Solo trip to Istanbul Türkiye – Land of Both Ancient and Modern

After my first solo trip to Istanbul Türkiye it turned into one of my favorite cities in the world. Istanbul is a fascinating mix of ancient and modern. The first time I visited on my own I stayed in the Sultanahmet district due to the abundance of historic sites within walking distance and the availability of cheap accommodation. If luxury is more your style try the Four Seasons in Sultanahmet.

Tourist sites in Sultanahmet historic district

• Hagia Sophia
• Sultanahmet Mosque – known as the Blue Mosque
• Topkapi Palace
• Basilica Cistern
• Archaeological Museum
• Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art
• Great Palace Mosaic Museum
• Hippodrome of Constantinople
• Arasta Bazaar

 

 

When you’ve seen all the sites or just need a break you can spend some time eating, drinking, and shopping your way through Sultanahmet.

I have visited Istanbul in spring, summer, and autumn with my favorite being the summer visit in late June during the International Istanbul Music Festival.

Both locals and tourists packed the outdoor restaurants, cheering exuberantly while watching soccer matches on TV. I found the people of Istanbul extremely friendly, especially for such a big city.

Because Istanbul is a big tourism destination they do cater to tourists, and the Turkish are warm and welcoming people.

 

 

I also felt very safe walking alone daytime or night. I’m  sure there are neighborhoods that one shouldn’t be walking around at night alone, particularly a lone female but I spent my time in the Sultanahmet and Taksim districts without any problems whatsoever.

 

 

Taxis are readily available if you don’t feel like walking.

Sultanahmet Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque because of the blue tiles on the walls of the mosque, is a place of worship as well as being a popular tourist attraction. A design of tulips adorns the carpet of the Blue Mosque.

 

 

Hagia Sophia is an extraordinary architectural wonder. Originally a Greek Orthodox church, later transformed into a Mosque in the 1400’s, and since 1935 Hagia Sophia has been a museum.

 

 

The Archaeology Museum is full of interesting artifacts including the first love poem, written in cuneiform script. You can also see the Gate of Ishtar at the museum.

 

 

There are dozens of shops selling beautifully hand-crafted Turkish rugs in Istanbul.

 

 

Istanbul is truly rich with history – the New Mosque is only 400 years old.

 

 

The colorful tile work on the walls of the New Mosque

 

 

There are little markets along the street with assorted fresh vegetables.

 

 

Tired of walking the streets? Just hop on one of the many ferry boats and take a break – you can skip over to the Asian side of Istanbul for a change of scene or tour the Bosphorus to the Black Sea.

 

 

April is tulip season in Istanbul – gorgeous blooms are everywhere along the roadways and in raised planters around the city.

 

 

I hope you enjoyed this post and please share a bit of Istanbul with others especially anyone looking for a great solo trip!