How To Visit Two Continents In One Amazing City

What makes Istanbul so incredibly special?

Let’s start with the fact that you can visit two continents (Europe and Asia for those of you who flunked geography) in one city.

Add several of the world’s most iconic structures, a sumptuous blend of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, scenic waterways, and residents who love showing off their beloved city to visitors, and you’ve got all the makings of a place that should be on everyone’s travel bucket list.

Here are eight experiences you shouldn’t miss in the Turkish metropolis.

Hagia Sophia

A lot of people freaked in 2020 when Hagia Sophia transformed from its century-long secular status back into an active mosque.

Yet for anyone who’s visited before and after the transition, the experience hasn’t changed all that much. Nowadays it’s mandatory to remove your shoes, but the Turkish carpets are easy on the feet (compared to the cold stone floor of secular times). And women must cover their heads (paper scarfs are distributed free of charge near the entrance).

Hagia Sofia remains the incredible engineering, architectural and artistic icon it’s always been. While some of the Byzantine mosaics above the mihrab have been partially covered with cloth, the archangels are still staring down from the ceiling. And the interior is so much brighter these days thanks to new lighting funded by (believe it or not) Ben Affleck and the crew of Argo.

Turkish Food

One of the world’s great foodie destinations, Istanbul offers hundreds of places to sample traditional Turkish cuisine and fresh seafood from the nearby waterways.

One of the city’s oldest and most esteemed eateries, Pandeli Restaurant opened in 1902 on the second floor of the ancient Spice (Egyptian) Bazaar. Its ubiquitous blue tiles provide an eye-catching complement to dishes like the Sultan’s Delight lamb stew, roast mashed eggplant, and caramelized bottom milk pudding with chicken breast, the latter an oddball dessert similar to custard.

Don your best threads for traditional mezze and fresh-off-the-boat fish are served with panoramic views of the Bosporus at Ringa Sea Food in coastal Kuruçeşme between the two big bridges. Or modern takes on Turkish seafood at the cool, Michelin-rated Karaköy Lokantasi restaurant near Galataport.

Located down an alley in the busy Beyoğlu district, Kafe Ara pays tribute to legendary Istanbul street photographer Ara Güler with displays of his emotive black-and-white photographs. It’s also just a cool place to hang, sipping Turkish coffee or fresh fruit juices with their savory pastries.

For drinks or dinner with fabulous views, check out the Summit Bar & Terrace at the Conrad Istanbul hotel or the open-air Süreyya Teras Lounge at Four Seasons Istanbul.

Sakip Sabanci Museum & Garden

One of the city’s under-the-radar attractions, this leafy estate in the Emirgan district was home to its namesake tycoon and his expansive private art collection prior to its reincarnation as a private garden and fine art museum.

Ottoman, Egyptian and Montenegrin royalty had previously resided on the waterfront property. Nowadays it specializes in archeological artifacts and Islamic calligraphy to Ottoman and Turkish paintings and vintage photographs of Istanbul.

The Seed restaurant on the mansion roof is a popular local brunch spot staffed by students from the Culinary Arts Academy of Istanbul

Kadiköy

Make like a local and hang out in Kadiköy, a funky neighborhood on the Asian shore easily reached by ferry or water taxi from the European side.

Get there early to experience the hustle-bustle of Kadiköy Market, shops and stalls selling everything from fresh fish and fruit to fast food and fashion. Some of the shops are the stuff of Istanbul legend: like the Özcan Turşu pickle emporium (established in 1935) and the Turkish delight and fruit-shaped marzipan at Şekerci Cafer Erol (founded in 1807).

Relish a long, leisurely lunch at Çiya Sofrası, the Noah’s Ark of Turkish and Ottoman cuisine. Owner Musa Dağdeviren, who collects and re-creates recipes on the verge of extinction, says “I’m really more of an anthropologist or social scientist than a cook or chef.”

And stay late to catch blues at Ağaç Ev Kadıköy or jazz at The Badau İstanbul.

Topkapi Palace

The legendary palace overlooking the Bosporus Strait is fully open again after five years of meticulous restoration. Home to the Ottoman sultans from 1478 to 1853, this sprawling royal residence takes roughly two to three hours to tour, especially if you’re going to explore every pavilion and courtyard open to the public.

Two sections of the palace are must-see. The elaborate Harem once housed more than 300 concubines and the imperial eunuchs, while the incomparable Treasury safeguards the emerald-encrusted Topkapi Dagger, the Sword of Süleyman the Magnificent, and the 86-carat Kasıkçı Diamond.

For a cinematic glimpse of the palace before you leave home watch Topkapi, a 1964 heist movie starring Peter Ustinov, Melina Mercouri and Maximilian Schell as the leaders of a bumbling but lovable crew that try to steal the famous dagger.

İstiklal Street

Hands down the best people watching in Istanbul, this pedestrian boulevard — with the vintage red trolley running down the middle — stretches between the Beyoglu neighborhood and Taksim Square.

While the main attraction is the eclectic street life, some of the city’s best small attractions are tucked into the buildings on either side. Like the excellent Atlas Cinema Museum and its hands-on history of Turkish film, avant-garde art shows at the edgy Meşher gallery, and the ancient Galata Mevlevi Lodge with its Whirling Dervishes and other vestiges of Sufi culture.

Reaching the end of İstiklal Street, trek across Taksim Square to the Atatürk Kültür Merkezi (AKM) cultural center, one of Istanbul’s most astonishing modern buildings. Behind the massive glass façade is a huge red globe covered in 15,000 handmade ceramic tiles, an opera house that seats more than 2,000 spectators, a large drama theater and other performance spaces, as well as an arts library almost completely made with wood.

Green Spaces

Between the ancient stones in the old city and the glistening skyscrapers of the high-rise suburbs are parks, gardens and forest reserves patronized by locals but virtually unknown to most out-of-towners.

Celebrated for its spring Tulip Garden and spring Tulip Festival, Emirgan Korusu is probably the best known. The park also boasts three colorful pavilions built by Isma’il Pasha, the ruler of Egypt, when he owned the property in the mid-1800s.

For something wilder, hike the rambling trails of the Belgrad Forest on the city’s north side. Almost stretching from the Bosporus and the Black Sea, the massive park boasts numerous water features and picnic areas, ruins stretching back to the Byzantine era, an outdoor concert and drama venue, and Ataturk Arboretum.

Istanbul Archaeological Museums

Just a 10-minute walk from Hagia Sophia, the collection has undergone an almost miraculous transformation in recent years, from a stuffy old institution where priceless relics were displayed without much fanfare or explanation into an outstanding modern showcase that now ranks among the world’s best antiquity showcases.

A decade-long restoration and revitalization by leading exhibition experts has added dramatic lighting and backdrops and multilingual descriptions, transforming the experience from a slog through dusty old statues into a multi-sensory exploration of Greece, Rome, Egypt, Mesopotamia and other ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean and Middle East.

Among its countless treasures are the Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great, the Oceanus Statue, glazed brick lions from the Ishtar Gate at Babylon, and a 13^th-century BC clay peace treaty ending a conflict between the Egyptians and Hittites.

Getting There

With routes from more than 330 cities, Turkish Airlines can get you to Istanbul from just about anywhere on the planet. Join their Miles&Smiles frequent flyer program and you have access to complimentary food, beverages (and catnaps) at the dedicated lounge in the International Terminal at the new Istanbul Airport.

Visit Turkey – Official travel guide to Turkey – Tourism in TurkeyHome – Visit Turkey – Official travel guide to Turkey – Tourism in Turkey