When I think of Istanbul, I think of my childhood.
This ancient city took up almost a chapter in our grade school textbook, and as someone who grew up fascinated with history, it certainly made an impression early on. I remember how I studied its days as Constantinople and its significance as a center of trade and cultural diffusion in the region. I remember sleepless nights of memorizing the important dates that marked the rise and fall of both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. I remember trying to wrap my head around the Silk road and its role in medieval Europe.
Back then, I had no idea I would be a traveler. I was raised thinking that travel is a luxury, something enjoyed only by the rich. but I remember making a deal with my young self that I would someday see the city, its landmarks, historic sites and relics depicted in our books.
As I stood by the fountain at the Sultan Ahmet Park in between the blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, I wallowed in a sense of accomplishment knowing that a bucket list item had been ticked.
Truly, it is one of the most fascinating cities in the world. She is one of those with a lot of soul, somebody who has been through a lot and has a globe of stories to tell.
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Istanbul: What You need to Know
When is the best Time to visit Istanbul?
How to get a Turkish Visa
How to get to IstanbulHow to get from Ataturk airport to Istanbul City Center
How to get from Sabiha Gökçen airport to Istanbul City Center
Where to stay in IstanbulBest budget hotels in Istanbul
Best Istanbul HostelsSearch for more: Istanbul Hotels
How to get around IstanbulBy taxi
By Metro, Tram, Funicular, Ferry
Places to visit in IstanbulSultanahmet Area
Topkapi Palace
Watch a Whirling Dervishes Ceremony
Bosphorus Cruise
Traditional Turkish bath (Hamam)
Spice exposition (Mısır Çarşısı)
Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi)
Other Istanbul tourist Spots:
Sample Istanbul itinerary & Breakdown of Expenses
Other tips for the poor Traveler
More tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️Related Posts:
Istanbul: What You need to Know
Istanbul is the poster city of a borderless world. It is where Asia sits down with Europe by the Bosphorus for an enjoyable a cup of tea. It is where east meets West for a passionate endless dance. It is where the past mingles with the present to have a conversation about the future. It is a city drenched in a multitude of colors, and things are hardly black or white.
It is perhaps this strategic location that made Istanbul one of the greatest cities in centuries past. It’s no wonder that its biggest pull is its stunning history, showcased in many of its tourist spots. The Sultanahmet area alone is brimming with awe-inspiring landmarks that boast incredible Byzantine and Ottoman architecture and unique cultural traditions.
Vins, all smiles while we walk around Istanbul
Today, contrary to popular belief, Istanbul is NOT the capital of Turkey. The distinction is now owned by Ankara. but although it is no longer the seat of power, it remains the cultural and economic center, and the most populous in the country, with almost 15 million residents.
Here’s more info about Istanbul:
Language: Turkish. It’s not as intimidating because they use the familiar Latin alphabet. English is also widely spoken, too.
Currency: Turkish Lira (TRY, TL, ₺). TL1 = USD 0.26, EUR 0.22, PHP13.35 (as of November 2017). Some establishments accept the euro, but it would be best to pay in lira because the euro rate is usually costlier. There are a lot of money changers around the city, often concentrated in the Grand Bazaar, Sultanahmet, and Taksim areas. The difference in rates isn’t much, to be honest, but feel free to compare. You can also withdraw from ATMs.
Modes of payment: Cash. Although some restaurants and hotels accept credit cards, public transportation and smaller establishments accept only cash.
Bezpieczeństwo. outside our textbooks, at least in this part of the world, we only hear about Istanbul in the news. Unfortunately, the city has suffered from a number of terrorist attacks over the past few years. (In fact, our first visit happened just a week after the Sultanahmet bombing in 2016.) Naturally, our followers who also dream of Istanbul are concerned about safety. We always get questions on whether or not it is safe to visit. Our answer has always been the same: Personally, these attacks don’t stop us from traveling to a city because fear is what they want to get out of it. (Our only exception is war zones.) However, that’s just us. We don’t want to encourage or discourage anyone. listen to your embassy’s advisory at the time, and consider your insurance coverage. but ultimately, make that decision for yourself. but always be vigilant wherever you choose to travel.
Electricity Info: 220V, 50Hz. Socket type F. It’s the socket that is indented into the wall and accepts plugs with two round prongs.
When is the best Time to visit Istanbul?Istanbul enjoys all the four seasons. Weather-wise, April to August is the perfect time to visit because it is during this period that the skies are usually clear and the city gets the least rainfall, with July being the driest. However, as soon as summer kicks in, the city gets packed with tourists. June-August is the peak season so expect the crowds to be big and the rates high.
The autumn months of September to November are great too, The temperature is comfortable and the crowd manageable, but prepare for rain showers every now and then.
December to February is winter and off-peak. It is here that airfares and hotel rates go down, which is something you can take advantage of if you’re a budget traveler. winter here is cold, yes, but not harsh. We were here in the first two weeks of February and we found the weather to be delightful. It drizzled a little but nothing major.
Because it stands in between two bodies of water, Istanbul is also pretty windy, which can sometimes intensify the cold.
How to get a Turkish Visa
If you have a valid visa or residence permit from the US, UK, Ireland or any Schengen country, you may apply for a visa online (e-visa). It’s fast and easy.
More info here: Turkey Visa Online
Here are the requirements:
Valid passport that covers your travel period. (In PH case, your passport must also have at least 6-month validity.)
A return or onward ticket.
Proof of accommodation (hotel reservation).
Funds of at least USD 50 per day of your stay in Turkey.
Valid supporting visa
If you’re not holding a valid visa from any of the mentioned countries, you will have to apply for a physical sticker visa at the Turkish embassy or consulate in your area. The application starts by filling out this form: Turkey Visa Application Form.
How to get to Istanbul
Istanbul is served by two airports: Istanbul Atatürk airport in the European side and Sabiha Gökçen airport in the Asian-Anatolian side. more flights fly in and out of Ataturk, as it is considered the city’s main gateway. It’s also much closer to the city center than Sabiha Gökçen.
If you’re traveling from outside Europe, there’s a big chance that the cheapest direct flights to Istanbul from your area are offered by Turkish Airlines, the country’s flag carrier. Turkish Airlines is connected to 120 countries, more than any other airline in the world.
From Manila, the cheapest nonstop flights are offered by Philippine Airlines (but this particular flight is also operated by Turkish Airlines). regular year-round fares are at USD940 (PHP 48,000). It can still drop when there is a sale or promo. Qatar Airways also offers competitive rates at USD920 (PHP 47,000) but it has one stop in Doha, Qatar.
From Singapore, the cheapest option is to fly to Athens with Scoot and then transfer to Turkish Airlines to Istanbul. combined fares are just at USD 580 (SGD 790). However, because you will be switching airlines in Greece, which is part of the Schengen area, there might be a need to get a Schengen visa, unless you’re holding a Singapore passport. Turkish Airlines offer the cheapest nonstop flights at USD 700 (SGD 950). Emirates and Qatar are also great choices at around USD 630 (SGD 860) with a stop in Dubai and Doha respectively.
From Jakarta, the best non-stop flight is offered by Garuda (operated by Turkish Airlines) at USD 1266. but the cheapest option is from Saudia at USD 850, but it involves a stop in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
From Hong Kong, the cheapest flights are offered by Aeroflot (with a stop in Moscow) at USD 515 (HKD 4020). but the best direct flights are with Turkish Airlines at USD 970 (HKD 7600).
If you want to be notified when there are cheaper flights to Istanbul, download the Traveloka app and set up the price ALERT for Istanbul. The app will let you know when there is a sale or flights that fall within your preferred price range.
Download the app here
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How to get from Ataturk airport to Istanbul City Center
Ataturk airport is located 30-40 minutes from Istanbul’s city center, but like many big cities, traffic jams are common, so the journey can be longer. To get to the city center, you may take a cab, the bus, or the metro/subway.
Taksówką. You’ll find the taxi queue right outside the Arrivals area. It’s the costliest option. The fare to Taksim is between 50-55 TL. To Sultanahmet, 65-70 TL. but if you’re a group of 4, this isn’t bad at all. just be wary of taxi scams, which I will be discussing more of below.
By HAVABÜS (formerly called Havatas Bus). This is the airport shuttle Service, and one bus leaves the airport for Taksim Square every 30 minutes from 4am until 1am. Fare: 11TL. The bus terminates at Taksim Square. If your hotel is in Sultanahmet, you may take a cab to Sultanahmet, which should cost an additional 12 TL. Or you can walk and take the F1 Taksim-Kabataş funicular, then the T1 Kabataş-Bağcılar tram to Sultanahmet Station.
By Metro/Subway + Tram. From the Arrivals area, follow the signsto the metro station and take the M1A Yenikapı – Atatürk airport Line. It’s operational from 6am to 12midnight. However, if your hotel is in Sultanahmet or Taksim area, you will have to switch to the tram/funicular line at Zeytinburnu or Aksaray station. (Check out the map below.) This option is great if you’re not carrying big bags. Otherwise, it can quite the hassle since it can get crowded at certain times and confusing at first.
During our visit, we used Uber a lot because we were a group so we would just split the cost. It ended up cheap and convenient. but that was before the service was banned by Turkish authorities late last year. I’m not sure if it’s operational now or if any of the alternatives are as reliable.
How to get from Sabiha Gökçen airport to Istanbul City Center
The Sabiha Gökçen airport is located much farther into the Asian side. The journey can take up around 90 minutes.
Taksówką. just because of the sheer distance, taxi rides are expensive. Fare can be as high as 115 TL to Taksim or 125-130 TL to Sultanahmet.
By HAVABÜS (Havataş Bus). Operates from 4am to 1am. Fare to Taksim Square: 14 TL.
If your hotel is in Sultanahmet, you can take the HAVABÜS to Taksim and take a cab to Sultanahmet, which should cost an additional 12 TL. There is a cheaper way (metro/tram/ferry), but because you’re probably carrying heavy bags and you’re unfamiliar with the city yet, I suggest taking the cab.
Where to stay in Istanbul
Before you pick a hotel or hostel, it is imperative that you know the city’s geography so you know you’re in the right area. Istanbul’s layout is interesting and unique, to say the least. The city straddles two continents. The Bosphorus Strait, connecting the Black Sea to the north and the Sea of Marmara to the south, cuts the city in half: one half in Europe, another in Asia. The European side is also almost divided by a major inlet called the golden Horn. Zdezorientowany? Here’s how it looks.
Istanbul has a total of 39 districts. but for tourism purposes, let’s just focus on four key areas.
Asian side. mostly residential. because of the high cost of rent on the European side of the Bosphorus, many locals choose to stay here. While it is always a great idea to pay a visit, I do not recommend staying here to tourists because most places of interest are on the European half.
Sultanahmet. often referred to as Old City, this is in a district called Fatih, south of the golden Horn. many of the city’s iconic structures and landmarks are here: Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar, among others. There are a number of hotels and hostels here.
Beyoğlu (Galata). opposite Fatih, on the other side of the golden Horn, is the district of Beyoğlu. like Sultanahmet, it harbors many of the city’s tourist attractions including Taksim Square, İstiklal Caddesi, and the Galata Tower, dominating the area’s skyline. This area has the greatest concentration of accommodations.
New Istanbul and the Bosphorus. further north are four more districts: Beşiktaş, Kağıthane, Şişli, and Sarıyer. This is where Istanbul gets modern and a little bit artsy. At the center of it is the city’s central business district, surrounded by some pretty bohemian neighborhoods. Although a bit far from the key attractions, there are several hotels and hostels scattered across the area.
Where to stay depends on your itinerary. If you’re planning to spend more time in the city’s historic core, then book a place in Fatih (Sultanahmet). If you dig the busyness of Galata, go for Beyoğlu. Or if you want a more modern vibe, stay in the new City.
But personally, if I return to Istanbul, I will definitely stay in the Sultanahmet area.
Best budget hotels in Istanbul
Sultanahmet Suites – Apartments is the top property according to reviews and ratings by online users. The apartments are located in Sultanahmet area, where most key tourist spots stand. Tam są s