Istanbul First Visit: Where Continents and Civilizations Meet

Flying into Istanbul Airport (IST), I took the Havaist airport bus into Sultanahmet — about 60–75 minutes depending on traffic. It’s comfortable and far cheaper than a taxi. Taxis are convenient but can be inconsistent, so I’d recommend pre-arranging if arriving late. For a first visit, staying in Sultanahmet or Karaköy works best. Sultanahmet puts you right beside the major historic sites, while Karaköy feels more modern and connected. The core of Istanbul’s history sits within walking distance: Hagia Sophia Blue Mosque Topkapi Palace These are all impressive, but what stood out most to me was simply walking between them — the scale, the layers of history, and the constant sense of movement. The churches sometimes show former Christian relics covered up. The city has so many distinct districts that we hired a walking guide to give us a tour of a new cathedral recently opened up after renovations, and then a walk through its district. Crossing the Galata Bridge into Karaköy changes the feel completely. From there, I walked up to the Galata Tower, and then into Istiklal Street, one of the busiest pedestrian streets in the city. A near by trip into the ancient Water Cisterns that kept the Roman’s alive with water from the mountains when the city was under siege. Food is a major highlight. I had incredible kebabs at a small local restaurant near Karaköy, and later tried traditional huge Turkish breakfast — cheeses, olives, eggs, and fresh bread — which is an experience in itself. On my trip to Turkey I rented a car for travelling in the country to southern cities, but I chickened out of taking it into Istanbul after seeing that drivers don’t have a handsfree cell phone policy and many showed off their skills of driving while typing into two phones at the same time. When driving in the country I suggest at least learning how to pronounce the alphabet and that let me read the names and understand directions better. A Bosphorus ferry ride is essential. It gives you a completely different perspective of the city, especially seeing Europe and Asia side by side. Taking a ferry and bus to the European District lands you in totally different feeling part of the city, with wide open board walks by the ocean, and great cafes to visit. I also spent a couple of hours in the Grand Bazaar, and I usually felt like a salmon swimming up the stream when crossing the main hallways . You can find everything there, and bargaining is a must. Before you take a taxi, find out what a reasonable price is. They have meters but tend to initially quote inflated fixed prices in euros for tourists. What I’d do differently: Spend more time exploring neighborhoods beyond the main historic zone.