Istanbul Marathon - Start

Imagine yourself in front of the former capital o the Ottoman Empire, previous Constantinople and holder of some of the richest archeological sites in Europe. And you only have 5 days. You end up doing a marathon!
Make your plan in advance, but don't plan too tightly, because time has a different rhythm in this world full with huge history books and narghiles.
Take a day to get a feel of the city. To see how it breathes, how it sounds, how it smells and how it tastes like. (Yes. I do mean eat as many baklavas you can.)
If you're a newcomer like I was, you'll discover with joy the small oriental beauties on the streets: the ambulant sellers pushing carts full with fresh boiled corn, roasted chestnuts or ice chilled almonds. It’s like everyone is a small business owner.
Although close to the sea, the city is far from being built on flat land. So, if you feel like taking long walks, be prepared to climb some high ramps. Istanbul houses are painted in bright colors and they offer a calm contrast with the Marmara Blue sea.

You can see tall minarets rising and pointing bravely at the sky. I liked the way the prayer call is heard from all the corners of the city. It’s like a small concert for the believers. This reminds me that Turkey is also a musical country. They sing since they are small, and they do it everywhere. Every kid can play a flute.
And now, your tour can begin. Make sure to set up your alarm early in the morning, because the queues in front of the main attractions get huge in the afternoon.

Aya Sofya Museum and Sultanahmet Mosque

These are Istanbul's most emblematic elements and the area around them is quite populated with tourists. I found myself exhausted because of the heat and the long tour so I just joined the other people who were resting on the grass between these two history giants, next to the water fountain.

Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace: once upon a time there was a huge Empire. And all its rulers lived here.
The Palace was built in the 15th Century and served as a home for the sultans of the Ottoman Empire for 400 years. Its surface is of 700,000sq meters, so get ready to spend here around 3-4 hours.
You can either get a guide from the entrance, an audio tour or read all the stories yourself. In the palace’s restaurant there are signatures of plenty head states and political figures around the world (Emil Constantinescu included :D ). Don’t forget to check the Harem area.

Dolmabahce Palace

Dolmabahce Palace is on the other side of the Golden Horn and it served as a home for the last sultans, until the Caliphate was abolished in 1924. Ataturk, the first president of the Turkish Republic has also conducted most of his works here, and died at 57, in a small, modest room which is open to the public nowadays. Get ready to get your socks knocked off. The luxury in the official rooms is beyond your imagination. Crystal staircases, gold inserts, mahogany, silky carpets, everything.

The Grand Bazaar

The Grand Bazaar - although my budget was quite low and I didn't feel like buying much, this is one of the few places I really wanted to see in Istanbul. It's a unique opportunity to observe the best sales force in a country with a strong tradition in the art of negotiation like Turkey.

Princess Island & Asian Side

Princess Island is where the royal kids from the byzantine period used to be exiled. Later on, rich Christian Turks have moved here and lived their lives. I took the boat to Büyükada, the biggest island. Bicycle and Horse-Drawn carriages were available, but being tired and feeling lazy I took the carriage tour. It's a good way to relax and explore the island at the same time. The Anatolian Side. Or the Asian side, like you’ll find it on the tourists’ maps. Here is a good sunset place. After all the madness in the historical city, do come here to relax and enjoy a good ice-cream. You can admire the sun setting in the sea and have a ‘çay’ at a simple terrace.

Food, Drinks & Dance

“Festivals? Istanbul is a festival itself! “ like my friend Ceylan said. It’s so easy to get yourself lost in the streets of Taksim, the area where all the parties are. People dancing on the streets and singing, live music concerts, a simple backgammon game and narghiles, food, it’s all here! I have great memories in a club named ‘Cuba’. They had a concert with a Cuban band and it looked like everyone there has taken dancing classes. The party went on long in the night but we left around 2. I said to myself “I bet that right now, there’s a place in Cuba where they’re doing Turkish dances!”. I’ll miss this place and its colors and its music. And its FOOD! (but this is another story)