City Break – Falling in love with Istanbul

On a whim, a few weeks ago, I decided to buy a plane ticket to Istanbul. With my father’s sudden death this summer, the last few months have been rather difficult and I was looking for a change of scenery. After a colleague spoke positively about Istanbul, I realized that this city might be the perfect destination to take my mind off things.

Although this decision was made on a whim, Istanbul is a destination I had dreamed of going to for a long time. A city with a dizzying history, former capital of empires, Istanbul is a must-see for anyone who loves history, like me.

I didn’t have any fixed plans, so I let myself go with the flow of the city for a week. And I loved it! Here are three reasons why I completely fell in love with Istanbul.

Istanbul, a city with an imperial past

It’s hard to summarize the history of Istanbul in just a few lines. Named Byzantium, then Constantinople, it is one of the most important ancient capitals (with Rome and Athens). It was the capital of the Byzantine Empire, then the Ottoman Empire, and had a considerable influence on world history.

And this rich history can be seen when you walk around the city. It’s hard to describe how I felt when I arrived in front of Hagia Sophia, one of the architectural wonders of the world. Built in the 6th century, Hagia Sophia was for a long time the largest cathedral in Christianity, before being converted into a mosque when Istanbul fell into the hands of the Ottomans.

I am passionate about history, so I feel like I spent the week being completely blown away by the grandeur of the palaces, the beauty of the churches and mosques, and the many thousand-year-old ruins.

Istanbul, a city at the crossroads of the worlds

Situated on both sides of the Bosphorus Strait, a crossing point between Europe and Asia, Istanbul has the particularity of being at the crossroads of these two continents. And this influence, both Western and Eastern, gives Istanbul a unique atmosphere.

While walking around, I sometimes had the impression that Istanbul was not so different from the other major European cities I have visited. But at the same time, the smells, the tastes, the markets, the small alleys and the chaotic traffic also reminded me of Asia.

This mix of cultures definitely makes it a unique place, a city unlike any other I have visited before.

Istanbul, a vibrant and friendly city

A friend came to meet me in Istanbul, but I also spent some time there alone. I had read before going that Istanbul was considered a safe city, even for a woman traveling solo, and that is ultimately the impression I got. I found it easy to get around and I felt welcome everywhere.

And what about its stray cat population? It is estimated that there are at least 150,000 cats living on the streets of Istanbul. And the city seems to belong to them. I saw them in parks and public squares, in shops and restaurants, in museums and even inside Hagia Sophia. They give Istanbul a unique and friendly atmosphere.

This very short summary of my impressions probably does not do justice to this city that I fell in love with. But one thing is certain, this week spent in Istanbul has definitely made me want to come back one day!