I recently made a three hour Istanbul tour in Balat, one of Istanbul's oldest neighbourhoods. This part of town is a melting pot of immigrants, including Jews, Orthodox Christians, and of course Turks. It took me to the old City Walls, the Kariye Museum (Kariye Müzesi or Chora Church) and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. If you're interested in Istanbul's history from the late … [Read more...]
Is the Asian Side of Istanbul Worth Visiting – Part 2
Previously I already explained when and why it is worth to visit the Asian side of Istanbul. If you missed that part, I strongly suggest you to read it first. In this second leg of this series on Istanbul's Asian shore, I'll focus on famous places such as Fenerbahçe, Bağdat Caddesi, Haydarpaşa, Üsküdar, and how to reach the Maiden Tower.Fenerbahçe and Kalamış … [Read more...]
Is the Asian Side of Istanbul Worth Visiting – Part 1
Yes, it is. But only if you're in Istanbul for 4 days or more, or visiting this gorgeous Turkish metropolitan for the second time. Let's not beat around the bush, with the huge concentration of (historical) sightseeing spots on the European side of Istanbul, the Asian shore is playing second fiddle to its European counterpart.If you already have this 'been there, done that' … [Read more...]
Don’t Miss the International Istanbul Tulip Festival
In April the annual International Istanbul Tulip Festival (Istanbul Lale Festivali) takes place. This shouldn't be a surprise if you know that -- unlike common belief -- tulips originated more or less in Turkey. So, if you happen to be in Istanbul during this time of the year, you're in luck. Millions of tulips are planted in Istanbul's parks, avenues, traffic roundabouts ... … [Read more...]
What Bosphorus Cruise Tour to Take in Istanbul?
A cruise on the Bosphorus is probably the most overlooked Istanbul tourist attraction. Understandable, with such an abundance of historical sightseeing spots in Istanbul and too little time to squeeze them all into your short holiday. But take my advice and set a few hours aside to take an unforgettable Bosphorus tour. Certainly if you're in town between May and September. You … [Read more...]