Istanbul- The Dandy of Asia and Europe

Istanbul, the city between two continents

Paw traveller- Eminoni

A big city like Istanbul has many sights to visit, but it is also full of hidden corners and alleys that are worth exploring.

So, if you dare to go deeper, away from the beaten paths guided by tour operators, and decide to see more things besides the popular sights, this dendy will completely charm you, and you will want to come back again to this beautiful city and continue exploring.

Paw traveller- Istanbull

Istanbul is one of those unusually charming cities that makes you indulge in it, and once you do, you won’t want to leave it again.

We visited this city twice and explored what is the best it has to offer to us, and every day we found new things that we were fascinated by.

During the first visit, we settled in Taksim, the European part of the city, and the second time the decision fell on the Sultanahmet district in the old part.

In our opinion, Sultanahmet is more beautiful and more authentic, and it is in the center of the main tourist attractions such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Suleimaniya, and Grand Bazaar… while further on foot you can reach the spice market or the Bosphorus.

Istanbul

Istanbul has an extremely rich history and tradition thousands of years old, amazing food, colorful shops, and extremely hardworking, kind, and accommodating people.

Merchants live 24 hours, so you will often see them repackaging bales of goods at night and preparing them for tomorrow.

And the hospitality is best described by Omar, our receptionist, who has been incredibly kind since the first contact we made over the phone.

And although the hotel was low-budget, Omar met all our requests with a smile and provided us with parking in an amazing place on the street. In front of the entrance to the family hotel!

Wandering through the streets of Istanbul is an experience in itself. The streets are full of charming shops and corners with cafeterias, beautiful restaurants, but also street food all around.

We ate the best kebabs in the remote and not very pretty to the eye fast food, in the background of the main historical sites, with green greasy tablecloths, in a completely relaxed area where you can drink turkish coffee or tea after a meal, or cheap beer. And if you feel that you are attracted by the adventurous spirit, you can order ayran. An unusual drink, similar to salty yogurt, which tastes just like salty yogurt.

Paw traveller- Istanbul

Since Sultanahmet is in the heart of the historical part of Istanbul this district is a tourist center, but there is much more to see in this area than it seems at first glance.

My advice is to avoid the crowds and go from Hagia Sophia down the cobblestones next to half-ruined houses and vividly decorated shops with fruit full of juicy citrus, pomegranates, and various delicious sweets.

Paw traveller- Istanbul

This part of Istanbul is full of hostels, hotels, restaurants, carpet shops, and cafes, but what you need to discover are the roof terraces where you will have the opportunity to enjoy the best views of the city and the water. These roof terraces really have a special charm and we enjoyed them both, during the day and at dusk.

At the end, the cobblestones will take you across the railroad to the sea.

Once you're here, take a nice break on the bench and breathe the sea air, then slowly return to see amazing things in peace: the incredibly beautiful Blue Mosque, the exceptional architecture of Suleiman's Mosque, the 1,500-year-old Hagia Sophia, which for centuries served first as a Christian church, then a mosque. then it was turned into a museum, and under the pressure of Erdogan's supporters in 2020, it became a mosque again, walk around Eminona where you will enjoy not only historical and religious buildings but also a colorful show in this square that is teeming with life.

Paw traveller- Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia or Saint Sophia is an extraordinary work of architecture, an impressive building that has withstood for centuries and inspired generations.

This magnificent building from the Byzantine period was built by Emperor Justinian in 537.AD and is one of the most important monuments in Istanbul.

Over the centuries, it changed its purpose and was the largest Orthodox church during the Byzantine Empire, then a mosque during the Ottoman Empire, then a museum, and today it is a mosque again. Although it has faced many catastrophes such as fires and earthquakes, for centuries it has remained one of the most monumental buildings in the world, enchanting people with its beauty and splendor.

Paw traveller- Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque or Sultan Ahmet Mosque is one of the most important symbols of Istanbul and was built in a combination of two styles, Ottoman and Byzantine. It has six minarets that gives a special architectural character to it.

It was built between 1609 and 1616 during the reign of Ahmet I, who decided to build a large mosque in Istanbul to consolidate Ottoman rule.

Paw traveller- Suleimaniya

There is a lot of history and culture in the area of Sultanahmet, so you can easily spend a few weeks here, but most of us can only take a few days.

Well, although it doesn't look like a fairytale, find time and visit the Grand Bazaar, where shops are expanding in all directions, as far as the eye can see.

Everything can be bought here - from sweets and various Turkish delicacies through fake designer goods to Turkish antiques.

Keep in mind that prices are not fixed and be prepared for difficult negotiations - bargaining that traders, I would say, really enjoy. The final price often turns out to be more than fifty percent lower than originally requested.

Spice Bazaar

The spice market is another authentic place worth visiting.

You can reach it on foot from the Grand Bazaar wandering the streets which are also a shopping area where everything is offered.The streets are full of jackets, shoes, bedding, mannequins for shop windows, underwear, scarves, parts for various machines… and around you hundreds of people, locals, and tourists who buy…

At the very bottom of the hill, by the seashore, there is a spice market.The building is not very big but it is very beautiful.

Inside the stalls, merchants sell spices and small items like souvenirs, lamps, sweets, Turkish delights, and baklavas. If you have extra money or you are a culinary chef, here you can buy real Iranian saffron, which costs about 50 euros per gram. Of course, there are a lot of cheaper ones, which are not such great quality, and cost only a few euros.

The second type was our choice, and it didn't give some amazing aroma to our food, but it colored nicely a few lunches we cooked at home.

Paw traveller- Galata Bridge

If you want to feel like a real local, and at the same time love fishing, you can join many fishermen on the Galata Bridge.

If you are not afraid of spoiling your stomach, you can eat mussels or roasted fish prepared on the spot by the chef-street vendor at the foot of the bridge.

If you are really hungry and mussels seem potentially risky, it is far safer to drink a glass of fresh pomegranate juice that will squeeze you on the spot, and have a bite of simit- turkish bagel.

Paw traveller- Istanbul

The bagels are fantastic, and the grape syrup they dip into, plus many sesame seeds, gives them a special taste.

Words are unnecessary, visit Istanbul - the only city on two continents that for thousands of years was a center of great importance to the three powerful empires of Rome, Byzantium, and Ottoman.

We will certainly come again!

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