With a inhabitants of over 15 million, Istanbul is among the largest cities on the earth. It’s huge and numerous, full of gorgeous historic monuments and superb meals. Sadly, my household and I solely had a couple of day and a half layover in Istanbul once we flew in from Rome. We had to determine how one can maximize our time in Istanbul, regardless of being drained from touring. Fortuitously, the Istanbulite tour firm enabled us to see the highlights of Istanbul and familiarize ourselves with Turkish meals all inside a matter of hours! It was an intensive and academic tour that made me really feel like my household was getting essentially the most out of our quick keep in Istanbul. Istanbulite additionally has dozens of different excursions, not solely of Istanbul however different fashionable elements of Turkey.
Keep in mind that this was a non-public tour by which our information blended a meals tour together with their typical “Layover in Istanbul” tour itinerary.
Previous Metropolis (European Facet)
Our information picked us up in a pleasant van which transported us from the “New Metropolis” to the “Previous Metropolis.” She described it as “stepping again in time.” As we crossed the bridge over the waters of Golden Horn, our information defined the historical past and geography of the area, so we may higher perceive the areas we’d discover that day.
Hagia Sophia & Blue Mosque
Our first cease on the tour was the Hagia Sophia Mosque. Of the 1000’s of mosques in Istanbul, this one is by far essentially the most well-known resulting from its grandiose magnificence and wealthy historical past. Visiting the Hagia Sophia had been on my bucket listing for some time. It was unimaginable to see the Hagia Sophia’s vibrant exterior, together with the plaza and fountain between it and the Blue Mosque. Each women and men should put on garments overlaying legs and shoulders to enter. Girls should additionally cowl their hair with head scarves. In the event you shouldn’t have a head scarf, I imagine you might buy one exterior the doorway.
We took off our footwear and adopted our information round. The inside of the Hagia Sophia was ornate, and our information identified particular spots inside the mosque and exquisite relics. We discovered concerning the Christian and Islamic historical past of the Hagia Sophia, in addition to the fascinating means it was constructed. All of the artwork on the partitions and ceilings was unimaginable. The historical past of the Hagia Sophia, and the entire nation of Turkey usually, is deeply tied to Christian and Muslim roots. Day by day that we explored Turkey and discovered new issues was a beautiful shock. It felt like such a privilege to stroll the identical streets and the identical buildings these well-known historic figures inhabited.
We sadly didn’t tour the Blue Mosque as a result of it was below renovation and can probably be for a very long time. Our information nonetheless informed us a bit concerning the Blue Mosque and the blue iznik tiles for which it was nicknamed.
Underground Basilica Cistern
After leaving the Hagia Sophia, we walked a brief distance to the Basilica Cistern. From the surface, it doesn’t seem like way more than a small constructing with a line of individuals exterior. The doorway payment for the cistern is just not coated by the tour, so I imagine you’ll have to purchase your personal tickets.
We entered the constructing and ventured down the steps into the darkish. The Basilica Cistern had just lately been renovated to change into a bigger, extra inventive expertise. It’s largely drained, aside from a couple of foot of water on the backside. You discover the cistern upon a metal-grate platform. Dispersed all through the waters are stunning sculptures, steel figures, and different artwork shows from present day Turkish artists. The waters and the excessive columns are lit with color-changing lights which create a captivating gentle show as you stroll all through the cistern.
My household occurred to enter the Basilica Cistern on the good time, proper when the entire gentle and sound show had reset. We acquired to expertise the present from starting to finish. Except for all these trendy flashy touches, the environment was unimaginable and nonetheless felt so tied to its historical past. I assumed it was a genius method to mix the brand new and the outdated. Our information informed us all concerning the columns which made up the cistern and the way it served town of Istanbul earlier than it was now not of use.
Grand Bazaar
Our subsequent cease was the Grand Bazaar, a most well-known location for each locals and vacationers to do their buying. As you may guess from its title, the Grand Bazaar was large and virtually like a maze. I don’t know how our information navigated us by way of the entire market. Rows upon rows of retailers bought gold jewellery, Turkish rugs, carpets, Turkish ceramics, conventional clothes. Simply once I thought I’d seen all of it, we went to the out of doors part which stretched out earlier than us so far as I may see. This space had extra trendy/western garments and different on a regular basis commodities. I’m glad we had a information who directed us towards cheaper shops to do our buying and seize any souvenirs we’d like.
Meals on the Grand Bazaar: Gyros, Kebabs, Kofta, Pide
As we explored the Grand Bazaar, we stopped at a number of locations to attempt completely different Turkish meals. We grabbed small gyros from a spot referred to as Gul Ebru Kantin, simply to carry us over for the actual meal later. Our information additionally allowed us to cease for a cup of Turkish espresso.
Lunch was at Meshur Filibe Koftecisi. We sat at a desk, and our information ordered meals from two eating places proper subsequent to one another, the second being Sehzade Cag Kebap. We ate pita bread with yogurt, salad, kofta, and lamb kebabs. All of the meals was scrumptious and an excellent introduction to what we’d be consuming over the course of our journey by way of Turkey.
Later within the tour, we stopped at a restaurant referred to as Hocapasa Pidecisi that served every kind of pide. Pide is commonly likened to Turkish pizza. Regardless of already having eaten an enormous lunch, we ate each final piece of pide.
Turkish Delight and Baklava
To complete off our tour, we picked up some Turkish delight. Our information took us to a sweets store referred to as Ali Muhiddin Haci Bekir, whose sweets have been round because the yr 1777. We ordered a wide range of completely different flavors. It was my first time attempting Turkish delight, and I sadly wasn’t an enormous fan. Nevertheless, different family members liked it.
We adopted this up with baklava from Karakoy Gulluoglu. As soon as extra, we ordered a few completely different sorts. Our favourite by far was the hazelnut with cream. Whereas the sweetness of baklava is a bit of overwhelming, it’s scrumptious.
After ending our baklava, the information confirmed us the way in which throughout a bridge again to the newer a part of town. She walked us all the way in which again to our lodge, the place we ended the day filled with Turkish meals and new data, questioning how we may eat dinner that evening.
Learn Subsequent:
