Istanbul; The exotic destination just a short flight away
Istanbul: a city that gets under your skin Some places you visit, enjoy and move on. Istanbul isn’t one of those. It is a city that lingers: the call to prayer in the background, the sparkle of the Bosphorus, the layers of history around every corner. It is busy and beautiful and a little bit chaotic, and I absolutely loved it.
I recently spent a few days in Istanbul and while it is only a relatively short flight (under 4 hours), it is a world away.
My stay at the Pera Palace
I stayed at the Pera Palace, and it set the tone for the whole trip. Known for hosting the passengers of the Orient Express, it still carries that old-world elegance: polished floors, glistening chandeliers and a quiet sense of occasion in every corridor.
Afternoon tea there was a real highlight and as I had heard so much about it, I felt I must experience it. Beautifully presented cakes and pastries, dainty savouries and the sounds of a piano playing in the background. It was a very special afternoon.
Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia
Of course, no trip to Istanbul would be complete without heading over to Sultanahmet to see the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia, possibly the most iconic buildings in the city.
Walking into the Blue Mosque, with its cool tiled interiors and soft light, is a complete contrast to the lively streets outside. The blue Iznik tiles really do live up to their name, and there is a quiet, gentle atmosphere inside that I found incredibly calming.
Hagia Sophia is just as impressive, but in a different way. It has such a presence, and you can really feel its history as you stand under that huge dome and look at the details around you.
Seeing the city from the Bosphorus
One of my favourite ways to get a feel for any city is from the water, and Istanbul is perfect for this. I took a cruise along the Bosphorus and it was such a lovely way to see a different side of the city.
Gliding along with Europe on one side and Asia on the other, you pass palaces, mosques and elegant old mansions right on the waterfront. Ferries zip back and forth, locals commute between continents as if it is the most normal thing in the world, and you get that soft breeze coming off the water. It is peaceful and busy all at once, and it really helped me understand the scale and personality of the city.
Simply soaking it all up
What I loved most about Istanbul though was simply absorbing the atmosphere. Sitting outside with a coffee, wandering through streets filled with little shops and cafés, listening to the sounds of the city drifting around you. It is a sensory place: the smell of spices and fresh bread, the clink of glasses, the call to prayer echoing overhead.
Istanbul feels like a meeting point: of continents, of cultures, of old and new. It is somewhere that invites you to slow down, look around and soak it up.
