9 days in Turkey | Travel Guide
Hello Turkey! It might be a little surprising to many of you, but this was my second visit to this country. The first one, in Dec 2014, was a very short 3 day trip where I didn’t step a foot outside Istanbul, despite really wanting to. So this cross-country road trip had been on the cards for quite a while. And it happened!
After procrastinating for a while now, I finally decided to pull together this Turkey holiday guide and help all of you who are planning to travel to Turkey and have been following up on the blog. You guys really inspire me to keep doing better and better! So here goes.
Visa and Flights
Since we were travelling in the peakiest of seasons – Eid holidays – we knew the tickets would be pricey. Also, Turkey doesn’t allow you to apply for a visa before 2 months of travelling, we didn’t have a USA visa in our passports to qualify for e-visa, and thanks to previous experiences, we obviously didn’t want to book everything and risk being rejected by the embassy, so waiting it out was the only option.
After getting our visas through VFS, which took about a week, I started a mad search for the cheapest flights and after a very detailed combination look-up, I got a good deal on Pegasus Airlines. Our onward journey started from Abu Dhabi to Istanbul (Sabiha Gocken) and the return flight was from Istanbul (Sabiha Gocken) to Dubai (Terminal 2).
Although the flight was bearable, on time and affordable, it left a bitter taste in my mouth after one of my rings was stolen from inside my checked-in baggage at the Istanbul airport during my return flight. This has made me wonder if worth choosing to fly Pegasus again. It’s obviously up to you, but based on a lot of messages I received from friends and followers, I would suggest picking Emirates or flydubai and avoiding any Turkish operated airlines.
Day 1 – Bursa
We arrived quite early in the morning, quickly got through the airport formalities, picked up a local sim card and decided to grab a quick bite at Simit Sarayi located on the airport before collecting our rented car.
Since we were travelling to different cities in Turkey, we rented a car well in advance for our out-of-Istanbul stays and made sure we choose something that has extensive or unlimited mileage allowance. We actually went through google maps and calculated a rough distance between our destinations before finalizing the car. We paid a deposit which was partially deducted towards the toll fees at the end. We also purchased a comprehensive insurance at the counter. Fortunately, the small Hyundai i20 hatchback car we had booked online wasn’t available at the rent-a-car garage on the day of collection, so they upgraded us to a bigger Hyundai Elantra sedan free of cost.
Driving time from Istanbul to Bursa: 90 to 120 mins depending on internal city traffic
This shot was taken at the Osmangazi Koprusu suspension bridge that connects Gezbe region near Istanbul with the road that leads to Bursa.
View this post on Instagram
Often referred to as the Green City, Bursa is a bustling city in Turkey that offers everything from markets to malls, and makes a great choice for a day trip from Istanbul or a one night stopover for a traveler’s break. Our stay in Bursa was at Lena Central Flats which was located very much in the center of the city.
Click here to read about Lena Central Flats
Once we were all freshened up, we slipped into our holiday clothes and started with a short walk around the area. Hungry as we were, our first stop was obviously going to be a restaurant. We walked for about 5 minutes before we zeroed in on one Gaga Doner and quickly cleaned up a plate of iskender kebap and tavuk doner at the restaurant. Then we walked a little into the markets, shopped a tiny bit, and went back to the hotel where our car was parked to drive over to our next touristy spot. Although we didn’t do a lot of sightseeing in Bursa, the main attraction we didn’t want to miss was the Bursa Teleferik.
View this post on Instagram
Ticket price: 95 TL per person
Parking: 7 TL for the first hour and 5 TL for every subsequent hours
Honestly at first I thought this would be a normal-ish cable car ride that takes you from point A to B, but it was only after hopping on, that I realized it was so much more. The lovely views it offered were unparalleled, and all that coupled with steep ups and downs made every moment breath-taking. The ride was scary at times, and absolutely freaky at some points too. We even experienced a sudden halt which lasted around 40 seconds, but felt like 40 mins (don’t worry, it’s normal). But the overall experience was nothing short of spectacular. There were two stops at different altitudes and both offered food and shopping options. But if you want every worth of your penny, then make sure you go all the way up to Uludag, even if you’re a teeny bit scared of heights. We obviously went all the way to the top, where it was much cooler, and spent some time there clicking pictures. This place is wonderful during winters, especially when it snows, as the entire area is covered in white and is great for skiing. So if you’re a winter sports person, then you should definitely look at visiting Bursa during those months.
Later that evening we walked around the narrow lanes of the market close to our hotel, did some shopping and chilled out at Heykel Cafe for a kofte dinner with live Turkish music.
View this post on Instagram
Day 2 – Pamukkale
Next morning started quite early and this was probably the first time we had opted for a hotel that didn’t serve breakfast. This meant we had to stop on the way for some morning grub, and we are beyond glad that we did, for this was the first time in my life that I was introduced to Kahvalti. The king of breakfasts, and quite common in Turkey, the traditional Kahvalti comes with a large platter or thaal full of breakfast favorites, along with some Turkish bread and Turkish tea. This one had a large plate of shakshouka in the center along with different cheese, jams, butter, honey, yogurt, Nutella, salad, olives and more. The only thing missing I suppose was the bal kaymak, which I did end up having on another day, but more on that later.
Driving time from Bursa to Pamukkale: 3 – 4 hours depending on internal city traffic
On our way to Pamukkale we were met with yet another crisis. The hotel we had booked suddenly had a plumbing disaster and our room was cancelled. Booking.com emailed me with another hotel option, and asked me to book that instead at the same price, but they were really naive in not knowing their own limitations – YOU CANNOT BOOK A HOTEL IN TURKEY ON BOOKING.COM FROM INSIDE TURKEY! I kept explaining them to book it on my behalf, but they were just adamant and rude about the whole process.
But well, to cut it short, we arrived at our hotel, and the kind owner of the place immediately escorted us to another hotel next door, accompanied us while we checked the room and made sure we had it booked. Lucky enough for us, this new hotel had only two rooms left, so we managed to settle down without any issues.
It all worked out in the end, but it left me really disappointed with the attitude and customer service of booking.com and their sheer negligence. My entire drive had turned into a stressful fiasco because of their behavior towards handling this situation, plus we reached later than expected because we kept stopping mid-way to try and get through to booking without any network disruption, and if it weren’t for the owner of the hotel, we would have been stranded.
Click here to read about Alida Hotel
After our shower, we stepped outside the hotel and walked into the first restaurant we saw at the corner – Cadde Grill House. We sat on the terrace that offered a gorgeous view of the Pamukkale and I indulged in my favorite Adana Kebab which was much needed before the excursion we were about to embark on.
A good option for a one night stay, everything in the touristy town of Pamukkale – hotels, restaurants and shops – are located at a stone’s throw from the travertines making it very convenient and time saving. Most of the hotels also offer a spectacular view of the hills and feature their own swimming pools to beat the heat.
View this post on Instagram
Ticket price: 60 TL per person for travertines
72 TL per person with entry to the museum
Once we arrived at the entrance of Pamukkale hills, we spent almost 3 hours trekking up the hill and back. The only attraction in this area, the travertines are quite a trek uphill and downhill both, filled with tons of big and small hot springs along the way. While we didn’t want to, these pools are absolutely fine to swim in and a lot of tourists either carry their swimwear, or simply wear it from their hotel with a cover up to take a dip in these pools, or in the Cleopatra pool at the top.
View this post on Instagram
We reached at the top around sunset, and it took approximately 90 minutes to go up with multiple photo stops on the way. We knew we didn’t have much space to visit the museum before its closing time so we simply bought a basic ticket to the travertines, but you can choose to purchase a ticket that includes entry to the museum as well. When we started our downhill trek, it was already beginning to turn dark, and the water was much cooler. Also this second half was much quicker!
View this post on Instagram
Pamukkale also offers other activities like hot air balloons, paragliding and city tours, but we kept it simple and stuck to the travertines visit. Moreover, the hot air balloon adventure was reserved for a different place, but more on that in a bit.
For the remaining part of the evening, we walked around the narrow lanes of the town, bought a few souvenirs, and settled down in Kayas Restaurant for dinner and drinks. The sparkly drink was a real show stopper!
The next morning we woke up early again, for we had a long drive ahead of us. We indulged in a homely breakfast at the hotel’s in-house restaurant paired with early morning views of Pamukkale hills. Soon after we packed up, checked out and were on our way to Cappadocia.
Halfway on our drive, we stopped at Dempet Demireller restaurant located at a filling station for lunch and this one hour was the happiest moment of my trip. I met a small kitten at the restaurant and spent almost every second of my lunch playing with her, feeding her with my hand, holding her, cuddling her, and showering her with loads of hugs and kisses. She was super friendly and fit right in my palms. Towards the end of our lunch, I knew a heartbreak lay ahead, and I just did not want to let her go. But I gave her more goodbye kisses and then we set off towards Cappadocia.
Utterly unique, Cappadocia is known for its geographical anomaly of caves, which are often referred to as fairy chimneys due to their structure. Offering picturesque views from almost every part of the city, the hotels here all carved from caves and are located along the steep and narrow lanes of Goreme town. Among other things, one of the best part about Kapadokya is the climate. Warm sunny days and cooler nights makes it just right for an easy enjoyable trip.
View this post on Instagram
We had chosen Lunar Cappadocia Hotel for our stay and we were smitten at first sight. The rooms are such a mélange of medieval and modern architecture, it feels like you’re living the caveman life in luxury.
Click here to read about Lunar Cappadocia Hotel
The city center in Goreme has a myriad of shopping and dining options to choose from, and a host of tour agencies that offer various excursions and activities. Cappadocia is however known for its hot air balloon rides and people come down from all over the world to take part in the flight experience and enjoy all those breathtaking views of the cave city at sunrise.
After checking in and doing our usual bit, we walked down the tiny stone path alleys toward the center of Goreme and parked ourselves at Cappadocia Pide House for dinner. We tried a local Turkish drink along with a couple of Pide and a chicken casserole. In all honesty, the pide were okay, but the casserole was very basic. I would have liked something more flavorful than that. Now I am not usually a kunafa person, but the fact that I was in Turkey made me crave it a lot. So after dinner we walked over to another place – Old Cappadocia Restaurant – and enjoyed a hot kunefe along with some Turkish tea. Best combination ever!
Next morning, we had a filling breakfast at the hotel’s on-site restaurant and then prepped up for a long adventure filled Kapadokya Green Tour.
The tour company had booked the excursion for about 15 people including us, and everyone was picked up from their hotels and dropped back at the end of the day.
Tour details:
Price: 40 € per person including lunch
Duration: Full day tour – starts at 9.30 am and ends at 6 pm
How to get there: All agencies offer pick up and drop
F&B: Set menu lunch is included and offers options to suit different dietary preferences. Drinks are charged extra
We booked our tour through the hotel from Hereke Travels and our lovely guide Alif was the perfect host throughout the day
Tour agencies in Cappadocia offer many excursions, the most prominent ones being Red, Blue and Green tours. All of these cover different spots in the city with very little overlapping. We chose the Green Tour based on the fact that it was the most recommended one on Trip Advisor. Everything green, what I loved the most about this tour was that it was a great experience for someone like me who loves a mix of history, archaeology, nature and adventure.
Our tour started with a visit to the Kaymakli underground cities. We learned a great deal about marvelously carved out caves, the times in which people lived in these cities, the tools they used and their everyday lives under the grounds. These cities, which consisted of different floors, were a means of hiding out from the enemies during olden days. The narrow and low tunnels under the caves were quite an experience to run through. The taller ones among us had to duck their way through the floors and keep their head low even while we stood in some of the rooms. We got a good look at their kitchen, the air circulation vent and prayer rooms as well as burial spaces. It was great to see how they managed to build such proficient architecture in the ancient days which was still intact in the modern times of today. Surprisingly there were many many underground cities in Kapadokya but very few remain, and even lesser are open to the public and tourists.
Our next stop was for a photo op at the Narligol Lake. This lake which fills up a crater is known for its distinct blue and green colors brought out by the presence of minerals like calcium and sulphur.
Tired and exhausted, we arrived at the hotel, rested a bit and set out to try out the famous pottery kebabs for dinner at Fatboys Cafe. While the presentation of these kebabs was quite a watch, I didn’t like the flavor too much, and that made me realize that Turkish dishes made with meat are much better than chicken. After that we decided to try and stick to meat wherever possible to make the most out of this cuisine. Just like the previous night, after our dinner, we hopped to the restaurant inside Hidden Cave Hotel for dessert and tried some Baklava with orange juice and a side of fries (because I was still hungry).
View this post on Instagram
Day 5 – Hot Air Balloon Cappadocia
This was the day we had all been waiting for. The one experience that motivated me to take a second trip to the country, an 8 hour drive to the city, and a sleepless night hoping the ride doesn’t get canceled. The much acclaimed hot air balloon flight is a must do in Cappadocia. The price is slightly steep (~200 €), but it’s a once in a lifetime experience, so a little splurge is alright. Moreover, watching those hundreds of colorful balloons go up in the air at the brink of sunrise is totally worth every cent you spend.
Tour details:
Price: 200€ per person. Although price varies depending on the agency you book with and the type of flight you choose – economy (more people) or premium (more privacy)
Time: During August, you can expect to leave between 4-5 am and you’ll be back by 7.30 – 8 am
How to get there: All agencies offer pick up and drop
F&B: a light breakfast is available before the flight and a glass of celebratory fruit champagne is offered once you’ve landed
TIP: BOOK IN ADVANCE. If your stay in Cappadocia is more than a day, book the flight on day 1 so you have a backup in case of cancellation
Fear Factor: if you’re scared of heights, just keep looking straight instead of looking down. I was fearing more for my phone than myself!
We booked our flight through the hotel
View this post on Instagram
We woke up in the wee hours of the morning awaiting the pick up from the tour agency which our hotel manager had arranged for us. We were taken to a far off rocky area which was dotted with a number of gigantic balloons, all starting to get filled up with hot air. Thanks to the dark sky, there were times we didn’t know if the huge thing beside us was a balloon or a mountain!
Watching the balloon fill up was an experience in itself. Paired with hot beverages and Turkish breads on a chilly morning, we watched the giant balloon inflate and rise, all set to take off. For the price we paid, our balloon was a shared experience, featuring 3 sections in the basket for the passengers and 1 in the middle for the pilots. The balloon basket was populated with about 20 people + 2 pilots. We had to jump over the basket to get in and out – there was no door, for obvious safety reasons. We were paired up with a couple from our hotel in the same section of the basket, and they turned out to be good company throughout the flight.
The actual flight was something that I cannot really express in words. As soon as the balloon took off towards the dark blue sky, it was surreal, and I thought to myself, wow, this is actually happening! When I was lifted off the ground, it felt strange for a bit, after all we were just floating in the sky. It also felt scary, especially when I looked down. And eventually it started to feel liberating, being able to fly in the sky without anything holding me back.
Taking pictures was a tad bit challenging, depending on where you are placed in the basket (each section has 5-6 people), and there’s also the fear of your phone slipping from your hand while you’re trying to chase that perfect selfie, bidding goodbye to all your memories. I did not use my phone at all, for any pictures or videos for I was tooooo scared I’ll drop it. So all my pictures from inside the balloon were taken on my DSLR which was hung around my neck, with the exception of a few on my friend’s XR.
The entire flight – from watching the sunrise in the distance to the colorful sky dotted with hundreds of balloons, and of course, a bird’s eye view of the fairy chimneys of Goreme – was breathtaking to say the least. Initially I was really worked up with the stress of getting good pictures, but soon I realized what mattered most is living the experience in that moment, right there. And for the rest of my flight, I took a few pics here and there, but concentrated first on the flight.
View this post on Instagram
The landing was even more exciting than the take-off. We were all instructed to squat holding the basket and wait for the touchdown. It wasn’t too bumpy at first, but soon after, as the crew began loading the basket on to the back of a pick-up, it started to tilt terribly and we almost thought we were going to topple sideways with the passengers from the other section falling over us. Thankfully, the crew members are highly experienced in such things and no mishap happened.
After the flight, as they deflated the balloon in the background, we celebrated with a sparkling fruit drink and all of us were given a certificate of completion with our names on it. A must, must do in Cappadocia, this was one experience on my bucket list which I was glad I could capture both, in my memories and on my camera.
I must admit, my biggest worry was the fact that the balloon flight might get canceled, because contrary to my belief that this only happens during storms and severe weather conditions, any fluctuation in the wind my lead to a canceled flight. Usually they try and accommodate you the next morning, but we had booked our flight on our last day in Cappadocia so this was our only chance. Thankfully, all went well.
View this post on Instagram
Of course, the hot air balloon wasn’t the only thing planned for that day. In fact, the first half of the day was so packed, we hardly had any time to breathe. Once we got back to the hotel, we went straight for breakfast (we had to wait a bit since we got back quite early), and got to enjoy the company of a furry feline along with our meal. Incidentally, and thanks to geo-tagging, I had received a message on Instagram from a tour company on my first day in Cappadocia, asking me if I was interested in horse riding. Well, we didn’t have time for that, but I asked them if they could arrange a customized 2 hour jeep safari for us instead so we could check off one more thing before leaving. Yes, it was slightly expensive than the normal jeep tour, but we had the entire car to ourselves, and the experience was tailor made to suit our timings, so it worked fine.
View this post on Instagram
Tour details:
Price: 100 € per jeep
Duration: Usually it’s a full or half day tour, but we asked for a quick 2 hour excursion
How to get there: All agencies offer pick up and drop
F&B: Not included in our tour
We booked our tour on Instagram from Cappadocia Horse Ranch
The jeep safari had its own set of scary ups and downs, much like a desert safari (except this was on a rocky road), and the driver was quite experienced with the thrills. Very exhilarating, this safari was great for discovering those hidden gems of Cappadocia that were located off road amidst mountains and valleys. We stopped at 4 locations that doubled up as viewing points and great photo spots, plus we also learned a little something about each place from our driver. The first one was Pancarlik Valley where we visited a church, followed by Love Valley that offered views of the canyon. Then we stopped at Ortahisar Kalesi where we saw the city and valley from a high point and took pictures inside heart cutouts. And finally we went to Red Rose Valley which combined great views of the rose colored canyons along with peace and serenity. My only regret was we couldn’t experience the entire full or half day tour, and despite how much I wanted to, we couldn’t fit in the ATV bike ride either.
Driving time from Cappadocia to Istanbul: 8 – 9 hours depending on internal city traffic + lunch stops
On our way to Istanbul, we decided to take a small detour and stop for lunch at Ankara. This industrial city was rather quiet, but from what we saw, the buildings and the city plan looked beautiful. Once within the outskirts of the city, we looked for food options and noticed a MADO. I have never been to a MADO before, so as soon as I saw it, I just knew we had to go there. Little did I know I would be visiting a lot more of this restaurant in Istanbul. During our lunch at MADO, we had Yogurt Soslu Kofte and Cok Malzemeli Pizza, along with a matcha latte and orange juice. The food was really good, and all the ingredients tasted like they had been brought from farm to table.
Finally at around 9.30 pm, we got to our hotel – Bucoleon by Cheers and were offered a friendly welcome. The guys at Bucoleon own 4 different properties on the lane, some of which are suites and some hostels, catering to a variety of tourists.
Click here to read about Bucoleon by Cheers
After washing off all the tiredness from the long long day, we decided to have a quiet dinner at the Cheers Bar. I was finally reunited with Adana Kebabs. But exhausted as we were, the next thing for us was sleep. And after all we had a lot of planning to do the next day.
Day 6 – Istanbul Walking Tour I
Our first morning in Istanbul started with a breakfast at our hotel’s on-site restaurant Cheers. Being the Dubaiites that we are, and slightly used to elaborate breakfasts, this one was rather humble, but fresh and filling nonetheless. The best part about the breakfast though was a friendly cat who accompanied us throughout the meal. Soon after the breakfast we spoke to the hotel staff and got our tours and activities for the next couple of days booked in, so we could schedule the rest of our sightseeing around it.
On the first day, we decided to explore the old town of Sultanahmet on foot. The most touristy area, this place is decked with a number of attractions right from the famous Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia museum to the Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar and more. Having so many places scattered all around us got a little tedious, and to manage this, we worked out the best way was to mark every place we wanted to visit on Google Maps. This way we could see what’s closest and what farthest, and then it was easy to chalk out a route and follow that, while also making sure we eat and shop on our way.
What’s fascinating about the place is that you’ll find elements of both Christianity and Islam depicted side by side throughout. Every brick, every pillar, every marble inside Hagia Sophia tells a story and there’s so much history hidden behind everything, it’ll take hours to learn it all.
View this post on Instagram
Since this is such a must visit in Istanbul, ticket lines during the day are exceptionally long. If you don’t mind paying the premium, a fast track ticket would work best. But honestly, if you like learning about history, I highly recommend you go with a tour guide to this one, or pick up one of those audio guides available at the entrance.
Ticket price: 72 TL per person for a normal ticket | 105 TL per person for a fast track ticket
We were waiting in the fast track line when a guide approached us and offered a no-waiting entry along with a guided tour for 115 TL per person, so we opted for that
After this grand monument, it was time to visit the Little Hagia Sophia mosque, which is a smaller representation of the actual Hagia Sophia. Having a similar history to the latter, Little Hagia Sophia was built as a church in 536 AD, and converted to a mosque in 1497. However, unlike the Aya Sofia which is now a museum, the Little Hagia Sophia still remains a mosque to this date.
Entry: Free
Visitors need to remove footwear before entering the mosque, and women need to cover their heads and legs if their clothes are short. Scarves are available at the entrance of the mosque
View this post on Instagram
We decided to move the visit to Blue Mosque to a different day, and headed towards the Basilica Cistern. Faced with yet another long queue, we looked out for a fast track counter but there was none. Luckily we met another tour guide here, who offered to take us in without any waiting for a slightly premium price.
Once inside, we were explained the history of the cistern as a means of storing huge amounts of water that would suffice the city for years in the event of any external attack or war. One of the most interesting and photo-worthy part about the cistern was the presence of Medusa heads that were used as an extension to the pillars. In fact, all of the pillars have been brought in from various temples around the world, one of the most prominent pillars being the Pagan eye pillar. While we were at the Medusa heads, we noticed the water around it doubled up as a wishing well, and we saw a lot of people dropping coins in it, so we did our bit too. The pathways inside the cistern can be slightly slippery due to the presence of water, so watch your step.
Ticket price: 20 TL per person for a normal ticket
After Basilica Cistern, our tour guide decided to take us to his brother’s store to look at some of the jewelry and leather products they made. Honestly, they were all quite expensive, so we took a quick glance and excused ourselves.
Once back at the hotel, we decided to take a quick nap before leaving for the next half of our walking tour, this time wearing more forgiving shoes of course. Our first stop was the Obelisk of Theodosius. This ancient Egyptian obelisk is said to have origins in the era of Pharaoh Thutmose III, and was re-erected by the Roman emperor Theodosius I in 4th century AD, in the Hippodrome area of Istanbul. This Hippodrome area is today known as At Meydani or Sultanahmet Meydani.
After a lot of uphill walking, we arrived at a street filled with colorful cafes, and since we were quite parched with all the walking, we sat down at one Maya’s Corner Cafe for some fresh orange juice. The OJ in Istanbul, and even the rest of Turkey is brilliant. The oranges have the perfect color and perfect taste, and the juice is really cheap. So remember to drink lots of it.
But one thing we learned out of that evening was to always check the timings of attractions, and arrive at least an hour before closing time. Moreover stay informed about the operations of businesses and tourist spots during public holidays, or you’ll end up feeling sad like us.
We went back to the hotel late that night and slept in fully prepared to wake up early for our full day trip next morning.
Day 7 – Princes’ Islands
Next day we woke up early and were picked up from our hotel for a tour of the Princes’ Islands. A group of 7 islands, these are gorgeously green pieces of land, located off the coast of Istanbul in the Marmara Sea. A great option for day trips, especially during summer, these islands are extremely tourist friendly, and perfect for beach goers and seafood lovers.
Our Princes Islands Excursion booked through a tour agency took us hopping on ferry around 3 different islands – Kinaliada, Buyukada and Heybeliada.
Kinaliada Island was our first stop. It is known for its beaches and you’ll see a number of sun loungers lined at the coast. After a quick walk around the island, and lots of photo stops, we picked up a cup of steamed corn from the port and went back to our boat for a buffet lunch, included in the trip.
Our second stop – Buyukada Island – was the more commercial one, and the only island which can be accessed through a public ferry from Istanbul (for accessing the other islands, you need a private boat or a tour). Thanks to this, we found a lot of tourists frequenting the island and plenty of food and shopping options. We did some shopping here, especially shoes, and indulged in a large ice cream cone that the island is famous for. Don’t mistaken these as the Turkish ones where the guy tricks you a little before giving you the cone. These were normal waffle cones but came with a variety of fruit, nut and milk based ice cream flavors.
The final leg of our tour was Heybeliada Island. The greenest one among the three, it’s on this island that we got the chance to ride in a horse carriage (also included as a part of the tour). We took a tour of the island in a horse drawn carriage and stopped at a view point for pictures, before finally heading back to the ferry, and ultimately to the city of Istanbul.
While we were sailing towards the first island, we were invited to take some pictures wearing traditional Turkish clothes. While I was pretty sure the prices for these pictures will be obnoxiously high, they were really affordable, and in addition to selected hard copies, we got all the pictures as a soft copy too.
Tour details:
Price: 60 € per person including lunch and horse carriage ride
Duration: Full day tour – starts at 7.30 am and ends at 6.30 pm
How to get there: Most tour agencies offer pick up and drop
F&B: Buffet lunch is included and offers options to suit different dietary preferences. Drinks are charged extra
We booked our tour through the hotel
So at the end of the day, I hopped around 3 different Islands of the Princes looking for Prince Charming, but ended up on a horse-led chariot, falling in love with all the natural beauty there.
View this post on Instagram
Although there wasn’t much to walk, the Princes’ Island Tour was a tab bit tiring, but thankfully we had just the right thing planned for the evening – Turkish Hammam!
Click here to read about my Turkish Hammam experience
On the way back from the hamami to the hotel, we stopped by at Cozy Pub & Restaurant for a Chicken Doner dinner with drinks. And then we walked into the dreamiest, sweetest, (literally) and most comforting place of all in Istanbul – Hafiz Mustafa. We had received a few recommendations to try the milk cake at this place and we are so so so glad we did. That night, we ordered a raspberry milk cake and chocolate kunefe for dessert with some Turkish tea on the side. The milk cake was simply WOW. I have never, I repeat never, had such a smooth, velvety, creamy milk cake in my life. We licked the plate clean in seconds. The kunefe was really good too. The combination of chocolate and cheese took this traditional Turkish sweet to a whole new level. Hafiz Mustafa is very famous for its variety of baklava and they are perfect to take back home. They box it up really well, which makes it a great gifting option too. You can also buy Turkish delights from here, but I found they had lesser variety so I decided to pick that from some other place.
This day was filled with more history. To be honest, it was not entirely a walking tour (we cabbed it a couple of times), but the places we visited required a lot of walking. Since the breakfast at our hotel was pretty basic, and Turkey is known for its rich cuisine, we decided we will try skip the hotel and try something more authentic for breakfast on our last two days.
We started our morning with cabbing it across the bridge and going up the Galata Tower. The queue was already starting to build up when we arrived, but since we were quite early, we managed to get in quick. Our tickets included the visit to the top viewing gallery at Galata Tower and a 4D fly ride after. The lift took us to the top floor of Galata, after which we climbed another flight of stairs to get to the gallery. I instantly remembered this spot from the movie Dil Dhadakne Do. Offering spectacular 360-degree views of Istanbul, this was a great photo stop, except the passage is too narrow for multiple people to pass, and if you’re hoping for that perfect shot, you might have to wait a long time for people to clear out, or end up annoying a lot of others waiting in line.
View this post on Instagram
Ticket price: 35 TL per person
There is a restaurant at the top of the tower, if you’re hungry, but we already had plans for breakfast so we decided to give that a miss. On our way down, we used the stairs – which reminded me of the underground caves in Kapadokya. The narrow stairs almost gave those medieval feels, and took us to the flight experience. This 4D ride was a rather amateur one, given we have done so many such 5D and 7D rides before, but the idea behind it was fair – taking the viewers on an aerial tour of Istanbul.
After a couple of photos at the square, we hailed another cab and drove down to Dolmabahce Palace. Gorgeous isn’t the word to describe the luxurious facade and interior of this palace. Large halls, exquisite furnishings and intricate detailing are just few of the things that make this palatial marvel worth a visit. Bathed in antiquities and golden tones, every room in this palace tells a story, if you’re willing to listen. Unfortunately, photography wasn’t allowed inside, so we simply had to capture everything in our minds. But since we obviously couldn’t leave the palace without some more pictures, we spent some time near the riverside that borders the palace and clicked away till my appetite was satisfied.
Ticket price: 60 TL per person
Ticket price: 72 TL per person
Once we were out of the Topkapi Palace, we hydrated ourselves with some fresh orange juice from a street side vendor and walked back to the hotel to freshen up and get dressed for our last night in Istanbul.
View this post on Instagram
We had saved the last evening for a dinner cruise on the Bosphorus. Although most people will recommend you take both a day cruise and an evening cruise to fully experience this epic waterway, we thought since we’ve already sailed our sunlit bit during our trip to Princes’ Islands, a dinner cruise on the Bosphorus should suffice.
We had opted for the dinner and drinks package, and just like all other tours, this one provided pick and drop too, If you’re getting there by yourself, stay mindful of the traffic and make sure you get there earlier so you don’t end up missing the cruise.
As soon as we set foot on board, we were led to our dinner table and asked for our meat preferences for the mains. I had honestly never seen such an assembly line of dinner service on a cruise before. When we arrived, we were surprised to see some of the guests had already finished their dinner, while a few others were yet to arrive. As we waited for our meal, a photographer offered to click some pictures and we were obviously happy to comply. Just like Princes’ Islands, the photos here as well were really affordable, and we got a hard copy + soft copy of every photo we clicked.
Tour details:
Price: 70 € per person including dinner and drinks
Duration: Evening tour – pick up around 7.30 pm and drop off around 12.30 am (Cruise timings from 9 pm to 12 am)
How to get there: Most tour agencies offer pick up and drop
F&B: Set menu dinner and unlimited drinks included
We booked our tour through the hotel
Day 9 – Roller coaster day in Istanbul
Sometimes a little peace and calm is all you need to call it a day. Our last day in Istanbul, contrastingly, was quite a whirlwind. We woke up with a plan to conquer lots of different places on our last day, but alas, nature had other plans.
Since we still had two things pending on our list – Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar, we decided to pack our bags, leave it at the hotel lobby and set on foot for the quick stops, obviously with some last day celebratory breakfast on the way.
We started with the day with a spiritual visit to Sultanahmet mosque. Also known as Blue Mosque, due to the color of the tiles that cover the walls inside the mosque, this historical structure is used as a place of worship until this day.
Entry: Free
Visitors need to remove footwear before entering the mosque, and women need to cover their heads and legs if their clothes are short. Scarves are available at the entrance of the mosque. Disposable bags for shoes are given to everyone at the entrance.
Visiting hours depend on prayer timings and the mosque is closed for tourists during the prayers.
The entrance and visitor movement was perfectly managed and despite seeming long, the queue moved really quickly and we soon found ourselves inside this grand mosque. Once inside, we realized how magnanimous this place of worship was from within, and it felt so peaceful too. After spending a few moments in the silence and serenity of the mosque, we decided to leave and start walking towards our next stop.
We jumped from one place to another to take cover – first an ATM machine, then a street side cafe, then outside a store – but were overpowered by the heavy showers. Feeling defeated (and hungry), we decided to run over to MADO, which was just a few meters away, and sought some respite from the rain while also feeding our empty tummies.
We still had Grand Bazaar on our list – our final stop for the day – and we kept hoping for the rains to stop so we could cover that 15 minute walk without any hindrance, but by the time the rain got lighter, it was too late. We were completely soaked from head to toe – sneakers even – and all we wanted was to change and somehow get to the airport.
To compensate for our loss, we decided to drown our disappointment in one last plate of that indulgent milk cake from Hafiz Mustafa, and then we headed back to the hotel, hoping they would make an exception and help us dry off before our flight back home.
Finally it was time to head out to the airport, and the hotel staff advised us to leave asap as the rain would have managed to block the traffic movement. They called us a cab, and once we set out, we soon realized that the traffic on the regular route would definitely make us miss our flight. We asked the cabbie to take the tunnel instead (which has an additional toll), and use the quickest route possible to get us to Sabiha Gocken Airport.
Again I’m thankful it was just one ring and not the entire pouch, but point is, this one single day made me realize so much about holidays in a frame by frame montage. While we wanted everything to go perfectly, some plans got canceled and things almost went terribly wrong. But each little event left a mark on our minds.
And in my case, well, although I missed out on one of the most important places on my list – The Grand Bazaar – luckily I’ve captured it in my memories from my 2014 visit (but have very few bad photos from then). Moreover, this roller coaster of a day has made me want to make a quick stopover in Istanbul in the future just to visit the Grand Bazaar, and at the same time, be extra cautious about the airline I fly and where I place my valuables.
View this post on Instagram
Turkish Food
When it comes to food, Turkish cuisine never disappoints. A haven for meat lovers and sweet tooth alike, Turkey offers such a diverse variety of food, you’re sure to find something you love.
During my 9 day trip to Turkey spread across 27 meals and over 70 different dishes, there are probably just 2 things I didn’t quite like.
View this post on Instagram
Although I cannot add everything in this carousel, here are the top 10 food items I loved in Turkey:
-
- Chocolate Kunefe with Turkish Tea @hafizmustafa1864 Sultanahmet, Istanbul
-
- Sini Kahvalti breakfast platter @madoglobal Istiklal Street, Istanbul
-
- Pistachio Baklava Slice with Turkish Milk Dondurma (ice cream) & Raspberry Milk Cake @hafizmustafa1864 Sultanahmet, Istanbul
-
- Tavuk Doner & Meat Doner at Gaga Doner, Bursa
-
- Kahvalti – traditional breakfast at a highway restaurant on the way from Bursa to Pamukkale
-
- Adana Kebab @caddegrillhouse Pamukkale
-
- Chicken & Meat Kofte at a highway restaurant on the way from Pamukkale to Cappadocia
-
- Yogurt Soslu Kofte & Cok Malzemeli Pizza @madoglobal Yasemkent, Ankara
-
- Orange juice @mayascorner.cafe Fatih, Istanbul
-
- Raspberry Milk Cake with Turkish Tea @hafizmustafa1864 Sultanahmet, Istanbul
View this post on Instagram
