Istanbul
East Meets West.
We visited Istanbul in February and stayed in the Old City close to the key landmarks. We did not expect snow and, yes, Istanbul was bitingly cold. Istanbul offers a unique blend of history and culture , as it straddles two continents, Europe and Asia.
We stayed in the old city which placed us close to the main landmarks. Once we understood the metro and tram network we were able to move between locations with ease using the IstanbulKart, topped up.
Wherever we travelled everyone was helpful towards us. Despite how some streets are in poor condition, and how it tends to be a male-oriented culture, we felt safe. The fusion of culture is evident in how Islam co-exists within a Western economy. That said, cash was preferred to card, especially if it was US dollars or the Euro.
We stayed at the Guler Palace Hotel which was a clean, friendly value for money hotel with air conditioning and free wi-fi, close to public transport and restaurants.
Our hotel’s breakfast was healthy with salad, a boiled egg, and a black tea. Wherever we went, there was always bread and tea on offer, sometimes to get us to buy stuff.
During the day we found some charming cafes near the Grand bazaar where bought our baklava.
Once the weather warmed up we caught a pleasure cruise on the Bosphorus offering stunning views of Old Istanbul’s skyline, where East meets West. This includes historic palaces and mansions. A special mention for the City’s cats who are treated like a protected species. They are well fed, and loved.
Read on for part two visiting the key landmarks of Istanbul in the Old City.
[…] Read on for part one of the Istanbul City break on the Old City. […]