-CURIOSITY HAS NO BORDERS-
Europe / A Travel Journal
turkey
“Where Continents Meet and Cultures Come Alive.”
February 15-17, 2015
At a Glance
CAPITAL
Ankara
LANGUAGE
Turkish
CURRENCY
Turkish Lira (TRY or ₺)
BEST TIME
April–May and September–October
TIME ZONE
Turkey Time (TRT) — UTC+3
DRIVING SIDE
Right
DAYS STAYED
3 Days
PLACES VISITED
Istanbul
Navigate This Journey
Jump to any part of this trip
Our Journey
From Apple Tea to Turkish Baths
Istanbul was one of the destinations we chose for our honeymoon, but for Sarah, it was also a return to a city she already knew and loved. She had previously visited for work and came home talking about Istanbul with the kind of enthusiasm that made it obvious the city had stayed with her. She described it as beautiful, energetic, historic, and completely unforgettable. She was right.
There was something special about experiencing Istanbul together. Sarah was returning to a place that had already captured her heart, while I was seeing it for the first time. She could not wait to show me why she loved it, and I was curious to discover what had made such a lasting impression on her.
From the moment we arrived, the city felt alive. Traffic rushed through the streets, vendors called out to passing shoppers, cafés spilled into busy sidewalks, and towering minarets rose above neighborhoods filled with centuries of history. Istanbul seemed to be in constant motion.
Where Curiosity Took Us
#1 Istanbul
Istanbul is a city where continents, cultures, and centuries come together. Divided between Europe and Asia, it is filled with magnificent mosques, lively markets, rich traditions, and unforgettable flavors. From the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia to the winding paths of the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul captured us with its history, energy, warm apple tea, and unmistakable sense of wonder.
Sarah’s Escape to Burgazada
During one of Sarah’s work trips to Turkey, she had the chance to visit Burgazada, one of Istanbul’s Princes’ Islands—and she absolutely loved it.
Just a ferry ride from the bustle of Istanbul, the island felt like a completely different world. Burgazada is known for its slower pace, pine-covered hills, beautiful sea views, quiet residential streets, charming older homes, and a waterfront lined with boats, cafés, and restaurants.
Sarah loved simply wandering around and taking it all in. There was something about the combination of the narrow streets, colorful houses, waterfront views, and relaxed island atmosphere that made Burgazada feel peaceful and special.
While I didn’t get to experience this one with her, it was definitely one of the places she came home talking about—and judging by how much she loved it, Burgazada may need to make an appearance on a future trip together.
Funny Moments
Sunny Side Up at the Hamam
Naturally, we could not visit Istanbul without trying an authentic Turkish bath.
We had never been to a hamam before, which meant we were completely unqualified—but extremely curious. And curiosity has a habit of getting us into situations we are nowhere near prepared for.
We booked our “bath” at Çemberlitaş Hamamı, a beautiful historic Turkish bath that came highly recommended. Beforehand, we researched what to wear and kept our outfits simple, knowing we would eventually be undressing.
Welcome to Istanbul: Please Surrender Your Belongings
We arrived in Istanbul for our honeymoon excited, exhausted, and ready for romance.
Istanbul had other plans.
After getting off the plane, we headed to baggage claim.
My suitcase came out. Sara’s did not.
Historical Feature
The Night Ships Sailed Over Land
ISTANBUL, TURKEY
For more than a thousand years, Constantinople had stood as one of the greatest cities in the world.
Founded as the eastern capital of the Roman Empire, it became the heart of the Byzantine Empire and a center of trade, religion, politics, and culture. Its location was extraordinary. The city sat between Europe and Asia, surrounded by water on three sides, with the Bosporus to the east, the Sea of Marmara to the south, and the Golden Horn to the north.
And protecting the city from the west were the massive Theodosian Walls.
Built in the fifth century, these walls had defended Constantinople for centuries. They stretched for miles and were made up of multiple layers of fortification—an outer wall, a moat, and a towering inner wall reinforced with dozens of defensive towers.
💡 DID YOU KNOW?
What the Ottomans couldn’t sail past, they sailed around. Sultan Mehmed II had his ships hauled overland on greased logs — bypassing the great chain entirely.
THE SHIPS
Ottoman ships are hauled over land and launched into the Golden Horn, bypassing the great chain that protected the city.
📍 SEE IT TODAY
Walk the ancient city walls, stand beside the Golden Horn, explore Topkapi Palace, visit Hagia Sophia, and experience the layers of history that make Istanbul unlike anywhere else.
Local Food
Food became one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways for us to experience Istanbul’s culture. The meals were generous, flavorful, comforting, and never felt overly complicated. There was a familiarity to many of the dishes, but also enough difference to make every meal feel like part of the experience.
Must Try
- Kebabs
- Pide
- Manti
- Yogurtlu Semizotu
- Baklava
- Turkish Delight
- Simit
- Börek
- Turkish Coffee
- Apple Tea
Through My Lens
The Photo That Tells the Story
Hanging On to Istanbul
This became one of my featured photos because it captures the side of travel I love most—the unscripted moments you could never plan. As Istanbul’s famous red tram made its way through the city, this little boy simply climbed onto the back and held on as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
There’s something about the image that feels so distinctly Istanbul: the brilliant red tram, the Turkish flags, the movement of the city, and a child turning an ordinary ride into his own little adventure. He looks completely comfortable there, as though he has done it a hundred times before, while the rest of the city continues moving around him.
It is easy to come home with photographs of famous landmarks, but sometimes the images that stay with me most are the ones that reveal something about everyday life.
This photograph is not about a monument or a perfectly posed scene. It is about noticing what is happening in between the major sights—the people, the movement, the routines, and those small moments that make a city feel real.
Istanbul
Plan Your Trip
The little things that make traveling a whole lot easier.
🪢 Local Customs & Etiquette
💬 Useful Local Phrases
💰 Money, Payments & Tipping
📅 Climate & Best Time to Visit
✈️ Getting There & Getting Around
🛏️ Where to Stay
🛡️ Health, Safety & Hydration
📶 Staying Plugged In
🛂 Visa & Entry Requirements
Packing List
Pack smart. Travel lighter. Leave room for the unexpected.
🎒
Essentials
VIEW LIST ↓
- Lightweight, breathable clothing
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Modest outfit covering shoulders and knees for mosques
- Lightweight scarf for mosque visits
- High-SPF sunscreen
- Sunglasses and sun hat
- Refillable water bottle
- European plug adaptor
- Portable power bank
- Small crossbody bag or daypack
- Passport, cards, and some Turkish lira
- Personal medications
🧴
Nice to Have
VIEW LIST ↓
- Lightweight jacket or sweater
- Foldable shopping tote for bazaars and markets
- Packing cubes
- Waterproof phone pouch
- Small umbrella
- Motion-sickness medication for ferries or boat trips
- Camera gear
- Extra room in your luggage for souvenirs
🧥
Seasonal Additions
VIEW LIST ↓
Summer: extra lightweight clothing, portable fan, electrolyte packets
Spring & Fall: light sweater or jacket, compact umbrella
Winter: warm layers, waterproof jacket, scarf and closed-toe shoes
Coastal Areas: swimsuit, beach cover-up, sandals
Mosques & Religious Sites: scarf, modest clothing, easy-to-remove shoes
Cappadocia: layers, sturdy walking shoes, warmer clothing for early-morning balloon rides
Travel Lessons
❝
If a shopkeeper offers you tea, congratulations—you’re probably about to buy something.”
❝
Stop drinking when the coffee starts becoming chewable.”
❝
You came for one souvenir. You left wondering how to get a Turkish lamp through customs.”
❝
Nothing prepares you for lying on a marble slab while a stranger scrubs you like a stubborn casserole dish.”
❝
The Grand Bazaar is where ‘just looking’ goes to die.”
Our Curiosity Rating
Our completely subjective take on Turkey — based on what we experienced, loved, photographed, ate, survived, and would happily do again.
Culture
★★★★
Wildlife
★
Photography
★★
Adventure
★
Food
★★★★
Would we go back?
★★★★
Our Passport Stamps
Every stamp tells a story.
Written by
Ali Kubeck
Curiosity Has No Borders is more than a travel blog—it’s our journey of exploring the world with curiosity, connection, and an open mind. Together, Sarah and I seek authentic experiences, embrace the unexpected, and find meaning in the moments that can’t be planned. We hope our adventures inspire others to step beyond their comfort zones and discover how travel can change the way we see the world.
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We’d love to hear from you — whether you’ve been to this destination, have questions about the trip, or just want to share a thought. Comments are open below.
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