Must-Do Things in Istanbul – A Local Mini Guide

Welcome to Istanbul — a city where East meets West, tradition meets trend, and every corner tells a story. Here’s what you must do to truly feel its magic:

🕌 1. Visit a Mosque – Not Just One!

Start with Sultanahmet (Blue Mosque), then compare it to Süleymaniye for a quieter, majestic vibe.

☕ 2. Drink Turkish Tea (Çay) Like a Local

Served in tulip-shaped glasses. Best enjoyed in a street-side café or with a Bosphorus view.

🍽️ 3. Try a Real Turkish Breakfast

Cheese, olives, tomatoes, honey, eggs, simit… Don’t rush it — it’s a feast, not a meal!

🛍️ 4. Practice Your Bargaining at the Grand Bazaar

It’s not just shopping — it’s an experience. Talk, smile, sip tea… and haggle.

🌉 5. Take a Bosphorus Cruise

Watch Europe and Asia pass by in one boat ride. Sunset is the golden hour!

🚶‍♀️ 6. Get Lost in the Backstreets

Balat, Galata, Kadıköy… Sometimes the best discoveries aren’t on the map.

🍢 7. Eat from a Street Vendor

Simit, roasted chestnuts, or a quick döner wrap — cheap, tasty, and local.

🏛️ 8. Visit at Least One Museum

Topkapı Palace or Istanbul Archaeology Museum for Ottoman and Byzantine treasures.

🧿 9. Buy a Souvenir with Meaning

An evil eye charm, handmade ceramics, or a spice blend to take home the scent of Istanbul.

🐈 10. Say Hi to the Cats

They’re everywhere — and they run the city. Show some love, you’re in their world now.