Istanbul, the vibrant and historic city straddling two continents, is a captivating destination where East meets West in a harmonious blend of cultures, traditions, and architectural wonders. As you embark on a journey through this ancient metropolis, you’ll be greeted by the majestic skyline adorned with domes and minarets, the bustling bazaars filled with the scent of exotic spices, and the serene beauty of the Bosphorus strait. Whether you’re savoring delectable Turkish cuisine, exploring centuries-old landmarks, or simply soaking in the city’s dynamic energy, Istanbul offers a rich tapestry of sights, sounds, and experiences that will leave you spellbound.
I arrived into the Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, which is on the Asian side of Istanbul. As an aside, the story of the namesake of the airport is pretty cool. Sabiha Gokcen was the first Turkish female fighter pilot. Neat! Anyways, I arrived into the airport and got through customs fairly easily. The outside of the SAW Airport was absolute pandemonium though! Fortunately, I had scheduled a car to take me to my flat in the Beyoglu area, and also back to the airport on my return trip.
This turned out to be a good idea as many travelers report being scammed by taxi drivers.
This is the company that I used: https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g293974-d21389191-Sabiha_Airport_Private_Transfer-Istanbul.html.
Once I arrived at my AirBnB flat, I was floored by the glorious view over the Bosphorus River.
When I travel, I typically stay at AirBnB’s with halfway decent kitchens so that I can cook for myself to save some cash on the trip. If you’re coming to Istanbul with USD or GBP, you’re going to be very pleased! I found that for $10-$15 USD, you can find yourself an epic meal. I ended up having breakfast at a cafe near the flat and ate street food for dinner! Delicious! Turkish coffee is a must have as well.
If you have a sweet tooth, I recommend Hafiz Mustafa. They have various locations throughout the city. I recommend all variations of their baklava. My biggest regret from this trip was not trebling the boxes of baklava I brought home.
I found the Turkish people kind and welcoming. Most people that I spoke with could speak English and those that couldn’t were still very happy to help. A little pointing and smiling got me a long way. Also, Istanbul is probably the cleanest city I have ever seen. There is quite literally zero rubbish on the ground and there are no bins along the way either.
