{"id":85037,"date":"2025-10-01T07:09:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T07:09:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelstartblg.wpenginepowered.com\/?post_type=destination&#038;p=85037"},"modified":"2025-11-05T11:07:51","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T11:07:51","slug":"istanbul","status":"publish","type":"destination","link":"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/destination\/istanbul\/","title":{"rendered":"Istanbul"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Some cities have history. Istanbul <em>is<\/em> history but electric.<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where 2 continents meet (Europe shakes hands with Asia). You\u2019ll wander through ancient mosques, modern galleries, and streets that smell like roasted chestnuts and fresh baklava.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"--desktop-height: 40px;--tablet-height: 40px;--mobile-medium-height: 40px;--mobile-small-height: 40px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped pb-6 wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" data-id=\"104661\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Oratakoy-Mosque_Istanbul_800x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-104661\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Oratakoy-Mosque_Istanbul_800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Oratakoy-Mosque_Istanbul_800x600-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Oratakoy-Mosque_Istanbul_800x600-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" data-id=\"103948\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Istanbul_600x800.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-103948\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Istanbul_600x800.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Istanbul_600x800-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Istanbul_600x800-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"546\" data-id=\"88426\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/istanbul3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-88426\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/istanbul3.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/istanbul3-400x303.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"--desktop-height: 50px;--tablet-height: 50px;--mobile-medium-height: 50px;--mobile-small-height: 50px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Icons You Can\u2019t Skip<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you\u2019re searching for the best things to do in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/lp\/istanbul\/flights\">Istanbul<\/a>, start with the heavyweights.<br>The <strong>Hagia Sophia<\/strong> is jaw-dropping, inside and out. Its history stretches back over 1,500 years and it\u2019s every bit as breathtaking as you\u2019ve heard.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Right across the square sits the <strong>Blue Mosque<\/strong>, covered in thousands of glowing blue tiles that live up to the name.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A few streets away, <strong>Topkapi Palace<\/strong> shows off the kind of royal luxury that makes even your five-star hotel look basic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"--desktop-height: 10px;--tablet-height: 10px;--mobile-medium-height: 10px;--mobile-small-height: 10px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"450\" height=\"600\" data-id=\"90080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Hagia-Sophia-450x600.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-90080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Hagia-Sophia-450x600.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Hagia-Sophia-315x420.jpg 315w, https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Hagia-Sophia.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-id=\"87617\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Blue-Mosque.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-87617\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Blue-Mosque.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Blue-Mosque-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-id=\"87622\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Topkapi-Palace.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-87622\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Topkapi-Palace.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Topkapi-Palace-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"--desktop-height: 50px;--tablet-height: 50px;--mobile-medium-height: 50px;--mobile-small-height: 50px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where the City Actually Lives<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/a-walking-tour-of-istanbul\/\">The real Istanbul<\/a> isn\u2019t behind museum glass. It\u2019s in the buzz of the <strong>Grand Bazaar<\/strong>, one of the world\u2019s oldest and most famous markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow the smell of spices and grilled meat, bargain a little but don\u2019t rush it, half the fun is in getting lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you need air, catch a ferry across the <strong>Bosphorus<\/strong> and watch the skyline slide by while sipping hot Turkish tea.<br>If you\u2019ve got time, wander through <strong>Balat<\/strong>, the colourful neighbourhood locals love for its street art, vintage shops, and perfect chaos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"--desktop-height: 10px;--tablet-height: 10px;--mobile-medium-height: 10px;--mobile-small-height: 10px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"672\" data-id=\"84714\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Turkey-with-boats-1200x672.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-84714\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Turkey-with-boats-1200x672.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Turkey-with-boats-1200x672-400x224.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Turkey-with-boats-1200x672-780x437.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Turkey-with-boats-1200x672-768x430.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-id=\"87618\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Istanbul-Market.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-87618\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Istanbul-Market.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Istanbul-Market-400x300.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"--desktop-height: 50px;--tablet-height: 50px;--mobile-medium-height: 50px;--mobile-small-height: 50px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Food That Wins Hearts (and Taste Buds)<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>You don\u2019t visit Istanbul without eating your way through it. Start with a simit (that\u2019s a sesame bagel, Istanbul style) from a street vendor, followed by a kebab that\u2019s grilled to perfection.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Order meze with friends, sip on strong Turkish coffee, and end with baklava so sweet you\u2019ll question your life choices. From fine dining to street stalls, Istanbul\u2019s food scene doesn\u2019t miss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"--desktop-height: 10px;--tablet-height: 10px;--mobile-medium-height: 10px;--mobile-small-height: 10px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"546\" data-id=\"88425\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/istanbul2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-88425\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/istanbul2.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/istanbul2-400x303.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"473\" data-id=\"91629\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Spice-Market-Istanbul.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-91629\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Spice-Market-Istanbul.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Spice-Market-Istanbul-400x296.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"--desktop-height: 50px;--tablet-height: 50px;--mobile-medium-height: 50px;--mobile-small-height: 50px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Evenings Worth Staying Up For<\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>As the sun sets, the city glows in gold. Find a rooftop bar in <strong>Beyo\u011flu<\/strong> or <strong>Karak\u00f6y<\/strong>, where the skyline sparkles across the Bosphorus. If nightlife is your thing, Istanbul delivers, from laid-back shisha lounges to DJ sets that carry till morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"--desktop-height: 10px;--tablet-height: 10px;--mobile-medium-height: 10px;--mobile-small-height: 10px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"637\" height=\"849\" data-id=\"104663\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Beyoglu.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-104663\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Beyoglu.jpg 637w, https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Beyoglu-315x420.jpg 315w, https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Beyoglu-450x600.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 637px) 100vw, 637px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"545\" data-id=\"104657\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blue-mosque-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-104657\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blue-mosque-2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blue-mosque-2-400x273.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/blue-mosque-2-768x523.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"--desktop-height: 50px;--tablet-height: 50px;--mobile-medium-height: 50px;--mobile-small-height: 50px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Best Time to Visit Istanbul<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The best time to visit Istanbul is <strong>April to June<\/strong> or <strong>September to November<\/strong> when the weather is warm and sightseeing feels easy.<br>Spring is perfect for Bosphorus cruises and outdoor caf\u00e9s. Autumn brings clear skies, mild weather, and smaller crowds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You might also like: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/visit-istanbul-this-summer-for-a-rand-friendly-getaway\/\">Istanbul &#8211; A Rand friendly getaway<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-accent-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-accent-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quick Vibe Check:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Best for:<\/strong> Culture lovers, food explorers, and city wanderers<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Energy:<\/strong> Timeless, warm, and full of character<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Top attractions:<\/strong> Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Bosphorus, Galata Tower<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Local tip:<\/strong> Always say yes to tea. It\u2019s practically a language here.<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"--desktop-height: 40px;--tablet-height: 40px;--mobile-medium-height: 30px;--mobile-small-height: 30px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Istanbul doesn\u2019t just tell its story. It lets you live it. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/lp\/istanbul\/flights\"><strong>Book your Istanbul trip with Travelstart<\/strong><\/a> and see why this city never goes out of style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"--desktop-height: 40px;--tablet-height: 40px;--mobile-medium-height: 30px;--mobile-small-height: 30px;\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Istanbul Travel<\/h4>\n\n\n<div class=\"related-posts-wrapper destination wp-block-wwx-advanced-query\" data-categories=\"destination, activity, blog\" ><div class=\"related-posts wp-block-wwx-advanced-query__posts archive layout-grid\"><article id=\"post-88266\" class=\"wp-block-wwx-advanced-query__post post-88266 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-blog category-food-drink-lifestyle category-lifestyle category-travel category-destinations-travel category-inspiration-travel tag-best-coffee-destinations tag-coffee-tours tag-costa-rica tag-france tag-havana tag-istanbul tag-italy tag-turkey tag-vietnam generate-columns tablet-grid-50 mobile-grid-100 grid-parent grid-33\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" itemscope>\r\n\r\n    \r\n    <!-- Featured Image -->\r\n    <div class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\">\r\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/the-best-destinations-for-coffee-lovers\/\">\r\n            <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"307\" height=\"230\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/havana-coffee-new.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-ts-grid-hero size-ts-grid-hero wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/havana-coffee-new.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/havana-coffee-new-400x300.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/havana-coffee-new-768x576.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 307px) 100vw, 307px\" \/>        <\/a>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <!-- Post Categories -->\r\n    <div class=\"wp-block-post-categories\">\r\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/category\/blog\/\" class=\"category-pill\" style=\"background-color: #dcfce7; color: #000000; border-color: #dcfce7;\"><span class=\"category-pill-icon\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/comment-svgrepo-com1.svg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:1.2em;height:1.2em;vertical-align:middle;\" \/><\/span><span class=\"category-pill-name\">Blog<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/category\/lifestyle\/\" class=\"category-pill\" style=\"background-color: #fedec0; color: #000000; border-color: #fedec0;\"><span class=\"category-pill-icon\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"24\" height=\"22\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/lifestyle-icon.svg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:1.2em;height:1.2em;vertical-align:middle;\" \/><\/span><span class=\"category-pill-name\">Lifestyle<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/category\/travel\/\" class=\"category-pill\" style=\"background-color: #def6ff; color: #000000; border-color: #def6ff;\"><span class=\"category-pill-icon\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"122\" height=\"122\" src=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/plane-svgrepo-com.svg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:1.2em;height:1.2em;vertical-align:middle;\" \/><\/span><span class=\"category-pill-name\">Travel<\/span><\/a>    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <!-- Post Title -->\r\n    <h5 class=\"wp-block-post-title\">\r\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/the-best-destinations-for-coffee-lovers\/\">The Best Coffee Destinations Around the World<\/a>\r\n    <\/h5>\r\n\r\n    <!-- Post Excerpt -->\r\n    <div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\">\r\n        Some say life is too short to have bad coffee, that's why I decided to round-up some of the best coffee cities in the world.    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <!-- Post Date -->\r\n    <div class=\"wp-block-post-date\">\r\n        October 21, 2020    <\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/article>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Some cities have history. Istanbul is history but electric. This is where 2  continents meet (Europe shakes hands with Asia). You\u2019ll wander through ancient mosques, modern galleries, and streets that smell like roasted chestnuts and fresh baklava.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":104881,"template":"","destinations-category":[840],"class_list":["post-85037","destination","type-destination","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","destinations-category-south-america","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Istanbul | Travelstart Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/destination\/istanbul\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Istanbul | Travelstart Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Some cities have history. 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