Winter Turkey, from which you do not want to return.
Of course, it is worth going to Istanbul at least once in winter: there will be no heat, which will prevent you from walking, enjoying the beautiful views, and crowds of tourists, who often combine holidays in this city and on the seashore in summer. The editor-in-chief of Profi.Travel Artyom Chumak visited Istanbul on New Year’s Eve and shares his impressions.
Nice to meet you, Istanbul!
Anyone who is in Istanbul for the first time simply cannot do without visiting St. Sophia — this is perhaps the most famous landmark of the city, its business card. Although those who come here every year cannot pass by: the magic of this ancient place (Aye Sofia is 1,500 years old!) it attracts so many visitors every day that you have to stand in line to enter. Tip: in order not to languish in anticipation, it is better to go to the mosque in a group with a guide — a separate passage is open for them here.
By the way, already in mid-January 2024, St. Sophia will become a museum again, which means that entrance to it will again be paid. But, probably, tourists will be given access to the gallery on the second floor again — now it is impossible to get to it. But it’s also worth looking at the mosque from the first floor — not a single photo can convey the feelings that you experience while here: goosebumps run down your skin from some amazing tranquility and timelessness that reigns in St. Sophia. By the way, you really lose track of time here, succumbing to the desire to consider every detail and every pattern.
Directly opposite, across Sultanahmet Square, is the famous Blue Mosque. The meaning of its name becomes clear when rays penetrate through the amazingly beautiful blue mosaic on all 260 windows and highlight the blue tiles. Then an unusual blue glow spreads under the dome, from which it is difficult to take your eyes off.
It is worth considering that the Blue Mosque is closed during prayer, so it is better to plan the time of its visit in advance.
From here you can walk to the Basilica cistern. This reservoir has been preserved since Byzantine times, which is now studied in all courses on architecture as an example of the unique thought of ancient builders.
Thanks to the lighting in the tank, a slightly mysterious atmosphere is created, in which you begin to speak in a whisper (there are excellent acoustics here) and feel like the hero of a film about ancient knights.
Of course, the next “stop” for beginners in Istanbul is Topkapi Palace. It was here that all the sultans of the Ottoman Empire lived until the middle of the XIX century.
However, it is worth returning here for those who have already visited the complex: it is not so easy to get around it at one time, look into the harem, walk along all the paths and see all the museum exhibits. This means that every time you can discover new interesting nuances.
Here you will see a collection of unique watches — gifts to the sultans, and precious jewelry, and a variety of weapons owned by all 25 sultans.
Istanbul, which inspires
It is worth climbing the Galata Tower, which is located in the European part of the city, only for the sake of stunning views. Red tiled roofs and St. Sophia on the other side of the Golden Horn Bay, under the sunset rays — this picture still stands in front of my eyes when I remember Istanbul.
When you come down from the Galata Tower, do not leave immediately — there are many cozy and atmospheric streets around it with curious graffiti, small pleasant cafes and a variety of souvenir shops.
You can have a cup of Turkish coffee sitting right next to the wall, which has become an art object.
If you climb up from the Galata Tower, you will get to the local “Arbat” — the pedestrian “party” Istiklal street. Here, as in the whole city, the smell of baked chestnuts pleasantly tickles the nostrils, and the atmosphere here, of course, is created by the famous red tram, which still carries passengers since 1871. It’s definitely worth a ride!
And if you look behind one of the gates located right in the building, you can get into such a courtyard and find a Gothic temple in it, next to which, surrounded by flowering plants, a decorated Christmas tree is so comfortably perched.
Just a few minutes away from Istiklal, on Hamidiye Street, there is the famous cafe-confectionery Hafiz Mustafa 1864. It takes up as many as three floors, where floor-to-ceiling windows allow you to enjoy the views of the city while coffee is being prepared for you. And they really know how to cook it here! By the way, if, like me, traditional Turkish cups seem too small to you, then you can order double coffee in this cafe — and they will bring you not two beakers fused together, but quite the usual volume.
And in the evening you can take a ride along the Bosphorus Strait on a yacht — this is an unforgettable feeling and a completely different angle — a view of Istanbul from the water. By the way, the tour operator Anex, which organized this trip, can book New Year’s yacht trips — both for a large group and individual ones.
Photo: Artem Chumak
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