Travel: Istanbul

I think I ate my favorite piece of food from this trip in the airport. The honey cake was outstanding and I keep thinking about it. We left Egypt at 1AM and crossed the Bosphorus Bridge as morning light softened the city of Istanbul. We were ready to explore a new place.

We headed straight into the historic core, wandering through Hagia Sophia, the surrounding market district of Sultanahmet, and down into hidden underground spaces near the old catacombs.

Lunch was casual and grounding: a simple stop at Spare Fare, followed by a bright Gavurdağı Salatası that tasted like herbs and sunshine.

The night ended sweetly in Beyoğlu at Karaköy Güllüoğlu, sampling crispy kadayıf, cheese-filled pastries, and chicken rice pudding.

We slept in and let the hotel breakfast do the heavy lifting before diving into the sensory overload of the Grand Bazaar, where time folds in on itself.

From there, we saw the Galata Tower known for sweeping views over rooftops and water, then spent time at Istanbul Modern, grounding the ancient city in contemporary expression.

The afternoon unfolded gently: snacks, a long harbor walk along the Galata Bridge, a stop in a colorful candy shop, and dinner at a cozy seafood spot where rainbow-colored fish and the sound of water closed the day.

Our final morning slowed everything down. I visited a traditional hammam at Çemberlitaş Hamamı, letting steam and ritual reset my body after the long travel stretch.

After breakfast, we descended into the quiet, echoing beauty of the Basilica Cistern, where water, columns, and history hold the city’s breath.

Then, just like that, the stopover ended—brief, layered, and made richer by sharing it together.