Although Ankara is the capital of the country, Istanbul, the city on two continents, is the capital of international tourism, with extremely many tourist attractions, impossible to visit in one visit to Turkey.
There are four big mistakes, tour operators claim, that most tourists who arrive in the world’s most visited city make frequently. The title was obtained last year by the research company Euromonitor International which made a ranking of the most visited cities in 2023 when the Turkish metropolis received more than 20.2 million tourists.
Tourism specialists expect the number of visitors to increase this year, with the lifting of visa requirements for several countries, including Romania. Especially since, despite the increased inflation, the prices remain affordable for many of the tourists, especially for those from developed countries like the USA, which also no longer need a visa.
Istanbul was second in the Euromonitor ranking to London, with 18.8 million tourists, followed by Dubai (16.8 million) and then another Turkish city, Antalya, which surpassed Paris and Hong-Kong.
So, if you want to visit the big metropolis or miss coming back to it, here’s what to avoid (SEE VIDEO)according to tourism specialists.
Istanbul Turkey Photo Collage for Truth
Cheap and easy transportation through Istanbul – Bosphorus cruise for one euro or less
One of the common mistakes that tourists make in Istanbul Turkey is not using public transport, although the city has an extremely well-developed public transport system, among the best in the world, but also extremely cheap and easy.
For example, the price of a bus, tram, metro, cable car or funicular ride in Istanbul is only 2.51 lei.
The metropolis between two worlds may also have the cheapest intercontinental shared transportation in the world. It can be done either by water, on the Bosphorus, with ferries – for sensational views; either underground, using the metro / Marmaray train. From one continent to another can also be reached on the bridges that connect Europe to Asia, over the Bosphorus, but it is probably also the least cost-effective of the solutions.
Boat trips cost, for example, between 2.72 lei and 8.22 lei, depending on the distance – the port you are leaving from and where you want to arrive. Only on the European side there are ten piers, of the two in the Historic Center area, on one side and the other of the Galata Bridge.
The Marmaray train, which runs on the intercontinental railway line with a length of 76.6 km, passes through a tunnel under the Bosphorus strait, 13.6 kilometers long. The last station on the European side is Sirkeci, in the southern area of the Historical Center, and on the other Asian side – Uskudar. And in this case, the ticket price varies depending on the distance, between 2.51 lei and 5.56 lei – which makes it the cheapest transport – of about 1 euro – between two continents.
Please note that the prices have been calculated based on the exchange rate between the Turkish lira and the Romanian leu as of June 28, 2024. There is an Istanbulkart subscription that can be purchased at any station, for multiple trips, with which I can go more many people (maximum five). And apps like Moovit are also very helpful in moving around Istanbul.
The amazing and unique Balat – the most photogenic neighborhood in Istanbul
The biggest mistake, according to tour operators, that many tourists make in Istanbul is that they don’t go to visit the most colorful district of the metropolis – Balat. The road to get there is a bit arduous, the neighborhood is located on a hill, so there is some climbing, and the visit itself involves more movement. To enjoy its full splendor you need to explore the streets of the multicultural neighborhood that houses many Jewish and Greek families, which is why it is full of synagogues and Orthodox churches.
The area, considered unique, stands out for its historic houses, some of which are 200 years old, extremely colorful, overlooking the Bosphorus. In fact, the buildings on Merdivenli Yokuș Street were included in the UNESCO World Heritage. It is also notable for the places of worship, historical monuments such as “Iron Church” or Saint Stephen’s Church, but also Vaftizci Yahya, unique in the world, built according to the model of a monastery that Sultan Selim saw during the conquest of Egypt.
The picturesque scenes here are the backdrop to some of the most Instagrammable photos taken in Istanbul.
We also remind that many of the voivodes of Moldova and Wallachia have had to do with this area throughout history. But we will return to this topic another time.
“You won’t find a place like it anywhere else in the world”support Turkish tour operators.
The best foreign exchange rate in Grand Bazaar. The vacation must be planned
Also on the list of “what not to do in Istanbul” tour operators also mentioned currency exchange. I noticed that once they arrive in Istanbul, tourists rush to change their money at the first “Currency Exchange” they come across. However, travel agency representatives claim that the best exchange rate is actually found inside the Grand Bazaar and advise tourists to avoid the others.
In addition, in order not to have a missed vacation, it must be planned, tour operators also recommend, who also noticed that most of the tourists who arrive in Istanbul have no idea that the “most visited city in the world” boasts over 100 of tourist objectives, which is why they miss some of the most impressive attractions in the world, some of which are unique.
