10 HOURS IN ISTANBUL

Alex Mahone
Aug 8, 2017 · 5 min read

If you are one of those who, when traveling, likes to take every minute to know something new, then this post is for you. In one of my many visits to Istanbul, I had a ten-hour connection in the city. As with everyone, just thinking about staying at the airport for ten long hours made me shiver. So I decided to take a walk through the city, passing through the main sights, and of course, without losing the time of the next flight!

On that occasion, by getting cheap flights to Istanbul we landed there from Tbilisi at 7:15 am and by 9 am I was already arriving in the main tourist area of the city — going from Istanbul airport to the city by public transport is very easy. I got off the tram in Beyazit, near the Grand Bazaar. First I passed the square at the entrance of the University of Istanbul with its imposing gate. After taking some photos and remembering moments that I spent here in this place on other occasions, I went for a walk in the bazaar.

This gigantic maze of shops is still one of the largest markets in the world, behind the bazaar in Tehran. Here, as in other bazaars in the Middle East, you can find fancy decorations, knickknacks, and branded clothing — even though sellers swear by their grandmother’s soul that everything is original!

After “playing” with bargaining with the vendors of some shops, I went to the main street and followed the tracks of the streetcar until the square of Sultana met. This is the place to visit in Istanbul. It is here that you can find the famous Sultana met Mosque, better known as the Blue Mosque, due to the color of the tiles that decorate its interior. Although I had been there before, I could not fail to make another visit. The mosque is open to non-Muslim visitors, and at the entrance everyone should take off their shoes and place them on the available shelves. Women have to cover their heads with a handkerchief or a veil, which will be offered to them at the entrance. It is not allowed to enter this or any other mosque wearing shorts or skirts above the knee.

The interior of the Blue Mosque is decorated with more than 20,000 tiles, some with parts of the Koran, the holy book of Islam, and others with designs of flowers and fruits.

In the same square Sultana met, and facing the mosque, is the imposing Haya Sofia, built in the sixth century as a church, later transformed into a mosque, and today a beautiful museum. The admission price is 25 Turkish Lira (€ 9) and the visit is worth at least one hour. You can also buy tickets with the right to “stick the queue” and guide. This time, however, I just enjoyed the beautiful facade and continued my walk.

I continued following the tram tracks, which although this section is a bit longer, is the easiest way to get there. I arrived on the banks of the Bosporus, on the Galata Bridge. Whichever side of the bridge you are on, the views here are, without any exaggeration, breathtaking.

When I got to the bridge, I stopped to enjoy the view. At the same time he listened to the car horns, the whistle of ferries on the Bosporus, hawkers offering their wares, the noise of the streetcar and gulls. All the sounds and noises mingled, creating a real urban chaos. But with that view, everything was pleasant!

Soon a thin rain began to fall, the perfect excuse for me to stop for a snack. I went to one of the restaurant boats nearby, ate a kebab, and went across the bridge, very slowly. The Galata Bridge is another great place to watch people in their day-to-day lives. Here you will always see fishermen in their hundreds, of all ages, fishing and selling their fish right there.

After crossing the bridge, I reached the ascent that takes us to the Galata Tower. At 67 meters high and built by the Genoese in the 14th century, the tower is another famous postcard of Istanbul. Although it has not done so, it is possible to climb the tower, from where you have a great view of the city. From there, I went up to Galip Dede Caddesi (street, pronounced “ tedessi”).

On this street, you might even think you’re in Italy. This is because of the architecture and also because of the modern-retro style. Galip Dede has a number of short-selling shops, many selling musical instruments, vintage posters, art objects and pseudo-art. While in the Grand Bazaar you have to work hard on the bargain, here the prices are already on the label and the cost-benefit is higher. This is undoubtedly one of my favorite streets in the city.

I continued walking until I arrived at Istiklal Caddesi, a pedestrian street and main commercial vein of the city. The interesting thing is that, although it is continuation of the previous street, it is like getting in another world. Here you will find several shopping malls, department stores, tourist-goods, a myriad of cafes and designer clothing stores.

By this time it was two o’clock in the afternoon and I stopped for a cappuccino in one of the many cafes, enjoying the sun that had reappeared and watching the crowd of workers, executives, tourists, and the beautiful historic cable car.

When I finished my coffee, I continued walking to the end of the street, reaching Taksim Square, the main square in the modern part of Istanbul, and the largest transport hub. Here I finished my walk through the city, and took the funicular, the first of the three means of transport to return to Ataturk airport.

If you make a connection in the city using Sabiha Gokcen airport, this is where you will arrive first. So you can make the reverse of mine, ending your walk in Beyazit.

After all the walking, I still got to the airport with plenty of time. It was a long drive, but it was worth it. In my opinion, any tour of Istanbul is worth it. But if your connection is less than six hours, it is not worth leaving the airport.

And you, have you ever been to Istanbul? Book your flights to Istanbul! And Tell what did you like the most?