Discovering Istanbul: Where East Meets West in a Tapestry of Culture and History
As the crossroads of Europe and Asia, this vibrant metropolis is steeped in history, blending ancient traditions with modern allure. From the majestic domes of the iconic Hagia Sophia to the bustling streets of the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul offers a captivating blend of culture, cuisine, and architectural wonders. Just like any city with many historical sites, Istanbul is very crowded. It’s population is almost twice that of New York City’s and on top of that, there are TONS of tourists, especially in the summer. Therefore, it’s a good idea to have a plan, get tickets for top attractions beforehand, and consider going to popular attractions at off-peak hours. All in all, Istanbul, Turkey is a must-visit city, so prepare to be mesmerized!
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We had a great time exploring Istanbul. We got to Istanbul around 7 am to Istanbul Dudullu Bus Station which is far outside the downtown area. We had taken the overnight bus from Cappadocia and then took a city bus, the train, and a ferry before walking to our luggage storage location. As always, we used Bounce for luggage storage, which has been a lifesaver for us on our travels.
How to get around Istanbul? You’ll Need an Istanbulkart
Istanbul is a massive city with tons to see, which makes it difficult to properly explore without using public transportation. Luckily, Istanbul has a great public transportation system that you can access with an Istanbulkart; this card allows you take any bus, tram, ferry, or metro in the city and you can even use it to pay for public restrooms! Getting this card can be bit of a hassle as you can’t get them at every bus stop (and we found out the hard way that city buses in Istanbul to NOT take cash), but you can buy one in any train station or in shops near the more popular bus stops. When you find a kiosk, you buy the physical card and load it with money, and they’re easy to recharge at these kiosks as well. We had a few issues with the kiosks being glitchy and had to restart the process multiple times, but once you have the card, it is smooth sailing and you can access all public transportation for a very small price (about $1 per person per mode of transportation). Also, it’s good to note that you do not need a separate Istanbulkart for each person in your group – up to five people can use to the same card. We just got one card for the both of us and used it to get around when we weren’t walking, and we highly recommend you do as well! We also recommend using your Istanbulkart to take one of the ferries – the rides are beautiful and just as cheap as taking the bus or train.
The Best Things to do in Istanbul
- Go on a Bosphorus Dinner Cruise
- Walk through the bustling streets of the Grand Bazaar
- Check out the Egyptian Bazaar
- Go to Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque (free)
- Explore the Basilica Cistern
- Marvel at the ancient beauty in the Topkapi and Dolmabahce Palaces
- Play Flash Invaders!
- Go to a Galatasaray soccer game
How to get tickets for a Galatasaray game
We tried to get tickets for the Galatasaray game but that process is extremely difficult. A while ago there used to be a ton of violence at these games so to stop this, they moved the process online. They now require identity verification so that everyone is accounted for and if you were to commit a crime at the stadium, it would be easier to catch you.
To get tickets, you first need to pay ~$9 for a Passolig pass, but this doesn’t guarantee tickets. Then, on the Passo app (don’t use the website), the tickets go on sale 1-2 days before the game. However this is only available for priority members. Then, when the tickets open to general members, the tickets fly off the shelves, and the only tickets available are the nicer seats. If I were to do this again, I would buy the Passolig pass a week before the game, and then 3-4 days before the game, constantly check for when the tickets open up to priority members. Then, every hour after they open up to priority members, I would check if they are open to general members, and be prepared to pay $80+ per ticket. DO NOT buy tickets on Biletwise as that is known as a scammy website where you often don’t get the tickets you pay for. We definitely want to go to a Galatasaray game in the future as they are famous for their fireworks!
After giving up on getting tickets, we decided to explore the busy streets of Fatih. We went to the blue mosque and Hagia Sophia which were both beautiful. When we walked in through the gates to the blue mosque we saw a flash invader!! What is a flash invader you say? Well let me tell you about one of the best (and completely free!!) ways to explore a new city.
Flash Invaders – Our favorite way to explore a new city
Flash invaders were created by a banksy-type artist who makes these tile mosaics and puts them in all sorts of random places. They are in tons of cities and you can go on a scavenger hunt to “capture” them, all while exploring a new city! There is an app on the App Store which you’ll use to scan these mosaics which makes it a fun little game. These are technically graffiti, but they are rarely taken down. People even want them to be put on their homes/shops because that increases their value/increases foot traffic. There are flash invaders all over the world, including a few meters under water off the shores of Cancun. There’s even one in the international space station!
We first discovered these in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and haven’t been to a city that’s had them until Istanbul! It’s safe to say we spent the majority of our time hunting flash invaders. You can see the Tiktok we made here.
How to Get to Istanbul
If you arrive/depart from the Istanbul airport, take note that it is about an hour drive outside of the city center and you’ll need to take a shuttle/taxi/rental car to get into the city. If you arrive to the Istanbul Dudullu Bus Station, you can take public transport to the city center, but finding an Instankart card may be hard. If it’s in your budget, I would recommend taking a taxi for at least part of the way. If you leave from the main Istanbul bus station, make sure to get there early as it is disorganized and is about a mile-long loop of different bus companies. Some of the bigger ones are easier to spot and are on Google maps but the smaller ones are not.
Book Flights With Skyscanner
Our Favorite Travel Resources
Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.
Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.
Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.
Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.
International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.
eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.
Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!
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Istanbul FAQs
Is Istanbul worth visiting?
Absolutely! You can see most of the worthwhile sites in Istanbul in 2-3 full days, and they are 100% worth it.
What is Istanbul known for?
Istanbul is known for it rich history, vibrant culture, bustling streets, and lots of mosques.
Is Istanbul expensive?
Istanbul is expensive for Turkish standards, however compared to other destinations like Spain, France, and England, it is relatively cheap.
Is Istanbul safe?
Touristy locations are subject to pickpocketing, as with any city. An Instanbul local warned us about the Bağcılar, Esenyurt, and Bahçeşehir neighborhoods.
