Choosing which Istanbul tourist attraction to see is no easy task. For first-time visitors, especially independent backpackers, the enormity and apparent disarray of the city can be overwhelming.
Istanbul is one of the world’s great cities. The historic city dates back thousands of years, and, owing to its vital location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, has drawn the envy of neighbors since its founding. Today, that historic city boasts plenty of reminders from a colorful past that feature the city’s strategic eminence.
Here are five fun things to do for a first-time visitor to Istanbul – a couple of major sites and a few different activities for a more comprehensive trip:
Basilica Cistern
The Basilica Cistern is one of the most unique sites of the ancient world and perhaps the coolest Istanbul tourist attraction. The 1500-year-old underground water storage facility remains as a testament to the grandeur of the Byzantine Empire.
Visiting the Basilica Cistern requires a measure of patience. As of 2018, tickets are 20 Turkish lira (~$4 USD). The lines can be long and slow, but the site is worth the wait. Hundreds of marble columns stabilize the man-made cavern and the structures above at street level.
The lighting inside the Basilica Cistern is dim, so bring a good camera for quality photos. Unless, of course, you prefer low quality photos like mine below.
Temperatures in the cistern differ from the world above. Even in winter, it is a little warmer in the cistern than outside, and, as is expected with a body of water, it gets pretty muggy down below. Summertime visitors, beware.
Hagia Sophia
The Hagia Sophia is the most famous Istanbul tourist attraction and one of the most popular tourist sites in the world. The historic structure was once the world’s largest church, then transformed into an important mosque and stands today as a museum and symbol of Istanbul’s history.
The Hagia Sophia is one Istanbul tourist attraction that cannot be missed. The history and magnitude of the building supersedes any drawback from large crowds or long lines. Wandering inside the iconic landmark is akin to standing inside a mountain.
Although there is a movement to turn the Hagia Sophia back into a mosque, it remains a mostly-secular museum for the time-being.
Across the park/square from the Hagia Sophia is the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, more commonly known as the Blue Mosque. This 400-year-old mosque, with its intricate tiles and imposing stature, is a stunning example of Ottoman architecture. The mosque is still functioning, so visiting times are restricted. Plan ahead.
Eat Some Lamb Brains!
To all the self-righteous and morally superior vegetarians out there, please get over yourself. Meat is tasty, and that’s good enough for me.
Not that meat-eaters need defending, but at least I’m not one to shy away from any part of an animal. More people should be willing to eat all parts of animals. There’s no need to be wasteful!
Anyway, eating strange things has been appealing to me for a long time, but it took reading something about lamb brains in an Istanbul food guide to kindle my curiosity for cranial culinary creations. Alliteration aside, lamb brains are a unique eat, and one that can be found in Istanbul with a little effort.
My first experience with brains was not a disappointment. After ordering, the man pulled out a sheep’s head and methodically went to work. Every part of the head that could be eaten was carved away and placed on a plate. The whole lot was seasoned and served.
The meal was great. Brains are usually pretty mushy, but topped with herbs and mixed with meat from the cheeks, tongue and the rest of the head, the result was perfect. Nothing slimy, mushy or gross about this meal.
Hookah Bar
Hookah bars are popular cafe hangouts across the Middle East. Istanbul is no exception. The cafes are important as centers of local social life
Corlulu Ali Pasa Medresesi is a local hookah bar, a 15-minute walk from the Hagia Sophia. Wandering with new friends from my hostel, we passed by the unassuming entrance and decided to stop in. The cafe is very local. After enduring a few stares on our way to a back room, the locals lost interest. Sitting down, I quickly realized this was one of the most local settings I’d found in months of travel.
A tough language barrier made ordering tricky. Soon enough, we were served tea and apparently ordered apple shisha, which, as it turns out, is one of the more traditional flavors.
A few days later, one of the employees from our hostel was taking a small group to a “hidden, local shisha bar.” Of course, it was Corlulu Ali Pasa. Apparently, this cafe is a highly recommended Istanbul tourist attraction, even topping lists on various review forums. Shockingly, even as a top pick on Yelp, the cafe was filled with locals during each of the three occasions I popped in for a toke. Yes, that’s a lot of shisha, but you should’ve seen the beer and whisky consumed shortly after each session.
Tobacco consumed in any form is ill-advised, but when in Rome Istanbul, right? I’m not likely to shy away from a fun, local experience, and few experiences in Istanbul are more local than blowing clouds of smoke in a hookah bar.
Eat Lunch in Asia
Popular tourist attractions in Istanbul range, roughly, from Taksim square down to the Galata Tower, then across the Golden Horn to Sultanahmet (Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, etc.). For a first-time visitor to Istanbul, there is enough to see and do in this area to occupy weeks of wandering. But Istanbul is a huge city with dozens of districts and neighborhoods, each differing from one another.
Across the Bosphorus Strait lies the Anatolian (Asian) side of Istanbul. Technically, across this strait is the edge of Asia. Few tourists make the four Turkish Lira (less than $1 USD) ferry ride to Asia. The boat takes about 30 minutes, but Asian Istanbul has a vibe that’s even more local than the popular tourist areas.
More local means more food! And there is plenty of good, local food on this side of Istanbul. Unusual local foods line the streets. Cheese aged in goat carcasses, mounds of olives and piles of spices occupy store fronts. With fewer tourists, cafes cater towards local tastes rather than foreign palettes. For a curious foodie or a wandering backpacker, a few hours in Asian Istanbul will satisfy any hungry traveler.
Istanbul is a great city to explore food. Culinary Backstreets leads a small food tour that will take you to the Asian side of the city, guiding you through the streets, explaining unusual eats and leaving you completely full.
Istanbul is truly one of the most fascinating cities in the world. It is easy to get lost in the narrow streets, surrounded by history and excitement at every turn. First-time visitors have a tough time choosing which Istanbul tourist attraction to see, and, hopefully, using this list will help you enjoy a more thorough experience in the city.
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