Istanbul

Over Thanksgiving, we ventured to the beautiful, chaotic, vibrant, historical and buzzing city of Istanbul. I was so excited to visit after learning about all the history of the ancient Ottoman Empire, Constantinople, and the Byzantine era (from my jr high and high school history memories)! It was unlike any city I’ve been to before. I loved the gorgeous mosques, colorful buildings, and ability to walk everywhere. My favorite part was taking the ferry to the Asian continent (since the city is split between two continents) and exploring the other side. Overall the trip was the perfect mix of rest and adventure.

Kadikoy, Galata and Rustem Pasa mosque

On our first day, we explored the spice market and the beautiful blue tiles at the Rustem Pasa Mosque. It was incredible to see the detail and craftsmanship! From there, we took the ferry to Kadikoy, an adorable local area on the Asian continent side. I fell in love with the cute shops, stores and vibe of the area. Then we went back to Karakoy so we could climb the Galata Tower and check out the main downtown shopping area. This was one of my favorite areas of Istanbul, and I ended up going back here each day after! The views from the top of the tower were gorgeous.

topkapi palace, hagia sophia, blue mosque, hippodrome and basilica cistern

On our second day, we did all of the historical sites. We learned so much from our tour guide, and it was incredible to see such old places and feel the spirits of those who lived there (not joking)! My favorite place was Topkapi Palace — where the sultans used to live — and imagining what their life was like inside the walls. The most beautiful mosque was the Blue Mosque, with its ornate tiles and blue decoration. On our last few days, we wandered around the city and explored different neighborhoods and markets. The spice market and Grand Bazaar were so neat (and huge!) and I thoroughly enjoyed the tea at Beta Yeti Han. Truly the trip of a lifetime!