Turkey

Takim is a synergy of colors, people and street food. Wondering around Takism is a must during your trip in Istanbul. One particular street that I would recommend seeing is Istiklal street as it has lots of shops and street food options such as:

• Turkish ice cream 
• Turkish delights
• Donners
• Stuffed mussels (Midye dolma)
• Fresh juices

There is no such thing as an entrance fee, but take care of your belongings as the streets might get crowded especially during the evenings. 

Located on the European side of Bosphorus, the Ortakoy Mosque (or the Great Mosque of Sultan Abdulmejid) is a famous touristic spot as well during the day as after the sunset due to its picturesque setting.  

 Give yourself some time to wander around the Mosque as the atmosphere is joyful. There are plenty of street food shops selling stuffed potatoes, Turkish coffee and tea, as well as traditional restaurants with local designs or street shops selling souvenirs and jewelry.

Balat is one of the oldest areas in Istanbul known for its colorful and yet narrow streets. The neighborhood delights you with an intriguing combination of churches, mosques and synagogues.  

The neighborhood is also preferred by many tourists due to its atmosphere and cool restaurants. 

Tips: For those of you who are fans of the famous Turkish series Çukur, make sure to include this neighborhood on your list as the location of the filming was Balat.

Initially built as a watchtower at the highest point of the neighborhood, Galata is now the central objective of Beyoğlu, a neighborhood located on the European side of Istanbul. 

The streets surrounding the tower are known for the multitude of Instagrammable restaurants and cafes, but also for the hotels and night life.

If there is one thing that you have to do in Istanbul, that is to have a traditional Turkish breakfast.

Turkish breakfasts are famous all over the world due to the mix of dishes arranged on a plate, and the best place to have one is in the country where it originated from.

When it comes to the most delicious and Instagrammable breakfast in Istanbul, there is one particular restaurant that I will always recommend: Arada Cafe. Originally a Lebanese restaurant, having 2 location around the city of Istanbul (Arada Endulus and Arada Beyrut), the restaurants are serving a delicious fusion between of the 2 cuisines: Turkish and Lebanese. if you choose to enjoy a breakfast at Arada, make sure to choose Arada Cafe Beyrut as they are only serving an all-day breakfast.

Hafiz Mustafa is a famous sweet shop in Turkey as well as in the entire Europe. The founder won 11 medals in sweets and delights industry in Europe. The shop offers Turkish baklava assortments along with a multitude of other Turkish delights for every taste!

Synergy of cultures, Istanbul offers you the taste of Europe and Asia in the same time. But when it comes to the oriental scents, I would go for an Arabic perfumery brand famous in Asia having more shops around Istanbul: Maa AlThahab. Let yourself being delighted by their oriental scents and travel between decades of history and traditions while trying different scents from their shops.