Europe
Istanbul
Two continents, an easy visa route and a food scene that keeps our clients coming back a second time.
Overview
Istanbul is the trip we recommend when a family wants Europe without a Schengen application. Turkish e-visa rules are straightforward for holders of a valid US, UK or Schengen visa, and Turkish Airlines flies direct from Lagos most days of the week.
The city rewards a slow pace. Sultanahmet holds the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Topkapi within a fifteen-minute walk, while the ferry across to Kadikoy costs almost nothing and gives you the best view of the skyline. Spring and autumn are the comfortable seasons; July is hot and the queues at the main sites are long.
Things to see and do
Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia
Both are working mosques, so plan visits around prayer times and dress accordingly. Early morning is the only quiet slot.
Topkapi Palace
The Ottoman court, its treasury and the sacred relics collection. Allow three hours and buy tickets online to skip the gate queue.
Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar
Four thousand shops between them. Prices are negotiable, and the Spice Bazaar side is better value for Turkish delight and saffron.
Bosphorus ferry
The public ferry to Anadolu Kavagi runs twice a day in summer and is a fraction of the price of a tour boat.
Good to know
- Check the e-visa conditions before booking. Applicants without a US, UK, Schengen or Irish visa apply through the Turkish consulate instead, which takes longer.
- Get an Istanbulkart at the airport. It covers the metro, trams, buses and the ferries.
- Restaurants near the main sights charge a premium. Walk five minutes toward Beyazit or Karakoy and the same meal costs half.
- Taxi drivers occasionally decline the meter. Use a ride-hailing app and the problem disappears.
