Europe meets Asia
Istanbul, Türkiye
A city on two continents that works brilliantly as a slow-travel base: ferries instead of commutes, cafés you can work from, coastal running routes and food that never gets boring. Don't try to do it all in a weekend. Pick a neighbourhood and live in it for a while.
The itinerary
Day 1: The old city
Get the big sights done early, before the crowds. Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern are all within a short walk of each other in Sultanahmet. Dress modestly for the mosques and carry a scarf. Finish in the Grand Bazaar, then the Spice Bazaar.
Day 2: Galata and Karaköy
Walk across the Galata Bridge, climb up to the Galata Tower area and spend the day wandering the cafés and side streets of Karaköy. Good coffee, design shops and an easy place to work for a few hours.
Day 3: Cross to Asia
Take the ferry to Kadıköy (it's the cheapest Bosphorus view you'll get). Wander the food market, walk down to Moda for the seafront and sunset. If you run, the coastal path here is one of the best runs in the city.
Day 4: Colour and the Bosphorus
Spend the morning in Balat's colourful streets, then take a longer ferry up the Bosphorus for the afternoon. Watching the city go by from the water is the moment it all clicks.
Where to stay
Kadıköy / Moda apartment
My pick for a longer stay: local, walkable, great food, easy ferries.
Karaköy or Cihangir
Central and lively, good for shorter trips.
Sultanahmet hotel
Only if you're here for 2 nights and want the sights on your doorstep.
What to eat
Breakfast is the meal to go big on: a full Turkish breakfast spread is a weekend ritual. Then simit from a street cart, fish sandwiches by the water, meze in the evening, and baklava whenever you feel like it.
Good to know
- Get an Istanbulkart at the airport or any station. It covers trams, metro, buses and ferries.
- Use ferries as transport, not just sightseeing. They're cheap and the best part of the day.
- Neighbourhoods are hilly, so pack comfortable shoes.
- Mosques close to visitors during prayer times, so check before you go.
- For remote work, Kadıköy and Karaköy have plenty of laptop-friendly cafés.
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