What's up guys, we're here in Istanbul, Turkey
and this video we're going to show you the best things to do in this beautiful city.
It's really a bustling place. There's 15 million people that live here
so there's a ton of stuff to do, a ton of history. And make sure you watch till the end of the video
because we're going to give you some of our top tips so you can have the best trip possible.
Because we've been scammed a few times so we don't want that to happen to you. So enjoy the video!
We are Zac and Ine. Full-time digital nomads from the United States and Belgium.
We met while studying abroad in 2018 and have been traveling the world together ever since.
We're here to inspire your next adventure, whether it's hiking in the Canadian Rockies,
a road trip through the US, or backpacking across Africa. On our channel you'll find
unfiltered videos of hiking guides and the best things to do in destinations around the world.
Istanbul is located in the northwest of Turkey and is the largest city in the country.
It's not the capital city of Turkey, but it's known as the country's economic,
cultural, and historical center. Formerly known as Constantinople, this city goes back thousands of
years. There are many historical places to visit as well as lots of interesting art, architecture,
culinary heritage, and a vibrant local atmosphere. Try to stay at least three to five days in
this bustling city to be able to enjoy the many things to do. We'll now dive into our top seven.
At number seven we have the vibrant Istiklal Street. Istiklal is the busiest street in the
city, comparable to Oxford Street in London or Fifth Avenue in New York City. This long
stretch has a wide range of shops, cafés, restaurants, bars, movie theaters, and much more.
We found ourselves shopping and eating various times here. It's the perfect place to try the
local cuisine such as Kumpir, döner, or a traditional Turkish breakfast.
So this is one of my favorite foods in Turkey and you should definitely try it.
It's a "kumpir". It's like a baked potato basically with cheese, butter,
and like all kinds of toppings. It's pretty good.
So one of the best things to do in Istanbul in Turkey in general is to take an authentic Turkish
bath. So we're about to go into the one behind us and it was established in the 1400s and then
remade in the 1800s. The Turkish bath or Hamam is an important part of Turkish culture. It's a type
of steam bath and also a place of public bathing. It was used primarily within the
Ottoman Empire, starting in the 16th century. Its purpose is to purify your body and mind.
This is achieved by first sweating and rinsing your body in a steam room for about 30 minutes.
Then, getting a full body scrub to remove the dead skin. We weren't allowed to film
the scrubbing part but trust us it can be rough. However, it's an essential part of the experience.
The fifth best thing to do in Istanbul is to walk the Galata Bridge.
The bridge spans the Golden Horn and stretches between modern Istanbul on the north
and the Old Town of Istanbul on the south. The golden horn is actually an inlet of the
Bosphorus river, which forms the border between the European and Asian continent.
It was once an important trading post and still has a lot going on today. From the fishermen
lined up on the bridge to the bustling Eminönü Square, and the new mosque on the south end.
Topkapi Palace is an architectural highlight in Istanbul and therefore ranks at number four.
Home to the Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years,
this palace was the heart of the vast Ottoman Empire. The palace has hundreds of rooms
decorated with beautiful tiles, gold, and other decorations. Some rooms are more like a museum
where you can find artillery from the Ottoman Empire. It's easy to spend a few hours here.
So here at Topkapi Palace, we just explored the whole area
and it's better to come later in the day. Because like a lot of places in Istanbul,
this place is really busy, really packed, a lot of people. But if you come kind of around
four or five you can enjoy for a couple hours and then catch a sunset. And it's really nice.
The third best thing to do in Istanbul is to visit the Galata Tower. This historic tower
sits high above the city and is visible from all angles. It was once used as a watchtower,
but is now converted into a museum. Most people come here to enjoy the best views in Istanbul,
but we also really enjoyed learning about its importance and use over time.
It's possible to get an audio guide at the entrance, which we also highly recommend.
The runner-up activity is to shop at the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar.
Both are located in the old town of Istanbul, near the Galata Bridge.
The Spice Bazaar is a giant covered market with a majority of shops selling food. You can find
traditional Turkish delights and other delicacies here, such as olives, figs, and pistachios.
The market is also close to the Grand Bazaar, which is the true center of hustle and bustle.
With over 4,000 shops, the Grand Bazaar has a little bit of everything.
From ceramics to gold, leather, and Turkish carpets.
Indulge yourself in the local culture but don't forget to bargain if you want to buy something.
The best thing to do in Istanbul is to visit the Hagia Sophia, located in the heart of
Sultanamet. This is one of the most important and impressive buildings ever constructed. It was once
the greatest church in Christendom and during the Ottoman Empire was converted into a mosque.
Later on, it was established as a museum. But in 2020, it reverted back to a mosque. It's now free
to enter, but to fully understand the importance of this building, we encourage you to go on a free
walking tour. Free walking tours run daily at 10:30 AM. And in addition to the Hagia Sophia,
the tour also passes by the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, and Grand Bazaar. It's a great way to
learn about the city and its history. Find more info about the tour in the description below.
Hello guys my name is Yunus Emre. I'm official tour guide, we started four years.
We provide great service for a sustainable tourism, uh I think you're enjoying our
tour as well. We expect more people to come and enjoy on our tour as well. Thank you.
Since Istanbul is so large, there are many more things to do in the city that we didn't mention
in this video. some other highlights include a boat tour from the European to the Asian side,
going to a rooftop bar or restaurant to enjoy the view,
strolling around the colorful Balat, visiting the mosaic museum or archaeological museum,
and visiting the Basilica Cistern, which was temporarily closed at the time of this video.
As mentioned at the start of the video, we promised we'd share some things that
we learned so you can make the most of your trip and have a great experience.
The first thing we learned is that traffic is very slow. So try to avoid taking a bus or a taxi.
The best way to get around is by walking or taking the metro or tram. However, getting a
transportation card can be a bit challenging as the machines often malfunction. Get help from an
official transportation officer at the ticket booth to get one that suits your needs best.
Second thing we learned is that you really need to watch out for scams.
Especially in the old town and around touristic highlights with many people around them.
At first sight the people you meet in that area might seem friendly, but they often want to get
you into their shop. Show respect but don't follow them if you're not interested in buying anything.
We were pulled into a small shop ourselves in that area and had to buy pillowcases
just to get out of the store after a lengthy discussion with the shop owners.
Finally, Istanbul is a huge city with a large number of tourists.
Keep in mind that most of the popular attractions have long waiting lines.
For example, we stood in line at Topkapi Palace for 45 minutes even though it was the end of
the day. And we had the same experience at Galata Tower. So it's best to choose a few
activities for the day, especially if you have a limited number of days in the city.
All right guys that's it for our video on the best things to do in Istanbul.
Which activities are you most excited to do yourself? Let us know in the comments below. Make
sure to like this video if you found it helpful, subscribe to our channel for more Turkey videos,
and download our free giveaway in the description below. Catch you on the next adventure!