Istanbul: Eat Well, Spend Less

Istanbul, the gateway between the East and the West, is a city that has attracted tourists in hordes and has become one of the most visited cities in the world. i had been planning a trip to Turkey for quite some time now and Istanbul was the first stop.

Some may ask, how long is enough to see the city? Well, when travelling, there always could be more time.

Upon arrival and getting around

Istanbul is generally a safe city. It is an Islamic city but from my time in Turkey., the Islamic country is likely the most liberal of all the ones in the world. Woman in Turkey do not wear any sort of coverings from what i saw and both genders are so westernized. Sometimes you would not feel like you are in an Islamic country until you walked by a mosque. At one point i was on the road side awaiting my husband when i was approached by a man flirting with me, this is very common in Turkey.

English is widely spoke in Istanbul and many areas around Turkey. The government has prioritized English to be widely spoken being a big tourism country.

Istanbul Transportation.

There are standard options for transportation from Istanbul airports, to the city center. Trams, Taxi’s, Bus, Hop on and Hop off bus, and underground are widely used to get around in Istanbul.

Where to eat in Istanbul.

Istanbul has a variety of restaurants fom around the world and when on a budget and you are looking for local cuisine you can find local kebab shops of every street corner as well as the local traditional Turkish “esnaf lokantası” — a type of casual, cafeteria-style restaurant where a wide variety of home-cooked dishes are displayed in trays behind a glass counter. You can also find a variety of Asian restaurants if you take the ferry across to the asian side of Istanbul.

Hotels and Hostels

When in Amsterdam you can stay in a variety of accommodation but they are little more on the pricey side whether hostel or hotel compared to other destinations in Europe being a very expensive city for a weekend away.

Bosphorus Cruise

A Bosphorus cruise is one of the most iconic and memorable experiences in Istanbul — gliding between two continents with palaces, mosques, and mansions on either side.

Taksim Square

Taksim Square is more than just a central plaza — it’s a powerful symbol of Istanbul’s modern identity and a hub of political, cultural, and social life. Located on the European side of the city, it serves as a gateway to İstiklal Avenue, one of Istanbul’s busiest pedestrian streets filled with shops, cafes, historic buildings, and street performers.

At the heart of the square stands the Republic Monument, built in 1928 to commemorate the founding of the Turkish Republic. Nearby, you’ll find the Taksim Mosque, opened in 2021, and the historic Atatürk Cultural Center, a major venue for opera, ballet, and concerts.

Whether you’re watching locals gather on a sunny afternoon, hopping on the nostalgic red tram, or grabbing a late-night bite from a street vendor, Taksim is a place where modern Istanbul lives and breathes — loudly, colorfully, and endlessly.