THE VERY BEST OF ISTANBUL

17 places in this vlog

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

1. 2:09

   Hagia Sophia

   ⛩️ Temple · Sultanahmet

   The tourist ticket now only gives access to the gallery level. The carpeted lower floor is reserved for prayer.

2. 5:02

   The Pudding Shop (Lale Restaurant)

   🍴 Restaurant · Sultanahmet

   A stew with potatoes, vegetables and rice cost about £10; nearby cafes by Hagia Sophia are much pricier.

3. 6:01

   Topkapı Palace

   🏰 Palace · Sultanahmet

   Foreigners pay 1,500 lira. Highlights are the Topkapı Dagger and the 86-carat Spoonmaker's Diamond; the gardens look over the Golden Horn.

4. 10:30

   Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)

   ⛩️ Temple · Sultanahmet

   Men in shorts are given an elasticated skirt to wear.

5. 11:51

   German Fountain

   🏛️ Historic site · Sultanahmet · brief mention

6. 11:59

   Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum

   🏛️ Museum · Sultanahmet · brief mention

7. 12:06

   Tomb of Sultan Ahmed I

   🏛️ Historic site · Sultanahmet

8. 12:32

   Hippodrome of Constantinople

   🏛️ Historic site · Sultanahmet

9. 12:44

   Basilica Cistern

   🏛️ Historic site · Sultanahmet

   The entry queue is often very long; quieter cisterns nearby are an alternative.

10. 13:16

    Binbirdirek Cistern

    🏛️ Historic site · Sultanahmet

    Tourists pay 300 lira (50 lira with a Turkish residency card).

11. 14:35

    Gülhane Park

    🌳 Park · Fatih

    Some tulips are still in bloom towards the end of April.

12. 18:08

    Column of Constantine (Çemberlitaş)

    🏛️ Historic site · Çemberlitaş · brief mention

13. 18:24

    Grand Bazaar

    🛒 Market · Fatih

    It closes at 7pm and is shut on Sundays; the nearest tram stops are Çemberlitaş and Beyazıt.

14. 20:18

    Tünel

    🏛️ Historic site · Beyoğlu

15. 21:47

    Sirkeci Station

    🏛️ Historic site · Sirkeci

    It is now also a terminal for the Marmaray line, which runs under the Bosphorus to Kadıköy's side.

16. 25:37

    Galata Bridge

    🏢 Landmark · Eminönü

    A fish sandwich costs about 150 lira, the same at the stalls as in the restaurants; have it with Turkish tea.

17. 26:52

    Spice Bazaar

    🛒 Market · Eminönü

    It feels like a smaller version of the Grand Bazaar and is preferred over it here; some shops even sell gold bars.