Istanbul is easily a front runner for the title of the most vibrant and diverse city in the world. No other city on earth melds so many cultures, religions, and traditions together. It is only fitting then, that the city where Europe and Asia meet, where East and West collide, should be filled with so many contradictions. For, just as exhaustion begins to set in from the chaotic streets overflowing with vendors shouting the attributes of their wares, you need only round a corner and find, rising serenely and gracefully before you, the elegant spires of one of the nearly 3000 mosques scattered throughout the city. The senses are truly overwhelmed in this massive, magnificent triumph of a city.

 

Istanbul’s grand history began over 2500 years ago when it was founded as Byzantium by the Greeks. The city became a symbol of opulence and beauty enjoying great prosperity. In 330AD the city was shown significant favor by the first Christian emperor of Rome, Constantine the Great, when he selected it as the “New Rome”. The city subsequently became known as Constantinople in his honor and was instated as the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, a title it held for over 1000 years. In 1453 the city was conquered by the Ottoman Turks and given its modern moniker: Istanbul. It is a city which pays homage to its past while looking forward to a bright future.

 

Istanbul’s crowning glory is without doubt the Byzantine masterpiece, Hagia Sophia. Commissioned by the Holy Roman Emperor Justinian and built over five years in the early sixth century AD, it stood as the largest cathedral in the world for almost 1000 years. After Constantinople was conquered by the Turks, the cathedral was converted into a mosque. Hagia Sophia is now a museum and monument attesting to the spectacular legacy of Istanbul. Not to be outdone, opposing Hagia Sophia’s ancient grandeur across a lush green expanse rises the commanding spires of the national mosque of Turkey, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, popularly referred to as the Blue Mosque. Both Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque are nestled in Istanbul’s most tourist-friendly district: Sultanahmet. The district also hosts the Topkapi Palace, the perfect destination to immerse yourself for a few hours in the splendor and opulence of the Sultan lifestyle. Set on 173 acres, one can wander the labyrinthine harem, ogle the royal treasury, and marvel at the weapons cache, however, it is the intricacy of the interior décor, the hand painted tiles that cover virtually every inch of the walls, which is the true treasure here.

 

The Sultanahmet district is certainly a good place to start when visiting Istanbul and the best way to discover the hidden gems of this area is to put away your map and leave the guidebook at the hotel. By simply wandering the maze of streets and losing yourself in the essence of the city, Istanbul comes alive. It is difficult to find a local in this section of the city that does not speak at least three languages and all are unabashedly friendly and always eager to help you further enjoy their city. As with any predominantly tourist locale in any city, the businesses here cater to the sightseer and are more than willing to help you part with some of your money, if, however, you understand and accept this going in, it need not stand in the way of your experience. Besides being the home of Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet hosts a plethora of museums, monuments, parks, mosques, and ruins which are virtually piled on top of one another. Finally, after a long day of discovery you can relax while watching the famous whirling dervishes, sipping mango tea, and smoking a strawberry flavored hookah. 

 

When it comes to food, however, it is a good idea to leave Sultanahmet and seek refreshment elsewhere; especially if truly authentic and delicious cuisine, beyond the standard kebab, is of interest. The Beyoglu and Taksim districts are the best places to find great food without deviating too far from the tourist track. These districts offer a more European feel and are shopping and nightlife meccas.   Be prepared, when the sun sets the streets in Taksim overflow with stylish, young party-goers ready to fill the clubs and dance until the early morning. It is a great opportunity to mingle with the future of Turkey and to drink in and become intoxicated with the enthusiasm and vibrancy that saturates the air in Istanbul.

 

For a truly unique experience you must not leave Istanbul without a visit to the Grand Bazaar. One full day is hardly enough to explore the more than 1200 shops and navigate the 58 streets which together make up one of the largest covered markets in the world. Here again, do not even attempt to keep to a specific path, just wander and lose yourself in the mayhem and madness that marks the bazaar as one of a kind. The Grand Bazaar is an excellent place to find clothing of every shape and color, shimmering gold and silver jewelry, brilliantly colored carpets, and exotic spices to satisfy every palette. Always busy, the market receives hundreds of thousands of visitors each day. If, however, your taste tends more toward the culinary, delve into the sweet treats and savory morsels that flow from the stalls at the Egyptian Bazaar. Little cousin to the Grand Bazaar, the Egyptian Bazaar is the food connoisseurs dream come true. Sweet Turkish delight, sticky baklava, creamy halvah, a rainbow of fragrant spices, and dried fruit of every flavor can be sampled and stock-piled for the trip home.