2 Days in Istanbul - Top Things to Do

Istanbul is the largest city of Turkey. Besides it’s one of the 5 largest metropolitan areas in the world. It joins the 2 continents Europe and Asia. This article points out what are the best things to do in this huge city. So what shouldn’t I miss when visiting Istanbul:

Take a ferry around the Bosphorus
Istanbul is separated by the bosphorus. So a good way to view the city from the seeside is to take a ferry. Many locals use the ferries to go from one side to the other. The ferry ride takes about 15 minutes and they are leavin nearly every half hour. To have more time for photos and to see different parts of the city it’s good to take the ferry twice or more often

Visit the Grand Bazaar
Markets have tradition in Turkey and the grand bazaar has its oldest. It’s even one of the oldest markets in the world. With more than 4.000 shops you’ll find nearly everthing what you can imagine. Buy something typical Turkish and yes you have to bargain, that’s also traditional. But don’t worry, it’s a good way to get in touch with the locals and make new friendships.

Arrange a private tour with a local guide
Istanbul is really big and many residents don’t speak English. To experience the city of the eyes of a local hire an Istanbul tour guide. He can show you the real culture and can translate for you. Ask him for his favourite restaurant to eat typical Turkish food, let him show you his favourite places and ask him about Turkish history and culture. The best is to search a local guide before you, because the good guides are really busy. There are several websites that offer private tours in Istanbul. Ensure that you get to know the person who is guiding your tour before you book, because you won’t enjoy your private Istanbul tours if the guide isn’t likable and knowledgeable.

Istanbul is one of the must to see cities in the world. That’s why this megacity is in the UNESCO World heritage list, was the European Capital of Culture 2010 and will be the European Capital of Sports of 2012.