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Istanbul,Turkiye (formerly Turkey) has always been a dream destination of mine, and an ideal Mediterranean escape for a luxurious vacation experience. Imagine, wandering through the grand bazaar with mosaic tiles, lavish rugs, and local crafts, and then relaxing in an ancient luxurious Hamam once built for a sultan; nothing but magic in my imagination, and it was all happening in real life.
Arriving at the brand-new Istanbul airport in the city was a treat all in itself and a delightful way to start the journey. The world’s new largest airport provided one-of-a-kind service with cutting-edge technology, and it was comforting knowing I started my trip off being as eco-friendly as possible. After walking out of the terminal, my personal driver was there with bells on, in a blacked-out Mercedes suitable for a celebrity. Thankfully, we hit it off together right in the beginning, as we would be spending a lot of time together the following few days.
I decided to spend my Istanbul vacation at the Luxurious Çlrağan Palace Kempinski Hotel, the only Ottoman Imperial Palace on the Bosphorus. The 5-star service was a delightful treat, on top of the world-class spa services and mouth-watering culinary experience at Tuğra Restaurant. I spent the following day recharging from a long day of previous travel, relaxing by the outdoor infinity pool overlooking the city and Bosphorus.
While wandering around the streets of Istanbul the following day, the atmosphere gave me a relaxed, exciting, and rejuvenating feeling. I heard the call for Muslim Prayers from the most amazing mosques; I can’t describe the mesmerizing feeling when I hear it. I venture down by the water for a serene evening stroll during the sunset. The famous Bosphorus separating the European & Asian sides is a big hangout spot for locals and tourists alike. I found that Turkish people love to hang out by the water and walk around. It’s something to add to your itinerary every day. I would see birds flying and landing around locals, small cart vendors selling baked potatoes, chestnuts, or corn, and other types of delicious food.
One of my most dreamed-about experiences while on a Turkish vacation, was to indulge in the numerous opportunities of shopping. Rummaging around local craft shops and lavish markets, with a mix of colorful rugs and mosaic bowls was the highlight of my Turkish shopping experience. During my early afternoon, I ventured around more than 280 at the Istinye Park Mall, before spending hours getting lost in the famous Istanbul Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world.
When you spend all day shopping, there’s nothing better than getting immersed in a delicious meal from a local Turkish cuisine on a rooftop! One of the prominent Michellin Star restaurants is Mikla. I relaxed with a cup of Turkish coffee and breathtaking views on the rooftop terrace before ending my night in Taksim Square. On the European side of Istanbul, Taksim Square was full of living nightlights, live music, local shops, and various bright-lit restaurants and hang-out spots lasting long into the night.
What else can you do in Istanbul? One can’t be in Istanbul and ignore the Ottoman, Roman and Byzantine historic sites where a flurry of historical figures and empires have made their indelible mark on this magical country. You may start in Bebek like me and head to the Rumeli Fortress, the largest surviving fortified structure in the world, with majestic views of the Bosphorus river. Then you can head to Topkapi Palace-the main residence for Turkiye’s Sultans till the 17th century- and Dolmabahce Palace and marvel at the largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers in the world and the famous Baccarat Crystal and mahogany Staircase that has the shape of a double horseshoe.
After an amazing encounter with history, I am heading out for an afternoon of relaxation at the historic and luxurious Cağaloğlu Hamam with a 300 year old historic atmosphere that has hosted numerous politicians and celebrities from around the world. The last Hamam to be built during the Ottoman Empire really did provide a dreamlike experience, with luxurious massages, scrubs, amazing foam massage that to my surprise felt incredible, and other add-fits for a sultan. While there are dozens of other hamams in the city, like Antusa Palace and Sarnic Spa, nothing has beaten my experience at Cagaloglu Hamam when it comes to the experience and atmosphere.
Luxurious decorated interior ceiling of ottoman pavilion in Topkapi Palace:
Dolmabahçe Palace Photo:
Let’s not miss the other parts of Istanbul like the upscale neighborhood of Nisantasi; picture of New York’s Upper East Side upscale. Fashion boutiques with international and local labels lined the shaded streets, with a sweet and savory smell in the background from trendy bakeries and markets. After crossing the famous Bosphorus by private ferry that my hotel graciously arranged, I was officially in Asia. I began in Uskudar, housing the famous Beylerbeyi Palace, and dozens of magical and majestic Hereke carpets, the most expensive and exquisite in Turkiye. I wandered over to the Kuzguncuk neighborhood where various Turkish television shows are filmed, hoping to brush shoulders with a celebrity, or catch my 15 minutes of fame.
Bosphorus Photo:
Whilst a luxurious trip to Istanbul includes multiple days of shopping, I headed over to the famous Bagdat Caddesi, once a trading post, which was now filled with high-end fashion shops, luxury showrooms, and elegant boutiques, and then to Kadikoy Tellalzade Street. Known as the antique street, I headed straight for the bazaar, housing some of the finest Turkish antiques in the world.
On my final day in Istanbul, I decided to treat myself to the on-site spa in my lavish hotel. Being my day with a facial, massage, and steam was a perfect rejuvenating feeling after a busy past few days. The scrub was a bit intense, but a traditional Hamam experience is worth losing a layer of skin. While I was laying there relaxing in a heavenly oasis, all that was on my mind was strong Turkish coffee. My driver arrived right on time in my luxury Mercedes, and we headed over to Bebek to the boutique coffee house, Cup of Joy. It was easily one of the best cups of coffee I had ever had in my life and paired perfectly with a gluten-free bagel. Before ending my long afternoon, I headed over for a sunset view of the famous Blue Mosque, and a peaceful moonlit walk along the streaming Bosphorus Strait.
Turkish Coffee:
My luxury trip to Istanbul was nothing short of amazing, and truly suited for the Sultan himself. The magical city was just as lavish, exciting, and glamorous as I had imagined it. I arrived at the airport a few hours early that next morning, to sip and enjoy a final cup of real Turkish coffee. While a colorful and sumptuous Turkish rug was rather hard for me to squeeze into my suitcase, that just assured me another magical and splendid trip to Istanbul was surely in my near future.
