Why Istanbul Isn’t Only About Sultanahmet
Istanbul is a massive city, it is home to thousands of people, and is packed with more history than most other countries in the world, let alone cities. Having said that, there is a certain region of this city which gets more press than the others, namely Sultanahmet.
If you don’t know much about Istanbul, it would be easy to simply assume that the main sights are centred in this region, and nowhere else, but that is certainly not the case. Yes, some of the biggest and oldest historic places to visit are in this old part of the city, and that is not something we can deny, but it would be a crime to simply overlook the other parts of this huge and exciting metropolis.
Sultanhamet is home to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar, to name the main sights to visit. Yes, you should head here, and you should check out these amazing sights, otherwise you’re not really experiencing everything that Istanbul has to offer, but you should venture further afield too. There is a lot of accommodation to be found in Sultanahmet, and its likely that when you do a search these properties will come up first, because of their popularity. There are also many restaurants to enjoy here too, mostly authentic, although you will find the odd McDonalds and Starbucks. Having said that, the pries are inflated, because of the high tourist factor.
So, if Istanbul is not all about Sultanahmet, what else is on offer?
The list is too long! Let’s narrow it down a little.
Taksim is considered the centre of Istanbul by many, and this is a very busy area to visit. You should certainly venture here at least once, and you should definitely explore Istiklal Street, a long and extremely busy avenue, lined with bars, restaurants, cinemas, hotels, shops, and areas of architectural importance. The Beyoglu area encompasses Taksim, as well as the main square towards the top end of the street. If you’re looking for nightlife, Taksim really is the place to go.
Heading down the hill from Taksim you will arrive in Besiktas, but before that you will pass Dolmabahce Palace. This is a very opulent and former Ottoman Palace, and it is also the place where the famous Ataturk passed away. The palace is now open to visitors, and you can easily tour the grounds and check out the opulence, on the banks of the Bosphorus.
Besiktas itself is a vibrant and young place, and there are countless places to sit and have a glass of cay, as well as many food outlets too. The nightlife here is chilled out and bright, and if you visit on a Besiktas match day, you will certainly experience the craziness of the fan’s dedication to their team! From here, you can catch a ferry over to the Asian side of the city, to Kadikoy or Uskudar, and you can also take a tour over to the Princes Islands, which are stunningly beautiful, and devoid of all traffic.
Moving further along and you reach upmarket Ortakoy, which is where the massive Bosphorus Bridge is to be found. Here you can enjoy a coffee overlooking this modern day architectural wonder, or enjoy a waffle, the main snack of choice in this area! Venture further and you reach classy Bebek, with its promenade and chilled out feel.
This just the European side!
Over in Asia and you can experience a more authentic way of life, and Kadikoy is a very bright place to check out. There is cheap food to be found here, as well as nightlife. Uskudar is certainly very authentic, and a glass of tea overlooking the water, watching the sunset is a must do experience when visiting the city overall.
How about a Bosphorus tour, and you get to see it all passing by you? This is a great, relaxing way to enjoy the scenery, without having to get your feet aching! Remember to clear your camera memory card for this one. The best place to jump aboard this type of tour is in Eminonu, as you will get the greatest distance, and therefore the best of the scenery.
We certainly haven’t mentioned everything Istanbul has to offer, but it definitely goes to show that Istanbul is not just about Sultanahmet and nothing else!
