Experiencing the Eurasian Life in Istanbul
Spanning two continents, Europe and Asia, Istanbul, as the capital of the millennium-old empire Constantinople, claimed to be the capital of the world, has always attracted me to explore. The Turkish visa, which can be obtained instantly with an e-visa, makes it even more convenient for everyone to travel to Turkey. Turkey has many unique tourism resources, but I am particularly fond of Istanbul, so this time I only visited one city to experience it. Istanbul is filled with mosques all over the city, making you feel it is an Asian city, while its urban transportation and daily life are very Westernized, making you feel it is a European city. Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, with a population of over 14 million. It is the economic, cultural, and transportation center of Turkey and is among the world's first-tier cities. I took Wizz Air from London and arrived in Istanbul around 4 hours later in the early morning. The booked Sheraton City Center Hotel was near the famous Taksim Square. In the morning, I walked about 1 kilometer to the square to scout the area. Taksim Square has a metro station and bus stops, making it very convenient to reach various attractions. Due to heavy traffic in Istanbul, I mainly used public transport this time.
Getting the Istanbul red public transport top-up card at the metro station is very important. It can be used for the metro, tram, bus, funicular, and cable car, and even to pay for toilets. Since taking the public ferry between the European and Asian sides is very convenient, we basically took the ferry every day to enjoy the scenery on both sides and the bustling Bosphorus Strait golden waterway.
The above image clearly depicts the layout of Istanbul's districts and attractions, even the docks. The main attractions in the city are in the European side. In the afternoon, I took the T1 tram to the Eminönü dock in the old European city and then a ferry to the Kadıköy dock on the Asian side. A single ferry ticket costs 24 lira, about 5 RMB, very cheap. Since the ferry shuttles between the two docks, if it doesn't stop service, you can basically ride back and forth multiple times without disembarking. From the dock, you can see the Galata Tower in the new European district. Eminönü dock is the most popular, with a constant flow of people every day. There are many seats and shops along the shore, and many citizens and tourists sit on the chairs to leisurely enjoy the views on both sides and the passing cruise ships.
In the morning, I started from Taksim Square to visit Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Yesterday, I walked all the way up and down the slopes, so in the evening I studied the F1 line and realized it is an underground cable car funicular. Google Maps is useless for finding this line, and Apple Maps does not provide navigation services in Istanbul. After searching many guides, I finally discovered this line, which became essential for the next few days. I smoothly went from Taksim to the T1 tram line and got off at Sultanahmet station. Soon I saw the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. This is the hottest tourist spot in Istanbul, packed with people. Around 2 p.m., I arrived near Hagia Sophia and saw a long queue; it would take at least 3 hours to get in, so I gave up and decided to come back another time. Then I visited the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome of Constantinople.
Hagia Sophia, originally the main cathedral of the Byzantine Empire, was later converted into a mosque after the Turkish conquest and is now a museum. It is a historic building in Turkey and one of its symbols. The second floor charges an entrance fee for tourists.
The Blue Mosque is right opposite Hagia Sophia. Built without a single iron nail, the mosque has a rigorous structure and has withstood several major earthquakes unscathed. Its real name is Sultan Ahmed Mosque. It is free to visit; tourists can remove their shoes and enter the first floor.
This morning, I exercised and swam at the hotel. I planned to climb Galata Tower in the afternoon and visit Hagia Sophia.
Galata Tower is a landmark in the new city of Istanbul, towering over the Golden Horn. From the top, you can overlook the Bosphorus Strait and the Golden Horn. It was originally a lighthouse built by Byzantine Emperor Anastasius in 507 AD, initially made of wood, then burned down, and rebuilt in stone by the Genoese in 1348, becoming the high point of the fortress at that time. The stone tower is a landmark in the new European city and a must-visit spot for tourists arriving in Istanbul. Since my booked ticket was valid for 10 days, I had plenty of time.
After visiting Galata Tower, I went to the new palace. The new palace, built in the mid-19th century during the Ottoman Empire, is also called Dolmabahçe Palace. It is located on the European coast of the Bosphorus Strait. The palace complex stretches 600 meters along the strait, covering 15,000 square meters, with 285 rooms and 43 halls. It is grand and shows the former splendor and wealth of the Ottoman Empire. The several sea gates near the palace are particularly suitable for tourists to take photos.
A panoramic view of the new palace by the coast.
The most impressive central hall inside the new palace features the world's largest crystal chandelier weighing 4,500 kilograms.
Around 5 p.m., I arrived at Hagia Sophia for a visit. By then, most tour groups had finished, so I got in almost without queuing, which was quite exciting. As the most famous attraction in Istanbul, I could finally admire its true face up close. The interior of the majestic central hall has a floor paved with multicolored marble and walls decorated with colorful marble mosaic patterns, looking splendid. The various small windows and low-hanging chandeliers maintain the light in the hall. The dome retains Byzantine-era frescos, and on the second-floor columns hang large round plaques with Arabic calligraphy. Under the warm lighting, the interior of the church looks very solemn and dignified.
After visiting Hagia Sophia, I returned to Taksim Square. I got off at the T1 tram stop and went to the seaside to enjoy the strait scenery under the sunset. Standing by the shore, I silently watched the boats coming and going, the seagulls flying freely, and listened to the sound of waves, enjoying a relaxed and free life, completely forgetting the stress of work.
This morning, I went to Lovers Hill to take in the view of the new European district from the high point of the Asian side and overlook the Bosphorus Strait. Lovers Hill, also known as Çamlıca Hill Lovers' Terrace Park, is 267 meters above sea level and offers a perfect panoramic view of the Bosphorus Strait, the Martyr's Bridge, and the new European district. I took bus 129T from Taksim Square to Lovers Hill and once again experienced the unreliable bus service, which was hard to wait for and not cost-effective. The nearest metro station to Lovers Hill is Kısıklı; transferring a few more times by tram and metro is still more reliable than the bus. This spot is probably more popular with locals than tourists. In fact, the mountain scenery is spectacular, and the view from the top is excellent. Also, enjoying local coffee and black tea on the mountain is very nice, offering a unique experience: drinking coffee in Asia while looking at Europe—something truly unique in the world. The coffee and black tea on the mountain are very cheap: Turkish black tea is less than 2 RMB, and coffee is 12 lira, less than 3 RMB per cup.
In the afternoon, I took a bus from the mountaintop to the popular photo spot, the Balat colorful neighborhood. Balat is located on the shore of the old European city, with charming colorful buildings, undulating slopes, and retro cars, attracting many tourists to take photos.
During my few days in Istanbul, I may have become addicted to taking the ferry. Sitting on the open upper deck, watching seagulls chase the cruise ships, watching the scenery on both sides coming and going, and watching tourists constantly taking photos, I realized that the Istanbul ferry is the most popular public transport system and also the one with the best views.
Maiden's Tower is a Baroque-style lighthouse standing on a small island in the Bosphorus Strait near the Asian side. Although not grand in appearance, it is one of the romantic symbols of Istanbul. Although I passed by Maiden's Tower many times, I never had a good angle to take a photo. Now, Maiden's Tower represents a holy place of love, attracting many couples to express their faithful love.
After getting off the ferry, I strolled along the shore, feeling the bustling crowds and traffic, and especially savoring the local cuisine. In the afternoon, I tasted Turkish kebab, one of the world's three great cuisines. Istanbul's traditional black tea and pickled peppers are well worth trying. Turkish desserts are a delight for the taste buds; the desserts pictured are inexpensive and delicious, no wonder there was a long line at the door.
Due to work in London, I set out from London for many European countries, so I returned to London from Istanbul. After resting for one night, I went to visit the famous White Cliffs the next day. The White Cliffs are located in the town of Eastbourne, with beautiful alpine meadows and the most spectacular white cliff coastline. Along the White Cliffs path, I went to Birling Gap Beach, the best spot for sunbathing. Birling Gap is the core of the scenic area and also a stop for the sightseeing bus. Getting off here allows you to walk the shortest distance and see the most beautiful scenery.
In the afternoon, I took the train back to London, where the weather was very good again. With my camera on my back and my legs moving, I walked along the River Thames tirelessly for a citywalk.
This few-day trip to Istanbul deeply attracted me to the city. As a millennia-old ancient capital, it has moved beyond its past glory. Today, Istanbul is a world-renowned tourist city, with both world cultural heritage sites and modern CBDs, as well as Europe's largest airport, one of the busiest in the world. The city has a well-developed public transport system, making it easy for tourists to reach various attractions. The leisurely ferry life every day is what I miss the most. On the ferry, you can experience both the busy and the leisurely, the modern and the retro, and the cityscape that is both Asian and European.
Travel diary index: 1. Arriving in Istanbul, a taste of the city scenery 2. Visiting the Blue Mosque, cruising the Bosphorus Strait 3. Exercising and swimming at the hotel, climbing Galata Tower, visiting Hagia Sophia 4. Drinking coffee in Asia while looking at Europe, visiting Balat colorful neighborhood 5. Enjoying the White Cliffs scenery in a British town, citywalk along the River Thames in London
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