It’s always exciting visiting a city for the first time. It could be somewhere you have always wanted to explore but have just never got around to it, or perhaps a business trip has taken you to an unknown territory.
When I learned that Pegasus Airlines was flying twice a day to Istanbul from London, an enthusiastic tick was placed on my travel to-do list, as Istanbul was a city I had heard so much about and was eager to explore – and being only a three and a half hour flight away, made for the perfect long weekend break.
Late spring is an ideal time to visit Istanbul. The weather is warm, the evenings are getting longer and it’s usually dry. Destination sorted – next comes the fun part.
Where to stay
I like to find a luxury hotel with an interesting history in a great location and with extensive facilities, and the Pera Palace Hotel Jumeirah fulfilled all my criteria. It has recently been renovated and modernised to the highest standard, with all the rooms and bathrooms handsomely appointed. My room benefitted from magnificent views of the Golden Horn, which is certainly worth requesting when booking.
The Pera Palace has a historic and glamorous past. It was the first building in Turkey to instal an elevator (which is still working!) – and the second in the world after the Eiffel Tower. Many famous guests have stayed at the Pera Palace over the years, including Ernest Hemingway, Alfred Hitchcock, Sarah Bernhardt, Mata Hari, Zsa Zsa Gabor and the founder and father of modern day Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
To mark the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of his birth, his favourite room 101 was transformed into a museum, in which many of his personal belongings are exhibited, together with related artefacts acquired from local and international auctions. Agatha Christie was also a frequent guest of the Pera Palace, where she was rumoured to have written Murder on the Orient Express.
Being perfectly located in the heart of the Tepebaşi District of Pera, formally known as Little Europe, the area is the cultural and social centre of Istanbul with its numerous museums and lively nightlife. It is in easy walking distance to the famous Taksim Square, which can be reached via the main vibrant shopping street, Istiklal.
What to see
A trip to Istanbul is not complete without a visit to the four must-see sights, which are all closely located in Sultanahmet. The Topakai Palace was home to many of the sultans, dating back to the fifteenth century. The palace is laid out in a courtyard setting, with many rooms leading off, each providing a different function. Many additions to the palace have been made through the centuries, and today each room houses a different exhibition.
I was especially enthralled with the room housing portraits of all the sultans that have lived in the palace through the ages. Perhaps more impressive was the exhibition of the sultans’ jewels, especially the magnificent 86-carat Spoonmaker diamond, so-named as it was found in a pile of rubbish and sold for three spoons. In the 1850s the palace relocated close to the Bosphorus Strait and the Dolmabahçe Palace became a museum.
In close proximity to the Topkapi Palace stands the Museum of Saint Sophia. Originally a cathedral, it was transformed into a mosque in the sixth century, with the extensive interior dome covered in thirty million tiny mosaic tiles. The subterranean Basilica Cistern was my next destination. Built in the sixth century, its function was to supply water to the Byzantine Palace. The enormity of the cistern – almost the size of a cathedral – is overwhelming.
Lunch called for a visit to the Pudding Shop, which is world famous for delicious, tasty inexpensive Turkish food, which became popular in the 1960s as a meeting place for hippies. It’s a must and should definitely be incorporated into your day while visiting the Sultanahmet District.
Adorning Istanbul’s skyline with its majestic dome and towering minarets, the Blue Mosque is aptly named because of the colour of its interior tiles. Still used as a place of worship, it’s worth checking opening times as prayers take place five times a day. Expect a long queue and remember to dress respectfully (and to wear socks as shoes must be removed).
Retail therapy
Istanbul is a shopper’s paradise. The Spice Market offers a wonderfully authentic eastern shopping experience, selling much more than spices in every colour and aroma. There are trays upon trays of Turkish delight in a multitude of colours, shades and varieties imaginable, and plates piled high with the sweetest baklava I have ever sampled. Behind every stall and in front of each shop window stands an excited merchant requesting your presence in his establishment.
A trip to the famous Grand Bazaar is also a must. It is one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world with sixty-one streets housing a choice of over three thousand shops, specialising in carpets, jewellery, silver, glass and leatherwear. Most vendors will give you a ‘fixed price’, but be sure to barter as you can definitely bag yourself a bargain.
And for a western shopping experience, the Nisantasi Quarter is home to high-end European designer boutiques and some of Istanbul’s trendiest restaurants and bars, which are frequented by the more affluent locals.
Cruise on the Bosphorus
For the perfect opportunity to admire the panoramic views and skyline of Istanbul, take a memorable cruise down the Bosphorus Strait, with Asia on one side and Europe on the other. There are numerous options, but the shortest one and a half hour cruise is perfect to soak up the unique Istanbul atmosphere from the water.
Dining
Istanbul has one of the most diverse selections of bars, cafes, restaurants and hotel eateries that I have experienced, with an extensive selection of every type of cuisine. Prices are very reasonable for great quality food, but it’s worth noting that popular restaurants get very booked up, especially during the weekends, so best to make dinner reservations in advance.
This is an amazing city, offering a unique mixture of Europe and Asian cultures, and close enough from London for a long weekend break. For an exhilarating, exciting and enchanting experience, there is really nowhere else that comes close. Just remember to apply for an on-line visa before you travel.
by Amanda Bernstein
Pegasus Airlines
Hotel Pera Palace: jumeirah.com
To find out how to get a visa to visit Turkey, please go here
For additional information: gototurkey.co.uk