Next up on our whistlestop 48 hour city tours, guest blogger Anil Polat takes us around the towering mosques and bustling markets of Istanbul…

Day One

Find a bed…There are heaps of hostels in Istanbul, but to sleep somewhere a little more interesting, try the Chambers of the Boheme, a restored historic building in the lively Taksim quarter, the heart of the city’s nightlife. The rooms live up to the extravagant theme, with decadent furnishing and antique mirrors in the rooms, and a Cafe Boheme in the basement for espressos and smoking Shisha after hours.

Take A Ferry Across The Bosphorus…The locals use the multitude of ferries crossing from the European and Asian sides of Istanbul to get to work and visit friends during their daily lives but it’s an essential for any traveler to Istanbul. The ferries offer a great view and introduction to the city, including the Süleymaniye Mosque (Sultanahmet) to Topkapı Palace. The entire trip will take about 15 minutes.

Catch some culture…Make a beeline for Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya). A church constructed around the year 550 A.D, the building was converted into a mosque after the Ottomans conquered the city 900 years later. Aside from the impressive 15 meter main dome, you’ll see paintings from the original churches that are currently being uncovered by researchers. The lines vary, but expect a visit to take from 1-3 hours.

Brush up on your bartering…Spend an afternoon  shopping at The Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı), the oldest covered market in the world. Every shop is unique with many hidden treasures (you can find Ottoman relics tucked away in corners being sold for nothing if you look hard enough). Brush up on your bargaining skills and don’t be surprised if the shopkeeper offers you a cup of tea.

Feast your eyes (and your belly) on Turkish cuisine…Once you’ve worked up an appetite scouring for bargains, grab some dinner at traditional Turkish restaurant Mikla. Turkish cuisine is a blend of dishes left over from the Ottoman Empire, but the owner Mehmet Gurs has added his won Swedish influence to the Turkish Menu. Offering one of the most varied and interesting menus in Istanbul, the view from the restaurant, overlooking the Asian side of the city, is breathtaking. Enjoy a lazy evening grazing for several hours over a 12-course meal.

Day Two

Visit A Turkish Bath (Hamam)…After a quick breakfast at your hostel (Free at the Chambers), start your day with a spot of pampering. These bath houses were social meeting places in the days of the Ottomans and are an experience that is uniquely Turkish. Don’t be intimidated by the Hamams, the process is fairly straightforward (most have separate sections for men and women). Don’t be shy either, you’ll be naked for most of the time, until you get a towel to dry off. Get a scrub and massage, and move back and forth between the hot and cold sections of the bath. The easiest Hamam to navigate and most popular in Istanbul is the Çemberlitas Hamami. Enjoy some tea after a steam and scrub.

Sail Away… An extended version of the traditional ferry, hop on a designated ‘Bosphorus Tour’ all the way from Eminönü on the European side to Anadolu Kavağı on the Asian side (close to the Black Sea). Make time in the afternoon so that you can stop by one of the many restaurants on the shore serving freshly caught fish and Turkish appetizers. You can hop on and off the boat at each stop as you please, but if you take the entire trip (with lunch) plan on spending about 6 hours. (Drink some of the Turkish Raki and add another 2 hours to the trip!)

Go To A Soccer Game… If you’d rather stay on dry land, try and catch a football match in the afternoon. Not for the faint of heart, a football match in Istanbul is surreal. With a hectic atmopshere, the stadiums have been named  ‘hell’ by many visiting European teams, and 3 of Turkey’s major football clubs call Istanbul home. Tickets may be hard to come by but go online and you can book in advance for a Galatasaray, Besiktas, or Fenerbahce game, to witness a sea of fans chanting and cheering for their home team. Take the local’s advice on staying safe at an international football game before you go and enjoy the experience.

An Evening in İstiklal Caddesi, Beyoğlu…Istanbul is loaded with lavish bars overlooking parts of the city and you’ll be able to find one easily on Istiklal Caddesi. The main street is loaded with tourists but hop off the beaten path to one of the side streets and you’ll find a number of small cafes, pubs, and nightclubs. Have a night of drinks and wash away your hangover by picking up a ‘greasy burger’  on your way back to your hostel. These after hours snacks are delicious, despite their dubious nutritional content.

Guest blogger Anil Polat is the creator of foXnoMad where he writes about his life of traveling and tricks he picked up along the way so you can travel smarter.. Istanbul is his favourite city in the world.

[photos by: georginchen, Boudreaux and Andrea]