19 Tips I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Istanbul

7 places in this vlog

In the order they appear. Tap a time to play it here, or ↗ to open YouTube at that second.

1. 0:09

   Galataport

   🛍️ Shopping · Karaköy

   Called a tourist trap to avoid, with expensive prices and poor restaurants.

2. 5:49

   Fatih

   🏘️ Neighborhood · Fatih

   Recommended as a beautiful, only slightly touristy base for sightseeing.

3. 6:06

   Galata

   🏘️ Neighborhood · Beyoğlu

   Considered too touristy to stay in, with steep hills to climb all the time.

4. 6:17

   Karaköy

   🏘️ Neighborhood · Beyoğlu

   A good base for nightlife, but it is noisy at night.

5. 7:03

   Taksim Square

   🏘️ Neighborhood · Beyoğlu

   Not recommended as a place to stay because it felt touristy and nothing special.

6. 7:30

   Kadıköy

   🏘️ Neighborhood · Kadıköy · brief mention

   The Asian side is recommended as the best area to stay.

7. 7:34

   Moda

   🏘️ Neighborhood · Kadıköy

   Picked as the top area to stay in Istanbul, unlike anywhere else in the city.