Istanbul
Landing in Istanbul, you hear car horns before you see the Bosphorus. The call to prayer gets lost somewhere between street vendors selling simit and the sound of shoe soles on old cobbles. You start with tea, because that is what the locals do, and then get lost trying to find the best döner, but end up eating roasted chestnuts instead. Some say the best hotel in Istanbul is the one with the cat that steals your breakfast. Others say it's the one with a rooftop view, but only at sunset, when the city seems to hold its breath. Don't forget, crossing from Europe to Asia on a ferry is just public transport here, but it feels a bit like time travel if you squint just right. The Grand Bazaar? Well, you can buy a lamp, a rug, or just a story to take home. Watch your wallet, but mostly watch your step—those uneven stones have no mercy.
Local weather in Turkey
SPRING
mild & temperate
SUMMER
warm & sunny
AUTUMN
mild & temperate
WINTER
cool
Accommodations in Istanbul
Discover the best accommodations for Istanbul and start planning your holiday.
Travel destination popular things to do or visit in Istanbul
Stroll along Istiklal Avenue with a street musician’s tune following you, and discover that getting lost is not a mistake but a kind of local tradition. Many come to Istanbul to see Hagia Sophia, but some never make it past the first cup of Turkish coffee in the corner café. If you are searching for the best hotel in Istanbul, try asking a taxi driver—he will have a cousin who knows someone, but you may end up in a place with a view of laundry lines instead of minarets. Not all who wander are lost, but some who wander here just get stuck at the fish sandwich boats under Galata Bridge, and that is okay too.
Take a morning ferry across the Bosphorus and you might share a bench with a man feeding seagulls with the same bread he eats. In Kadıköy, cats have more rights than people, and the street art looks different every week. Climb up to Pierre Loti Hill, but bring coins for the funicular, or you might end up hiking and questioning your life choices. The best things to do in Istanbul sometimes happen by accident; a wrong turn can lead to a market where the only thing more numerous than spices are the smiles. And if you ask for directions, expect a full history lesson instead of a left or a right—nobody here is in a hurry except maybe the pigeons. The best hotel in Istanbul might just be the one where the shower works, but remember—perfect plumbing is a myth in these parts, at least that’s what the guy at reception told me.
Other cities around Turkey
These popular destinations have a lot to offer for you next holiday or city break.
