Adventures You Can have in Istanbul
Istanbul is not a tame city. This is not somewhere you will simply visit, shrug your shoulders at, go ‘oh that was nice’, and then move on to somewhere else, without a second thought. Istanbul is a city that will leave a footprint on your mind, your heart and your memories. Most visitors, venture back a second, third, or even fourth time. Such is the allure and general pull of this special city.
Because of the sheer size of the place, it stands to reason that there are several adventures you can have whilst you’re visiting. You don’t only have to sightsee and nothing else, although that is a true adventure in itself! If you’re not sure where to begin, let’s check out a few adventures you can have in Istanbul.
Experience a Football Match
You might be rolling your eyes and wondering how this could possibly be an adventure, but bear with us on this one! If you can get tickets for Galatasaray V Fenerbahce, you are in for a serious adventure! Not only is it quite the epic journey to even get to the stadium on match day, with a sea of supporters moving in what can only be described as a synchronised wave, but you will probably find yourself with several new best friends by the time you get there!
Once inside, finding your seat is the next task, and then the drama begins. Win, lose, or draw, this is a true experience, and that in itself makes it an adventure. You will want to hide under your seat, you will laugh, you will duck, you will shout, you will probably not be too sure what is going on at certain points, but it’s something you have to do once, at the very least.
Go on an Adventure Through History
Once named Constantinople, Istanbul is packed with history – you only have to look at the buildings to see it. This particular adventure is free, aside from any attractions you want to into which have entrance fees; these are likely to be low however. Read up on Istanbul history before you arrive, put on your comfortable shoes, grab a coat (and an umbrella, just to be on the safe side) and head off. You will learn so much more by seeing things in person. For instance, the Galata Tower, Hagia Sophia, Galata Bridge, the old mosques, Topkapi Palace – these are all sites of history which are enshrined in the cityscape, but which are dripping with centuries of knowledge.
Embark on a Culinary Adventure
Turkish food is fantastic, but some of it is not for the faint of heart! Make it your culinary adventure to try some of the obscure dishes, such as brain soup (seriously), kokorec (a dish which involves intestines), drink ayran (a sour-tasting yoghurt/milk drink that everyone seems to love), and mix it all together with the much-loved dishes that aren’t so worrying to new comers, such as baklava, delicious chicken shish, casseroles, and barbecued meats.
An Adventure to a Different Continent!
This one isn’t difficult, but we have to mention it because you will feel like a true explorer. Istanbul is the only city on the planet that straddles two continents. There is a part in Asia and a part in Europe, and you can visit both sides within literally a few minutes! The easy way is to jump on the Marmaray and venture under the sea (literally) on the train, but the more scenic way is to head to the ferry terminal and venture on the ferry. You can catch the ferry on the European side from Besiktas, Karakoy, or Eminonu. On the Asian side you need to venture to Kadikoy or Uskudar. The view is amazing, the seagulls are hilarious, and the experience is a true adventure, even though it does only take around 15 minutes!
These are just a few of the adventures you can have in Istanbul. Of course, there are many others, such as experiencing new cultures, learning a new language, perhaps learning how to belly dance, for instance. The experiences and adventures you can have here are mostly free, and if they cost anything, it’s very low. This is what makes Istanbul so amazing, and it is a city you will certainly be itching to return back to, probably even more than once. The only question you need to ask yourself first of all, is where are you going to start?
