credit: Amateur Traveler
Welcome to this weekends Sunday Spotlight – Things to Do in Istanbul
Every Sunday we shine the spotlight on a different city by sharing travel tips and stories written by other bloggers around the web.
We hope these blog posts will inform and inspire you to visit Turkey.
Food, Food & More Turkish Food
Wandering Earl gets such great tips from his own readers and the locals wherever he goes, including one who said “do not miss the opportunity to eat at Ciya“. And sfter going on his own culinary tour of Istanbul he tasted some of the best food that he’s ever eaten in his life.
8 Historic Sites Not To Miss in Istanbul
If you are a history buff like Chris Christensen, he suggests Istanbul is a place to visit before you die. Here are his top 8 historic sites:
The Two Great Mosques
On one side of Sultanahmet Park sits Hagia Sophia. On the other side is the Blue Mosque. Michael Turtle experiences two buildings, two religions, hundreds of years, one history.
The Blue Mosque. Credit: Time Travel Turtle
Ottoman Architecture
Katie Aune suggests it is impossible to understand the history of Istanbul without getting a good feel for the history of the Ottoman Empire – one of the largest and longest-lasting empires in history.
8 Things to Do on Istiklal Avenue
Istiklal Avenue is a busy street from morning until night and Natalie Sayin says it never fails to surprise. Here are 8 things to do.
Soaking in the Bosphorus Strait
The Bosphorus Strait is where east meets west, where a quick ferry ride enables people to bounce across continents, and if Dalene Heck had more time in Istanbul she would ride the waves of the Bosphorus every day.
credit: Hecktic Travels
Discovering Hidden Istanbul
Amanda Williams embarks on a hidden Istanbul walking tour with a local that at first takes her to a few familiar favorites, but then away from the crowds to discover some hidden secrets.
Süleymaniye Mosque – Credit: A Dangerous Business
Sampling Simit – a Turkish National Food
Lisa Goodmurphy discovers that simit is an extremely popular fast food in Turkey and are a great snack choice for families on the move as they are tasty, filling, and inexpensive.
Credit: Gone With The Family
Tips For Surviving The Grand Bazaar
Natalie Sayin offers her tips on surviving the Grand Bazaar, which is not your average shopping mall, including how to avoid the hassle, finding your way around, and how to bargain.
credit Turkish Travel Blog
The Other Tour of Istanbul
Dave Dean is not usually a fan of organised group trips, but on the “other tour” led by Fethi and his family discovered a side of Istanbul away from the vendors and mosques, including NOT visiting a carpet shop.
credit What’s Dave Doing?
Istanbul’s Hidden Street
Jenny Freedman visits a small cobblestoned street lined with beautiful trees and restored historic wooden houses which turns out to be a quiet gem in a city of hustle and bustle.
OMG – The Turkish Bath
Megan Singleton didn’t know what to expect, but suggests it would be wrong to leave without trying the ancient cleansing ritual of a hamam, or Turkish bath, and offers her survival tips.
Bars in Taksim – Nightlife for Females and Foreigners
Natalie Sayin recommends a few bars where she felt very comfortable both as a foreigner and as a female, plus one bar to stay away from.
5 Things You Must Do
If you only have time to do 5 things on your trip to Istanbul, Ali Garland says while there are endless possibilities, these were five of her favorite things to do.
What to Do With a 15 Hour Layover in Istanbul
Kimi Sugiyama stumbles on a FREE ‘Discover Istanbul in Hours’ pass offered by Turkish Airlines to see some of the city’s major icons instead of wasting time twiddling your thumbs in the airport.
More Posts about Turkey
- Top Five Things to do in Cappadocia
- What to Do in Antalya, Turkey
- Things to Do in Istanbul Turkey – Sunday Spotlight
More Resources for Istanbul
Check out these helpful travel guides:
OR, if you have a travel tip share that too!
