TRAVEL | ISTANBUL | TURKEY
3 Big Things That We Love About Istanbul
And they all go hand in hand!

Let me just start by saying that Istanbul is an incredible city and we are so excited to have returned here after being away for about a year and a half!
At the end of 2020, we spent 2.5 months living here, and we could have stayed for longer. However, it was getting cold, our visa was set to expire, and we were looking for some warmth. That was when we headed south to Egypt.
As two small-town Canadian kids, we were surprised by how much we fell in love with the city. With a population of more than 15 million people, we were sure that we would be scared off by the big city chaos. We figured that 3–4 days would be enough, then we would want to move out and go find quiet and solitude in the countryside.
But after only a few days, we realized that we were certainly not finished with it, and in fact, of all the places that we have been to so far, we have spoken the most about having a home base here.
It’s so difficult to pinpoint exactly what it is that we love about it so much. When I try to come up with an answer to that question, my eyes glaze over and my tongue gets tied.
It’s too difficult of a question to answer somehow.
But let me try.
The architecture in Istanbul is extraordinary. Absolutely stunning mosques grace many corners of the city, and while I don’t necessarily agree with the ridiculous amounts of money that is spent on these structures, they are sure nice to look at.
One could spend days and days just wandering amongst the cool buildings that seem to exist around every adorable corner in the city.

The excitement of the big city lights is nothing new for most cities. But Istanbul has bling somehow figured out on a different level. We love to see the city come alive at night, and are always amazed at the way they have highlighted certain structures to stand out amongst the rest.

We really love the diversity of the people that are here. There are representations of so many different races, religions, and cultures, all co-existing in peaceful harmony.
While on the train the other day, I took note of a couple of women in full burkhas, and standing just a couple feet away from them were a group of girls in short shorts and with their midriffs showing. Nobody bats an eye at the other, and all people are accepted for who they are.
From the straightest of straight religions to people walking around covered from head to toe in tattoos, anything goes in Istanbul, truly.
The transit system has certainly got to be one of the best in the world! There is really no need for a vehicle if you live in the city as trains, buses, boats, and trams ply into every nook and cranny. Plus, the transit is so cheap! You can get to most locations for just the equivalent of 50 cents!

The food! Oh boy, don’t even get me started on the food. Around every corner is another delightful treat that is waiting to be sampled. From olives, cheese, meatballs, and even ice cream, Istanbul has all the flavors that you could ever want. And that’s just the Turkish food! I won’t even get into the fact that I think every flavor from around the world is represented at some location in the city.
It is truly a foodies heaven!


The city is also incredibly clean and so well cared for. We see city workers picking up and collecting garbage all the time. Plus the sidewalks, roadways, and all public areas are maintained and kept in great shape.

But these reasons are just the tip of the iceberg, and I haven’t even gotten into the reasons why I have decided to write this article!
Waterfront Access
Today we left our hotel for a walk and instead of turning right as we have done all week, we decided to turn left. You can imagine our surprise when just about 200 m down, we came across a beach. And not just one beach, but a series of beaches many km long that were all connected by flat cement walkways that flanked large grass fields and many trees.
Below the walkway, the sand lead down to the water and was covered in beach blankets and people lounging about in the sun. Many people were swimming in the water and cooling off from the heat of the day.

Above the walkway were large fields of green grass with many trees planted in them. The trees provided shade for thousands of people that were lying about, having picnics, and relaxing with their families. We saw tables set up, teapots brewing tea, and large amounts of food spread out.
People were riding bikes, scooters, rollerblades, mopeds, and many other wheeled contraptions along the flat and well-maintained cement surface of the walkway.
It is Sunday which means that it was busy!

But it wasn’t so busy that it was claustrophobic, and I think I know why.
Istanbul's entire waterfront is mostly public space!
Almost any place you go along the water has been made into parks and walkways for the public to enjoy. Of course, there are the occasional palaces, hotels, ferry docks, etc., but there are very few (if any) privately owned residences that hog the prime real estate in the city.
This means that no matter where you live in the city, you can access the waterfront and enjoy all that it has to offer.

During our last stay here, we spent countless hours down by the water in many different parts of the city. It is where the true life of the city resides, and it is truly amazing that it is there for ALL to enjoy!
Parks
The parks in Istanbul are numerous! The city does an incredible job of fostering these green spaces and they are always complete with benches, play structures, toilets, garbage cans, and any other thing that you can think of to make them comfortable.

The parks aren’t just on the waterfront either. They are scattered throughout the city, and you never have to go far to find a place to sit in the shade and relax. From tiny one-block parks to sprawling lush and green oasis, Istanbul has this important aspect entirely figured out.

Cats
Okay, our absolute FAVORITE thing about Istanbul is the cats!
There is an agreement in Istanbul with the veterinarians that they will treat all stray animals for free. This means that if you see a sick cat or dog on the street, you just have to take it to the nearest vet clinic and they will fix its problems. They are then taken back to where they were found so that they can reintegrate into their neighborhood.
They also get spayed and neutered to keep the population down.
This means that there are no gnarly-looking cats that are suffering from any sorts of issues that will make them uncomfortable. It also means that it is safe to pet them, which we do, a lot.
Residents of Istanbul take it upon themselves to build little houses for the cats, and they also feed them and put water out.
No cat will be hungry in this city, that is for sure!

Citizens treat the cats as if they live in their houses, yet they don’t. We have watched people bring them their daily dose of food which always creates excitement. Plus restaurants will put out their leftovers to feed both the cats and dogs at the end of the day.
We have also seen residents feeding the seagulls and birds. It seems that the Istanbulians (don’t you love that word?) truly know how to treat animals! This is another layer of how the city seems to co-exist in such a peaceful and loving way.

In summary
So, you can see why we love Istanbul!
The fact that the waterfront is accessible to all, the parks at the waterfront and beyond are beautiful, well thought out, and clean, and that they are full of cute and (mostly) cuddly cats, are the main reasons that we love the city.
But, as laid out above, there are many other reasons too!

If you have ever thought about visiting Istanbul, I want to shout from the rooftops or the tops of the mosques,
COME! COME!
There is no way that anyone could ever be disappointed in this city. It is diverse, beautiful, and has so much to offer.
Happy traveling!
xo Jill

Hi there, we are 2 Canadians, Jill and Chris from Artistic Voyages. We have been nomadic since 2017 living in numerous different countries, and experiencing the life and diversity of our planet on the ground and firsthand. We paint FREE murals in exchange for accommodation. Consider tipping us on Ko-fi!
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