Two Months, One City: Our Slow Travel Experience in Istanbul Turkey ????????

Join us as we take a dive deep into our experience enjoying what Istanbul Turkey has to offer. We traveled to Istanbul and spent just under 2 months (August - October 2024) exploring and experiencing this amazing city with so much to see, do & eat. It's the only city in the world that straddles two continents (Europe & Asia). After nearly 2 amazing months, we feel that we barely scratched the surface on everything that Istanbul has to offer.

We talk about the neighborhood we stayed in as well as surrounding neighborhoods. The amazing sights and the delicious local foods, treats & cafes we tried. Since we stayed for so long, we discuss our experience getting groceries, some of the other shopping we did while there and the gym we joined during our stay.

We also cover transportation and Istanbul's excellent extensive transit system. It's a massive city, but it is extremely easy to navigate thanks to an amazing & diverse mass transit system.
From Turkish Delights and cute cats to how to get a very affordable sunset cruise on the water; we have you covered!

We hope you enjoy this long video. As always, if you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave them for us. We love interacting with fellow travelers and explorers! Also, we left links below to help you plan your amazing trip to Istanbul!

We're Nick & Karen, we retired early back in 2022. We sold everything and we are traveling the world slowly, staying in each place for a month or longer. We seek a more local experience, we want to get the feeling of "living" in each place.

Transportation
Getting from the airport to the city
https://www.moganddogtravels.com/blogs/istanbul-airport-to-city-centre
Metro | Tram | Funicular | Cable Car - https://www.metro.istanbul/en/
Bus Website - https://iett.istanbul/icerik/Buses

Sights
Galata Tower - https://maps.app.goo.gl/UduvDE2ngt5dUCKT6
Galata Bridge - https://maps.app.goo.gl/Y1osSPvkmVqGpCJt9
Iztiklal Street - https://maps.app.goo.gl/CEmJD9rtsDdNka698
Gülhane Park - https://maps.app.goo.gl/S7fLS8XfJRgm6a3o8
Gülhane Cistern - https://maps.app.goo.gl/u8Qy6PB7QKBsUHUD7
Cistern Art Gallery - https://maps.app.goo.gl/z3vsuKXMXypLikCw8
Cistern of Theodosius - https://maps.app.goo.gl/spvXzrZdfL3wcFPy5
Grand Bazaar - https://maps.app.goo.gl/J2mtD857aus7G1417
Egyptian Bazaar - https://maps.app.goo.gl/SWjQdZHAhe1YhEVv6
Ataturk Cultural Center - https://maps.app.goo.gl/VCeWXXBRqW7KX6jB9
Pierre Loti Hill - https://maps.app.goo.gl/dQ9jBWLZruhsq7Tn6

Mosques & Churches
Hagia Sofia - https://maps.app.goo.gl/oPerHj8zDpiNcDT98
Blue Mosque - https://maps.app.goo.gl/aQsZ4VSSsMpkPWZi8
Nuruosmaniye Mosque - https://maps.app.goo.gl/YENjNDmVKHT8SGxCA
Suleymaniye Mosque - https://maps.app.goo.gl/saR8RdCMHef6m4qw7
Fatih Mosque - https://maps.app.goo.gl/if9E2F8YD127TYE7A
Yeni Mosque - https://maps.app.goo.gl/UJqvmmfXsFKSfNFQ7
Büyük Mecidiye Mosque - https://maps.app.goo.gl/KRCfiS71EFzTwgNPA
St. Stephen’s Orthodox Church - https://maps.app.goo.gl/4cBqJg2Nu6TQqH4AA
Roman Catholic Santa Maria Draperis - https://maps.app.goo.gl/SpMpeEwzagZUgKax5

Turkish Bath - Cağaloğlu Hamamı - https://maps.app.goo.gl/bEYPZzxAwExwKwHJA

Shopping
Zorlu Center - https://maps.app.goo.gl/N4p3u5RagJctiDAy9
Cevahir Mall - https://maps.app.goo.gl/SMHj1vQfCtCMqGF17
Bomonti Flea Market - https://maps.app.goo.gl/nJFTGKsJusrE1Sgt8
Işıl Çanta ve Valiz (Luggage) - https://maps.app.goo.gl/Hv7GQgBVVezSoDJA7

Food
Hafiz Mustafa 1864 - https://maps.app.goo.gl/TGHDUKrzxwPgth6u8
Sultan Saray - https://maps.app.goo.gl/N1U8eAzBHKtPjzpz7
Hadika Kahvaltı Evi - https://maps.app.goo.gl/DkPVPPmiL1Yk9eAj8
Kovan Fırın - https://maps.app.goo.gl/zPhrhmjLJ4xLnmrd6
Hakkıoğlu Esnaf Lokantası - https://maps.app.goo.gl/TJuBLJycPQQAVKR88
Bomonti Pilavcısı Metin Usta - https://maps.app.goo.gl/oNh6qLKmNo3FXyiV9
Çaǧdaş Börek - https://maps.app.goo.gl/7EtDS3Rnn7rdnR8y8
Yes Kardeşler - https://maps.app.goo.gl/2yZrZy6XH2BhRtoF7
Bey Tantuni - https://maps.app.goo.gl/VJfHiaVFUxRU6aao6
Cihangir Tostçusu - https://maps.app.goo.gl/hqhHdhRiWvttSS7Q
Şirin Fırın Bakery - https://maps.app.goo.gl/1FagYU2aTyMXN5tMA

Coffee Shops
Mim Kahve - https://maps.app.goo.gl/37GYcAWvJqvXHcJd6
Tchibo - https://maps.app.goo.gl/BG6v92RJh3VjwGwbA
Cup of Joy - https://maps.app.goo.gl/u1GFrSXMAbEdpeBr8
Montag - https://maps.app.goo.gl/ejBASyAfeB9dG4HU6
Kahverengi Roastery - https://maps.app.goo.gl/XTFRxcKyTu1tr7se6
Probador Colectiva - https://maps.app.goo.gl/5bNoh1jkFaRNSYUc6
MOC Osmanbey - https://maps.app.goo.gl/Z4btZZSKNAK29Sbn7
Caffè Nero - https://maps.app.goo.gl/C6yiwJLSpcLfupG8A
Starbucks Reserve - https://maps.app.goo.gl/QUUMBugsRTqiKAfY9

The Red Fitness (Gym) - https://maps.app.goo.gl/VwJNJ1Q5nLcYAmmZ6

Groceries
Migros - https://maps.app.goo.gl/X2QdaCRc5MsB7n759
bim - https://maps.app.goo.gl/1SLcsEiRL4MaYP877
Şok - https://maps.app.goo.gl/YsAmjjBT7BNvhScg8
Namlı Market - https://maps.app.goo.gl/onYXQHGXV27yVjHn6