Yesterday, I found out, Travel+Leisure conducts its annual World’s Best Awards 2016 and makes Istanbul to The 9th Best City in Europe. The world loves Istanbul as much as I do. So what the city's best that makes it to the 9th?
The first time I visited in 2015, I fell in love-a home for 13
million of people, traveler, and world’s culture. Istanbul is at once historic
and fresh, east and west, definitely for phenomenal European getaway. You meet
the vibrant spirit and contemporary atmosphere of the new city, and see how the
old city reflects cultural influences of the many empires that once ruled
here-from historical sites as majestic as many people tell, sophisticated hotels to
lay your head, street foods to fatten your belly, and the real Eastern hospitality
for you to experience.
Travel
1. Istanbul Ataturk Airport is the main international airport in Istanbul. It served more than 60 millions passengers in 2015, making it the 11th busiest airport in the world in terms of total passengers traffic as well as the 10th busiest in the world in terms of international passenger traffic.
2. It takes 3 hours and 50 minutes from London to Istanbul, 12 hours and 15 minutes from Singapore and from Istanbul you can connect onto a shorter flight to the domestic airports such as Ankara, Antalya, or Izmir.
3. You can always get cheap flight between the major cities in Turkey-all major cities in Turkey is fully covered by low-cost airlines offering cheap flight, but you can also get bus or a coach. It allows you to see the beautiful countryside while you travel through, you also save a night's accommodation if you take overnight bus or coach. I took an overnight bus from Istanbul to Kapadokya, while the seats were clean and comfortable enough, there was also a plug to charge my iphone's battery as well as they provided some snacks (and drinks). Turkish buses and airlines compete each other to get passenger, therefore they offer more or less facilities are somewhat basic.
4. Indonesian Citizens needs e-Visa that's valid for 180 days and staying less than 30 days, of course 25 USD for visa fee.
5. Istanbul has 2 major public transportation, bus and metro. Make sure you take a metro map on your first arrival in airport.
Money
1. Turkish Lira (TL) is the Currency in Turkey, 10 TL equals to 44K IDR (Around). ATM's are easy to find, but it charges whenever you do a transaction.
2. You can eat on a budget easily in Turkey. Street foods cost around 5 to 10 TL such as fish sandwich, kebab or any other Turkish street food, meanwhile you need to pay around 20 - 30 TL for more or less menu in a restaurant. There are so many variations of street food, you can choose to fit your budget.
3. Enjoy bazaars and make sure you haggle! for the best bargains. There are Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar and any other street bazaars across Istanbul.
4. Bottled water costs around 2-3 TL, you can find it in any other small shop across the street.
Presidential Suite Terrace at Park Hyatt Istanbul
STAY
1. Wake up in a spacious room with a view
of one of the most exciting waterways in the world-the marvelous Bosphorus at
Çiragan Palace Hotel Kempinski
2. Sleep in a building that used to be
served as prison at the Four Seasons Sultanahmet
3. Stay in privacy at Park Hyatt Istanbul – Macka Palas, located in Istanbul’s fashionable Nisantasi
4. Come home to elegance at Pera Palace
with its oriental public spaces and Nouveau Art details
5. Feel stylish at Sofa Hotel, a
minimalistic-chic boutique hotel located among the city’s designer shops in
Nisantasi area
6. Sip champagne at the flashy Sardinian
disco, among the ever-sprouting skyscrapers of Levent at the Istanbul Edition
7. Feel an experience of Alice in
wonderland at the House Hotel Nisantasi in a prime location in Istanbul’s most
elegant enclave
Sunset Grill & Bar
EAT+DRINK
1. Enjoy
a cup of Turkish tea with the view of Istanbul on the rooftop terrace at Aga
Kapisi, a cozy Turkish café and located to the impressive Süleymaniye Mosque
2. Changa is using ingredients from across
the globe to produce fresh intepretations of classic Turkish dishes
3. Enjoy a wide-ranging menu of Turkish
and international cuisine with a strong Japanese influence on a hilltop with
spectacular views at the Sunset Grill & Bar
4. Come home to elegant dining and chic
entertainment at Nupera for a rustic menu including smoked turkey and entrecote
5. Taste a delicious fish sandwich at
Eminonu
Istiklal Street
SHOP
1. Check out new designer’s
collection from casual to special-occasion and world-known luxury brands at the
Nisantasi neighborhood and Istinye Park
2. Browse everything from
party dresses to chic denim with famous Turkish and international brands lining
the route at Istiklal Street-the most famous and busy street in the city, visited by 3 million people in a single day
over the course of weekends
3. Shop for Turkish gift and
enjoy the heritage of Istanbul at Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar and Galata Tower
area
4. Pop into Nuruosmaniye Street, one of the main street leading to Grand Bazaar and also known for its
fine carpets, jewellery and antiques
DO
1. Tour
the Sultanahmet district, the heart of historic old Istanbul-Topkapī Palace,
Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, and much more.
2. Take
a prime Istanbul views at Galata Tower
3. Catch
stunning views of Bosphorus at Bebek-a very trendy village among the Bosphorus
and known for its nice seaside promenade
4. Go
clubbing along the Bosphorus, where the city’s most flamboyant nightclubs live
including Reina, Sortie and Supperclub
5. Hang out on the street with your drink at Istiklal Street, an ulta-hip neighborhood in
recent years, dotted with some fabulous rooftop bars
6. Take
a bath at the Süleymaniye Hamam, a historic Turkish bath located near the Suleymaniye
mosque, known for its reputation for being clean and non-sketchy
7. Sitting
along the Bosphorus near the Kabatas tram stop at the Dolmabahçe Place’s jaw
8. Get
away to Princes Islands with Victorian-era towns and bring a picnic
9. Take
a Bosphorus Cruise for a pefect 75 minutes, half-day or full-day Istanbul
excursion, up toward the Black Sea to the north of Istanbul
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Istanbul is my dream country. i cannot wait to go here. nice photography and cool tips.
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Istanbul is one of my favourite cities in the world. It is so beautiful and you have really nice photos of the city!
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This is the best guide I've read about Istanbul and the pictures are so inviting. Great post.
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WOnderful city!
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What a beautiful pictures! Id love to travel to Istanbul someday :)
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Let me know on my blog, and ill follow you back ;)
Greetings,
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