Istanbul: A City on Two Continents

Istanbul straddles the Bosphorus strait, and the commuter ferries that cross it are one of the best cheap experiences in the city — a European-side coffee and an Asian-side coffee in the same afternoon. The Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar reward slow browsing and confident haggling; posted prices are usually a starting point, not a final one. Beyond the city, the Turquoise Coast and Cappadocia's balloon-dotted valleys are common add-ons for longer trips.

Istanbul as a base#

Istanbul alone justifies four to five days: the Sultanahmet district for Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace within walking distance of each other, the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar for shopping and haggling, and the Bosphorus ferries for a cheap, scenic break from walking. Kadıköy, on the Asian side, gives a less touristy, more local version of the same city — worth crossing for even if you're not staying there.

Getting around#

Istanbul's trams, metro, funiculars and ferries all run on one rechargeable transit card (Istanbulkart), sold at kiosks and machines throughout the city — buy one on arrival rather than paying single fares at a markup. For the rest of the country, domestic flights are cheap and frequent enough that they beat long bus or train journeys between Istanbul, the Turquoise Coast and Cappadocia; budget carriers connect Istanbul's airports to Antalya and Kayseri (Cappadocia's nearest airport) in about ninety minutes.

What it costs#

Turkey is noticeably cheaper than Western Europe for food, transport and mid-range hotels, which is part of why it draws so many multi-week trips rather than single-city visits. Istanbul itself costs more than the coast or Cappadocia — expect a premium on accommodation in Sultanahmet specifically, since it's the most convenient base for the major sights.

When to go, and one thing first-timers get wrong#

April–May and September–October avoid summer's heat in Istanbul and on the coast, and avoid the most crowded and weather-dependent balloon-flight bookings in Cappadocia. The mistake first-timers make is scheduling Cappadocia's hot-air balloon flight for a single fixed morning — flights are weather-dependent and cancel often, so anything less than a two- or three-night stay risks missing it entirely.