Is Istanbul safe? A post based on personal experience. I visited Istanbul many times, sometimes it was a business trip, where I had some time to walk around the city, sometimes I went there with a female friend, and I have never had any issues. Need help with planning a trip to Istanbul? I am here to help! So, here Read More
Middle East: places to see, things to do and my tips for travel to the Middle East
Best time to visit Istanbul, Turkey: weather by season and what to wear
Best time to visit Istanbul: based on my experience. In this post I want to talk about a topic that comes up often in the comments from my readers, and it’s the weather. I have visited Istanbul numerous times during different months and experienced different weather there. I went through my records to find the exact dates of my trips, Read More
Where to stay in Istanbul: the best areas and hotel recommendations
My opinion on where to stay in Istanbul: based on my personal experience. I went to Istanbul more times that I can remember, but the majority of those trips were business ones. But because of this specific fact I didn’t have to stay exactly in the historical center of the city: instead we booked apartments around Istanbul. So here I Read More
Traditional Turkish food: what to eat in Istanbul
I love traditional Turkish food! The cuisine of this country is one of the most delicious in this world! And I am not exaggerating 😊 There are some options for vegetarians, but Istanbul is a paradise for meat lovers, and the meat is mainly lamb and beef. I think it is a terrific idea to come here just for eating Read More
20 useful travel tips for Istanbul for first timers
I have visited Istanbul more than 5 times and it still is my favorite city 🙂 And I would gladly go there once again 🙂 Of course, during all my visits I learned much about it, adding new things to my list of useful tips. So, before you go to the airport make sure to read my travel tips for Read More
Things to Do During a Short Layover in Istanbul
I hear quite often people asking for advice on places to see when they have short layover in Istanbul. Istanbul is a city between Europe and Asia, and I guess lots of international routes stop there, so it is no wonder that this question arises so often. I decided to fill in this gap 🙂 Need help with planning a Read More
What to See in Sultanahmet Square, Istanbul, Turkey
Even before my first trip to Istanbul (where I went absolutely unprepared, by the way), I knew there are dozens of places to visit. There are mosques, churches, palaces, fortresses, bridges, bazaars: enough to satisfy all tastes. Some tourists like museums, others prefer to admire architecture, but when they come to Istanbul, they all have the same starting base – Read More
30 Things to Do in Istanbul, Turkey: what to do in Istanbul
A huge list of things to do in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is the city that stole my heart. It is my absolutely most favorite city and I visit it gladly every year. And, somehow, I always find things to do there. I love everything about the place: its history, people, arts, architecture, food, etc. I love its spectacular sunsets, insolent Read More
The Prince Islands: how to get, places to see, things to do
If someone asked me what is the one thing travelers should definitely do in Istanbul, I would advise them to go to the Prince Islands, simply known as Adalar (islands from Turkish). The islands in the Sea of Marmara are famous for being a place of exile for Byzantine nobles, members of Ottoman sultans’ families, and even for one Soviet Read More
12 Things You Should Avoid Doing in Istanbul
Istanbul is an absolutely amazing city! I fell in love with it the moment I got out of the bus: friendly people, vibrant atmosphere, delicious food, interesting history and culture make the visit to the city an unforgettable experience. Probably, in my case one of the reasons is the fact that I have some Turkic blood in my veins 🙂 Read More
