This was my first time visiting Istanbul, and I spent 7 amazing days exploring the city. I visited in May, and honestly, I don't think I could have chosen a better time. The weather was warm and pleasant during the day, while the evenings were cool enough to make walking around the city really enjoyable.
The first thing that surprised me was just how huge Istanbul is. Getting from one place to another often took much longer than I expected. I stayed with a friend on the Asian side, away from the main tourist attractions, so I ended up spending a lot of time commuting each day. If you're planning to visit without a car, I'd definitely recommend staying closer to the areas you want to explore. Even if your accommodation costs a little more, you'll save yourself a lot of time and energy.
Some of my favorite places were:
Of course, these are just some of the places I managed to visit. Istanbul has so much more to offer, and there were plenty of amazing spots that I simply didn't have enough time to see. That's one of the reasons I'd love to come back someday.
I'll let the photos speak for themselves, but if you enjoy history, Islamic architecture, lively streets, incredible food, and don't mind walking a lot, I highly recommend adding Istanbul to your travel list.
If anyone has any questions about my trip, transportation, costs, or anything else, feel free to ask in the comments—I'll be happy to help!