Most often, a vacation in Istanbul is limited to exploring a few sights, walking through the markets and relaxing on the beach. The city will reveal all its secrets only to those who are imbued with its spirit and understand the habits of its residents. With the help of early booking of tours to Turkey, you can plan an interesting, profitable trip to the former Constantinople in advance and see with your own eyes a city where Eastern and Western cultures mix.

We will tell you 12 things that you should definitely do in Istanbul to turn your vacation into a continuous adventure.

Take a sailing trip and spend the sunset on a ferry between two continents

It is especially great to visit Istanbul during the sailing regatta and visit the boat of one of the participating teams. During the race, sailboats reach speeds of up to 53 km / h. A cruise along the Bosphorus will give you beautiful landscapes. In 5 hours, you will see most of the palaces and mosques of the city. If you just want to take a few photos from the water, take a ride on a public ferry.

Get lost in Istanbul

Don't plan routes, just wander around the city. This way, you will find the most unusual and hidden places, and also meet the most interesting people.

Haggle at the Grand Bazaar

Haggling is almost a sacred process for Turkish sellers. Always insist on discounts. At the Grand Bazaar, you will find many unique things at pleasant prices.

Feel like a sultan in Turkish baths

After an hour of rubbing with a special exfoliating glove (kese), you will feel cleaner than ever. Drinking tea after the procedure will help you completely relax. This heavenly pleasure costs about $ 50. Finally, you can dress up like a sultan in the Galata Tower.

Visit the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia

Trust us - this is an incredibly powerful experience. Find a good guide to the Hagia Sophia so you can walk around it and see Byzantine mosaics next to Islamic calligraphy. Plan your visit to the Blue Mosque so that you don’t go there during prayer times.

Visit a tea factory

It was in Istanbul that we learned how tea is made. It turns out that it’s a long and painstaking process that has been perfected for a thousand years. The Black Sea region is a great place to see the production in action. It seems that tea is drunk everywhere in Istanbul. Be sure to try apple, pomegranate, and black tea.

Hike through the Turkish Alps to the Black Sea coast

One of the exciting reasons to buy a tour to Istanbul is the opportunity to climb to an altitude of more than two kilometers and spend the night there. For this adventure, go from Istanbul to the Ayder Valley. There you can drink water from clean streams, eat mountain honey, and enjoy the beauty of nature.

See the medieval Zilkale Castle in the Valley of Storms

As you approach, this castle seems to emerge from the clouds. After exploring it, you will definitely want to try Turkish cheese fondue. Don’t give up on it, because it’s divine.

Visit the “bird village” and listen to the ancient whistling language

Kuşköy is quite a difficult village to get to, but it’s worth it. The village is located in the mountains between the cities of Trabzon and Giresun. For centuries, its inhabitants have used a whistling language (kuş dili), imitating the melodic intonations of the Turkish language. It allows communication over long distances. A man several kilometers away on a hilltop hopped in circles on one leg in response to our whistle.

Tame a hawk

For hundreds of years, these beautiful and proud birds have hunted in the Turkish mountains. Every year, locals catch and train hawks. After a few months, they are returned to the wild to remain wild.

Go to the Princes' Islands

These are scattered small patches of land in the Sea of ​​Marmara. The Princes' Islands are where the best viewing platforms are, allowing you to appreciate the scale of Istanbul. And walking along them is a real pleasure: shady streets, fresh air and no car noise.

Visit the Topkapi Palace

The sultans and their concubines lived here for four hundred years. It was a time of intrigue, short-sightedness, excesses and diplomatic wars. The luxurious palace complex will reveal all the secrets of the harems to you.

At different periods in history, the Persians, Greeks, Venetians and Romans tried to take over Istanbul. The city has always met its enemies with pride and fury. Today, the Turkish pearl tirelessly conquers our hearts and warmly welcomes guests. Istanbul is worthy of your attention!