Know Before You Go

If you’re from the U.S., you do need a visa to visit Turkey. It’s easy to get online, and I recommend iVisa. It should only take about 15-minutes and cost around $40 for up to 90 days. I know the same goes for the U.K, as Ben needed one too. You can check out your country and rates here.

You’ll also want travel insurance. I always recommend getting some sort of travel insurance for any trip simply because you never know, whether it’s eating the wrong thing or having your whole suitcase go missing. Plus, some of these activities are pretty adventurous. Of course, my top choice is World Nomads. You can easily and quickly get a quote right on their website.

Getting to Alanya

Getting around in Alanya

There are a ton of different options for getting from the airport to your hotel. You can see all the different choices on Viator.

Taxis are plenty and from my experience, fair. They all used the meter without us asking them to. It seems pretty standard. There were local buses, but I have no idea how all that works; I never took one but imagine you just hop on and pay the driver.

Map of the Things to Do in Alanya

20 Top Things to do in Alanya, Turkey

1. Alanya Castle

Bra is from here, for more on how I dress boho chic, check here

Jumpsuit is from TIA, see similar cut here, and see similar color here

You can’t miss the castle which towers over the whole town. Back in the Alexander the Great days, there were pirates all over this water, and they took refuge in the castle. The walls wrap around the edge of the city from the sea up to the top of the hill. At night, they light up and it’s a really beautiful scene. You can enter for just $4 and wander around. It’s worth it just for the views from the top of the castle looking down. PS: although it’s called the castle, it is ruins of a castle.

Check out tours with Alanya Castle here

2. Damlatas Cave

The cave is quite small so you can see this in about 15 minutes if you want to or you can stay longer and just hang out on the benches inside. When building the harbor in Alanya in 1948, they found this cave by accident. During WWII, German soldiers hid here and it’s said that their respiratory problems were healed by the air inside the cave. It’s about $2 to enter.

Check out tours with the Damlatas Caves here

3. Dockyard

The Alanya Dockyard is a ruin of, well, a dockyard! It is where they used to park the ships when they needed to have work done. How they got the ships into the dock is kind of crazy. There was a Roman crane that pulled the ships up, and it pulled by having men inside a wheel like hampsters walking to make it spin. If you buy this and the Red Tower together it’s just $1 for each.

See tours with the Alanya Dockyard here.

4. Red Tower

The Red Tower, as mentioned, is just $1 if you buy the ticket with the dockyard. Attractions are so affordable here! These are right next to each other. You can see from the Red Tower the wall that connects to the castle. Inside you walk up to the top and there are some little boat figurines but it’s mostly just to see the view.

See tours with the Red Tower here.

5. Cleopatra Beach

Kleopatra Beach is the popular strip of beach and there are multiple restaurants, conveniently named by number in order. We chilled out a couple times at #22 which was a great spot. Good food, cheap drinks, and nice hammocks.

Dress is from Sancerre, see similar here

The water here is beautiful, so even if you’re not the time to sit around on a beach, try to take some time to enjoy the Mediterranean Sea while you’re here! It was chilly in May.

See tours with Kleopatra Beach here.

6. Luxury All-inclusive hotel for only $80!

I think you’ll be shocked by how affordable hotels are here. We stayed at Sunprime C Lounge, the #2 hotel in Alanya on TripAdvisor, and possibly the most luxurious one in Alanya, for just $80/night – and it’s ALL-INCLUSIVE! Check here for rates and availability.

The buffet is breakfast, lunch, and dinner and has a variety of Turkish and International food. It has options for those on a diet as well and a coffee machine. Drinks are included and there is a restaurant near the pool that everyone who books get one free meal at. The pool is wonderful and there was an underground tunnel to the sea with lots of lounge beds on the beach and out on a jetty.

The rooms were huge and had the SOFTEST beds. Bottled water is included in the room rate and they even do towel animals every day on the beds. The views of the sea are perfect and we enjoyed sitting out on the huge balcony every chance we had.

7. Pirate Ship Cave Tour

Back in the day, pirates were a serious thing here. Now, there are pirate ships all over the sea that you can rent out and do tours out to the caves and rocks along the coast to go cliff jumping. They do meals on board or you can get a party boat. It’s about $20 per person, but ask around at a few places and if you have a group, you might get a good discount.

Check out the different tour options here

8. Lunch at Dimcayi Pinarbasi

Coming down from the canyons in the mountains is an ice cold river that flows through just outside of town. There are restaurants all along the river, but this one is the most famous.

This is the best meal I had in Alanya. WOW, seriously guys this is a do not miss! They will show up on Google maps. All these restaurants that are on the river are called “Dimcayi” so make sure to go to the right one. You’ll get loads of food for around $8-9.

9. Quad Tour in the Taurus Mountains

While the sea is enticing, do not forget about the mountains! The Taurus mountains are beautiful. You can do Jeep tours, but I am always going to choose quadding when given the choice. I used the company Alp Quad & Buggy. You can call them to book at 242 538 88 00 or you can email them at maliciftcioglu@hotmail.com. Viator also has a similar tour here.

While you do have to stay in a single file line they go fast and it does have a thrill factor. There are a couple jumps (we both got some air!) and some fun tight turns to go through. They take photos and videos and sell them to you after. If you want to save money bring your own glasses and bandana which truly are necessary because of the extreme amount of dirt and dust flying up from all the quads. The price is $38 per person or $50 if you put two people on one quad.

10. Paraglide

Years ago, I did hang gliding in Interlaken and loved it. In Goa, I always see the paragliders but wondered if it would have that same rush or be mellow like parasailing is. Alanya has parasailers everywhere, so I decided to give it a go. It IS thrilling! After you run off the cliff, you are lifted up into the clouds. It’s so cold up there and you can hardly see through them.

I went paragliding with the company Ulu Sky. You can find out more on their website or email them at infro@ulusky.com. They will do corkscrew spins if you ask them to and if weather permits. You can buy videos and photos they take with a GoPro. It’s $55 for a ride.

11. Sapadere Canyon Jeep Tour

My bag is from here!, for more on my favorite multipurpose bags check here

The canyon is beautiful and a great way to go up and explore the mountains. You can rent a Jeep for the day for $35 or you can take a Jeep Tour for about $25 per person. The walk through the canyon takes about 20 minutes then you reach the end where there is a waterfall. If you were interested in cycling up the mountain to here you can connect with Vela, a top cycling company.

12. Friday Market

I always like seeing local markets when I travel and in Alanya, the big market is on Fridays. If you have time go into the soap shop where they make the traditional soap you would find in a hammam. The shop is called Green Body and is just on the edge of the market (it’s on Google Maps).

13. Standup Paddleboard (SUP)

Due to choppy water and a looming storm, we did not get to go SUP and had to cancel. The SUP is done around the castle with some beautiful views. I asked the team to give me a couple photos to share since I had to cancel. They use a dome with GoPro to get some really cool shots and also offer SUP yoga. You can do SUP with Alanya Surf Team. It’s about $15 per person.

14. Jetski & Flyboard

Jet skiing is about $50 for an hour, but you can go for less time if you’d like. I was going to do this our last day before leaving for the airport but like the SUP we had to cancel due to weather. You can contact watersports-tr on their website.

15. Hamam and Spa

While in Turkey, you must try a hammam. They are traditional baths and I wrote about this in this article. Since they scrub you down and I didn’t want to lose my tan, I skipped it this time and had a massage instead. I had my massage at my hotel and it was great. It’s only $15 for hammam and about $35 for a massage. You’ll find signs for hammams everywhere in town.

If you’d prefer, you can book a hammam experience ahead of time on Viator.

16. Turkish Coffee & Tea

For just a buck you can have the strongest coffee ever. It’s very Turkish to stop and have a tea or coffee (with a cigarette) multiple times during the day from breakfast until bedtime. I had tried this years ago in Bosnia and unfortunately still find the coffee too strong for me. It’s a think bisque soupy texture with all the grounds in the tiny coffee cup. You have to at least try it! You’ll get a head rush for sure.

17. Sunset Over the Castle & Sea

The sunset changes place throughout the year. In the winter it sets over the sea but shifts to the side a bit in the summer and sets over the castle. It’s a really beautiful site. If you wanted to have a fancy dinner at sunset and see the castle you could go to Rihtim. It was really tasty! The lamb chops and calamari are a must.

18. Fresh Orange Juice

You cannot avoid oranges here. They are obsessed! You’ll see orange trees growing everywhere and next to the “ALANYA” sign a giant revolving orange. On the streets are orange shaped shacks selling fresh orange juice. It is so tasty you would think they added MSG to it. They definitely know how to grow oranges here! I got this cool glass of juice at Kleopatra 22.

19. Go-kart

I went go karting with Alanya Park. It’s in town, but you will need a taxi to reach here. You can get in touch by emailing them at gogart@hotmail.com. I don’t remember the price on this one but it must have been less than $5 if I had to guess. It was a small track but had so many turns inside that it was a blast and they do go really fast. I love go karting! Ben lapped me, though, so that sucked.

20. Eat a Truly Local Alanyan Meal

The last thing that I highly suggest is to have a true Alanya lunch. There are restaurants that have food pre-cooked for lunch and ready to be served, family style by local women. You can just point out what you like. Meals are around $3-5 depending if you want a meat dish or not. I loved this meal and it was really nice to be in the local scene.

The restaurant is called Feride Lenli Ev Yemekleri. Address: Sekerhane Mah Yunusgucu Sok. No, 14/A and you can call them at 0242 512 67 66.

 Like this post? Pin it for later!

I was a guest of Alanya tourism and Turkish Airlines but all opinions here are my own. I enjoyed Alanya and every activity on this list! Also this post includes affiliate links.

The post 20 Top Things to do in Alanya Turkey (With Prices & Video) first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post 20 Top Things to do in Alanya Turkey (With Prices & Video) appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

I had so much fun taking photos in Istanbul and you guys seemed to really like the on Instagram. I mentioned in my little guide to Istanbul that I couldn’t share them all in that post and would do another about my time with Walks of Turkey.

I took the 3 hour Best of Istanbul walking tour but wish I had done the 9 hour Istanbul in a Day tour because the rest of the things I didn’t make time to see.

What I did see were the Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Hippodrome, and Hagia Sofia which to be real, are kind of the big attractions. Of course there is SO much to see and do but these are kind of the if you go to Istanbul and don’t see these, you’re crazy type places.

Best of Istanbul (in photos)

I”ll start withe Blue Mosque!

From the Blue Mosque, you walk down the Hippodrome area to where the lawn meets the Hagia Sofia.

Now you’ll see the Hagia Sofia! Of course, you can go inside this as well!

Lastly, the Basilica Cistern

So, there you go! These were the main points that most tourists hit while in Istanbul. Of course, there are many more but these are simply the most stunning. If you want more details on how I spent my 10 days there (not just these 3 hours) then check out my mini-guide to Istanbul and my guide on the where to stay in Istanbul.

I also spent a lot of time in Istanbul shopping and wrote a little guide to shopping in the city. I hope you enjoyed these photos!

The post Best of Istanbul (in photos) first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post Best of Istanbul (in photos) appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

I can’t go to a new city without checking out the shopping! Once I found out I was going to Istanbul, I searched the top things to do there and shopping was way up there. I started searching for the best boutiques in Istanbul and to be honest, was coming up short. I wrote down about 10 that I wanted to check out and knew I’d want to look at the Grand Bazaar as well. 

The problem was, I wasn’t familiar with Istanbul and didn’t know which area all these shops were in. I figured once I got there I could dot them all out on a map and see which ones were near each other.

Once the World Tourism Forum started (the reason I first went to Istanbul) I was introduced to Eda, a young chic woman who runs Istanbulite a luxury tour company in Istanbul. She does bespoke tours in the city (even for celebs sometimes!) She asked if I was up for one and immediately I was like, “yes! a shopping tour! Not one for tourist stuff though… I want to go to the local trendy designers and see what Turkish girls are wearing”. I emailed her my list that night and she said she’d look into the ones I sent and combine with her favorites and make a plan. 

Contact Istanbulite: Eda Sokmen, +90 537 346 60 20 email eda@istanbulite.com. The tour we did was a customized version of ‘Shopping in Historical Bazaars of Istanbul’ tour.

BEST boutiques in Istanbul

The tour was absolutely fabulous; I just wish I had more time (but I showed up late, which is very unlike me!). Eda literally knew every shop owner, every salesperson, and just random people on the street. You could tell she knew the fashion scene in Istanbul like the back of her hand. We started with the boutique shops in Galata and Karakoy, then headed to Serdar Ekrem Road. Next, we went into the Grand Bazaar. I’ll also mention a couple shops I found on my own.

Janset Bilgin

Janset Bilgin Mueyyetzade Mah. Tatarbeyi Sk. No:34/B 34425 Galata. +90 212 243 12 24. Email jansetbilgin@hotmail.com

This little shop was full of cute things, like most Istanbul shops, which doesn’t make it easy on us! I nearly bought my mom a gold necklace (but got her a magnet instead… I feel like I really let her down there lol). The jewelry was all handmade by her and I was soon to find out it wasn’t unusual that they had a little cafe inside, as most shops either had a cafe or went next door to bring their customers tea.

Fashion at Eye

Fashion At Eye Fransiz Gecidi C9, Karakoy. +90 212 292 07 80. Email info@fashionateye.com

This is a shop I had requested after seeing the designers two-toned sunnies on Instgram. He also carried loads of varieties of vintage glasses. I had actually just bought Ben a pair of Raybans and was feeling like hmm, I can’t really afford to be buying another pair of glasses!

Kagithane Houseofpaper

Kagithane Houseofpaper Kemankes Caddesi, Fransiz is Gecidi No: 10 Karakoy 34425. +90 212 244 15 83.

Right next door to Fashion at Eye was this little paper shop. It wasn’t on our list, but I thought I might as well take a quick peak. Weirdly, I ended up buying wrapping paper with faces of cats all over it. I have no idea why… but I loved the cats in Istanbul, Ben loves our cat, and so I thought I could wrap his birthday Raybans up in it!

Aphorm

Aphorm Serder- Ekrem Cad. no. 33c Kuledibi 34421 beyoglu. +90 212 293 0217

There were a number of different designers inside this shop. It was mostly jewelry. Really really cool unique jewelry. I felt like very piece was like the when you see someone wearing a ring and you’re like Oh where did you get that?! here… I feel like every cute thing came from this shop lol.

Atelier 55

Serdar Ekrem Sk. Seraskerci Cikmazi No:55, Galata. +90 212 245 32 55. Email basak@atelier-55.com

Atelier was on my list, but it’s one Eda would have taken me to anyways because it’s quite well known and popular in town. They carry international brands like For Love and Lemons (love their stuff!), their own brand, and local designers. There were some funky things in there but nothing that really stood out to purchase. I think it was more dresses for partying and such than every day clothes.

Sofa Art & Antiques

Sofa Art & Antiques Serdar Ekrem Sokak 47, Galata. +90 212 292 39 77. Email dilek@kashifsofa.com

Right next door to Atelier is Sofa, which is the most famous art collector and dealer in Istanbul. They stock up the most famous hotels and houses in the country. People really come all the way here to look at her and her husbands collection as their main purpose. Some art was surprisingly affordable and the paintings of the city would make a great souvenir. The owner is a hoot!

Arzu Kaprol

Arzu Kaprol Galata/ Arzu Kaprol Gallery. Serdar Ekrem Sk. Komando Apt. No:22, Galata. +90 212 252 75 71. Email galata@arzukaprol.com

This is one of the top high end designers in Istanbul. It was very fancy. The dresses had exquisite thick beaded details, and the textiles were just stunning. Sadly, nothing I could afford. Eda said that if you go to a wedding in Istanbul, this is the type of dresses people will be wearing. I wasn’t too surprised remembering what the women had on at the Kempenski Gala just a few nights before (gowns and fur coats!).

Content Interiors

Content Suleyman Seba Cad. Acisu Sok. No: 1. 34357, Macka. Email info@content-istanbul.com

I found this shop randomly while walking near the W hotel. The things inside were really cute and if I had a house I would have definitely picked up a few things. It was also very pricey… but I found out everything in the boutiques here seemed to be!

IstanBuldan

Istanbulden Sair Nedim Cad. No: 27/B Besiktas- Istanbul +90 212 259 47 49

This little (and I mean little) shop was just outside the W hotel in a very fancy area of town. They carried the same type of robes and towels you’d see in the market. I would say if you’re in the area anyways, it is worth having a stop in. It’s not the best prices but if you don’t have time to go to the market it could be your only option.

There were a few more that Eda wanted to take me to, which leaves me something to check out next time I’m in Istanbul. They were:

Bahar Korçan

Serdar-ı Ekrem – Serasker Çıkmazı No.5

She’s known for quirky colorful clothing and has made a name for herself as a top designer.

Lunapark

Serdar-ı Ekrem no.17

A photo posted by Turkish very much (@lunaparkshop) on Feb 19, 2016 at 4:03am PST

Niquie Wedding

Maçka Talim Yeri Sok. 8/1 Maçka

A photo posted by NIQUIE (@niquieofficial) on Feb 16, 2016 at 9:43am PST

Their material is silk and they do non-princessy, romantic style wedding dresses and nightwear. You can check out their Instagram: @niquieofficial if you’re in the market for a wedding dress!

Building

Nişantaşı – Hacı Efendi Sokak

This shop is considered for the “creative crowd” and is full of local designers. You can check out their Facebook page to see photos.

Gizia Gate

Citys ve Abdi İpekçi

This is the sub-brand of Gizia. They showcase local designers’ luxurious outfits. “GIZIA GATE is a 1,500 square meter multibrand concept store opened by established Turkish fashion brand Gizia in September 2015. Curated under the creative direction of Ceyda Balaban, the store displays luxury design products offered to customers through a VIP service.” – The Istanbul Guide

Midnight Express

Küçük Bebek

A photo posted by Midnight Express (@midnightexpressistanbul) on Feb 13, 2016 at 5:36am PST

This is a popular place that’s been around a while. A luxury boutique with trendy clothing by Banu Bora and homewares and furniture by her husband. This is one Eda wanted to take me to.

Raisa Vanessa

Halil Paşa Yalısı Apt. No:3 D:3 Arnavutköy, 34345 Beşiktaş/İstanbul

Stage costumes and luxurious nightwear with intricate designs.

Zeynep Tosun

Gazeteciler Sitesi, Hare Sok No.22

A photo posted by Zeynep Tosun (@zeyneptosunofficial) on Feb 11, 2016 at 2:53am PST

Jennifers Hamam

Arasta Çarşısı 125 ve 135

This is really popular and used to be in Galata but has moved to the Old City.

Best Shops in the Grand Bazaar

Cashmere House by Ilyas Aksu 

If you want to get pashmina and cashmere shawls while here, this is the shop that Eda recommends as the best. Because there are probably a hundred similar ones in the market, it was really good to have Eda to help me find the best shops within the market who offer fair prices and quality goods.

Kopuk Pestemal Sabun

This is where I spent most my dough. I bought two simple Turkish towels, two fancier Turkish towels, and a robe made with their famous material. I almost bought the hamam soap too but I really don’t need soap and had to draw the line somewhere. The girl gave me great discounts. 

Abdulla

This is a higher quality towel and robe shop. It offers similar goods at a higher price- but I am assured by Eda that his stuff is worth it. It’s a higher quality of textile. Everything was very cute but not in my price range sadly.

Sisko Osman

This is the most famous Turkish carpet shop there is! If you want a good price from a nice man then come here. This guy was really patient with me while I picked out 4 vintage carpet turned pillow covers. He also gave me a 10 tl discount on each one.

Yazzma / Dhoku /Ethicon

If you’re into the whole Turkish carpet thing, but want something a little more modern… this is the place for you. It’s actually a couple shops just near each other and there are hundreds of incredible carpets (some that cost 10,000 USD!). They look like they’ve been painted on and are made from silk and velvet. Seriously amazing work being done!

Home Textile

I love this store! This is where you can buy ikat and velvet pillows. I mentioned I went to the exclusive Soho House one night… they decorated with this shops Ikat. I think Ibrahim Pasha Hotel, where I stayed, did too. I got a pillow case and two little clutches which I love so much! I gave one to a friend, and the other I use to keep my phone away from sand in my beach bag.

The Bazaar closed before we could visit all Eda’s favorites. There were a few more on the list like:

Nick’s Calligraphy

Calligraphy! lol

Muhlis Günbattı

Older textiles like ikat and suzani, vintage style.

Koç Deri

The best leather shop in town. I am SO bummed I missed this one! I will literally have to use my own guide next time I’m back in Istanbul to remember which shops I didn’t make it to. “The quality of their work has often been compared to labels like Dolce & Gabbana and Armani.” –Istanbul Guide

For More Istanbul Travel

• Where to Stay in Istanbul + How to Get Around
• Best of Istanbul in Photos
• My Little Guide to Istanbul

The post Best Boutiques in Istanbul first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post Best Boutiques in Istanbul appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

After the World Tourism Forum ended, I check out of the W in upscale Nisantasi and headed to the tourist side of town, Sultanahmet, and checked in at the Hotel Ibrahim Pasha (Ibrahim Pasha Hotel) for 4 nights. I wanted to see more of where to stay in Istanbul, and the Sultanahmet came up as a top neighborhood. I wanted to be near the action for convenience but didn’t want to hear it from my hotel room, or see it really.

Hotel Ibrahim Pasha had incredible reviews online and was credited by loads of big magazines and websites as being the “best boutique hotel in Istanbul”. I’m all about boutique hotels and booked it right away.

Unlike most modern hotels here I visited, this was was still very “Turkish” looking and had very traditional decor like Turkish rugs in the rooms, leather couches, velvet ikat Turkish pillows. The floors were heated and wooden and the lobby was full of huge wooden tables and walls lined with books. It was like someones home.

You could either take the old-fashioned elevator to your floor or use the spiral staircase. I expected my room to be kind of basic but cozy based on the look of the hotel, so was immensely surprised with the modern look of it. The first thing I noticed was a wall of glass between a raised bathtub and the bedroom. Very cool! There was a sitting area and a balcony which let amazing streams of light in what would have been an otherwise dark room. The living room had a spin-around TV so you can watch from the couch or bed, magazine, and cute Turkish decor.

The heated floors were great, but keep in mind in old buildings if your neighbors all have the heat cranked up it’s hard to make your room stay cool. If you call the desk they can override your thermostat though and turn on the A/C which I did at night. It was very cold in Istanbul so that seems strange, I know! The bathtub was such a welcome surprise because I pretty much froze each morning in my ripped jeans and leather jacket. I am loving having my Kindle and spent each evening reading [easyazon_link identifier=”0142180823″ locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves[/easyazon_link] from the tub with my favorite acoustic list playing on Spotify. I forgot my conditioner and lucked out at the W with a good brand, but thought like most boutique hotels they wouldn’t have great hair care… I was shocked they had Molton Brown! It’s one of my favorites and I didn’t have to go out to buy any conditioner.

There is no spa or restaurant, although they will order you in a kebab if you ask. There is a great breakfast spread though, which is a traditional savory Turkish breakfast. I loved taking my perfectly made cappuccino up to the rooftop to look at the Blue Mosque in the mornings, which was one of the best things about this hotel. There are no tourists out at 8 AM and it’s just silent! FYI, because you are right next to the mosque you will hear the call to prayer very loudly when it goes off, as do all the other hotels in Sultanahmet.

There were a lot of couples staying at the hotel and a couple business men. It’s definitely a hotel I would like to stay at again. It’s quite small, up a little alley, and only a 5 minute walk from the tram stop so you can be to the Grand Bazaar in 15 minutes. You can walk to the Hagia Sofia in 5! The staff was very quiet but friendly. The vibe was very peaceful, like staying at an Inn or Bed and Breakfast.

They offered a map of the area, made by them, which starred all their favorite restaurants and shops and gave tips on Istanbul in regards to transport and everything else. I highly recommend this hotel!

For pricing and booking click here!

The post Hotel Ibrahim Pasha, My Relaxing Hideout in Istanbul first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post Hotel Ibrahim Pasha, My Relaxing Hideout in Istanbul appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

My 10 days in Istanbul was such a welcomed break from the dusty heat in Goa. It’s not that I don’t love the Indian beach life, but sometimes that fresh cold European air is very welcome! I need more time in Istanbul, but as most backpackers go for only 2-5 days to each city, I think my 10 days could help you plan, so without further intro here is my little guide to Istanbul!

My Little Guide to Istanbul

The Basics of Istanbul

There are cats everywhere!

lol that’s the first thing to know. They are super cute, fluffy, and everyone feeds and play with them!

Getting to and from Istanbul

By air, there are two airports in the city and one is quite far out. Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST), on the European side of the city and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport on the Asian side of the city. The Bosphorus strait separates the two and traffic can be tough. Check out my guide on how to get around in Istanbul and which areas are best to stay in Istanbul (complete with a pinned map).

Most people would agree Ataturk is the best airport to fly in and out of. For airport information all over the world you can download Gate Guru (iPhone and Android) to see what stores and food at at your terminal. The other options are train and even boat!

Transportation In Istanbul

I wrote about this pretty heavily in my guide how to get around Istanbul, but as a recap you should download Uber (iPhone and Android). It was the bomb. It was way cheaper than taxis off the street. I also used a very reliable service called Blacklane twice for a very reliable service which was a little more pricey but I knew they weren’t going to cancel.

The tram and metro were a breeze to get around and the ferries easily take you from European side to Asian side. Water taxis are expensive though so be careful to avoid them!

If you want to get around outside Istanbul, maybe people hire cars to go to Cappadocia. 

SIM cards and WiFi in Istanbul

I picked up a SIM at the airport as I was told that it’s very hard to get a SIM card in the city. It was very expensive compared to what I’ve paid even in London at 95 Lira for 2 GB ($32). I went with Turkcell and although it was overpriced in my opinion, it was great coverage and even for an internet obsessed blogger, 2 GB was enough for my time there.

Another blogger Johnny used Alldaywifi and I connected to it occasionally while we were at the World Tourism Forum and out around town. It’s 35 dollars for 7 days but the 3g connection is unlimited! Which is why Johnny didn’t mind having every blogger there connect to his device lol! It connects up to 10 devices.

Where to Stay in Istanbul

I listed all my favorite hotels in this article on where to stay in Istanbul. I stayed at two, visited two for the spa, and one for lunch. I researched all of these before my trip and had a hard time deciding which ones to stay at. I ended up at the W Hotel and Hotel Ibrahim Pasha (hotel review here coming). I loved them both although they were complete opposites of one another. I cannot wait to go back and stay at the other hotels on the list.

I would say that my next top 3 on my wishlist would be: Sumahan on the Water on the Asian side where I had a fantastic lunch, The House Hotel Galatasaray famous for its views and unique rooms, and the Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah if you really want to splurge out Sultan style.

Spas in Istanbul

Before I go on with this I want to make a side mention, there is a Toni and Guy Salon in Istanbul if you need a good hair cut or color and have been traveling for ages! I tried to make time for it, but alas I was too busy.

Turkish Baths

Turkish baths are all the rage in Istanbul, and not just for tourism. They date back to the Victorian era and “hammams” were built next to mosques for a variety of reasons. Before you enter a mosque you should clean yourself and another reason was the money brought in from the hammam would help fund the mosque. Turkish women would go for a gossip session.

What makes Turkish baths unique is that they do not have pools or baths in them (like you’ll see in Roman baths or in Budapest). I visited the top hammam in Istanbul, the Kilic Ali Pasa Hamami known as being the most luxurious bath in Istanbul that locals will go to so get the real experience. You are brought into a domed room made entirely of marble. There are a few star and moon cut-outs in the ceiling letting in natural light and water drips down, as the whole place was built to mimic a steam room.

You really will get a bath, and yes everyone will be naked. It is not mixed gender! You will take a steam session by laying on a slab of marble in the middle until your bath. The bath is really cool. The lady will scrub you so hard that you can see dark skin coming off (there goes my tan!) and then you are completely covered in a pile of bubbles while you get bathed and have your hair washed.

I recommend bringing your own comb to brush your hair out in the hammam as once it’s wrapped up in a towel and you get to the dressing room, mine was nearly impossible to brush out.

The price at Kilic Ali Pasa Hamami is 170 tl ($57 USD) which is a steal considering it’s a luxury hamami. You would be bonkers to not try this while in Istanbul! You cannot take photos inside so I don’t have any to share but you can see them on their website.

Location of Kilic Ali Pasa Hamami: Kemankes Mahallesi, Hamam Sokak 1, Trophane. +90 212 393 80 10.

Other famous hamams include the oldest, Çemberlitaş Hamamı, and the one near the Hagia Sofia, Ayasofya Hurrem Sultan Hamam, among others.

Modern Spa in Istanbul

Although trying the traditional services was amazing, I also wanted to try out modern spa services in Turkey so when the most prestigious spa in Istanbul, the Raffles Hotel Spa, invited me to try their Heavenly treatment, I was there in a heartbeat. BONUS: get there early, because it is built right next to a really good mall, Zorlu.

My treatment was 2.5 hours long and I never wanted it to end. It started with choosing my oil fragrance, and a dry brush of my skin. It sounds strange, but in Turkey, they are really into getting all the old dead skin off and it’s really meant to keep you looking young. I have to admit it hurts a little; no pain, no gain. Next she rubbed on this warming lotion and I realized I had been laying on a space blanket… she wrapped me up like a burrito in saran wrap then put the heavy heated space blanket around me while I baked and lost some water weight! Next came the hour-long massage… and it ended with a facial! After all the sun and dirt my skin sees in Goa, I felt fresh as a daisy when I walked out of there. If you’re looking to splurge on this vacation, I highly recommend it. I have had so many spa treatments all over the world, and this was one of the best.

The Must Do Tours in Istanbul

Walks of Turkey

Walks of Turkey offers two tours that I think would be of interest to you: the “best of Istanbul” tour and the “Istanbul in a day” tour. I went for the best of tour which was 3 hours instead of 9. If I could do it again, I would go for the 9 hour tour because the additional places in that tour I sadly never ended up seeing.

When I travel Europe, as you’ll see in most of my European city posts, I love to take walking tours. You find out everything about the cities’ history that way that you would otherwise miss out on and it makes the places stick in your memory better. I still remember war stories that were told to me in Berlin in 2009!

This tour was no different. The guy was spectacular and explained everything you’d want to know while visiting the Hagia Sofia, Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, and underground Basilica Cistern (which are the biggest tourist attractions in Istanbul). I would say this tour is worth every penny. The meeting place was outside the Blue Mosque, which was all of a 30 second walk from my Hotel, Hotel Ibrahim Pasha.

Istanbul in a Day, 9 hour tour, is $105 USD and includes lunch.

Best of Istanbul, a 3 hour tour, is $52 USD. They both include entrance fees but you should tip.

I have so many incredible photos from this tour which isn’t surprising since these sites are some of the most beautiful in the world, so I am going to share them as a best of Istanbul photo gallery in an additional post soon enough!

Istanbulite

I am obsessed with my Istanbulite tour! I met Eda, the young hip owner, at the World Tourism Forum and she asked if I wanted to take a tour. She does “bespoke tours” on top of all the options she has on her website. I knew right away what we should do together- a shopping tour. I told her I had already done a tour of the city with Walks of Turkey and really just wanted to see the trendy local designers. I told her I had a list of them already with locations and Instagrams! She thought it was great and already offered a shopping tour of sorts, so added in the ones I wanted to see and wa-la I had a tour guide take me to see all the places I thought would take me days to see (all in about 6 hours).

The tour was fantastic, she knows everyone in town, and I would take another one of her tours in a heartbeat. This is honestly an incredible opportunity while you are in Turkey. Whenever TV shows film there (like Run-DMC’s show) they call on Eda. She’s the “it girl”! If you want to shop, she knows the places to get all the best things and as a local knows the best prices. You can reach her here: Eda Sokmen, +90 537 346 60 20 email eda@istanbulite.com. She has tours all over Turkey.

I have so much to share about the shopping tour, that I’m writing another post about it and will show you the shops we went to.

Authentic Turkey Tours

This is a great option if you’re reading this thinking “eh, I’m not really a tour person”. They will actually just take you out for a day on the town which can go in any direction you like- if you want to take photos, they will take you to the secret local spots (no joke, one was a stairwell of a falling apart old building with an old man taking money to let us pass… we ended up on a rooftop with the most beautiful view in the city).

I did a bespoke tour with Authentic Turkey Tours and just explained that I didn’t want to see tourist attractions and I didn’t want to shop because I had those covered, but I wanted to see how the locals lived; what did they do in the evenings, where were the cool pubs… Where did people get a drink after work? Where did they have dinner? And of course I wanted to get great photos to share with you guys! They company is run by expats and they know what other foreigners want to see.

They took me to Karaköy, which I guess I would describe as an area in Galata, or right outside it. It’s the new up and coming trendy place and all the 20 and 30 somethings were hanging out here. There was graffiti on the walls, amazing little boutique shops, and loads of pubs! They showed me the infamous (on Instagram) umbrella alley and we had a quick bite a few locals beers at Pim Karakoy. We went for a few more drinks at the exclusive Soho House (check that off the list!) where you can’t even take photos, because you know celebs could be there! The place used to be the American Embassy and it was just stunning. Then we had a late dinner at their favorite Turkish restaurant, Zubeyir Ocakbasi & Restaurant. Thank god for Uber, because after a few brews I cannot be asked to sort myself through public transportation! lol

Top Tourist Attractions in Istanbul

The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Sunken Cistern, Hippodrome, and Topkapı Palace are all right next to each other in Sultanahmet. You get off the tram at Sultanahmet stop and you cannot miss these places. If you want information, I recommend the tour I took but you can alternatively just wander around Them. You need to cover your head and pay entrance fees at most. 

For great views you’ll want to take a ferry ride at some point on the Bosphorus which takes you from Europe to Asia when you cross. You can also go up the Galata Tower and take photos of the city from an incredible view.

For shopping, most people make sure to hit up the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar. Personally, I hit up all the places listed except the Topkapi palace and the Spice Bazaar. It’s always good to leave a reason to go back! Of course there is much more to see and do, but these are the “don’t miss” attractions in Istanbul.

Food in Istanbul

I was pretty bad about remembering the names of places I ate! Turkish food is delicious and unless you are right next to a tourist attraction, you can expect great quality food at really fair prices. I do remember a couple:

• Pano (Hamalbasi Caddesi No: 12/B (Ingliliz Konsoloslugu Karsisi), Galatasaray-Beyoglu) which us bloggers went to as a group for a goodbye dinner with the team at Blogger Casting. It’s in an old Greek house with a wine cellar in the basement. It was very cool and the food was amazing. The meat was served on swords!

• Rumeli Cafe (Sultanahmet. +90 212 512 00 08) was recommended by my hotel as the best food in Sultanahmet, which is an area known for terrible food at high prices. It was pricey but everything in this area is pricey.
•  Tapasuma, the restaurant at the famous hotel Sumahan on the Water, was SO EFFING GOOD!!

• Kempenski Hotel we ate dinner here for our “Gala night” which I think was fancy Turkish food. I have to say, I prefer street food more!
• Populist a brand new brewery with the BEST burgers and pub snacks ever… I dream of this food (chicken fingers, sliders, chips and salsa, spinach cheese dip, etc).

Other famous restaurants I meant to check out but never had time are: Changa, Mikla, Kiyi, Park Samdan, and Ulus 29 views. I found these online before I went and they were on my list! 

I ate a lot on this trip and had photos on my phone of foods I wanted to try. I’m happy to say I checked most of them off my list and there was only one that I found questionable. Some famous Turkish dishes I tried are: menemen which I had for breakfast only once, and it reminds me of shakshuka, doner kebabs of course, iskender kebab which is similar but unwrapped on a plate with rice and sauce on top, pida (pide) which is kind of like a pizza, kofte which are their version of meatballs… amazeballs, especially icli kofte.

I had a huge dish of  manti which is their version of ravioli covered in yogurt. It was good but the yogurt was really cold and made the dish a little cold? Borek is fried cheese filled filo pastries… I am a big fan of all things fried, especially cheese. Meze is something everyone will like: dishes of dips like baba ganoush, hummus, olives, bread, and other bits which is served before a meal.

Baklalı Enginar is artichoke and I have to say, I had it twice and didn’t like it any better the second time. I picked up Dürüm for lunch a couple times which is a meat wrap with lots of veggies added inside.

I sort of skipped dessert, sorry to say! No turkish delight or Baklava for me. I also missed out on Balık Ekmek which are the famous fish sandwiches you pick up on the street. I get so much fish in Goa, I always went for the juicy lamb instead! I did try their raw fish Bonito which like most raw fish, I didn’t like.

You also can’t go there without trying their coffee and tea!

Shopping in Istanbul

If you’ve read this blog for a while, I’m sure you are not surprised that I did a lot of shopping. I researched ahead of time all the brands I wanted to see made my local designers as well as traditional Turkish shops and promptly followed them all on Instagram. I have an entire post coming dedicated to shopping in Istanbul!

The post My Little Guide to Istanbul first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post My Little Guide to Istanbul appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

I adore Istanbul! Ten days was a long time to explore, plus I researched a lot ahead of time. This article will show you where to stay in Istanbul and how to get around! Plus I added a map so you can see everything laid out.

Of course, 10 days isn’t enough to “know it all” so this is just what I can share, while I’m sure there are many more great areas! I will be following up with an article on my time in each of these places.

Where to Stay in Istanbul

What’s the Best Neighborhood to Stay Istanbul?

There are so many neighborhoods in the huge city and lots of options to choose from. I’ll give you a breakdown of the Istanbul neighborhoods so you can decide.

Beyoğlu

Beyoğlu is the European side of the river, on the Eastern side, and is known for being a trendy area full of cobbled roads, great cafes, pubs, and shopping, as well as boutique hotels.

Inside Beyoğlu are the popular areas of Taksim Square a popular tourist area, Pera (Greek neighborhood), Galata (shopping area, Galata tower, also touristy), Karakoy (very cool, trendy, young), and Istiklal street (shopping street, very busy and touristy). Also in this area is Serdar-ı Ekrem,  a very popular road for shopping. There are a lot of trendy boutiques. The Soho House is also in this district.

Try one of the Airbnbs in the neighborhood, like this boutique flat or this loft only 4 minutes to Taksim Square.

Şişli District and Beşiktaş

Further from the tourist attractions of Istanbul, you’ll see the Şişli District and Beşiktaş, which holds they very upscale Nişantaşı. It might look very far apart, but for example, I stayed at Hotel W in Nişantaşı and could walk to Taksim in about 30 minutes.

Book here

You could also try this feminine chic apartment or this stylish apartment.

You can go even further out. As you can see Hotel Raffles, who I visited for a spa treatment, is way out there. Next to Raffles is the newest mall in Istanbul, Zorlu Center, which is a high-end designer mall with delicious food court!

It took about 20 minutes via Uber to get from the Raffles back down near Galata to Kilic Ali Pasa Hamamni where I met a friend. Even further out in Şişli is Bebek, which is known for its pastel-colored Ottoman Empire restored homes.

Sultanahmet

On the other part of the European side is Sultanahmet, which is the #1 area for tourism in Istanbul as it holds the Hagia Sofia, Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, and the movie-famous Basilica Cistern. You can stay here, but it’s a little more expensive in this area for shopping and food. By a little, I mean instead of a 6 Lira ($2) kebab, you could spend 16 Lira ($5). It doesn’t seem like much but you are basically going to double your food and drink costs while here.

Sultanahmet is very close to the Grand Bazaar. I think it was two stops on the tram and about 10 minutes. If you stay in the Beyoğlu area and head to Sultanahmet, you’ll take the tram right through Galata and the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market, making it really easy to stop and see everything.

If you stay in Sultanahmet, try Hotel Sultanahmet, which has views of the mosque, or this chic, luxury flat.

Üsküdar

Your last place to consider is the Asian side of the strait. Personally, I wouldn’t do it your first couple days in Istanbul, but once you get yourself grounded, it’s really not a big deal to cross the river. I went to Sumahan on the Water for lunch via their free ferry and it was SO worth it. Üsküdar is the cool area over there which you can see the whole of if you zoom out. Check out here what tourist attractions you can see on the Asian side. This website is also helpful in showing the ferry schedules.

If you stay in Üsküdar, try this cool penthouse or this fully restored residence.

The Bosphorus Strait actually does divide Istanbul into two continents. Taking a ferry ride at sunset is a big tourist attraction and if you stay on the Asian side, you can spend a lot of time on the water anyways!

Conclusion

Overall it seems to me Sultanahmet is the place with all the tourist attractions, Beyoğlu comes in second with things to do and see, then the Asian side, then going way out toward Bebek if you have a lot of time!

I know this is a lot of information to take in- but use the map and the stars and get a feel of the area before you go. It’s so worth it. It will save you time once you’re there by planning ahead and you’ll be staying at a hotel in the area you choose!

Top Places to Stay in Istanbul By Area

I stayed in two hotels in Istanbul and visited two hotels for their spa, and one for dinner. A few are ones that were on my well-researched list of places I was considering staying. All of these are top-notch awesome choices, with stats showing they are some of the best hotels in Istanbul. I hope you have found out where to stay in Istanbul from this article.

Sultanahmet Hotels

• Hotel Ibrahim Pasha – I stayed 4 nights. It was THE BEST with morning coffee on the rooftop looking at the Blue Mosque. Full review to come. Book here

Beyoğlu Hotels

• The Stay Galata (Çukurcuma)- fantastic old house modernized, with a unique bathroom setup!
• Witt Istanbul Suites (Galata)- for modern apartment life
• Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah (Pera)- Jumeirah do the best hotels in the world, and this one is very famous.
• Gezi Hotel Bosphorus (Taksim)- STUNNING views from these rooms… just amazing!
• George’s Hotel Galata (Galata)- modernized in a classic building with stunning views
• Ravouna 1906 Suites (Taksim)- another one with a view

Top Hotels on Asian Side in Üsküdar

• Sumahan on the Water (Üsküdar)– The best hotel on this side of the river according to everyone I spoke to. I ate here and the food was insanely good.
• Ajia Hotel (Üsküdar)- also meant to be awesome & looks stunning

Top hotels in Şişli and Beşiktaş

• W Hotel (Nişantaşı)- Stayed here 3 nights. Amazing atmosphere, very hip, awesome area of town to walk around
• The Sofa (Nişantaşı)- very sleek and upscale, sort of business looking hotel

How to Get Around Istanbul

The Tram

The tram system in Istanbul is amazing. I am terrible about public transportation being from Ohio and even I found it so easy to navigate.

You buy a toke for 4 lira (a little over a dollar) from a machine near the stop and then use that token to get to the entrance of the tram. They come every few minutes and in my experiences were never overcrowded.

I loved taking the tram around and it saves so much time from being in traffic. Because transportation was a breeze, you should not be too stressed about where to stay in Istanbul because if you can get to any area of the city quite easily and affordably.

Taxis

Taxis in Istanbul have a bad reputation of ripping people off. If you take a taxi or “taksi” it’s best to make sure they use the meter then follow on your phone’s GPS to see if they are going the right way. There are many one-way roads in Istanbul and drivers often take their own way which is faster, so don’t necessarily assume you are being ripped off if they veer off course.

Uber

By far the easier way for me to get around was Uber. I re-downloaded the app when I arrived and found it much cheaper than taxi driver rates. I used it around 10 times and only spent $60 all together.

I did a test by asking a driver a rate for to my hotel and got him down on price to 25-30 Lira. I told him nevermind and took an Uber which cost me 15 Lira ($5 USD), so it seems Uber is the best. It is an easy app to use as well! Download Uber here for iPhone and Android.

Black Lane

The other car service I tried was Black Lane who is all over Europe. I had vouchers for them so booked two rides, one of which was to the airport when I left. They sent a driver in a suit and very fancy car to pick you up. It’s all very business class! They also sent emails saying who the driver would be and when he was outside the hotel. It’s more expensive than Uber, but you get a more luxurious experience and you know they’ll show up whereas sometimes your Uber driver gets lost or cancels your car request.

The Ferry

When you want to go to the other side of the river, the “Asian” side, you can use a ferry. Ferry services are in too many places to mention. Some hotels and restaurants offer a free ferry. There are also water taxis in Istanbul but they are very expensive.

The Metro

Another way to go across the river is under it via the metro. I did this to save time as the ferries stopped due to the wind and the traffic on the bridge above was a standstill. It took about 5 minutes and shot me out right at a tram stop on the other side.

Istanbul Map

Take a little look at this to familiarize yourself before you read up on which area you want to stay. To give you an idea on Uber ride costs: a ride from Nişantaşı to Sultanahmet cost 17 Lira ($6). So if you’re worried about getting around and being far from tourist attractions, keep in mind Uber is affordable and the trams are very affordable and easy.

I’ve pinned all the neighborhoods I mention below plus a couple of hotels just as reference points so you can get an idea of where to stay in Istanbul on your trip.

Read More Tips for Istanbul

• My little guide to Istanbul
• Where to shop in Istanbul
• Walking tour of Istanbul

Have you been to Istanbul? Do you have any tips on where to stay in Istanbul? Let me know!

Pin for later!

The post Where to Stay in Istanbul (& How to Get Around) first appeared on Hippie In Heels.

The post Where to Stay in Istanbul (& How to Get Around) appeared first on Hippie In Heels.