Istanbul is one of the most exciting cities, full of colours smells and unusual sounds; you can't miss the calls to prayer as they echo from every mosque across the city five times a day! Take a trip up the Galata tower for a 360 degree view of Istanbul.
Local street vendors sell bread rolls and grilled corn on the cob with lots of salt and butter so you're never more than 50 metres from a quick and tasty snack. Don't miss a trip to the spice bazaar where you can find more spices than you ever knew existed!
Sightseeing can be tiring but there are plenty of cafes to rest your feet. You can get some amazing Turkish coffee but beware, it's potent stuff! Definitely best served with a side of Turkey's famous baklava. We stopped at a lovely cafe near the Hagia Sophia, a well needed stop after visits to the Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern.
If you're really hungry grab a pede from one of the many tiny food outlets. Pedes are pod-shaped pizza-like breads, usually topped with cheese and meat. They're great value and a local dish.
Make sure you head to the Grand Bazaar, you'll never find another place like it. Haggle for anything from hand painted bowls to beautiful woven rugs to knock-off handbags! We recommend going here for your Turkish delight and tea. They vacuum pack your goods so they're easy to transport and don't go off in your suitcase.
Near the Galata bridge you can buy some delicious local 'fish & bread': freshly caught grilled fish with salad in a roll. Cheap and insanely tasty! At the same time grab some deep-fried dessert; little light and crispy rings dripping in a sweet syrup - you'll love them if you have a sweet tooth.
And let's not forget the Turkish tea! We drank so much of this tea, it's cheap and refreshing and great with a spoonful of sugar. You can buy Turkish tea everywhere and it's perfect to drink at any time of the day or night. It's safe to say that if you're in Istanbul you'll never be short of options on where to eat and what to see. Other delights include Boreks (cigarette shaped cheese pastries), Menemen (a paprika egg breakfast dish) and of course you can't stop in Istanbul without trying a kebab!
No comments:
Post a Comment