Travelers are consistently asked: “So, what’s your favorite place that you’ve ever been?” And, if you’ve ever asked someone this question, you probably know the political response, “Oh, I learn something new everywhere I go, and each place is so unique that I can’t pick favorites!” Continue reading
Category Archives: Turkey
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Off Istanbul’s Beaten Path: Rumeli Fortress
Rumeli Fortress is one of Istanbul’s undiscovered gems, and yet, you won’t be able to find it listed in most mainstream travel guides to the city. Since the fortress isn’t accessible by public transit, it’s largely off the tourist radar, and I wouldn’t Continue reading
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Eight Incredible Experiences in Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul, Turkey is one of those cities that easily overwhelms first-time visitors. The city is loud, crowded, energetic, and moves at a dizzying, nonstop pace. Thanks to thousands and thousands of years of rich history, Istanbul offers travelers a look into one of the world’s Continue reading
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The Bosphorus At Sunset: Quintessentially Istanbul
Istanbul, like Paris and San Francisco, is a walking city. Culturally, Istanbul is unlike any other place in the world – straddling Christian Europe and the Islamic Middle East, Istanbul is the tangible result of thousands of years of war, commerce, and migration between these two worlds. Continue reading
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Tracing Istanbul’s Royal Past at Topkapi Palace
Topkapi Palace: one of the must-see sights in Istanbul, Turkey. I don’t say this lightly. I know, I’m the first to dismiss those “can’t miss” sightseeing lists, but even I can’t deny that visiting Topkapi Palace was one of the highlights of my Istanbul trip and helped enrich my time in the city. I usually skip museums in favor of aimless, map-free wandering – I didn’t step foot in one museum during my stay in Paris, Continue reading
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Basilica Cistern: Exploring Istanbul’s Underground
Like many large cities, Istanbul has a hidden history beneath its well-worn, ancient streets. Istanbul’s below-ground features numerous cisterns, which supplied the city with water throughout its long and varied existence. Tourists interested in this slice of Istanbul’s past can visit many of the cisterns, which are open to the public. The Basilica Cistern is hardly an off-the-beaten-path gem; rather, it’s one of Istanbul’s prime attractions and often tops the city’s “must-see” lists. While I felt the price was steep for a sight that can be thoroughly explored in twenty minutes, the Basilica Cistern is also incredibly unique and unlike anything else I’ve seen in my travels. Continue reading
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Galata Tower: The Best View in Istanbul, Turkey
If you’ve scoped out my Urban Panoramas gallery in the photography section of my blog, then you would know I have an insatiable desire to scale tall buildings and look at cities with a bird’s-eye view. Munich, Paris, Reykjavik…I can’t leave a major metropolis without a good Continue reading
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Blitz Tourism: Classic Istanbul
In each Blitz Tourism segment, I offer sample itineraries to travelers who have limited time to explore a city. Hopefully, I can help you make the most of your visit or share a little inspiration if you’re planning your trip and don’t know where to start. Continue reading
