Having visited Istanbul at least 5 times in the past 3 years, I’ve come to really appreciate it as a thriving multi-cultural vacation destination. Istanbul is made up of 2 ‘sides’. There’s the ‘Asian side’ and the ‘European side’, separated by the Bosphorus waterway. The historical center of Istanbul is in the European side, while about 1/3 of it’s population lives on the Asian side.
What I really like about Istanbul is how the varied religious cultures all live together peacefully. Although the majority of the population is Muslim, one is not burdened to adhere to their customs when visiting. For those interested, there are bars with full alcohol licenses, restaurants that serve pork and just about anything else you would want to see or do.
Although I personally find the Grand Bazaar to be overwhelming, I still consider it worth a visit. Just be prepared for hawkers at nearly every shop to offer you ‘a special price just for you my friend’.
I enjoy walking the many streets and alleys looking for a small cafe where I can enjoy a nice hot tea. The Turkish pizza or Lahmucan as it’s called, is worth a try, but I still prefer traditional style. The food in Turkey is fantastic. I almost always have dinner at Dogan Restoran situated in along the banks of the Bosphorus inside the fish and vegetable market. There you can select your fresh seafood right off the ice and have it prepared to suit your taste. I personally like the sea bream baked under a bed of salt. The waiter will show you a wide selection of sides to choose from as well.
On my most recent visit, I stayed at the new Renaissance Istanbul Bosphorus Hotel. It’s only been open for 3 months and while it’s an excellent choice, if you would like to be within walking distance of the city center, I suggest a small boutique hotel in Sultanahmet area. If cost is not a factor, try the Four Seasons Sultanahmet. From Sultanahmet you can easily walk to sights like the Sultanahmet Mosque (also called the Blue Mosque), Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar.
This time I wanted to get outside Istanbul for a round of golf, so I booked a taxi and drove about 30 minutes outside the city to Kemer Golf & Country Club (www.kg-cc.com). It’s amazing how different it looked only 28 kilometers away from the hotel. It was a great round of golf, albeit one of the most difficult courses I’ve played in years.
What can I say about Istanbul or Turkey in general? Well it’s not well known amongst Westerners, but it should be considered as your next vacation. I love everything about it and I’m sure you will too. Have fun and safe travels!
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