Istanbul is a vibrant and very active city, full of interesting places to visit and, above all, full of history and diverse culture. Located in between two continents, Did you know Istanbul is part of Europe and the other part is belonging to Asia!?

When I travel I always like to stay as long as possible when I like a place to appreciate the energy and vibes of the place, but also to be able to recognize those things that those who live there normally do and that is part of the daily life of the place.

I have continuously visited Istanbul in the last five years because my sister lives there and according to her, life in Istanbul is very simple and its citizens like to enjoy simple things.

In this article, I share some of the things that those in Istanbul do so that you can also live the city like a local.

Being a Tourist in your own city

One of the things that Turks and foreigners who live in Istanbul do very often is to live being a tourist in their own city.

This is not very difficult when you live in a city so full of historical places that you will literally be standing in an important place at any time of the day.

A visit to the Grand Bazaar, or the Sultanahmet neighborhood and its wonderful mosques, the Haghia Sofia Museum, one of the Basilica Cisterns or the many delicious restaurants found in that sector is a good idea to spend a Saturday in Istanbul.

Walking near the Bosphorus

One of the wonders of living in Istanbul is that you always have the proximity of the Bosphorus to enjoy.

Turkey is a very interesting country because it belongs to two continents at the same time and the Bosphorus in Istanbul is the one that separates the European side (Rumeli) with the Asian side (Anadolu or Anatolia) and connects the Marmara Sea with the Black Sea.

The Bosphorus is part of the daily life of those who live in Istanbul. From taking a walk on the Bosphorus shore to sitting in one of the many cafés and restaurants for tea.

Simply enjoy the presence of the river at any time and make it part of your day today.

Also, many people usually fish on the banks or bridges of the Bosphorus and it is one of the activities you can do to feel like a local while you are in Istanbul.

Visiting a Market or Bazaar

Istanbul is a paradise for those who love to visit markets, bazaars, and fairs as much as I do.

You can easily spend a whole day between the Grand Bazaar and the Egyptian Bazaar or Spices Market, located very close to the Eminonu-Sultanahmet area.

Walking between the aisles of the bazaars is an adventure and you can make your purchases of spices and also decoration for your home to take as a souvenir, for example, a beautiful Turkish lamp.

What I like to do in Istanbul is to eat a Kunefe in the outer streets of the Spice Bazaar, you can see the people passing by and also feel all the crazy vibe of the place sitting enjoying this delight of local cuisine.

Taking a local ferry (not the touristy ones)

One of the best ways to enjoy the presence of the Bosphorus is to take one of the local ferries to transport you from one place to another in the city.

There are several interconnected ports and in which you pay very few Turkish lira to go from one side of the city to the other. For example, from Eminonu near the Grand Bazaar to the Asian side, or to Osmanbey to eat the best-stuffed potatoes in the city, my favorite trip!

Above the ferries, you can buy orange juice, tea, and some snacks. In most, tea is very cheap and it is for me the favorite moment of the trip.

A super good option is to browse the Bosphorus at night. On this night cruise, you can enjoy dinner onboard a night cruise that includes the best views of the city and a belly dance show. You can BOOK HERE and enjoy an unforgettable night in the Turkish capital.

Meeting with friends

One of the things they do every day, or whenever possible in Istanbul is to get together with friends with any excuse. Either for a special occasion but also for the sole fact of sharing and spending time together.

You will always see groups of friends walking through the streets, or sitting in a cafe smoking hookah or playing a board game or drinking tea in some of the thousands of existing points for it.

The important thing is to maintain relationships and for people of any age, this is part of daily life in Istanbul.

Do you travel alone? Try to meet new friends during your walks or contact people from one of the traveling communities like Couchsurfing, or you can even take a free tour where they can show you the city and maybe meet new friends to get a closer look at life in Turkey.

Going out for breakfast, or how I call it…Turkish brunch!

I am not sure who will have invented the Brunch as we know it in the western world, but that the Turks know how to do the best I have no doubt.

The concept of “Breakfast” in Turkey includes a lot of food displayed on your table or a buffet where you can choose all your favorites.

Turks and those who have lived in Istanbul for a while tend to meet for breakfast on weekends and this means starting around 10 or 11 in the morning until 1 or 2 pm.

You will see a display of tea and coffee, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, varieties of bread and preparations such as the wonderful Gözleme, Börek or Menemen, the typical eggs with tomatoes. My mouth is already watering just thinking about it!

Make a picnic/bbq looking the Bosphorus

Life in Istanbul is enjoyed outdoors and friends or family usually go on a picnic during the weekends or in the summer afternoons, when the days are longer and warmer.

Drink Tea, everywhere and all the time

From the moment you arrive in Turkey get ready to drink a lot of tea. It will come as a gift with your lunch, when you enter a store they will offer it to you as part of the conversation or at any time you talk to someone they can offer you a cup of tea.

Many times they have insisted that I sit down to talk for a few minutes and enjoy a simple cup of tea, in shops and markets, but also in friends’ houses and basically any place you visit can be an excuse to enjoy this rich concoction.

Going out to a coffee shop to smoke nargile

Part of the rituals that happen in Turkey, smoking hookah or shisha in one of the many cafes is part of the plan for many groups of friends who gather around these beautiful pipes to smoke flavored tobacco.

Turkey is mostly Muslim and with deep-rooted traditions, some slightly macho to the western eye, such as, for example, almost all coffees are mostly frequented only by men, but nowadays it is not so strange to find a mixed group or of only friends and not mean a special issue that women are inside.

Eat seeds in any place

Choose Sunflower or pumpkin seeds and take a seat, you will find them everywhere and some do not bother to take them to the dump so sometimes you see lots of peel shells at the foot of a bank in front of the Bosphorus or in a square.

Eating seeds is part of everyday life (in my family of Arab origin in Chile we always ate them at my grandfather’s house after lunch, or at night, or well…anytime) and they serve to share a few minutes of conversation with friends or family or to enjoy them only while admiring the beauty of the city.

Going to a Hammam

Without a doubt, one of my favorite activities in Istanbul is to visit a Hamam. These traditional wellness and health centers still preserve the traditional architecture and methods to relax the body with water and steam.

They are mostly visited by locals quite often, but there are some located in tourist areas visited mostly by foreigners at much higher prices.

On average an afternoon of Turkish bath including soap massage costs about € 20 but there is some for much more or less.

They are usually separated by sex having an area only for men and another only for women, where massages and treatments are performed by people of the same sex (I prefer these, but I’ve heard at some, men give treatments to women) and are a time to relax and rest from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Going out of Istambul

There are many day or weekend trips that can be done from Istanbul. As much as visiting nearby cities like Bursa or going for a few hours to relax at the Black Sea that is very close to the city of Istanbul.

Another option that I love is to visit the Prince Islands which is reached by ferry from Istanbul. You can also go for the weekend to see the ruins of Troy and enjoy food and a lot of history.

Another great day trip from Istanbul is to visit Bursa and the Silk Market, you can READ HERE about this lovely city and plan your trip from Istanbul.

Where to stay in Istambul

My favorite area to stay in Istanbul is Sultanahmet. It is here where everything happens and the perfect starting point to tour the city and all its most tractive tourist points.

During the day it will be full of action, but at night it is quiet and with good gastronomic and hotel offers to enjoy a perfect stay.

In general, in Istanbul, the offer of hotels is very varied and the prices very good in relation to the quality, here are some of my chosen ones to stay in the Sultanahmet area.

Luxury Hotel

The Ajwa Hotel Sultanahmet is one of the best to stay in this area, not only for the excellent location but also for its quality and service.

With a traditional Ottoman style decoration and many details such as silk carpets and beautiful carvings in the woods, including details such as marble in the bathroom and everything you need to enjoy Istanbul with a little luxury.

Prices start at US$200 per night and include unlimited mini bar and snacks.

You can BOOK HERE at Booking at the best prices or read more reviews from guests at Tripadvisor

Medium range Hotel

The Best Point Hotel Old City it’s located in the historic center of Istanbul steps away from Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace.

The rooms are decorated in warm Turkish-style tones and best of all, some apartments have a private Turkish bath!

It has a rooftop terrace with views of the Marmara Sea and the Blue Mosque and offers a free buffet of mezzes, soft drinks, cakes and cookies, and snacks at night.

Prices start at US$ 87 per night in a room with breakfast included, with Hammam and private garden.

You can BOOK HERE at Booking at the best prices or read more reviews from guests at Tripadvisor

Budget Hotel

The Hotel Divalis is located just 5 minutes walk from Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia, 1 km from the typical shops of the Grand Bazaar and 16 km from Atatürk International Airport.

With simple and traditional decoration, its rooms are clean and some include an outdoor area with traditional-style cushions.

Prices start at US$ 55 per night in a room with breakfast included,

 You can BOOK HERE at Booking at the best prices or read more reviews from guests at Tripadvisor

The Stanpoli Hostel is the best place to stay if you are searching to meet other travelers.

They have mixed private and shared rooms or only for women. The dormitories have curtains on each bed to deliver more privacy. It is also very quiet and has a terrace with a great view!

Prices start at US$ 12 per night in a bed in a shared room,

You can BOOK HERE at Booking at the best prices or read more reviews from guests at Tripadvisor

Conclusion

As it is, Istanbul is a city to enjoy the moment, in which those who live there know or have learned that those little moments are the ones that make life better.

Having a cup of coffee, sharing your ideas with friends or simply walking through the city is part of what we can all incorporate into our lives to make them more bearable and happy at all times, not only when we travel and are in tourist mode.

From my days in Istanbul, I always carry this memory with me, that of men and women sharing life, talking and simply enjoying the minute we are alive.

Have you already been to Istanbul? What would you like to know about this beautiful city?