Recently I had the good fortune to visit Turkey, specifically Istanbul–the largest city in the country despite not being the capital.
There are many excellent sites to be seen in this city that straddles two continents; Europe and Asia.
The magnificent shipping Straight of Bosphorus is a hub with many ships of all sizes scuttling backward and forwards with not only massive container ships but also small sailing boats and commuter ferries taking people to/from their homes to work and visa versa in the various sides of Istanbul.
But with the magnificent sites and its location, it’s pretty hard to know what to pack, especially given that you’ll:
– Want to respect cultural norms
– Keep warm on chillier nights as the damp seeps through our bones.
So here I’ve decided to prepare a travel packing guide to Istanbul to help you prepare.
Istanbul–A Brief History
Located on a sea of water known as the Bosphorus Strait, the city is unique in that it straddles Europe and Asia, making it a crossroads of civilizations and a dynamic cultural bridge between two continents. It was originally founded by Greek settlers around 660 BCE and became a major cultural and trade hub.
In 330 CE, the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great renamed it Constantinople, making it the capital of the Byzantine Empire with the city’s prime location nurturing its prosperity. It blended European and Asian influences. In 1453, it was conquered by the Ottoman Turks under Sultan Mehmed II and became the heart of the Ottoman Empire. Renamed Istanbul, it thrived as a cultural melting pot and is unique today for its vibrant blend of cultures; where centuries-old mosques, Byzantine churches, and Ottoman palaces coexist alongside modern skyscrapers and bustling neighbourhoods.
Things to see and do
I’m not going to go into huge detail about what to see and do, this is primarily a travel packing guide to Istanbul. I will list them here and instead, link to places where you can book ahead:
- Take a 1, 2 or 3 Day Private Guided Tour of Istanbul
- Cağaloğlu Hamamı–a Turkish Bath built in 1741
– Blue Mosque–No trip to Istanbul is complete without a visit to the Blue Mosque. Built in the 1600’s it has six minarets and is called ‘blue mosque’ either because:
1) The inside is covered with Blue İznik tiles
2) Years ago, the sailors sailing past it on the Sea of Marmara saw the blue of the sea reflected off it.
Have a visit and decide for yourself. One thing’s for sure, it’s beautiful at night.
– Sightseeing cruise along the Bosphorus Straight–see Europe and Asia by sea
– Hagia Sophia Mosque–Built in the 6th century and has 30 million gold tiles in its interior
- Basilica Cistern–This one’s my favourite. Sultanahmet is an Istanbul neighbourhood and this Cistern is an ancient underwater reservoir from the Byzantine era with over 336 marble and granite columns.
They’ve now juxtaposed the old and new with some unique art exhibits in the waters. It’s a fascinating sight. Can you see the jellyfish installations in the image below?
– Spice Market of Istanbul–a must-visit to see the plethora of colours and smells. Be warned, it gets crowded and the stall holders really shout their wares loudly. Can be a bit much if you’re sensitive to noise and crowds.
Istanbul Packing List
Because Istanbul is a cross between East and West, and more than 90% of Istanbul’s population are Sunni Muslims, you’re going to want to pack respectful clothing as what you might wear in a hot country/city elsewhere may not be appropriate here.
While Istanbul is certainly a cosmopolitan city, with this article citing that;
Turkish designers and stylists are now emerging on the international scene, revealed by the many fashion events of the year organized in the most beautiful palaces of Istanbul…
you’d still best err on the side of modesty, especially when visiting mosques. Here is my travel packing guide to Istanbul:
Clothing
- Lightweight layers: T-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, and a light sweater or jacket for cooler evenings, especially in the autumn onwards as humidity can reach 70%.
- Comfortable walking shoes: Trainers or sandals to explore the city.
- Modest attire: Long skirts or trousers and tops with sleeves for visiting mosques and religious sites. This is VERY important to respect the cultural norms of the country. Women will not be allowed into mosques if they don’t have a skirt that is at least below the knee, or a headscarf to cover their shoulders and head.
- Sunglasses and hat: For sun protection during the day. Istanbul can get very hot and if you’re wandering around a lot, you’re going to want to protect yourself.
- Swimsuit: If you’re planning to visit a hammam (Turkish bath) or a hotel pool. This sounds obvious but you’d be surprised at the amount of people who don’t equate Istanbul as a swim destination. Even if you don’t plan on doing so, you can’t leave without not having a Hamam, and a swimsuit is advised, although when I went you’re asked to strip anyway and given underwear to wear, so don’t worry!
So enjoy your trip to Istanbul, Turkey, and pack accordingly.
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