Turkey
Seems like a boring blog title right? What is so interesting about Traveltomtom going to the dentist in Istanbul? There are so many cool things to do in Istanbul, why would you go to the dentist? Well, the story is a little more interesting than the blog title may suggest. Read how I ended up choosing for a dentist treatment abroad.
Everyone is constantly saying they are stuck because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Everyone's trips get cancelled, yet I am still traveling. So what is my secret? Why am I able to still travel the world during the Corona pandemic? The answer is simple...
After visiting Turkey more than 15 times over the last couple years last time I decided to go wild on my Turkey trip and travel to off the beaten path places on top of the standard top sights in Turkey. This way I created the ultimate road trip itinerary. With this 2 week itinerary for Turkey you can easily plan your trip yourself.
Trust me, traveling to Turkey does not need to be done in a group trip or with a tour operator. Let me convince you that you can do this on your own and no doubt you are going to have the time of your life.
Looking for a place to get away from the tourist trail in Turkey? Sirince, the laid-back mountain village near Ephesus the Ancient Greek city is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Turkey for that. Welcome to the village where life only seem to move at a slow pace.
After more than 10 trips to Turkey I put together this list of the most amazing places to visit. Expect quaint mountain villages, the food capital, spectacular landscapes, beautiful mosques, ancient Greek ruins, beach destinations and the unmistakably Turkey tourist destinations: Cappadocia and Pamukkale. Read about all my tips including where to stay and what to do around.
Fortunately I was able to visit Bursa a couple times and I always try to included it in my itinerary for my Turkey trip. It is easy to travel to Bursa as it is not far from Istanbul and a little 2 hour road trip will already get you there. In total I made 4 trips to Bursa already over the last years and that is how I got to know everything about the best things to do in Bursa. In this blog you will find specific travel tips for Bursa, the best tourists attractions and some cool ideas for your next trip to Bursa.
Planning a trip to Turkey and flying to Istanbul Airport? Get yourself a local prepaid sim card on arrival to avoid high roaming charges or may be easier for you an e-sim card for Turkey. This is a complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card for Turkey on arrival at Istanbul IST Airport. Find out where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per June 2023, best 4G/5G network in Turkey, opening hours, my recommendation, a vlog about my experiences and even info about international and e-sim cards for Turkey.
Flying to Istanbul soon and arriving on the Asian side at SAW Airport? If so then this is your complete guide for buying a Turkey sim card on arrival at Istanbul SAW Airport. Find up to date prices as per May 2023, where to buy a prepaid sim card, the best e-sim cards for Turkey, info about the 4G/5G network in Turkey, a vlog with my experiences arriving at SAW airport, information about international sim cards for Turkey and many more tips.
If you didn't get a chance to buy a sim card at Istanbul SAW airport then don't worry, I wrote also a complete guide for buying a sim card for Turkey in 2023.
From my experience I can also already tell you that sim cards in Istanbul city center are much cheaper, but getting connected at the airport on arrival is just so convenient, not?
The last two times I visited Istanbul I chose to stay in Besiktas, a very lively neighborhood on the Bosporus. Running around in the narrow streets of this area you don’t feel like you are in a big city. There are supermarkets, little shops, bakeries, restaurants and a dozen teahouses and coffee shops. I was there both times in winter and still people were sitting outside under the heaters sipping their tea as if it was normal, but the temperature was below zero and I was freezing my ass off!
With so many cool things to do in Istanbul it is hard to choose how to spend your days in this amazing city. Of course I want you to check out the Old City and see the magnificent Blue Mosque, get lost in the bustling streets, and go shopping in the Grand Bazaar. Or what about Taksim or the Galata Tower and then you have not even been to the Asian side. There are so many Istanbul tourist attractions, but those you will all find in your guidebook. Let me tell you 3 unique things to do in Istanbul.
Traveling to Turkey soon? Don't waste money on high roaming costs or slow overseas data roaming plans. Getting a local prepaid sim card in Turkey or an e-sim card for Turkey is easy. This is a complete guide for the best ways to stay connected when traveling to Turkey. Find out where to buy a sim card, best 4G/5G network in Turkey in 2023, up to date prices as per May 2023, the best e-sim cards for Turkey, info about international sim cards, my recommendation and even a vlog about my experiences buying a prepaid sim card in Turkey.
If you have done all the Istanbul sightseeing and still have some spare days in your agenda then you should consider taking one of the day trips from Istanbul to Edirne and pay a visit to the impressive Edirne Mosque called Selimiye. Nowadays a sleepy little town full of history, but once the capital of the Ottoman Empire, Edirne, Turkey lies only a few kilometers from the Bulgarian and the Greek border. I admit it was pretty tempting to make a little detour and cross into these two countries, as I had never been to any of them. But as we were toured around by the Turkish Tourism Board it would have been a little inappropriate to leave the country. ;) Surely some day I will end up there again!
What to do in a capital so big with even more inhabitants than my own country? Where to start and what for sure not to miss? I have been traveling to Istanbul for a couple days now and first did the most common sightseeing things, like visiting Buyuk Valide Han. If you would be in Istanbul only a couple days then I would suggest to take a hop-on-hop-off bus to see as much as possible. In that case you can call yourself a touristanbul! LOL
But hey I’m travelling, I’m not on a holiday and therefore I like to get off the beaten path in Istanbul. That way I found out about Fener-Balat.
Find here a list of 19 beautiful places to visit in Turkey, including some epic hidden gems, like the Maldives of Turkey and much more.
When looking at pictures from Istanbul you will always find a mosque in it somewhere. They are literally scattered all over the city and their minarets are looming large above the city. In the Old City you will stumble upon several Muslim worship places and five times a day you will hear their call for prayer. This sound always makes me feel like I’m travelling!
Looking for some cool adventure in Istanbul? I found out where to go to enjoy an amazing sunset over Istanbul. A place that you for sure wont find in your guidebook. Somewhere on the rooftops of an old deserted shopping mall you will find one of the best views over the city.
Istanbul is such a huge city and you can easily spend a couple days here doing all the standard touristy stuff and becoming a 'Touristanbul'! It is not hard to find something about visiting the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque or the Grand Bazaar, but what if you are after an Istanbul off the beaten track adventure? If you’re the kind of tourist who likes to get to get away from the crowds, then a Fener-Balat walking tour is your best bid!
Nowadays there are numerous ways to meet people through the web. Just take a look at your phone and you will realize that you also have one of those apps for networking. I admit I am a social media addict and meet lots of people through the web. Staying in hostels makes it super easy to meet travellers and most of them have the same mindset and are looking to connect with people from all over the world. But in my case I meet a lot of people through apps like for example Instagram.
After a long an unexpected epic weekend in Cologne I finally made my way to Istanbul. Finally, cause it was not really my plan to stay in Germany that long. I left home Friday morning and said goodbye to mom and dad and ended up in Cologne. It was the weekend of El Clasico and since I am a huge Barca aficionado it was a weekend to remember.