When planning your trip to Istanbul, you’ll undoubtedly spend a good chunk of your time visiting the sites in Sultanahmet. For those looking to explore Istanbul a little deeper, crossing the Golden Horn into the Beyoğlu district is an excellent choice, with Galata Tower and Taksim Square as key attractions and Istiklal offering an assortment of dining and nightlight options. … Read More
Eating Your Way Through Istanbul
I’ll be honest, our first two trips to Istanbul, we weren’t all that impressed with the cuisine we were eating. That probably has to do with the fact that we kept ordering the same dish, kebap, hoping it would be similar to the incredible Persian kebap Shane grew up with. But once I got ahold of Biber Dolması, I feel … Read More
Hotel Review: Conrad Istanbul
To start off our three week trip to the Holy Land, we spent a few days in one of our favorite cities in the world, Istanbul. Since we were booking this trip on credit card reward points, we got to splurge on a fantastic hotel with a stunning room, great views of the Bosphorus, and a breakfast buffet to write home … Read More
How We Took a Three-Week Trip to the Holy Land for Less Than $300 Per Person
We’ve just returned from three weeks in Turkey, Israel, and Jordan, and we will have lots of posts and pictures to share. But first we wanted to discuss our itinerary, and how we were able to go on a nearly $6,000 trip for less than $600. The short answer is, of course, credit card reward points. You are probably familiar … Read More
Packing List: Turkey in Summer
Turkey has varied climates and seasons, from hot coastal summers to snowy winters. Even in the summer when temperatures soar, it may be quite cool at night in some parts. So the key is to dress in layers! Below you’ll find our packing list for two weeks spent in Istanbul, Kusadasi, and Cappadocia during August/September. Iylana’s list for the ladies is first, … Read More
Hotel Review: Ares Hotel, Istanbul
Coming back from Egypt we spent a couple of nights in Istanbul to do some shopping before flying home. I wanted to take advantage of this quick return to get some time-lapse video of the Hagia Sophia, and the terrace of Ares Hotel has a wonderful view of the ancient cathedral. After researching extensively, I found Ares to have the best … Read More
Hotel Review: Divalis Hotel, Istanbul
Divalis Hotel is a small boutique property in the heart of the Sultanahmet district. Its combination of excellent location, great value, and friendly service led us to stay here not only on our first visit to Istanbul but our second one as well. Divalis Hotel | From $90/night. Location: Divalis is located adjacent to the Old City Wall which runs next … Read More
Minarets and Mosaics: A Guide to the Religious Sites of Istanbul
I always thought the Hagia Sophia dominated Istanbul’s skyline. But there is a mosque every direction you look, and when I first arrived in the city I wasn’t even sure which one was the Hagia Sophia! This post will help you differentiate the holy sites of Istanbul and better plan your own visit. All the mosques are free to visit as they … Read More
Shopping in Istanbul
From centuries-old bazaars to glitzy strip malls, shopping in Istanbul runs the gamut. Whether you’re looking to take back hand-made local crafts as souvenirs, or need some serious retail therapy, you’re bound to find plenty of places to lose yourself shopping in Istanbul. Bazaars Whether or not you actually plan on shopping at any of the bazaars in Istanbul, you … Read More
Istanbul Museum Guide
If you’re visiting Istanbul for a few days, you may want to invest in a museum pass. This pass is 85TL (about $30) and grants entry to the following museums and attractions for 120 hours from your first visit: Hagia Sophia Museum, Topkapı Palace Museum, Istanbul Archaeological Museums, Mosaic Museum, Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Museum for the History of Science and Technology in Islam, Chora Museum, Galata Mevlevi … Read More
- Page 1 of 2
- 1
- 2