Christmas in Istanbul 2024: The Adventure Begins
A Crazy Adventure or More Madness than Adventure?
This year, we decided to push our limits even further. Without a car, with all our luggage in backpacks, we aimed to rely as much as possible on the available modes of transportation.
But let me tell you a story. I think it was in August 2024 when I made the first booking and started sketching out a small plan of what to visit, where to go, and how many days we’d need. By October, we were pretty determined, and by November, we had paid for the accommodations and flights.
Our crazy adventure began on December 19th, as we left home in Berceni, Bucharest, determined to avoid any easy travel methods unless absolutely necessary. We walked for 15 minutes to tram 25 on Șoseaua Giurgiului, riding about 20 stops to Militari Bus Terminal. At 10 PM, we departed on a Kamil Koç bus, tickets purchased via FlixBus. Everything went smoothly; the conditions were decent, and given the late hour, we slept through most of the journey—especially the kids. Choosing this method of travel saved us a full day for exploring.
We arrived in Istanbul on December 20th at 11 AM, delayed due to thorough customs checks when crossing into both Bulgaria and Turkey.
At Esenler Bus Terminal, we tried to find transportation to our accommodation but struggled to navigate such a massive station. Feeling lost, a kind Turkish gentleman noticed us and called a taxi for us. While the fare seemed reasonable, there was no visible meter, though we managed to pay by card. We arrived on time at Royal Suites Sultanahmet.
After a short rest, we dined at the hotel’s restaurant (found via Booking.com). Since it was still early, we set out to explore with no particular destination. The pleasant weather led us to the Blue Mosque, followed by Hagia Sophia using Google Maps. From there, we visited Topkapi Palace, then strolled through the nearby park to Yeni Mosque.
Still full of energy, we crossed Galata Bridge to reach Galata Tower. Although tickets couldn’t be purchased by card at the booth, we bought them online. Timing was perfect—we enjoyed stunning views of Istanbul both during the day and at night.
We returned to our accommodation after a very fulfilling day, having seen more than planned thanks to the lovely weather.
December 21st
The weather wasn’t ideal for strolling, so we headed to LEGOLAND as the kids insisted. Using the BiTaksi app, we got there comfortably. The kids had a blast until 5 PM, enjoying a carousel, numerous LEGO-building activities, a 4D cinema, and a play area. After they were thoroughly worn out, we went to İstForum Mall for dinner and did some shopping at Carrefour before taking a taxi back to the hotel.
December 22nd
Today, we visited Miniaturk Istanbul. On the way to the bus, we discovered Hafiz Mustafa 1864, a local patisserie we couldn’t resist. At Eminönü Otobüs Peronları station, we got a transit card, loaded it, and boarded bus 50E to Miniaturk.
The visit was calm and enjoyable, showcasing Turkey’s landmarks in miniature. On the way back, we likely got off the bus a stop too early and ended up crossing Galata Bridge on foot toward Royal Suites Sultanahmet. We stopped at Bambi Büfe Istanbul, where we enjoyed traditional kebabs with portions larger than expected, so we took some to-go.
December 23rd
We had tickets for a Bosphorus cruise but didn’t realize it would be quite a long ride. Arriving early at the meeting point behind Hagia Sophia, we wandered aimlessly, eventually finding Ahırkapı İskelesi, a cruise terminal. Here, we could’ve bought tickets directly, but we waited for our guide while enjoying the Bosphorus view.
After the cruise, we noticed an intriguing restaurant, Balkan Restaurant on Hobyar Street. Despite not understanding the menu, everything looked and tasted amazing. The restaurant, with its self-service format, won us over entirely. Even as I write this, I’m eager to return!
Later, we let Adela guide us for a 40-minute walk without using Google Maps. She led us brilliantly, even though I felt slightly disoriented at one point. Her route took us back to Hagia Sophia, through Arasta Bazaar, and, of course, to Balkan Restaurant, where we grabbed food to-go for the kids.
December 24th
This was a relaxing day. We strolled across Galata Bridge, revisited Galata Tower, bought souvenirs, and ended the day at Balkan Restaurant for another delicious meal. Back at the hotel, we eagerly awaited Santa Claus.
December 25th
After the kids received their gifts from Santa, we had breakfast—again at Balkan Restaurant (yes, we’re hooked!). With our backpacks, we headed for the ferry near Galata Bridge to cross to the Asian side, heading toward Sabiha Gökçen Airport. A 20-minute ferry ride followed by an hour-long metro journey brought us to the airport. Istanbul is truly a massive city.
Everything went smoothly at the airport, and soon we were aboard our Air Arabia flight, ready for our next destination.
Thank you, Istanbul! You exceeded our expectations with your breathtaking sights and incredible cuisine. We can’t wait to return!
