Disclaimer: I didn't plan to stay in Istanbul
If you’ve read some of my other blog posts, you’ll know I prefer natural landscapes over cities. At first, I didn’t have any reason to visit Istanbul and wanted to travel elsewhere in Turkey.
Had the trains out of Istanbul not been booked up in advance due to Eid (I wouldn’t suggest visiting at this time due to higher crowds), I probably would have left the city to go elsewhere.
I’m thankful the trains were booked up because I had the chance to spend more time in this amazing city.
These are my main reasons to visit Istanbul that triggered my love at the first site for this busy city.
#1 Reason to Visit Istanbul: Convenient Public Transport
As a traveler, access to public transport to navigate around a city, or even across a country helps make an experience more comfortable and convenient.
I live in Erbil, Kurdistan, at the moment. Here I’m forced to use taxis to get to and from work or wherever I want to go. No intercity buses are available (only shared taxis). Thus, my number one reason to visit Istanbul is its convenient and accessible public transport.
Istanbul’s public transport system consists of more than 150 subway stations, 500 bus routes, and 10 city boat lines that can take you throughout the city. At several train stations, you can buy tickets to other cities in Turkey or outside of the country. If you’re looking to book intercity tickets you can book online here.
Even getting to and from the airport to surrounding city areas is convenient. There are shuttle buses that run between the airport, and now there is even a connection to the metro directly from the terminals.
Another point as to why the transport system is a reason to visit Istanbul as a traveler is because of how payment is made. Whether you take the subway, buses, or even the ferries to the islands near Istanbul, you can pay by tapping the same cash-loaded card upon boarding (cars are available for purchase at bus and metro stations).
This makes it a breeze for tourists to get around the city without fussing with taxis and constantly trying to get small pieces of change to pay for each ride.
#2 Streets So Clean You Could Eat Off Them
(Along with the Adorable Street Cats)
The first thing I noticed as soon as I stepped off the bus in Istanbul was how spotless the streets were. Istanbul is home to over 16 million people, close in population to Kolkata, India, for example. In cities of this size, there’s usually at least some litter and trash around.
While visiting Istanbul, I never once saw wrappers or plastic during my walks sightseeing and wandering. Exploring the city without tripping over garbage is a great reason to visit Istanbul as a tourist.
Another cute note I’d like to add about street cleanliness is the cat houses and food for them scattered around (in neat containers next to houses, not littered around the place!). Residents create these little cat houses and leave food for them because of traditions of cats being considered sacred in ancient Muslim culture.
#3 Delicious Savory Foods and Sweet Treats
Whether you’re a foodie or not, at some point you have to eat. Lucky for travelers, Turkish food is delicious and another important reason to visit Istanbul.
I could live exclusively off of the street bagels and chestnuts.
While eating what we call “flouffy bagels” (thicker and fluffier bagels sold alongside the popular simit bagels) my friend said, “I’m eating a raw bagel, and it’s the best thing I’ve ever had,” which I feel effectively describes how I feel about Turkish bread.
Turkish bread is so good you can eat it plain, with nothing on it, untoasted. It’s that good.
Simit bagels can also be eaten raw with great satisfaction.
I’d consider trying snacks from street vendors (like corn on the cob and chestnuts) as one of the most important things to do in Istanbul.
For cheese lovers, Turkey is heaven. If you can’t decide what to try, go to a restaurant and order their breakfast spread and try a variety. Breakfast spreads also come with a variety of breads to indulge in.
I’d also recommend the fish sandwiches sold at the Eminönü or Kariköy piers. The picture above shows the one I chose to buy at a stand at Eminönü.
Though they might taste a bit fishy for the average person, I grew up in a Portuguese household. My liking of things like sardines and fishy-tasting fish might make this a biased opinion.
Try a stomachache-inducing amount of Turkish Delight
I could have listed Turkish Delight itself as it’s own reason to visit Istanbul. Growing up in Canada, my idea of Turkish Delight was the rose-colored gelatinous substance dusted with icing sugar.
It never appealed to me, so my opinion of Turkish Delight (until I came to Istanbul) was that it was a subpar dessert I wouldn’t waste calories on consuming.
Boy, was I ever wrong…
Walking from the Eminönü pier towards Hagia Sophia, I passed through stalls selling innumerable flavors of Turkish Delight. Similar stalls are in the adjacent Spice Bazaar, or the Grand Bazaar.
Strawberry, Tiramisu, Blueberry-Pomegranate (one of my favorites), Cinnamon, Chocolate-Hazelnut, Snickers, Pistachio…
You name it, I’m sure one of the Turkish Delight stalls in Istanbul has it, and they’ll give you so many free samples that you’ll lose your appetite for flouffy bagels (almost).
The Hafiz Mustafa franchise supposedly has some of the best Turkish Delights in the city, but if I’m being honest, I enjoyed the ones at the stalls at Eminönü just as much.
If your previous misconceptions of Turkish Delight have led you to believe it’s not tasty, do yourself a favor and give Turkish Delight a chance. You’re bound to find something you love.
#4 Reason to Visit Istanbul: Abundant Historical Sites
A common reason to visit Istanbul is to see historical attractions. With many places to see, this is an important reason that makes visiting Istanbul worthwhile.
One of my favorite sites was the ancient underground water reservoir, the Basilica Cistern. I had no clue that things like this even existed! The cistern was built in the 6th century and was capable of holding up to 10,000 tons of water.
Now, the cistern is a museum that houses sculptures and art exhibitions. Colorful lighting reflects beautifully on the water at the bottom of the reservoir below, where tourists can walk on a raised platform.
Hagia Sophia is another top sight in Istanbul. It was first built as a church in 306 CE and remained a church for over 1000 years.
When the Ottoman Empire took over Constantinople in 1453, it was converted into a mosque and was in use until 1934, when it became a museum. In 2016, the mosque was re-opened for prayers.
The mosque is breathtaking because of its size, intricate mosaic-lined walls, and high arches and domes.
Across the river, from Hagia Sophia (where I got the best fish sandwich and many flouffy bagels) you can walk up to the Galata Tower. The tower was built in the 14th century as a watchtower for the Genoese during their rule in Constantinople and remained the tallest building in the city until 1749.
However, I didn’t climb up the tower since the lineup was long (again I wouldn’t suggest a visit to Istanbul during Eid). I enjoyed the view of it from the bridge and the walk up towards it.
You can find a detailed list of Istanbul’s historical landmarks here.
#5 Princes' Islands Escapes from the City
I prefaced this blog by saying that this is the only city I’ve fallen in love with at first site. It seems counterintuitive to list an escape from the city as a reason to visit Istanbul. Give me a chance to explain.
If I were to live in Istanbul long-term, I’d find comfort in that a calm, green land is only a short ferry away should I need a break from my perpetual raw bagel eating.
From the Eminönü pier, you can tap your metro card and hop on a ferry to Büyükada, or the other Princes’ islands, in about an hour. Most people visit the islands on a day trip to Istanbul. I stayed three nights in Büyükada and would have been happy to stay longer.
What to see on Büyükada
There are several beaches to relax on, and the roads around the island are pleasant to walk or bicycle down since there are few cars.
On Büyükada, I tasted the best vine leaf dolma in my life. I’ve tried many dolmas since living in the Middle East, so this is a substantial feat.
You can get around the islands by bicycle and foot, stopping at beaches or piers to take in sea views accessible by trails (check out the Maps.me app or Google Maps for this).
I also loved the Prinkipo Greek Orphanage (only seen from the outside fence) and St George Church (Aya Yorgi) at the island’s peak for an outstanding view of the hills on Büyükada.
I also stopped and stayed in Heybeliada, but I enjoyed Büyükada more as there were more options for hotels, guesthouses, beaches, and the fact that I could buy the most delicious dolmas there.
Even though technically the islands are not part of the city itself, accessible nearby islands are another reason to visit Istanbul. After a few days on the islands, I was ready to explore again on the mainland.
#6 Reason to Visit Istanbul: Cool Markets and Bargain Shopping
The Grand Bazaar is a popular landmark in Istanbul and will likely be at the top of any tourist’s list of places to visit, but I found parts of the market were jam-packed with tourist traps rather than unique or thrift items.
Away from the Grand Bazaar are streets lined with shops selling many ‘master copies’ of brand names like Christian Dior, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, etc, for discounted prices. I’m not much into buying these branded purses or clothes, but I couldn’t resist the bargains for everything else.
I don’t ever set out to go shopping in a place while I’m traveling (unless I’ve broken something or need to replace clothes), but for the first time in my years of traveling, Istanbul sparked within me an urge to barter for summer dresses and sunglasses.
I love a good scarf as a multi-purpose travel item, since it’s perfect for shading from the sun, keeping warm, or covering up to enter religious sites. I bought a super soft pashmina for 60 TL (at the time I bought it was equivalent to about 2 USD).
I got these sunglasses for about 4 USD. I feel so trendy in them that I almost don’t recognize myself.
One of the coolest shopping experiences in Istanbul was down the road from Taksim Square. What we thought was just an alley of stands turned out to be a multi-level market selling second-hand and new clothes, and some for irresistible prices! Here’s the location if you’re interested.
Again, despite my aversion to shopping, I found myself trying on various cargo pants that I did not need. I didn’t buy anything here but we did spend a lot of time trying on strange things like these sunglasses.
Regardless of whether or not you end up purchasing anything, the excitement of thrift shopping is a fair reason to visit Istanbul.
#7 Experiencing a Blend of European and Asian Culture
My final reason to visit Istanbul is its unique culture. Istanbul has a “European” and an “Asian” side, but in either place, I feel you get a good idea of what it means to have a blend of cultures in one place.
Things like abundant street food, and chaotic underground markets make me feel like I’m traveling through an Asian city. Hopping onto a bus or a ferry at its exact scheduled time and paying by card gives me the feeling of touring through a modernized city in Europe.
Many people say they prefer one side of the city to the other, but I’d say that both are worthy of your exploration! I suggest you find out for yourself and decide on that.
If You Go to Turkey
If you travel to Turkey, there’s a good chance you’ll pass through the country’s largest city. I would suggest at least spending a day or two to enjoy some of what the city offers and exploring at least a few of the top sights in Istanbul.
I’m sure there are many other reasons to visit Istanbul. If you’ve visited, let me know your favorite things about the city in the comments!
Much love,
Dee 