safety rules.

Excursions in Istanbul, boat trip on the Bosphorus

In the Sultanahmet area, I saw quite a few tents offering excursions and other entertainment in Istanbul. Among them are one-day sightseeing tours of Istanbul, trips to Cappadocia, Troy, Ephesus and Pamukalle and many other programs. In addition, tour agencies offer tickets for dervish shows, Turkish nights, nightly dinners on boats, a visit to the Turkish bath, in general, typical Turkish entertainment.

Separately, it is worth noting the sellers of excursions to the boat on the Bosphorus. They are very intrusive, they catch tourists near the sights. From my experience, I can advise you not to buy a tour of the Bosphorus from them, it’s better to go to the embankment (along the tram lines towards the Galata Bridge), there you will see a pier with numerous floating craft of various calibers and a new portion of excursion sellers. (My reviews of a walk along the Bosphorus, bought on Sultanahmet Square and on the waterfront).

Another interesting thing, I saw at about 8 pm on the pier near the Galata Bridge a ship with incendiary music, which called for a night tour of the Bosphorus with fun and a disco. I, like Pinocchio, was already about to run there, dancing to loud music, but the bore next to me ruined all my plans.

I did not see any offers of excursions in Russian, but perhaps they form Russian groups. Basically, Russians walk around Istanbul with private guides.

Excursions in Russian from local residents

The fact is that many guides who work with Russian tourists in Antalya move to Istanbul for the winter season and offer their services there. On one of my trips with my mother, I decided to try to hire a private guide to see sights far from the tourist center (link to review). If you are going to Istanbul for the first time and not for a very long time, then I would not recommend spending money on a private guide (about 200 euros for a 5-hour tour). Better buy a good guidebook, download information from the internet and enjoy Istanbul. Fortunately, the main attractions are located in the very center, or they can be reached by light rail (T1). If you don’t like public transport and long walks, you can use the hop-on-hop-of tourist sightseeing bus, which rides around the city all day long, stopping near the main attractions. Having paid once, you can exit and enter it again as many times as you like.

Tourist bus in Istanbul

CityTour in Istanbul is organized by two companies whose colorful buses start their route in the heart of Istanbul - at the Hippodrome Square in Sultanahmet. Simply put, as soon as you come to see the Blue Mosque or Hagia Sophia, you will immediately see the parking lot, and talkative Turks will come up and offer to sell tickets.

Generally speaking, I would recommend such sightseeing buses to those who are afraid to move around an unfamiliar city by public transport, are too lazy to walk a lot or want to see the city in one day. We did not use the services of tourist buses, because Istanbul is so interesting that you want to walk it, talk to people, ride trams and the metro, and not look from the height of the second floor of the bus. But the taste and color, as they say ...

Cats in Istanbul

Every self-respecting tourist should bring at least one photo with an Istanbul cat. The thing is, cats are everywhere. They sleep on sultan sofas in museums, they watch you in mosques, they watch every shop. And as soon as a tired tourist sits down on the bench with something tasty, the mustachioed beggar is right there. He sits and looks with pleading eyes. And he himself is so well-fed, his coat is shiny ... and only after a couple of hours of walking around the city you understand that cats here eat better than many Russian doctors.

Turks are very fond of cats, especially at a distance) Nobody is offended by them, therefore the fluffies reciprocate, let themselves be stroked, some even purr.

In general, cats in Istanbul are a separate feature of the city, perhaps no less photographed than the Blue Mosque.

Viewpoints in Istanbul

I managed to visit two observation decks in Istanbul, which are considered the best. The first of them is located on the Chamlydzha hill. It is located over 200 meters above the Bosphorus in an area called Beylerbeyi. We went to Chamlica with a guide by car, you can independently get from Taksim Square by bus number 129T (to the Turistik Camlica Tesisleri stop). On the hill there is a pleasant park, a cafe with delicious tea and gozleme cakes and an observation deck with a panorama of Istanbul and the Bosphorus. However, we were not lucky with the weather, and we did not really see Istanbul.

The second famous observation deck of Istanbul is located in the modern part of the city, in a business center called Sapfir. You can get to Sapphire by metro. In addition to the panorama that opens from the 52nd floor, you can also fly a helicopter over Istanbul by looking into the 4D cinema. Review of the observation deck can be read here .

Where to go from Istanbul

Depending on how long you plan to stay in Istanbul, you can diversify your vacation with short and not very excursions from Istanbul. In the center of Istanbul, there are numerous tents offering excursions outside of Istanbul. In the advertising booklet it is written that the tours are conducted in English. They offer trips to Troy, Pamukalla, Cappadocia, etc. Basically, such trips are 2-3 days. The booklet can be downloaded here.

As a day trip, which is easy to organize on your own, a ferry trip to the Princes' Islands can be.

Not far from Istanbul are the Princes' Islands. The largest and most popular island is called Büyükada, the rest are smaller Heybeliada, Burgazada, Kınalıada, Sedefadası, Yassıada, Sivriada, Kaşıkadası, Tavşanadası. More about the islands

In summer, many tourists and locals go to the islands for a beach holiday. This, by the way, is the answer to the question of whether it is possible to swim in Istanbul. In colder times on the Princes' Islands, it's great to walk along neat streets without cars, ride horses or donkeys, and in general, take a break from the hustle and bustle of Istanbul.

You can get to the Princes' Islands by regular ferry from Istanbul's marinas: Kabataş, Kadıköy, Beşiktaş, and Bostancı. I recommend looking at the timetable and ferry routes on the websites of the companies: Şehir Hatları, İDO, TurYol, Dentur Avrasya.

Weather in Istanbul

The summer season in Istanbul is very hot. For city tours, it is better to choose the period from late March to mid-November. But these are general rules that do not always work. I was in Istanbul twice on the November holidays and once at the end of February. Perhaps we were lucky, but in November we went in a thin jacket, and in the afternoon in a T-shirt, and in February in a thin unbuttoned jacket. Sometimes it rained a little, but not for long.

Just in case, I recommend taking clothes with you in case of heat, and in case of cold wind from the sea and rain. Umbrellas are free in many hotels, and it’s not difficult to buy an umbrella on the street, because as soon as it starts to drip from the sky, a lot of vendors with umbrellas at a price of about $ 9 appear on the streets.

Based on travel experience, I can say that the most reliable way to understand what the weather will be in Istanbul at the time of your trip is to follow the forecast for 2 weeks, and then see what they promise 3 days before the trip and on the day of departure. Usually, what they promise, then 70% happens.

My trips to Istanbul

The first time I came to Istanbul almost spontaneously, we just discussed with colleagues at lunch about how we want to go to Istanbul, and an hour later we booked tickets online. In 3 days we managed to visit the most popular sights of the city (Top Kapi, Hagia Sophia, the Archaeological Museum, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, the Basilica Cistern), take a boat ride and try real Turkish cuisine. My stories about this trip: part 1, part 2, part 3.

Subsequent times I visited Istanbul in February and November of the following year, I saw other significant sights for Istanbul: Galata Tower, Kariye Museum, Maiden Tower, huge aqueduct, Princes' Islands, Mihrimah Mosque, Dolmabahce Palace and many other places.

And for some reason it seems to me that I will return to Istanbul more than once, it is painfully complex, bright, fragrant and interesting city.

Selection of hotels in Istanbul: prices, reviews, photos

Everyone can go to Istanbul on their own these days. The main points in organizing your own trip are as follows: buy air tickets, choose and book a hotel, fly away to enjoy the sun, sea and sightseeing (of which there are a huge number in the Turkish capital). Everything is simple. Naturally, there are some nuances, which will be discussed in this article. By following the tips below, you can save up to 70% of your money, and a memorable and comfortable stay is priceless.

Now there are many offers from travel agencies, but they are all of the same type, and in some cases very expensive. Going to Turkey on a tour package, you will most likely be taken to an area where only tourists live, which in turn means high prices for food, clothing and entertainment in the area, dirty beaches and standard uninteresting excursion programs. An independent trip is quite another matter, in which only you determine where to settle, what time and where to go, what interesting and non-standard excursions to choose, besides, you can settle away from tourist areas, thereby saving a huge amount of money.

Prices in Istanbul are very different from the area (tourist or non-tourist). In two cafes located on the same street, but five hundred meters apart, the cost of a set lunch can differ by 2 times, so in order not to go to each cafe yourself and compare prices “on the spot”, you need to use the Internet and make a list in advance good places in the city (applies to everything, not only cafes and restaurants). You will find a huge number of reviews about a variety of places on the site, but it is better to read hotel reviews on the site, where you can also book accommodation. Read more about hotels below.

Flights

I recommend buying tickets to Istanbul on the site, I have been using it for many years and have no complaints, also all my travel friends use it all the time. The service scans all offers of airlines and shows the most profitable ones for you. Everything is safe, and you can buy a ticket in just a few minutes.

If you want to get to Istanbul cheaply, then buy tickets for flights with transfers. This type of ticket costs 20-50% cheaper, though you have to wait a few hours at the connecting airport. You can also fly to Istanbul with direct flights, which are available in most major cities in Russia and Ukraine. Most aircraft depart from Moscow (Moscow - Istanbul), St. Petersburg and Kyiv.

Airfare low price calendar

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Hotels

Hotels in Istanbul are available for every budget. It is cheaper to book a room in those hotels that are located further from the city center, but staying in them will have to spend more time on the road to attractions, popular shops and beaches.

The Sultanahmet area is very popular, it is where most independent travelers stop. The prices there are average, of course, if you search, you can find inexpensive shops, cafes and hotels. As for searching for hotels, I recommend doing it on the site. This service is used by a huge number of travelers from many countries of the world, because it not only offers the most interesting housing options at low prices, but also shows real reviews written by people who have already lived in this place. In addition, each hotel has a description, a list of what is in the room, what is on site and much more, which greatly helps with the decision of where to stay in Istanbul. Some travelers also use the service, but they only do it to check the lowest price, in almost all cases Roomguru wins, so you can only search on it.

The best hotels in Istanbul

Find a cheap hotel from Roomguru right now:

Rental of property

Inveterate travelers always know how to save money on vacation without sacrificing the latter. The lion's share of financial expenses are living expenses. It is logical that popularity is increasing every year. On this site, you can always book accommodation inexpensively, while still winning compared to hotel accommodation.

An increasing number of tourists come not just to Istanbul, but to Istanbul to visit their arenbi friends. What are the advantages of this option?

• Low cost. The resource allows you to book accommodation at low prices.
• Choice breadth. You can rent any house or apartment that is most attractive and convenient for the traveler.
• Safety. On Airbnb, you don’t have to worry about fraud or deceit, apartments are rented in a safe mode – the creators of the site take care of this.
• Truthfulness. You can be sure that the member profile, reviews and reputation are reliable and accurate.

Airbnb makes it easy and convenient to rent a place in an unfamiliar city. Indeed, in addition to budget accommodation, a tourist receives invaluable advice and recommendations from a local resident, unless, of course, both express a desire to communicate. It is possible and necessary to live cheaply in Istanbul, it is worth it only on your own.

Travel documents

Turkey treats Russian tourists well and allows entry into the country for 60 days without a visa. But at the border you will be required to present the following documents:

• Passport valid for more than 120 days on the date of entry
• Return ticket, hotel reservation confirmation,
• Proof of solvency (minimum $300, such confirmation can be either cash or a bank statement)

Almost always, only a passport is required, but in some cases they are asked to show the entire set of documents, so it’s better not to risk it and take all the documents with you. It is important to pay special attention to travel insurance, because. it can significantly reduce the cost of medical care, if required. You can buy good insurance.

Attractions

Istanbul is a magnificent city with many attractions. This city was the capital of four empires: Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman. These empires left a rich cultural legacy. Until 1453 (the capture of Constantinople by the Turks), the city belonged to European culture, and after that it developed in a Muslim direction. How to spend your vacation in Istanbul decide for yourself, numerous guidebooks that can be easily found on the Internet will help you with this. The only thing that is practically not found in these guides is that not only tourists choose, but also the residents of the city themselves, which means that these places are really worth a visit.

Top 10 attractions:

• Saint Sophie Cathedral
• Sultanahmet Mosque
• Basilica Cistern
• Topkapi Palace
• Suleymaniye Mosque
• grand bazaar
• Rumelihisar fortress
• Taksim
• Karie Museum
• Dolmabahce Palace

You can order excursions to these and other places on the website. You can also use the services of a personal guide and go with him to all the important places in the city. You can find out about types of excursions, popular routes and tips for choosing.

Routes

Transport

Istanbul's transport network is extensive and varied, and you can get to your destination quickly and inexpensively. The most popular modes of transport in the city are buses, subways and ferries, and there are also several "tourist" vehicles. In order to get to the city center or to the hotel from the airport, check out the airport itself and its features are described. To know where to go and how much to pay for moving around the city, I advise you to read the extensive one, it contains a lot of valuable information.

To save money, it is advisable to purchase an Istanbulkart travel card. If your holiday plan involves visiting a large number of attractions, then the cost of the pass will be repaid in the first two days, and it is also very convenient to pay for travel in all modes of transport with one card.

For connoisseurs of comfort who have enough money, I recommend that you can do this either while already on vacation, or take care of it in advance and.

Purchases

Istanbul has a huge number of shops and markets. It sells goods both familiar to Europeans and traditionally related to Asian culture. For inexpensive purchases, you need to go to the markets, for example, the Grand Bazaar or the Egyptian Market, so you can find anything. But you need to remember that you will have to bargain for almost every product, because the Turks often inflate prices for tourists, but still willingly go for discounts when bargaining. More details about shopping in Istanbul are written. Also, do not forget to write down or mark addresses and working hours on your phone.

One of the main secrets of successful and inexpensive shopping is the return of VAT on purchases. You can get back up to 18% of the cost of the goods, if you follow just a few simple rules that are described in the article about, be sure to read this information, the savings are significant.

Travel budget

The cost of an independent trip to Istanbul depends on how you are going to relax, where to live, what class to fly on an airplane, and so on, in general, there are many factors. An average vacation in Istanbul for 1 week costs 1330 € for two. I will give an approximate cost for a typical trip for two people by category:

• Round trip airfare (from Moscow) = 300 €
• Hotel room (per day) = 70 €
• Spending on food and drinks (per day) = 40 €
• Shopping for clothes, accessories = individually
• Local SIM card with Internet (one-time payment) = 30 €
• Tickets to museums, exhibitions and other (for all time) = 60 €
• Public transport (for all time) = 70 €
• Other incidental expenses (all time) = 100 €

Do not forget that in Istanbul they pay in Turkish lira, so even before the trip, change about a third of the money in rubles into lira.

How to save money on travel

So you have read the guide on how to go to Istanbul on your own. Apply the acquired knowledge in practice, relax in the capital of Turkey at 100%. If this article helped you, then please share it on a social network, the buttons are located just below. Best wishes to you!

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Weather in Istanbul by months:

Month	Temperature		Cloudiness	Rainy days / Precipitation	Number of solar hours per day
	Happy	At night
January	9.1°C	6.8°C	52.7%	5 days (71.9 mm.)	9 a.m. 35m.
February	10.3°C	7.4°C	49.1%	3 days (55.3 mm.)	10 a.m. 39m.
March	12.4°C	8.9°C	41.6%	4 days (45.8 mm.)	11h. 57m.
April	16.6°C	11.9°C	30.5%	2 days (33.4 mm.)	13h. 20m.
May	21.8°C	16.4°C	22.1%	2 days (25.8 mm.)	14h. 28m.
June	26.7°C	21.2°C	15.1%	2 days (23.8 mm.)	15h. 4m.
July	29.5°C	23.8°C	8.7%	1 day (11.7 mm.)	14h. 47m.
August	29.4°C	24.4°C	10.4%	-	13h. 46m.
September	26.2°C	22.1°C	21.4%	3 days (34.8 mm.)	12h. 28m.
October	20.2°C	17.1°C	36.2%	4 days (58.2 mm.)	11h. 6m.
November	16.0°C	13.4°C	40.6%	3 days (54.0 mm.)	9 a.m. 54m.
December	11.3°C	8.9°C	47.2%	6 days (79.7 mm.)	9 a.m. 17m.

* This table shows average weather data collected over more than three years

USEFUL TIPS:

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Prices for holidays in Istanbul. January 2018.

tour cost

You don't need a visa for Turkey. Plane tickets cost us $100 both ways. True, we flew with the Pegasus airline, its base airport is located on the Asian side, it takes a long time to get to the center of Istanbul. We didn't order a transfer, we went by public transport.

We rented an apartment for $40 per person for five days.

To visit museums without a queue, buy a museum card. It gives you the opportunity to visit museums without a queue. The cost of the card was a bit cheaper than all the museums we visited. Some of the museums, such as the Dolma Bakhchi Palace, are not included in the list of museum maps. We bought tickets to this museum separately. In addition to this palace, they visited Topkapi, the Ai-Sofi Cathedral, the Basalika cistern, the Rumeli-Khasar fortress and the hammam. All spent $50.

Why is it better to travel in July?

In July, there are more clear and sunny days, which will allow you to combine sightseeing and beach holidays.

Youth rest

In my opinion, Istanbul is a city with a frantic pace of life, many cultures, everything is literally bubbling and boiling. A huge number of people on the streets, the city itself is of incredible proportions. Therefore, it is young people who will feel comfortable here, if the task is to see, run around all the most interesting things, just take a walk in the atmospheric parks, streets and squares of Stabmul.

What to take with you on vacation?

Since I was in August, and several times I got caught in the rain and even caught a cold, I advise you to take different medicines. This will save time on trips to the pharmacy and help you recover faster. You will also need warm clothing. Most of the time it was hot, but the last week of August turned out to be very rainy, the temperature dropped significantly and it was not comfortable in a T-shirt. Since Turkey is a Muslim country, I recommend taking not T-shirts, but T-shirts and sweaters to cover your shoulders. This will also protect from the sun, because during the holidays you will spend a lot of time outdoors.

Where is the best place to stay?

So that the most famous cathedrals and other sights are "at hand", it is better to settle in the center. The area is called Sultanahmet. So all the most important things will be within walking distance. If you need to go somewhere, there are bus and tram stops nearby. A decent hotel room with one large bed and a TV costs about $40-50 per day. In my opinion, this is the best price for a convenient location. You can choose a hotel and book on booking.com.

What to do at the resort?

A 5-minute walk from my hotel was the Blue Mosque - a magnificent building. As far as I remember, admission is free. The mosque impresses with its size, decoration, scope. Nearby is the Ayasofya Museum. In general, even slowly walking around Sultanahmed Square is incredibly atmospheric - a well-groomed beautiful area, harmony and peace reign there. Nearby is the Topkany Palace - one of the most popular tourist places. Also in that area you can see the mosaic museum, the Sokollu-Mehmed Pasha mosque, the Basilica cistern, the ancient Egyptian obelisk. Be sure to check out the Miniature Park. This is a large beautiful area, in which small copies of the sights of not only Istanbul, but also the whole of Turkey are recreated. Walking along the paths past the miniatures, it seems that I saw all of Turkey and its famous temples, palaces, mosques, mountains, bridges - well, everything that deserves attention in it. I also really liked the Galata Tower. The view of the evening Istanbul from the observation deck of the tower is beautiful, although we had to stand in line for a long time. If you want noise and Turkish kolotirs, then go to the Grand Bazaar. Gold, teas, spices, various accessories - what is there! You can also ride a ferry, admire the sea views.

To get a general idea of ​​the geography of the great city, located on two continents at once, travelers should look at it from different viewing platforms. To do this, there is a fascinating tour of the Asian and European parts of Istanbul, during which the metropolis can be seen from a bird's eye view.

Our journey will start from the shore of the Golden Horn Bay. Near Eyup we will take the funicular to the top of the hill, and also visit the cozy cafe Pierre Loti, which became popular thanks to the French writer.

The next stop will be Çamlıca Hill, located already in the Asian part of Istanbul. Here, from a height of 268 meters, a breathtaking panorama of the Bosphorus and its shores opens up to the Black Sea.

Returning from Asia to Europe along the Bosphorus Bridge, we...

Traditionally, getting to know Istanbul begins with its oldest part, which is Sultanahmet Square. During the Byzantine Empire, it was the center of political and social life. During the Ottoman period, noisy performances and fairs were held on the square. Here the Janissaries raised their riots and showed military prowess.

It is on Sultanahmet Square and its environs that the main attractions of Istanbul are located: the former on the Patriarchal Cathedral, and now the Hagia Sophia Museum, the Topkapi Palace Complex - the residence of 25 sultans, the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet), which gave the name to this area, the archaeological museum, Yerebatan - Europe's largest underground reservoir, Gülhane Park, Turkish and Islamic Art Museum and Mosaic Museum.

Around the square are the old...

https://experience.tripster.ru/experience/8350/

In 3 hours, you will begin to navigate the main sights of the city and the intricacies of Istanbul's history and discover the favorite places of the citizens. After the tour, Istanbul will become clearer to you, and walking around the city on your own will be more interesting!

Program

Light and humorous about the complexities of the story. The itinerary of the tour is arranged in such a way as to cover the most important sights and historical eras of Istanbul. We will tell you only the most interesting and important, so that it is useful to you in independent walks. You will learn about the founding of the city, the greatness of Byzantium and the fall of Constantinople, the rise of the Ottoman Empire under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, and how Atatürk created modern Turkey.

...

They are much cheaper than in Europe. There is also a great alternative to hotels here: many locals rent their apartments for literally €15-20 per day. If you view and book accommodation in advance, you can find comfortable self-catering apartments in the center of Istanbul for a ridiculous price. Another budget option is hostels, where accommodation prices start from €7.

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The cost of a single ride with IstanbulKart will be half the price of the full price you pay for a token or ticket. You can buy it in special kiosks marked I.E.T.T. or at newsstands around town.

In order to quickly and efficiently get to know Istanbul, we sincerely recommend. All the most important sights of Sultanahmet Square, the walls of Constantinople, the Marmara Sea embankment, the Dolmabahce Palace and much, much more are waiting for you, right?

Although this advice is obvious, we still have to warn you: in no case take a taxi near the main attractions. Taxi drivers here catch tourists on a live bait, or rather a non-liver - after long excursions. It is better to book a car in advance or move away from the tourist center and catch a taxi there.

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When entering a mosque, you must take off your shoes. So if you are not wearing socks, we advise you to take them with you. Clothing - as modest as possible: shoulders, legs and head (for women) should be covered.

It is forbidden to eat and drink in mosques, as well as talking loudly, laughing, or in any other way attracting attention to yourself.

Visiting mosques during prayer (prayer), which takes place at noon, is not allowed. It is better to do this during a break between services. For example, in the Blue Mosque, the visiting hours are 8:30–12:45, 14:00–16:45, 17:45–18:30.

By the way, it is better to find out about the working hours of all temples in advance, it changes depending on the season and each has its own characteristics. For example, the famous Hagia Sophia is closed on Mondays.

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Tourists should remember that it is highly undesirable to criticize or otherwise speak negatively about the personality of the founder of the Turkish Republic - Ataturk. This also applies to his monuments and other images. For insulting the personality of the Leader here, you can easily thunder into prison.

Also, do not start conversations on slippery topics - the situation with the Kurds, the latest waves of protests, acute religious issues.

Be sure to bargain. So you not only reduce the price (which is initially very high), but also pay tribute to local customs. At the same time, it is important to remember that in no case should you disparage the product. It is better to praise and express regret that you cannot afford it.

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According to the already established tradition, I want to start a series of articles about a trip to Istanbul on my own with general impressions of this city. Even on our first trip to Turkey, we really wanted to visit Istanbul, but because of the unrest in the Taksim region and other circumstances, it did not grow together. Nevertheless, the desire firmly settled in our heads, so less than a year later we again landed at Sabiha Gokcen Airport. I can say right away that our expectations from Istanbul turned out to be very far from reality, but still this city left very pleasant memories.

Istanbul is a city that you penetrate gradually

Whatever area of ​​the city you live in, the first impression of Istanbul is likely to leave an ambiguous one. Firstly, if you get to your hotel in Istanbul on your own, you will spend much more time on the road than you planned. Keep in mind, without a navigator, it is simply unrealistic to move through the narrow, confusing streets on the first day. This is not New York with its straight-line street layout, here you can walk around one building for 15 minutes and in the end never find it. The best way out is to ask the locals for directions at every intersection, then the probability of getting to the right place will increase significantly. Another option is to take a taxi, but budget tourists, like us, are not looking for easy ways)

you will go down for a long, long time, and then you will find out that you went the wrong way and now you have to climb back even longer)

When you finally check in and want to grab a bite to eat, you will most likely end up on the main street with a crazy flow of people. The feeling is like being in a giant anthill, where you are urged to buy kebabs, Turkish carpet or jeans on every corner.

crowds of people in the center of Istanbul

Found a nice cafe for dinner? Try to choose a dish from a dozen incomprehensible names. In fact, feel free to choose any - for me, there are no unsuccessful dishes in Turkish cuisine (and you should not eat any other cuisine here).

And now, after a little breath and a snack, you begin to look closely at this crazy city. Believe me, in a day you will famously navigate the interweaving of local streets, get your favorite Turkish dish, develop your route for walking around the city and start every day with a cup of bitter Turkish coffee. By the end of your vacation, you will catch yourself thinking that you don’t want to leave Istanbul at all, although your legs fell off a couple of days ago. In the meantime, you are alert and just look at it ...

Transport in Istanbul

Even if money is not a problem, the best way to get around in Istanbul is by metro or tram. Firstly, this way you will significantly save time, since Istanbul is a city of crazy traffic jams, narrow streets that are inconvenient for passing cars and confusing routes. Secondly, if you are not yet oriented in the city, you will never understand whether the taxi driver is driving you correctly, or whether he decided to arrange a city tour for you at your expense. You can stray along these streets indefinitely, so you will only have to rely on the conscience of a taxi driver, which, as a rule, is not characteristic of them.

On the other hand, at night, a taxi is the only possible way to get home if you are sitting too long in a local bar. From Taksim to Sultanahmet at night we drove for 20 lira. Basically, you can afford it. But in this case, I recommend getting off somewhere on a large street and walking to the hotel so that the taxi driver does not stray along the alleys and does not waste your time and money.

everything is yellow on the roads - taxis are very popular in Istanbul

but they have to stand in such traffic jams for a long time

or such

the tram is a completely different matter!

by the way, water transport in Istanbul is developed almost more than land transport. On it you can not only arrange an excursion, but also move to the other side of the Bosphorus, or even to another city (three times faster than by car)

Food

A few more words about Turkish cuisine. For me, she is perfect! It's good if you manage to get to know some of the locals so that you can get a little introductory course. On our own, we did not go further than doners and small kebabs, but our Turkish friends opened for us meze (various snacks before the main course or in company with Raki), real kebabs in non-tourist places, as well as homemade cooking. All this was so tasty, healthy and easy on the stomach (even Raki), that now I can’t imagine how you can eat something else. In general, do not waste time on pizza, pasta and McDonald's - try everything that Turkey offers you, you are unlikely to be disappointed.

For starters, the most important thing is street food in istanbul. It is very tasty and, in my opinion, absolutely safe.

deners of all possible types, shapes and sizes

already fried

and now dener is ready to satisfy not only your hunger, but also taste buds

pastry is another popular Istanbul snack

if you wish, it will be smeared with either chocolate paste or melted cheese

boiled corn - also perfectly satisfies hunger without emptying the wallet

and now this is quite unusual. Mussels (?) with rice and lemon sauce. Local schoolchildren screwed them on both cheeks, and we timidly ate one thing at a time and somehow didn’t want to anymore) Although I won’t say that it’s tasteless or disgusting. No way)

On a cold evening, we thought that we were buying coffee or tea to warm ourselves, but it turned out to be some kind of milk jelly. And it's true, it warms very well)

Now let's move on to all the other Istanbul goodies.

Tea is a true symbol of Turkey. Locals drink it in unimaginable quantities. We thought that we love tea, but we couldn’t even drink it as much as our Turkish friends drank)

Turkish sweets - oh yeah. My delight, endless love and delight. Highly recommend

Turkish coffee. I got into them gradually. At first it seemed too thick and bitter to me, and by the last day I could no longer imagine mornings without a fragrant cup of Turkish coffee.

there is really enough goodness out there. In Istanbul, you must definitely eat fish - in an expensive restaurant or wrapped in a bun under a bridge - it doesn’t matter!)

And finally, the gastronomic disgrace on our last day in Istanbul - aniseed raki vodka (drinking diluted with water), delicious puff pastries, olives (yum!!) and ... strawberries in February!))

There are also European restaurants with the usual cuisine, excellent wine and a very romantic atmosphere.


Sorry for the quality, at that moment even the camera was dreaming)

But the main thing in Turkish cuisine is a good company)

Shopping in Istanbul

Istanbul is one continuous bazaar, and it is impossible to stay away from this shopping frenzy. Even we, people who are not keen on foreign shopping, could not stop. True, they practically didn’t buy clothes (although they still didn’t pass by shoes), but then souvenirs, jewelry, sweets, spices, olives and coffee - all this significantly weighed down our luggage. I can imagine how Istanbul blows the head of those who purposefully come here to replenish their wardrobe.

What shopping places we didn’t go through - the Grand Bazaar and the street along the tram tracks (souvenirs and clothes), the Egyptian Bazaar (sweets and spices), Istiklal Street (global brands, shopping centers and in general everything that tourists and locals need), Galip street Dede?, which goes from Istiklal to Karakoy (excellent selection of souvenirs and jewelry, as well as musical goods).

Keep in mind that Turkish street shopping comes with its own rules. The locals will invite you to their store in all European languages ​​(and possibly in Russian right away, determining your nationality at a glance), the price will be raised many times and lowered only after a hard bargain, and in addition to the desired purchase, local merchants will easily persuade you to some unnecessary nonsense. This is especially true for the thoroughly touristic area of ​​​​Sultanahmet. Get ready for it, relax and have fun

it is impossible to pass by these windows

even during the day

all kinds of jewelery and jewelry

There are also shop windows that you can't walk past. There are very beautiful evening dresses in oriental style.

my shopping)

Weather in Istanbul in February

The weather in Istanbul never ceased to amaze us every day. According to the forecast, we were supposed to arrive in a dank Turkish winter with rain and a temperature of about +8. In fact, on the first day, Istanbul pleased us with truly summer weather - bright sun and air warmed up to plus 22. We walked around in T-shirts, photographed green grass, ladybugs and surprisingly warmly dressed Istanbulites. But every day the weather in Istanbul deteriorated until it turned into that very nasty winter. We managed to go to the Rimeli Hisari fortress on the coldest day of our vacation, we even had to buy a hat on the way (the same resourceful street vendors sell umbrellas in the rain, jackets and hats in cold weather and glasses in sunny weather). But all our inconveniences that day were worth the photographs of the Bosphorus bridge dissolving in the fog and the mystical medieval castle.

and it's also February - two days later. (Rimeli Hisari Fortress)

While we were in Bursa and Uladag, the weather in Istanbul improved again and on the last day we again walked in T-shirts.

Istanbul is a very atmospheric city.

Another observation - Istanbul creates some kind of special atmosphere. In one minute he seems to you noisy, running and uncomfortable, but suddenly everything changes dramatically and he becomes very romantic. Love is so up in the air

Istanbul is also a city of cats.

Cat lovers, welcome to Istanbul! Here they are simply unmeasured and they feel very at ease. They look like well-fed masters of a life in which you are an insignificant guest.

They work there in museums.

Going about their cat business


Posing for foreign photographers)

And just get high)

Although not all

Mindfulness test: find a cat)

Outcome

Istanbul is a very peculiar city that cannot be confused with any other. Its smell of street food, coffee and tulips, its intricate lanes with low houses, the loud sound of mosques and even louder street barkers - I hope that they will forever remain in this city, making it so special. New districts of Istanbul are being built up with skyscrapers and panel houses, but do you go to Istanbul for them? Of course not. Settle in historical Sultanahmet or young and dynamic Taksim and walk, walk around Istanbul.

If you have a few days off or you are going to some Turkish resort on your own, pay attention to Istanbul - it will surely repay you with unforgettable impressions and wonderful photos.

New Istanbul. You won’t understand what kind of metropolis it is - Hong Kong, Dubai, New York?

And so there can be no doubt - Istanbul!