How to Travel ISTANBUL, Turkiye 🇹🇷 - Your COMPLETE Guide

Welcome to Istanbul, Turkiye (Turkey)! 👋
Are you planning a trip to Istanbul, Turkey? Or maybe you just want to know more about this intriguing city. In this complete travel guide, we will navigate you through everything you will need to know before visiting. From the best neighborhoods to stay, top sites to explore, and many more essential travel tips for a seamless trip.
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[@phagan0001]

My wife and I arrived in Istanbul in late September of 1998 and your video revived many happy memories -- Thanks! We stayed in a family run hotel close to the hippodrome, Sultanahmet District. While in Istanbul we walked everywhere, and at a very nice seafood restaurant, we asked our waiter, where to go in the south of Turkey for warm weather and seas. He told us to go to Ölüdeniz. We followed his advice and did go there after first staying a couple of days in Ephesus. For out trip to Ephesus and Ölüdeniz we took buses which were great. We enjoyed Ephesus very much. Ölüdeniz was perfect, where we had 10 wonderful days with sunny skies and 85 degree air temperature and the same temperature in the crystal clear sea. Most amazingly, our expenses in 1998 were so low. I remember that our hotel was $13 per night and had a beautiful pool and it included a Turkish style breakfast. Now, I want to get out our old photos of this trip.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We will be back in March so thank you for the recommendation!! It would be great if it was still $13 a night! 😆 Thank you for watching and commenting!! Cheers!!🍻

[@OrthodoxosKarkiniaris]

@@BrianandCarrie They speak English?

[@fidel7498]

Türkiye is my favourite country

[@BrianandCarrie]

We are loving it ❤️

[@d.y.e3803]

Excellent vlog! Istanbul is just as I remember it. I flew from L.A.-Paris-Istanbul during my annual Paris, spring-season vacation. Istanbul was a wonderful city with really nice people and great food. You got to experience the new International Airport which opened in 2019. Although I thought that I had been in Istanbul in the late 1990s (like 1999), it was actually April 2000. I just took out my photo album which I had added dates. I do remember seeing earthquake damage while in the taxi from the old Atatürk Airport to my hotel. I just realized that the big quake was in Aug 1999, 8 months prior to my arrival. I remember arriving with a mini emergency earthquake kit, just in case. I've been used to earthquakes here at home since a child and also was the head of the earthquake search and rescue team at work here. In various professions, we are trained for earthquakes. It was great seeing Hagia Sophia in your video. I stayed about a 3-minute walk from there in a small boutique hotel, Hotel Empress Zoe, owned by a woman from San Francisco and who was at the hotel daily. My room was a small room, directly across from the neighborhood mosque and the call to prayer several times a day. The sounds took some getting used to, but it was magical. Right near Hagia Sophia is the structure of the first jailhouse/prison in Istanbul which was built around 1918, but converted to the Four Seasons Hotel in 1996. The structure is quite historical. I wish I had also taken a few days at that hotel as it was still quite new when I was in Istanbul. Plus, they were having introductory special prices. I did go inside and the very friendly staff member told me about the history of the structure and showed me around. I think the structure was renovated again in 2021. There's a lot of history in Sultanahmet. It was great seeing you guys do Istanbul so extensively and on foot. I remember walking for hours on end and one day 12 hours of being out and about. I arrived back to my hotel at midnight. One of the other solo female guests at my hotel, whom I accidentally met in the small breakfast room, and I connected and for one day went out into the city. She had already been there several days prior to my arrival. On that day, I remember us walking to the Beyoglu District as we walked across the Galata Bridge and went to the tower and also other places in that district. She was leaving Istanbul the next day and was on a solo 2-year around-the-world journey. She had taken a 2-year leave of absence from her high-stress law firm position, and decided to take off into the world. I remember us dropping into a travel agency that same day as she had decided, that her next destination would be Madagascar. I did Istanbul using a paper map and was fine. I also travel solo and am used to having to figure out directions, etc on my own. I also have to be cautious, in some areas of travel places, due being a solo female traveling around the world. But, I've been doing solo travel since I was seventeen years old and I am now in my sixties. Awareness of one's surroundings and street smarts are big helpers. Keep having a great time! I'm looking forward to the next vlog/video. Greetings from Los Angeles

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much for sharing 😊. We truly loved our time in this beautiful City. Cheers!!

[@d.y.e3803]

You guys really captured it beautifully. Great job! Greetings from Los Angeles @@BrianandCarrie

[@OrthodoxosKarkiniaris]

@@BrianandCarrie You didn't visit Phanari and the Patriarch? The Big university of Greeks? Megali tou genous scholi

[@Fell214]

Another winner. You folks have pretty much mastered the genre. So nice to see a couple of fellow U.S. citizens travel the world without making it all about them…but about amazing places and logistics.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much! We appreciate the kind words and you following along on the journey. Cheers!!

[@user-wo8xy9ln2m]

Just love watching you two! 100% our favourite KZbinrs.... honest, down to earth travel advice! Thank you from County Antrim, 🇮🇪

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much for the kind words!! ❤

[@BestHiphop-yg3mi]

Great video! I think that Istanbul is one of the most beautiful cities in the world where you have so much to do and see. Food is one of the best in the world. If you are curious Turkish pizza is called “Lahmacun” and Baked Potato filled with different choices is called “Kumpir”. You will find the best Kumpir in Ortakoy neighbourhood. Lahmacun is hot and miss but look for Gaziantep Lahmacun. Same with Baklava , usually Gaziantep Baklava is the best with pistachios. Gulluoglu Baklava is one of the best ones in Istanbul which could be a bit pricey than normal, but it worths it in my opinion (if you like baklava). I know you guys love beer, so I’m sure you will like both Efes and Tuborg which are two popular beer brands in Turkey. Efes is Turkish and Tuborg is Danish. Both are great and very cheap if you buy them from stores. Enjoy your time in Istanbul, it is a beautiful city.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much for the great info. We 100% agree, so much to see and do. Never a chance to get bored. And yes, the beers from the store are a great deal. Thanks so much for watching - Cheers!!

[@johnvillalovos]

Great video. We really enjoyed our time there a year ago. Like you we stayed for one month. One thing people often don't realize is how hilly Istanbul is. The public transport is awesome in Istanbul. We had a great time. We ended up staying in Kadikoy.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, the hills can really get you. We just counted it towards the daily exercise ☺️. We had heard from others that Kadikoy was a great place to stay, especially if you're there for awhile. Thanks so much for watching. Cheers!!

[@kayclifton9064]

I can hardly wait until I go there because there are historical places in Turkey 🇹🇷 that worth seeing. Keep posting guys love it. Kay

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching, Kay!❤

[@danieltroyo3847]

Thanks for showing us another very nice,informative video,Istanbul looks a great city to visit,you guys look amazing!!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thanks, Daniel!! 🍻

[@therahughes1018]

What an amazing video. I love all the " Pro Tips". You two are informative tour guides for the" Average Tourist ". I love it!!! . I do hope you get to Ephesus sometime in your travels.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much. We won't make it there this time, but have already been planning coming back in the Spring. Thanks so much for watching. Cheers 🍻

[@wilmabrock6257]

The Bosporus is not a River but a sea strait between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for the clarification. So much information that we sometimes miss speak. Hopefully you enjoyed the rest of the video. Cheers!

[@OrthodoxosKarkiniaris]

Βόσπορος, Προποντίδα

[@KathyinKentuckyUSA]

I started watching Brian and Carrie about a year ago whensI was planning a vacation to Paris-- you popped up on my feed. Currently, I am going through a dark time. I am smiling watching your video. My lovely husband (he is not part of the darkness) would like to visit Istanbul some day and I agree it would be thrilling. Feel good about yourselves today, you have made me forget my trouble for 25 minutes. Cheers!, Kathy

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi Kathy! I'm sorry to hear you are going through a difficult time. We truly hope and pray whatever you're going through, gets easier very soon ♥. We are happy to know this video took your mind off things, if only for a brief time. Istanbul is a wonderful city and one we highly recommend others add to their list, if possible. Sending Big hugs!!

[@kevinkirkpatrick1873]

We love starting our weekends off with some coffee and your new videos..has become a tradition ...cheers!

[@monacaltabiano936]

The Turkish Delight from Turkiye is unforgettable. 🙏❤️

[@nomadjim]

Great overview of Istanbul! Makes me want to go back and spend more time there. I stayed in Beyoglu as well and it really is the best centrally located neighborhood to stay in. Looking forward to your next destination. Cheers!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you! Yes, we highly recommend that area, so central to everything. Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@21eesa]

Great video quality and some solid info there too! I was there last year and stayed on the asian side and i loved it so much more than sultanahmet, peaceful, beautiful and really good food with non tourist prices

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you 😊. We really enjoyed that area as well, always nice to get out of the busy touristy areas. Cheers!!

[@kenmcclow8963]

We stayed in the old city near Topkapi palace and the Aya Sofia and Blue Mosque and Hippodrome. The hotel was on a walking street and had a rooftop deck with pretty nice views. We were there for a week near the end of Ramadan and over Eid Al Fitr, so there were always a lot of people out at restaurants after dark and walking around the hippodrome area in front of the Mosques and I thought it was the best timing to visit. On the negative side for tourism, all the museums were free on the holiday, so people visited the cemetery and then went to the museums. That was the day we chose to visit a church with well preserved frescoes and a bus trip to the Asian side and there was a lot of traffic as you might guess in a huge city. On a holiday I would stay in the neighborhood I was staying in. On other days we visited lots of smaller mosques and the university. We ate at a restaurant under the Galata bridge that was good and we took the subway to avoid the steep hill and walked up Istaclal cadesi to Taksim and back. We didn’t get to go up Galata tower because it was closed by the time we were on the way back. We did a dinner boat trip up and down the Bosporus which was one of my favorite things. There was a place with a lot of bus tours and they were sorted by language so we were in the English bus. That was the unfortunate holiday so it turned into an eight hour slog with all the traffic. I probably would have gone for a shorter bus ride without the visit to the Asian side and just take a ferry over. I definitely would do a tour boat because some of the houses and palaces along the water are impressive. I got to see the Theodosian walls briefly and there are many other things I’d love to see on a second trip The grand bazaar was very touristy to me and I don’t think I would go back, but I would like to visit the city again.

[@BrianandCarrie]

It sounds like you two had an amazing time. Thank you for sharing and adding to the channel!! Cheers!!🍻

[@LisaShear-fb6nd]

Great tip on rooftop bars! I started putting those on my must do list after finding great ones in Athens! Looking forward to a trip to Istanbul in the further!

[@sheilakelly6015]

great video ! Have a great stay!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching, Sheila. ❤

[@livingworkingoutsidebox]

Wonderful breakdown. Thanks.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you!!

[@stephaniemiersch]

Absolutely LOVE this epidode. You guys are great! ❤️

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much ❤️

[@OrthodoxosKarkiniaris]

@@BrianandCarrie Hagia Sophia made by the Greek architects Anthemios + Isidoros

[@travel_and_explore_with_bip]

Lovvvve your videos. Been in Istanbul twice, first on European side, then on Asian side, such an Amazing and vibrant city!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much 😊. We really loved Istanbul and look forward to going back.

[@travel_and_explore_with_bip]

@@BrianandCarrie Me too, I love Turkey and Istanbul is a place you can explore for life, there’s so much to see!

[@jiggyjean9081]

LOVE LOVE LOVE this video! I can't wait to see you next month!!! 😊❤❤❤

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you ❤️.... I'm counting down the days, can't wait to see you!! 😘😘

[@leeanneNZ]

Thanks again for an awesome vlog. Great style of vlog. It looks amazing.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much ❤️

[@kevinandange]

Wow. Such a beautiful city. So excited to be visiting next May. Thanks for sharing all the information. Glad its all within walking distance as we decided not to hire car until we leave Istanbul and head to Cappadocia. Great video. Thanks for the share 😀 😊. Have a great day 😀

[@azores-pv6ft]

Excellent video. Very informative. It will be my guide for the month I’m planning to be in Turkey

[@KathyinKentuckyUSA]

Your music in your videos is ON POINT! keep up the good work!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you!! The music is always the tricky part. 😀

[@vaguelyvagrant9694]

Awesome. After having been to Istanbul a couple of times, I completely agree with everything you've said!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you very much!! We appreciate the support! Cheers!!🍻

[@scottjohnson1964]

My first stop in March. Thanks.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching, Scott! Safe travels! Cheers!!🍻

[@barryoneill7016]

You had me with Irish Pubs ;-)

[@bronwynquinn4477]

Wow! What a wonderful video! So much tremendous information…beautiful photography , and a great resource! Thanks you two!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching!! ❤

[@wanderingwelshman2858]

Very very good video very imformative Well edited great video ❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you!!!

[@oldaloneandfarfromhome]

Phenomenal! You have given me loads to think about, as I look to visit Turkey in the fall of next year! I'm greatly anticipating your additional stops in the country.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We have loved our time here in Turkey! You have a lot to look forward to next fall! Thank you for watching! Cheers!!🍻

[@sunoh100]

As always, I love watching your travel videos and am always jealous 😂😅😂 that you guys are seeing so many beautiful places.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much for watching. We feel incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to do the traveling we do. Cheers!!

[@viagenseoutrascoisas2235]

Hi! Thanks for sharing. I wish you all the best ❤

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching! ❤🤗

[@viagenseoutrascoisas2235]

@@BrianandCarrie ❤️

[@russellhind7445]

Another superb video guys! The information, time and the general quality of your videos is excellent. You put such a lot of effort in to making them. I enjoy your work - well done! 👍🏻

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you, Russell. We are enjoying the process of trying to make each video better than the last. Thank you for watching! Cheers!!🍻

[@TexasDoug393]

Half expecting Jason Bourne or James Bond to walk through the scene. As always, very helpful. I went on a Boy Scout camp out to the island of Rhodes when we lived in Greece and could see Turkey from the beach, but that's as close as I ever got.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We may be going to Rhodes next spring! We really love this part of the world. Turkey is a must visit!! As always, Doug, thank you for watching and commenting! Cheers!!🍻

[@markfinlay9615]

Hi Guys, Thanks for the camera advice. I loved the Istanbul video and think it is one of your best. It painted a picture and the recommendations were spot on. I am looking forward to next weeks video.😊

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, you are welcome, and thank you!! Cheers!!🍻

[@mumtazdurmaz88]

Good job. I am glad you have enjoined your stay in istanbul.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We loved Istanbul ❤️

[@nowboardingvlogs]

Enjoy your content! We would love to go to Istanbul, and after watching this, we just might have to move it up on our list!

[@BrianandCarrie]

We loved Istanbul!! We encourage spending time in Cappadocia as well. Thank you for watching and for the comments! Cheers!!🍻

[@artbrutnewyork]

Outstanding video! Great visuals, music, tips, and commentary! Love Istanbul . Looking forward to your video sharing your monthly cost of living.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much, we really appreciate that 😊. Cheers!!

[@stimulatedstats7353]

In your shots, you really include details and different streets or places that I have not seen in the shots of other youtubers before. That's really nice.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you!!!

[@stevenbagley9858]

great video. love the music

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you, Steven! Cheers!!🍻

[@billmacleod1397]

Wow ! Great video . We really want to go there after watching this...Thanks

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much 😊. We loved Istanbul and highly recommend visiting. Cheers!!

[@lupodlupi]

Thank you for sharing… im planing on going during the fall …

[@BrianandCarrie]

You will have a fantastic time!! Thank you for watching and safe travels!!

[@k.k.9897]

Turkiye is my number one place I desire to go! I am excited for your upcoming videos. Thank you for sharing your experiences and expertise.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching! Turkey is amazing and should definitely be at the top of your list!!! Cheers!!🍻

[@Danielle-ic7pv]

Thanks again for another great video. After we visited Istanbul we went to Cappadocce and Bodrum. These 2 places were amazing also.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Our Cappadocia video will be out this weekend!! We had an amazing time! ❤

[@ericdenissen1229]

merhaba brian and carrie beautiful and interesting video about istanbul i recognized many points wherever i have been, the mosques for example have fun in istanbul

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you, Eric! Cheers!!🍻

[@ed5421]

Happy to see you are doing Turkiye. I'm planning seven weeks traveling around Turkiye next summer.

[@BrianandCarrie]

You have so much to look forward to! We are loving our time here so much. Thank you for watching and commenting! Cheers!!🍻

[@tiyes94]

Turkish here, Turkey is full of scams especially in popular tourist destinations. So be aware before you go!

[@ProwalkTour]

Amazing ❤❤, The way you do the work gracefully - I am very proud of you. Thanks for going through the trouble and it's worth it. I’ve never witnessed such awesome editing as this one. You have the absolute power to rise above any situation or struggle and transform yourself into the strongest and most beautiful version of yourself ever. The secret to happiness is doing what you love and learning to love what you have to do to get it. Congratulations and best of luck for your promising future. Keep doing the best work. Great job, you are amazing, you are important, you are special, you are unique, and you are valuable! Never give up, go ahead, fight for your dreams, everything will get better for you, I wish you good luck. I truly love your channel. You have my full support.

[@BrianandCarrie]

WOW!! Thank you so much for the kind words!! We very much appreciate the support. ❤❤❤

[@1965stockport]

Another great vlog. Superb information from you both. However, disappointed Brian wasn't videoed having a hair cut in a Turkish barbers. Love you two so much and you are keeping us on track to do the same

[@BrianandCarrie]

I wish that I had! The Turkish air cuts are an experience worth havening. I wasn't expecting a face scrub!!😳 Thank you so much for your continued support!! ❤

[@ChilloutLars]

Enjoying your creativity, the little suspense music added under the grotto. Thought I was suddenly watching the da Vinci code! I believe that as we get older and wiser, money and success have less meaning. Courage and bravery will eventually define us. Travelling the world in challenging times is a testimony to you both. Hard to walk past a donor kebab!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much - we are always trying to improve our content and make it better. We 100% agree with you - in your younger years, moving up in your career and making more money had so much more value. Then you soon realize, that your bank account won't go with you and one day you will be too old, tired, or have something come up making it impossible to explore. Stepping out of our comfort zone, not always easy, makes us even more ready for the next adventure. We feel so incredibly lucky to be doing what we are doing as so many don't have that choice. Thanks for watching - Cheers!!

[@ChilloutLars]

@@BrianandCarrie Sums it all up beautifully. Cheers

[@Gen_X_Jenn]

Your travel tips are always my go-to for information of what to see and what to avoid. I love it. Keep it up! Please also share your GoPro info. What case are you using, etc...

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much ❤️. As for our go pro that we use and case, the link is in the video description. We are very happy with them. Thanks so much for watching.

[@joncarlton6182]

Great video! If you go back again, I recommend visiting one of the islands, i.e. Princess Island, and taking a bosphorous tour (all the way up to Black Sea and back). Happy travels!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for the tips...we very much plan to return and will be sure to add this to the list. Cheers!!

[@rickanddonnatrotter7728]

we love Turkiye

[@leapintothewild]

Great overview!! Such an amazing city, and near the top of my own list. So glad to see your experience. (Aside, I found the music balance really off in the past few vids, having to turn it way down, then back up to hear you speak. May be just me? But makes it a challenge to watch.)

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for letting us know about the music. It seems to be balanced on our end, but we can always make adjustments moving forward. Cheers!!🍻

[@gillescormier7348]

Great job, guys, good explanation. We have been following you for a while. We are in Istanbul now, but we are leaving for Antalya on Tuesday. It would have been fun to have a beer with you. From you shots of the Galata tower, you may be gone now. It has been covered with scaffolds for over a week. Keep posting.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi, yes are KZbin videos are a bit behind our location. We've actually been in Antalya for a bit now and are here for a little longer. Maybe our paths will cross before we leave. Cheers!!

[@jamiewojciechowski205]

Thanks for sharing, I appreciate all the information and the travel tips. I am heading to Istanbul in June of 2024 for a few weeks and look forward to seeing the sights you visited.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching our channel, Jamie, you will have a great time!! Safe travels. ❤

[@brucefellowes4848]

Another great video. I believe the name for a Turkish pizza is called Pide

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you! Yes, that's it.... Thank you 😊

[@nurcanerdogdu8487]

Great video! I am originally from İstanbul but have lived in London for 5 years. Will travel to my city with my lovely English boyfriend in May. As I don' t want to miss any updates about my city whilst I will show him I watched your video. Should say it is very informative. Thank you for your effort and please don't miss travelling to other cities in Turkey. I am sure you will love it! Lots of love ❤

[@BrianandCarrie]

We are currently in Fethiye and having a great time! Cappadocia and Antalya were equally amazing! We love Turkey!!! ❤

[@realwalks]

We LOVE Istanbul! Visited for the first time in 2009, then back in 2013 for our honeymoon, and back on 2014 for 3 months ❤, then 2015 & 2016. Just visited last year again.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Istanbul is one of our favorite cities as well. We spent over 2 months in Turkey and heading back this spring!! Thank you for watching and commenting!! Cheers!!🍻

[@JM-fi4mf]

Nice and very informative video! Thanks! How is the weather in October?

[@BrianandCarrie]

October was really nice in Istanbul and here in Antalya, the month of November has been nice as well. The last week we've had some rain and wind but that's to be expected this time of year. Thank you for watching!! Cheers!!🍻

[@Somali1971]

I've been to Istanbul more than 7 times I love that city.

[@smalto59]

Thank you great job, my wife and I just came back from Istanbul and I'm ready to go back,

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much for watching, we look forward to going back as well 😀

[@ronorange990]

Terrific video and on our bucket list! With recent geopolitical events, are protests and/or safety issues a concern presently?

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, we left Istanbul as things were heating up. Protests daily, we kept a low profile shooting this video differently than in the past. We have had no issues since we left for Cappadocia and now arriving in Antalya. Turkey should absolutely be on your bucket list. We are having an amazing time!! Thank you for watching!! Cheers!!🍻

[@whirltraveller1350]

Thanks for the memories of Istanbul guys. I lost most of my Greece and Turkiye video footage due to a hard drive crash. Dud you try lining up with the locals to buy a fish sandwich from one of the boats? Something to try. Much appreciated. Keep them coming. Roger

[@BrianandCarrie]

We always worry about losing footage before we get them downloaded to KZbin! We do have external hard drives that we transfer everything to as well, but it would be tragic to lose everything. We did not try the fish sandwich, but it sounds like something we would try! Cheers!!🍻

[@whirltraveller1350]

I misspoke. It was actually my MD Book external hard drive that failed. You guys are rare and one of a minority that reply. Like you, I try to reply to every comment I receive. But mine is just a hobby and not anything else. Cheers. Roger

[@BrianandCarrie]

We really try to keep up on replying to all comments. If it wasn't for the viewers we wouldn't be here!!

[@monacaltabiano936]

You're so lucky!

[@idasfofmae8544]

Thanks for sharing. I've watched a dozen+ of your videos and this one is by far the most helpful for others looking to visit new cities. Would be fantastic if each of your 'base-camp' cities had a similar video. Especially love the breakdown of neighborhoods for both short and long-term stays. Excellent production and love everything covered. Do you feel Istanbul is fairly safe for solo female travelers? What would you advise or recommend for those visiting solo?

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much! We are looking to change our "base-camp" videos to be more informative and less "selfie" style of video. Istanbul is safe for solo female travelers and we would recommend staying in the same area that we did in this video. Thank you again for watching! ❤

[@garryl5785]

Love your video. it looks very interesting. What currency is mostly used and how was the language barrier

[@BrianandCarrie]

The Turkish Lira is used and 100 is worth about $3.60. There is a bit of a language barrier outside of the tourist area but you can always manage with a smile. 😀

[@andreablack4573]

A wonderful video! I had never thought of going to Istanbul but it is now on the list. Other places I had never thought of going are Seville and Valencia but am now planning to go next year thanks to your videos! BTW how safe is Istanbul for a single woman without a headscarf?

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much! I would have felt very safe in the area we stayed, near Galata Tower. No head scarf needed. Like anywhere, I'm not typically out walking by myself at night. Cheers!!

[@ceciliacravero3609]

thanks for the video! really useful. May I ask in which month of the year was it recorded?

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching, Cecilia. We were there the month of October.

[@fredkarenclark4551]

Love watching you both travel Europe as we do as well. We are now in Paris for 7 days after leaving Lagos. It's very busy, we were wondering if you make more money if we watch the adds till the end or is pushing the skip button fine? Do love some of the adds as they change as we change cities.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thanks so much for watching! Not sure on the length watched of the ads vs pay, and some are quite long, so we just appreciate any time you give them 😊. Enjoy your time in Paris, we still haven't made it there. Cheers!!

[@efeturk8520]

It's a nice video. If you come to Turkey again, I recommend you to go to Eskişehir, which is an underrated city. You can travel by high-speed train Eskişehir.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We are in Fethiye now and are loving it!! Beautiful country you have!!!

[@jameshall2299]

Great video. We are planning at least a month in turkey. Probably a full month in Istanbul and then 2 weeks in Antalya? We shall see. We will be coming from a month in Greece and we are wanting to visit Romania and Bulgaria and finish in Italy, so we are hoping Romania and Bulgaria don’t make it into the Schengen this year. Safe travels!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Sounds like you have a great plan in place! We've really loved our time in Turkey and can say we highly recommend. Cheers!!

[@user-vg7bg9lv3o]

Best haircut I have ever had😅. Brian ask for the wax job for ears etc.

[@88mphmusic27]

You Guys Are Good - Another Great Video! So...Are you currently in Istanbul?? Trying to connect on your travel schedule.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you! We have just arrived in Antalya after spending 10 days in Cappadocia. We highly recommend a few days in Cappadocia!

[@muratmurat624]

Welcome to İstanbul ! Have a nice time !❤

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you! We are loving Istanbul ♥

[@user-ur5nb3uq9v]

Just beautiful! Do you know if the five-day pass has to be five consecutive days or can you split them up?

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you!! ❤ We believe that it activates as soon as you use it.

[@JH-me]

Sold!

[@NewCastleIndiana]

Nice. Seems more inviting than I would have thought. Is this part of your Schengen strategy?

[@BrianandCarrie]

It's a great place, we love it. It was part of the Schengen shuffle 😊.

[@roadtofreecollege6337]

Thanks for this comprehensive video. You hit all the important info about visiting the city. I was surprised to see no one wearing a mask. In your other videos there has been at least a smattering of masks. Not here. I wonder why. -Elizabeth

[@BrianandCarrie]

You're very welcome ☺. We only saw masks worn on occasion. In our experience, there are certain parts of the world where masks just aren't worn. When we were in the Balkans, which was when COVID was still going strong, you rarely saw a mask and they weren't required. Thanks so much for your support as always! Cheers

[@user-vj3zv1sg4j]

Hi Brian and Carrie, thank you for all the detailed information you provided, they are so useful and you guys are amazing. I am planning a trip to Istanbul and will be staying at the Millennium Istanbul Golden Horn for 3 days. Then we are heading out to several cities and finally back to Istanbul for another 4 days. For the 4 days stay since we would have spent 3 days exploring all the sites in the Sultanahmet area, i'm considering staying in the Beyoglu area but the coverage of this area is quite big. Should i stay close to Istiklal Avenue or Galata tower or Karakoy? I'm looking at a few airbnb and unsure what area i should stick to. i did originally secured a really nice hotel in the Sultanahmet for a great price but i can cancel. We are fit, mid 50's , love to walk, enjoy a drink but not big in partying disco night scene and we don't care for expensive luxury hotel. Can you recommend some area or even the place you stayed if you think they are good. Thank you so much and keep doing what you do now!

[@BrianandCarrie]

We really liked our Airbnb and the location. The link is in the video description. It was an easy walk to most of the sites and the ferry terminal is also close by. Thank you for watching and safe travels! Cheers!!🍻

[@GilbertoVelez]

Wow, we just came back from Istanbul in October 2023. We spent a week in Bodrum and another week in Istanbul. Highly recommend visiting Bodrum. So I have a question for you guys: Did you ever consider renting out your home as collecting rent as a source of income as opposed to selling it? What do you think would have been the pros and cons to doing that? I ask because that's what my wife and I are considering doing.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We may be back in Turkey in March, Bodrum is where we will be staying if we do. We had each decided to sell our homes before making the final decision. Being homeowners for 30 years we didn't want the responsibility of owning a home any longer. We understand the idea behind collecting rent for income but being debt-free and having money invested seemed like a better idea. Thank you for watching, Gilbert Cheers!!🍻

[@skyblader]

Hello, but March is too early for Bodrum or other seas side places. @@BrianandCarrie

[@BrianandCarrie]

We have a dental appointment in March. Thanks for commenting. Cheese!

[@MikeS29]

Super exciting episode! If I may ask, what was the cost of the flight from Palermo via Rome? I'm too impatient to wait for your cost of stay video 😅 Cheers!

[@BrianandCarrie]

We flew Ryan Air and I believe it was only about $30. 🍻

[@Amandajohnston-mo8fu]

Hi Brian and Carrie, with your videos you guys inspired hubby and I to come to turkey this september , I cant wait to see Cappidocia and Antayla , ? spelling..... Im stuck on planning where to stay in Istanbul, we r not keen on high tourist areas and not really not interested in the mosques, would like to stay somewhere quiet so "call to prayer " is in a faint distance and does not wake us up at 5am. we do like culture, restaurants and shops. Somewhere central but out of hustle and bussle. Is there a nice marina district ? Also you suggested a week in Istanbul , how long would you say in Antayla and Cappidocia to see the main highlights and have a few days down time , is there any othere areas worth a stop I see Bodrum is quite popular.......... we are doing the semi slow travel lol Thank you

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi! I would suggest watching our videos from the these locations (as well as our Fethiye video coming out this Saturday). We try to highlight the best areas to stayand why and how long needed to visit. Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@Amandajohnston-mo8fu]

@@BrianandCarrie FYI I have watched them a few times . but there was no mention about the call to prayer and the impact it can have on your stay. looking forward to the Fethiye video, will you be going to greece too ?

[@BrianandCarrie]

Call to prayer isn't a problem at all. It only lasts a couple of minutes and is actually fun to listen to. We just arrived in Rhodes, and it is beautiful! We will be going to Crete next month. 😃

[@paulbailey5167]

Hello, enjoyed the video! Did you ever feel unsafe traveling there as Americans with all the things going on right now?

[@BrianandCarrie]

In the beginning, we were a bit concerned but as soon as we moved from Istanbul to Cappadocia and Antalya, we haven't had any concerns. People have been very friendly. Thank you for watching, Paul. Cheers!🍻

[@raidermanjeff]

again guys great video of turkey i never know how beautiful this country is and the great history thanks for letting me the bars and happy hours thats important LOL LMAO Hahhahahah just kidding

[@Woonmoonsan]

Interesting, though the Bosphorus that divides Istanbul is a strait - a narrow stretch of sea - rather than a river.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much, that's very good to know. We try to learn so much, but do miss some things. Cheers 🍻

[@clairedsc5807]

Thanks for the video! It is correct that most public transportation TAKES CREDIT CARDS (the touchless ones) except MAMARAY from Sabiha airport where we'll be landing from Zurich, CH hence that we only have 3 FULL DAYS @ Istanbul, thus staying at Sultanahmet is preferred ? ALSO, I heard that the Christian side of Ayasofia is covered now (or blocked due to the "war" that has been going on)? My husband likes Michelin restaurants, so we'll be eating there ;-) Interesting ground design like Lisbon, Portugal of course they had the Ottoman influence 🙂 By the way, Beyoğlu, pronounces beyooLU (the G is silent)

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, I'd probably pick the old city area of we only had a few days. But, the city is so easily walkable, near Galata Tower was our favorite area. We aren't sure on the state of things currently as we were there about a month ago. Have a wonderful trip, Istanbul is amazing.

[@clairedsc5807]

@@BrianandCarrie Thank you for the reply! Yeah, we only have 4.5 days before my daughters go back to school; since we're only 3hrs away by plane, why not do the "hop" for the New Year....So scarves won't be a prob. since it's Jan. 2024 LOL / not hot! But praying that it would rain less 🙂

[@makeyourlifeeasier5794]

I see lots of English signs, does that mean Englush is widely spoken? Another great video!

[@BrianandCarrie]

We found that less English was spoken here than most places that we have been to.

[@user-th7nn2tu9k]

Great video. Thanks for sharing. Bosphorus is not a river.

[@divegirl4811]

Do you guys share which Airbnbs you choose? Would be great to leverage all your research and hard work!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for the reminder! We forgot to add the link to the description. We only link the Airbnb accommodations that we would recommend. We don't get any kickbacks from Airbnb. Cheers!!🍻 Here is the link: www.airbnb.com/rooms/2708036?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=7850edc7-64da-4c6d-9b99-6ca11378d303

[@soroushnorouzi9924]

Mate can you go with short and singlet to the church if you can you go the mosque

[@paullindo6191]

And is USD accepted on the street? Or visitors have to exchange for local currency?

[@BrianandCarrie]

Turkey uses the Turkish Lira so you will have to exchange any cash or use an ATM.

[@winwinwin282828]

A lot of people in istanbul don't speak English but they understand English though.

[@eddies8174]

Hi Carrie n Brian. I plan to spend a full month in Istanbul from 15 october. Ive already done the touristy things in last trip. May i ask where u stayed n paid for the month you were there? Where would you stay again if you planned a second trip?:)

[@BrianandCarrie]

We stayed over near Galata Tower. The link to our Airbnb is in the video description and we would definitely stay there again. Thank you for watching and safe travels. Cheers!!🍻

[@RoseWhite-fc3sg]

Hello, Please, I want to know the name of the area in which you stayed. The second question is: Is Istanbul cheap for food and housing?

[@BrianandCarrie]

We talk about what neighborhood hood we stayed in in the video along with a map. There is also a link to the Airbnb in the video description.

[@RoamSweetRoam.]

We love Istanbul! How has inflation affected the tourist areas? Is everything a lot more expensive?

[@BrianandCarrie]

In some cases, yes but we found the prices to be reasonable overall. We will have our monthly cost of living video out at the end of the month. If you are new to the channel, (thank you for joining us) we do our cost breakdown video for each location we visit. Cheers!!🍻

[@davidkeller5949]

Would you consider sharing your AirB&B spots you selected? I don't know if that is something AirB&B frowns on or not but you always seem to find awesome places to stay!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi, David. The Airbnb's that we recommend are in the video descriptions. Remember that prices change by season and inflation! 🙂

[@user-mg4gx8lo6q]

Carrie, your hair always looks great! I’m nearly 50 and have more grey than blonde these days. I’m worried about my ability to get my roots touched up regularly. What your secret???

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you, I'm not a fan of my hair AT ALL, so I appreciate that. There is no lack of beauty salons anywhere we've traveled and coloring is something always listed on the prices.

[@user-mg4gx8lo6q]

@@BrianandCarrie Thank you! I'll have to watch more. My husband and I have been binge watching your videos and I've only ever heard about Brian's haircuts! LOL

[@BrianandCarrie]

😂