My trip to Istanbul — Explore the bridge city of Asia and Europe

Istanbul’s vibrant Grand Bazaar, traditional pastries, hundreds of palaces and temples… will make you fall in love at first sight. Istanbul is a unique city because of its location between Europe and Asia; it has long been a dream destination for travelers from all over the world. Many individuals come to discover the culture when they have the opportunity because they are fascinated by the solemnity of the Oriental and the modernity of the Western! Let’s have a look at the wonderful city through my Istanbul trip and Istanbul travel blog: Visit Asia’s and Europe’s bridging city.

My trip to Istanbul: Get lost at the Grand Bazaar

Needless to say, when it comes to the architectural and historical structures that are highly appreciated in Istanbul, I will tell you about the area that I am most enthusiastic about: the Grand Bazaar.

I had read a lot about the market’s brilliance before coming here, but when I first found it, I couldn’t help but open my mouth in astonishment.

You’ll be trapped in the maze with no idea where you came from or how to get out. And I got lost in one of the world’s largest and most famous markets. It is strongly advised that you carry a market map with you!

During the Ottoman Empire, the Grand Bazaar served as a trading post for products, as well as a stop on the silk and spice routes to Europe. The Grand Bazaar features 12 gates, four of which are important entrances. When entering the Grand Bazaar, there is usually a security guard at the entry who uses a scanner to verify the security of each passenger.

Grand Bazaar is divided into sections, each of which specializes in selling a distinct type of goods. When you visit businesses that specialize in selling gold, jewels, and foreign cash, you will be impressed.

Then I went to the stores where Turkish spices are offered in a variety of eye-catching colors. It would be a pity if you did not visit the carpet selling area, which is dedicated to selling sweets and has merchants standing at the door who are always eager to welcome clients to try some specialties.

Another great feature of the Grand Bazaar is that there are only salesmen out there! Read more Explore Grand Bazaar Market Istanbul.

Baklava – Traditional pastries satisfy every gourmet.

In Turkey, baklava is the most popular dessert. I “drowned” in the baklava bakeries that can be found all over Istanbul’s streets.

The fundamental form of baklava is thin and layered, with the bottom layer coated with condensed milk and each layer covered with a distinctive syrup topped with a tiny laughing chestnut (pistachio). Chestnut is a very popular bead in this nation, and it can be found in almost all sweets.

A traditional Baklava tray. There are also numerous variants with a variety of shapes, sizes or flavors.

The chestnut cake is covered by the laughing nut, coconut, and bean inside

In the morning, sip a nice cup of tea and eat some freshly baked delicious baklava. You will feel energized to begin a new day. I was so taken with this delectable cake that I organized a series of tastings. And then it seems like I’ve consumed the most sugar in your life, yet the next day you’ll want to have baklava again.

The palaces and mosques

Istanbul contains a huge cultural treasure. From the international airport to Istanbul, you will find a myriad of mosques built with large domes, and most of them are very grandiose and imposing, Istanbul alone has about more than 3.000 moques.

It would be a miss if don’t mention the Sultan Ahmed Mosque or Blue Mosque. It is the largest mosque in the city with 20,000 glazed blue tiles, with the main dome in the middle and many small domes around, with six pointed towers, rise to the sky.

Blue Mosque

When entering the Blue Mosque , women are required to cover their hair. Everyone must wear long pants, and go barefoot

Not far from the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, a symbol of the Ottoman Empire, is another must-see attraction in Istanbul. It was initially an Oriental Buddhist cathedral, but was subsequently transformed to a mosque in 1453, and eventually to 1935, the Hagia Sophia became a historical museum with a rich history and religious importance of Istanbul in particular and Turkey in general.

If the mosque make you feel the mysterious Oriental civilization, then there are two magnificent palaces in Istanbul, no less than the European ones are the Topkapi Palace and the Dolmabahçe Palace.

Not only being a massive historical treasure, The Topkapi Palace also offers the magnificent view overlooking the Golden Horn, a natural harbor in Istanbul, the Bosphorus and the Marmara Sea.

The palace has 4 gates separated by 4 large courtyards and a harem, covering an area of 70 hectares, surrounded by 5km long wall.

The Dolmabahçe Palace was the main center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1922 and was built under Sultan Abdul Mejid I. The work was started in 1843 and completed at a cost of 35 tons of gold, with 285 rooms and more than 40 halls.