Istanbul (Turkey), 1.part

This year in September we decided to travel somewhere abroad and the decision fell on Turkey. Since covid started I couldn't wait to go somewhere again and feel the magic of the way. We've been wanting to go to Turkey for a long time, not only to see Istanbul but the other places as well. Turkey has a lot to offer, from delicious and diverse food, beautiful cities, nature, the sea, and the kindest people.

From Zagreb, we took a bus to Sofia (Bulgaria) and from there another bus to Istanbul. This took us one whole day of traveling, but it was so exciting and fun because we were slowly approaching Turkey and enjoying the sceneries through the bus window. We decided on the bus instead of the plane because it was cheaper and we prefer to be on the ground than in the air.

So, Istanbul was our first destination in Turkey and we stayed there for a couple of nights. Our first impression of Istanbul was WOW, we have never seen a city like this before. We have only traveled through Europe and Istanbul felt like another world. We came here on Sunday at midnight, but the city was on fire! People everywhere, lights on, crowd, loudness, and above all: a lot of energy!

Also, when we got off the bus we were very confused and didn't know where to go. Some guy just approached us and asked if we need any help. Then when we needed to buy an Istanbul card for the public transport, a guy who worked there just let us go for free because it was late at night. I didn't expect that people are so nice here!

breakfast

You can find really cheap accommodations, mostly with breakfast included! 😊

lots of different baklavas 😋

I always thought that Turkish people mostly drink coffee, but actually, tea is the main drink! I love it, it's so delicious especially from these cute little glasses, and it's very cheap (only a few liras).

Galata bridge, cool place where locals fish

What I find interesting about Istanbul is that half of the city is in Europe and the other half in Asia!

By this bridge, you can taste Balik ekmek, fish with bread and vegetables.

The must-see locations in Istanbul are their bazaars (markets) where you can find lots of cool stuff. We found great souvenirs for friends and family.

To be continued...

All photos are taken by us