About this experience
Visitors to Istanbul usually live in the European part, often leaving the Asian part for later, on a residual basis. The purpose of this excursion is to show that going to another continent is definitely worth it for inspiration and to see the unfamiliar Istanbul. You will be treated to stunning views of the Bosphorus and colorful neighborhoods with a soulful atmosphere!
What to expect
The spirit of history at the old pier
The tour will start from the very place that served as the final point of the Great Silk Road. Once there were bustling markets and the starting point for pilgrims to Mecca and Medina with a long caravan of camels. Now it is a historical district with old and beautiful mosques, the legendary Maiden's Tower, and breathtaking views of the Bosphorus expanses. Local residents live here on narrow streets among antique shops, old wooden houses, and daring cats. We will visit a mosque, discuss how and what the conservative part of Turkey lives on, and also see how former religious establishments change their functions, becoming amazing spaces for all city dwellers.
A path along the Bosphorus and the atmosphere of a vibrant neighborhood
Walking along the strait shore, you will see ships, a city theater, luxurious villas, and the famous panorama with two bridges, which is featured in almost every Turkish TV series. And then you will turn into one of the bohemian Istanbul neighborhoods, where a soulful atmosphere is preserved, where an old pharmacy is adjacent to bar quarters, and a church is next to a rock star's house. Along the way, we will examine the architecture of the 19th-20th centuries, wooden houses and shutters, unusual stairs and samples of street art on house walls - there are so many of them that you will have enough photos for a year ahead! And we will also talk about poets, writers, and musicians who lived in this neighborhood and made a huge contribution to Turkish culture and beyond.
Authentic Istanbul cuisine
With travelers interested in local cuisine, we will definitely go and try it: non-touristic neighborhoods are perfect for this. There are plenty of options - from coffee with grounds in an old Ottoman coffee shop to slow-cooked fish in a clay pot or the famous "balık ekmek" - a fish sandwich. Just not the one that is mass-produced in tourist places for long queues, but the one prepared in an inconspicuous family restaurant where only locals go. This part of the route is always at the discretion of the travelers: some prefer to focus on the story of the area and explore more places, while others focus on tastings, the choice is always yours.
What definitely won't be there: boring lectures listing dates and events. I am for a close and lively acquaintance with the city and with Turkish culture as a whole. During the excursion, we do not delve into the history of museums and palaces, we look at how local residents live and answer the question of what religious, historical, and social backgrounds led to this.
I recommend booking the tour in the first days of your arrival: my guests often leave the walk, thoroughly adjusting the program for the next days, filled with addresses and maps of interesting places.
See you in Asia!
