...The Grand Bazaar and you first meal is Lunch at Aslan, a wonderful first-floor restaurant just outside the Grand Bazaar.
Image: Restaurant Aslan
The homestyle Turkish dishes and the blissful air conditioning were the perfect escape from the bustle and heat below.
Image: Kitchen Restaurant Aslan
Then, it is time to explore the Grand Bazaar itself, a labyrinth of 4,000 shops, 60 streets where the air hums with the clink of tea glasses and the murmur of haggling in the almost 600 yo bazaar. Soak in the cultural and historic wonder if you are not down to shop and heckle.
Image: The Grand Bazaar
Just outside, you grab a quick afternoon snack at Durumcu Raif Usta, because when in Istanbul, wraps are non-negotiable and easy accessable.
Image: Restaurant Durumce Raif Usta, just outside The Grand Bazaar
It is hitting evening time, and you make your way to Taksim Square, where the viral ice cream vendors hustle and entertains you with their theatrical antics, complete with cone-snatching and dramatic twirls. Fair attention it comes at a high premium.
Image: Ata Turk on the Republic Monument on Taksim Square
But the real reason you are there? Dinner at Zübehir Ocakbasi.
Image: The Ocabasi at Restaurant Zübehir
The Urfa kebabs, hot chicken wings, and liver are so good, you will briefly consider moving in. Time to find your hotel for the night.
Image: The liver kebab at Restaurant ZĂĽbehir
So, you’ve booked a stay at the Wyndham Istanbul Old City, lured by promises of 5-star luxury in the heart of Sultanahmet, Istanbul’s historic gem dating back to the 7th century BC. The website paints a picture of world-class service, relaxing amenities, and a touch of Ottoman opulence. And sure, if you squint hard enough, or maybe time-traveled from 1995, you might see that vision.
Image: The entrance of the Wyndham Istanbul Old City Hotel
Let’s just say the luxurious suites come with a basement view (and possibly a side of karaoke from the neighboring club, free entertainment!). The rooms? Clean. The location? Prime. The rooftop pool? A redeeming hero in this tale of slightly exaggerated promises. But hey, it’s just for one night, and in a city as magical as Istanbul, even a karaoke serenade can feel like part of the charm. Not a recommendation… or is it? (LOL)
Image: The Sehzade Mosque
You’re jolted awake by the morning call to prayer, a hauntingly beautiful serenade from the Sehzade Mosque, a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture. It’s the perfect alarm clock for your first mission: Sehzade Cag Kebap.
Image: The amazing horizontal kebab at Sehzade Cag Kebab
The line is out the door by 10 AM, but you snag a seat fast. The horizontal lamb döner? Perfection. You tell yourself you’ll be back for a double dip, and you will.
Image: This is what you can get at Sehzade Cag Kebab
Then, it is off to the Egyptian Bazaar (Spice Bazaar), where you stock up on spices so aromatic, they could perfumed the entire city.
Image: The Pice Bazaar
Just beside the bazaar, you take a cultural detour to the Yeni Mosque, its elegant minarets and domes reflecting in the Golden Horn.
Image: Yeni Mosque
Just across the street from the Yeni Mosque, the pirates, or promoters, were competing for our attention, each trying to lure you onto their Bosphorus boat trip.
Image: One of the many boat trip promoters
You will give in, and it is worth every lira. The breeze, the views, the way the city sparkles from the water, Dolmabahçe Palace’s ornate façade, the towering minarets of Ortaköy Mosque, the rumble of ferries crisscrossing the strait, and the distant silhouette of the Maiden’s Tower, it’s the kind of experience that makes you fall in love with Istanbul all over again.
Image: Bosphorus boat trip view
After disembarking, you take a walk up to the stunning SĂĽleymaniye Mosque, its grand courtyards and sweeping views of the city a testament to Ottoman splendor.
Image: Inside the SĂĽleymaniye Mosque
By then, you have worked up an appetite, so you head to Unkapanı Pilavcısı & Kokoreç at the foot of the hill of the Süleymaniye Mosque. The boiled chicken over buttery rice and chickpeas is simple, hearty, and exactly what you need.
Image: Pilav at Unkapanı Pilavcısı & Kokoreç
And because no trip to Istanbul is complete without baklava, you end with a visit to Güllüoğlu, where every bite of their flaky, honey-drenched masterpiece is worth the calories.
With a belly full of kebabs, baklava, and enough tea to float a ferry, you collapse into your seat in the airplane, already dreaming of your next Istanbul adventure. 36 hours of cats, kebabs, and a Bosphorus breeze, and you barely scraped the surface of the magnificent city of cats.