Let’s talk about how we spent one month in Istanbul Türkiye, the fascinating city that spans two continents (Asia and Europe). After leaving Brasov, Romania, we flew to Istanbul. It was a short flight, under two hours.
Istanbul had fascinated us since 2016 when we got stuck there coming back from Greece. At that time, we didn’t leave our hotel room. We were exhausted from our two weeks in Greece and frustrated with having missed our flight, but we regretted not going about and seeing the incredible sights. So, when we were planning this year’s travel, we decided Istanbul had to be included.
Here’s how we spent one month in Istanbul, Türkiye (with a quick visit to Cappadocia)!
Where We Stayed for One Month in Istanbul, Türkiye
When researching Istanbul, we heard a lot about the Asian side, especially Kadikoy and Moda. We figured this took us away from the craziness of the main tourist sites and had a bit more of a local feel. For the most part, the location was great. We were about a 10-minute walk to the ferry port, so we had easy access to the boats that take you to the European side. Many restaurants and cafes surrounded us, and we could easily walk to the water. The downside was we were right above all the bars and restaurants – this meant lots of noise until late at night, especially on Saturdays.
It was also very hot, as we were visiting between May and June, and we really didn’t want to open our windows because of all the noise. The living room had an air conditioner, which worked fine when we finally figured it out. But it didn’t extend into the bedroom, making for some warm nights.
Anyway, I would still recommend staying in Kadikoy or Moda, but maybe just don’t be above the bars.
How to Get Around Istanbul, Türkiye
If you have one month in Istanbul, Türkiye, I would definitely recommend getting an IstanbulKart. This is their public transportation card and can be used on the boats, buses, and metro. I believe they have a more tourist-centered card for 1 week, which is a great option for a short stay. But for longer stays, it’s worth getting the regular card and just topping it up.
The card itself costs 50 lira (~$2 USD) and can be purchased at the machines (you can also top up at the machines). These machines are located at most metro stations and ferry stations. You’ll also find them at the major bus stations, but don’t expect to see them at the random bus stops along the route. Here’s a great article about how to get an IstanbulKart card. It’s as easy as tapping in when you get on and prices are very affordable.
What To Do In Istanbul, Türkiye
There are a million blogs out there with the best things to do in Istanbul. What I’m going to talk about are the things we did, what we enjoyed, and how we spent our month in Istanbul, Türkiye. To be completely honest, upfront, Istanbul was a lot more expensive than we anticipated, especially the tourist sites. So, we did skip some things that are usually highly recommended. Namely, the Basilica Cistern, which was around $34 USD for tickets, and Dolmabahçe Palace, which was also too expensive. But we did visit a lot of the top sites and some lesser visited ones.
The Hagia Sophia
This is definitely a must-visit site. It is a bit expensive, but it’s such a historic place that it’s impossible to miss. The price of the tickets in 2024 was around $25 USD per person. I would recommend arriving before it opens. The opening time was 9:00 AM, and we arrived around 8:50 AM and walked right in. We went back later, and there was a line all the way out from the ticket booth to enter the mosque.
Sean and I got roped into the combination ticket of the mosque plus the Hagia Sophia museum for around $100 USD. We didn’t realize the museum was also about $25 USD per person, and it was totally NOT worth it. The museum is cool but it’s mostly a 3D retelling of the history of the Hagia Sophia. You don’t really get to walk around on your own – you’re basically shuffled from room to room. And there were not many interesting historical artifacts. So I would say, skip it!
Two things to remember: 1. Please be respectful and dress modestly. I brought my hoodie with me to cover my head (which was acceptable), and I made sure to wear pants. 2. The Hagia Sophia was recently turned into a functioning mosque again, so you can only visit the upper level unless you are Muslim. You can also enter for free if you’re Muslim.
The Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar
If you are looking for sensory overload, these are the places for you. The Grand Bazaar is one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world. It spans over 4,000 shops. You can find just about anything here. But it also happens to be a hugely touristy place, and the prices will reflect that. Make sure you don’t get lured into a shop if you aren’t planning on buying anything. This didn’t happen to us, thankfully, but we did hear one of the tourist scams is to get you into the shop and then refuse to let you leave unless you buy something. So, if you’re not interested, say, “No, thank you.”
The Spice Bazaar (or Egyptian Bazaar) was built in 1664 and offers various spices, Turkish delights, dried fruits, and nuts. It’s much smaller and less overwhelming than the Grand Bazaar, which can still get very crowded.
Even if you’re not planning on buying anything, these two bazaars are great just to visit and get lost in. There are so many beautiful things to look at, from Turkish rugs to lamps and colorful spices and teas. We went back a couple of times in our one-month stay in Istanbul, Türkiye.
If you’re in the area of the Grand Bazaar or Egyptian Bazaar, try to find this cafe! It had a great view, served delicious Turkish tea, and was really unique. But it was very difficult to find. You have to walk down dark halls on the second floor of an old Han, which feels very much like you shouldn’t be there.
Go on a Free Walking Tour
Free walking tours are the best way to get to know a new city. I can’t remember which one we booked, but you can find a ton of different options here. On our tour, we visited the German fountain at the former Greek Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque (which is free to enter, and they provide coverings), and the Grand Bazaar before getting a recommendation for lunch. It doesn’t sound like much but it covered the main areas and included a lot of history and information.
Topkapi Palace
Topkapi Palace was constructed in 1459 by Mehmed the Conqueror and served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1460 to 1856. It was also the main residence of the sultans. It’s a huge complex that you could easily spend 4 hours walking around. The combined ticket (which includes the palace, the Harem, and the Hagia Irene) costs 1500 Lira (~$44 USD) per person.
This is worth the price, as the architecture and design of the building are amazing! You can spend hours marveling at the colors and geometric shapes.
Çamlıca Mosque (Our Favorite)
This is currently the largest mosque in Türkiye and was completed in 2019 (although, as of 2024, it looked like they might still be adding minarets to it). This is on the Asian side of Istanbul and can take a bit to get to, especially if you’re staying on the European side. Basically, you would have to take the ferry to the Asian side and then catch the bus. We took the bus 14F from the main bus terminal near the ferry port in Kadikoy, located here.
Çamlıca Mosque is free to enter; they provide you with head coverings for free, and it was almost empty and just as beautiful (if not more so) as the Blue mosque. It’s also surrounded by a park that overlooks the Bosphorus and the European side of Istanbul. We would definitely recommend taking the time to go here!
Walk Around Galata Tower and Istiklal Street
Galata Tower is part of the Beyoğlu district and can be easily accessed using the T1 tram, walking across the Galata bridge, or taking the ferry to Karaköy. It was under renovation when we first arrived, but the good thing about staying one month in Istanbul is that you have the opportunity for things to open up. It eventually opened, but we didn’t go in (fooled you!). The view looks nice, but it costs 25 Euros. It seemed overpriced to us!
It’s fun just walking around Beyoğlu and down Istiklal street. There are tons of stores, shops, and restaurants. You’ll get to enjoy seeing cats sleeping on motorbikes or wandering the streets (as is common in Istanbul). This area is also pretty lively at night.
Where We Ate in Istanbul, Türkiye
Istanbul, and Türkiye in general, is known for its food. Here are some of the places we ate and really enjoyed:
Deniz Nadide DURU BREAKFAST Moda: They had a really delicious, fresh, and homemade Turkish breakfast. It’s recommended to book in advance. We arrived right as they were opening at 10 AM and happened to get the last table that wasn’t yet reserved (they told us it was reserved for 11 AM).
MAYYAS CAFE RESTAURANT: They had delicious and affordable kebabs and a great rooftop and view. This was where our walking tour guide took us after the tour. Attached to it is also a great place to buy really yummy Turkish delights for a good price. We got the almond and then went back for more, including a pistachio one.
Hafız Mustafa 1864: This place is all over the city and has been selling sweets since 1864. I don’t know if it’s considered a touristy place, but they had the best baklava and trilece cake! We went back multiple times.
Spice Corner Indian Restaurant Kadikoy: This place had some delicious Indian food and decent prices.
Everything Bagel: After one month in Istanbul, we were definitely craving bagels (especially Sean, who looks for them everywhere we go). This place served fresh and delicious bagels—they tasted just like home!
COLD NERON: They had some great Turkish ice cream without the annoyance that the street vendors cause.
Borsam Taşfırın Bahariye: They had good lahmacun for pretty cheap.
Sayla Manti: Delicious manti, and it felt very local.
Kadikoy Merkez Borekcisi: Best Burek! Order küt boregi and put some powdered sugar on it. Droooool
Our Experience with Healthcare in Istanbul
One of the things we looked into when we were planning on going to Istanbul was dental care. Since we were visiting for one month and had heard about their great medical tourism, we decided it would be a great location for an exam and cleaning.
I did some research and eventually ended up contacting Istanbul Dental Center. They were easy to communicate with. I just sent them a message via WhatsApp and set up an appointment. The office was clean, and Dr. Emre Asım was great! He spoke English really well and was very gentle and thorough. We were quoted 100 Euros per person for an exam and cleaning. He was very honest and told me I didn’t need a cleaning and it would be a waste of money since my teeth looked great!
The other medical experience I had was visiting a dermatologist. During our time in Montenegro, I had developed a really itchy rash that spread all over my limbs. At the time, I assumed it was an allergic reaction to the laundry detergent and switched. After several weeks, it finally went away. But it returned again while we were in Istanbul. So, I contact a dermatologist, Dr. Nagihan Sahillioğlu.
She was great! Her English was okay, enough to get by. But she prescribed me a topical ointment and wanted me to have blood work done. Again, the cost was about 100 Euros for my visit, and my blood work was about 80 Euros. I returned for a follow-up appointment and was given an oral steroid as I seemed to have some sort of infection. Thankfully, the steroid worked, and the rash cleared up.
Overall, both experiences were easy. Communication was simple, appointments went smoothly, and getting blood work done was cake!
Istanbul Cats
This section will just be dedicated to the adorable cats of Istanbul. This city is known for its cats. Though there are a LOT of cats, they’re pretty well taken care of. We watched a woman walk the waterfront in the morning with a huge bag of cat food and was filling up water dishes. I LOVE cats, so this city was a dream come true! Now enjoy these adorable cats to end this article.
[…] the end of one month in Istanbul, we headed to Cappadocia. We’ll talk about some great things to do when visiting Cappadocia, […]