Our first time visiting Turkey was in 2012. It was such a memorable experience that we always wanted to come back another time with our kids. Compared to all the places we visited, Istanbul is very unique. It’s a lively blend of Europe and Asia. Europe’s history mixed with Asia’s busy streets. Beautiful food added with friendly locals, makes it a must return destination. While Cappadocia landscape feels like another planet!
For the first part of our stay we stayed at Hotel: Sadaret Hotel, in Sultanahmet area close to all the historical sights.
Here are the things we did in Istanbul:
Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya mosque)
Istanbul’s iconic landmark showcasing Byzantine and Ottoman history. Tourists can no longer visit the lower level after 2020 as it is now a functioning mosque.
Tip: Open 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Closed Mondays). Arrive at opening to avoid long lines. Dress modestly; head covering required for women. Prayer times cause partial closures.
Basilica Cistern
Right across the road from Hagia Sophia, it is an underground reservoir with atmospheric lighting and Medusa head columns.
Tip: 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM. Can be cool and damp. Takes about 30 minutes to explore.
Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque)
Nearby Hagia Sophia, this is one of Istanbul’s most famous mosques with striking blue tiles.
Tip: Open daily, 8:30–11:30, 13:00–14:30, 15:30–16:45, Free to enter. Closed to tourists during prayer times. Shoulders and knees must be covered (robes provided if needed). Consider returning in the evening to see the exteriors beautifully lit.
Breakfast at 7 Hills Restaurant
A touristy rooftop spot in Sultanahmet famous for panoramic views of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. This restaurant is great for photos; we ordered the Kahvaltı (Turkish morning breakfast set). Prices are higher due to the view.
Suleymaniye Mosque
A grand hilltop mosque designed by Mimar Sinan.
Tip: Less crowded than the Blue Mosque, with peaceful courtyards and stunning Golden Horn views. Open throughout the day except during prayer times.
Brunch at Stera Lounge (Bosphorus) – 5 min walk from Suleymaniye
A modern café-lounge overlooking the water. Great for resting between sights and enjoying Turkish brunch plates. We really enjoyed it here, it feels much more local than 7 Hills Restaurant.
Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı)
One of the world’s oldest covered markets with thousands of shops.
Tip: Mon–Sat, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Closed Sunday). Google maps help—easy to get lost. Expect bargaining. Many shop keepers usually smoke when there’s no customers, can be annoying – not to mention unhealthy!
Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)
Not far from the Grand Bazaar, it is famous for spices, Turkish delight, teas, dried fruits.
Tip: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Closed Sundays). Shopkeepers can be persuasive; compare prices. Prefer a simpler shop? Go to Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir, a historic Turkish delight shop – great for authentic Lokum (Turkish Delight) and chocolates. Walk to the back streets for more local shops.
Yeni Cami (New Mosque)
A large mosque beside the Eminönü waterfront.
Tip: Easy to combine with the Spice Bazaar as they’re next to each other. Lovely exterior courtyard.
Topkapi Palace
Massive complex former residence of Ottoman sultans.
Tip: Very popular sight to visit so as always: go early or later in the afternoon for fewer crowds.
We prefer to go first thing ar 9:00 AM. The Harem requires a separate ticket but is so worth it! Allow 2–3 hours.
After three days we broke up our Istanbul stay to visit Cappadocia for 4 days. We hired a car from Cappadocia Rent a Car (contact person Caner Katik). He picked us up from Nevsehir airport and drove us to Goreme, before handing us the hire car. We highly recommend hiring a car in Cappadocia. Gives you freedom to visit sights, avoid the crowd. It is also good value for money and all you need is an international driver’s license.
We always wanted to stay in a cave hotel, something that we missed out when we first came with a group tour. Most only cater for adult only, we managed to find: Century Cave Hotel in Goreme.
So this is what we did in Cappadocia:
Sunrise hot air balloon ride
A must do highlight and the main reason why many people visit Cappadocia. Do this in the first day of your visit in case of bad weather and the flight need to be rescheduled to the following day.
We chose to fly with Discovery balloons. Our balloon ride was almost cancelled (previous 3 days flight was cancelled!). Ours wasn’t the prettiest flight (compared to our first Cappadocia balloon experience in 2012) but still memorable one for our boys. Every ride is unique as each company has different launch location. And daily flight path will depend on the weather.
Sunrise Lovers Hill — Balloon Viewing Point
Popular hill in Göreme for sunrise hot-air balloon photos.
Tip: Arrive 30–40 minutes before sunrise for the best spot. Can be windy and cold in the morning — bring a jacket.
Kaymakli Underground City
One of Cappadocia’s largest underground cities, with tunnels, storage rooms, and ventilation shafts.
Tip: Some passages are very narrow and low — great if you’re a 5 year old, not ideal if you’re claustrophobic!
Ortahisar Lookout Point
View of Ortahisar Castle and surrounding villages.
Tip: Usually quiet, but it requires a bit more driving through narrow local streets. Nice place to break for coffee or light snack.
Pasabag Valley (Monks Valley)
Known for its iconic “mushroom-shaped” fairy chimneys.
Tip: Beautiful for photography in early morning or late afternoon. Short, easy paths.
Zelve Open-Air Museum
Former cave town with religious and residential chambers spread across three valleys.
Tip: Much less crowded than Göreme Museum. Wear good shoes — lots of walking and uneven terrain.
Devrent Valley (Imagination Valley) – quick photo stop
Rock formations shaped like animals and figures — great for fun photos.
Tip: No formal trails, just wander. Quick stop (20–30 minutes).
Sunset Point — Rose Valley Panoramic Viewpoint
One of Cappadocia’s best sunset spots, famous for soft pink-toned rocks and sunset hikes.
Tip: More and more ATV tours come through this area, can get dusty.
For some reason for us, it looks much better in the photos!
Love Valley
Scenic valley with tall, pillar-shaped rock formations.
Tip: Best photos from the upper lookout points. Paths can be sandy/dusty.
Uchisar Castle
We love this place so much that we came back twice! Highest natural viewpoint in Cappadocia with panoramic views.
Tip: There is even a nice little gozleme place among the cave rooms. Alternatively there are a few cafes nearby overlooking the castle. Requires climbing stairs to the top.
Dream Spot Cappadocia Restaurant
Scenic terrace restaurant with sweeping valley views of Uchisar.
We love the local dishes especially Testi Kebab (or Pottery Kebab. Where meat (lamb, beef, or chicken) and vegetables are slow-cooked in a sealed, vase-shaped clay pot (a “testi”) over coals or oven.
Pigeon Valley – quick photo stop
A peaceful valley with carved pigeon homes set in the cliffs.
Göreme Open Air Museum
UNESCO site featuring cave churches with preserved frescoes. This is the busiest sight visited by tour groups!
Tip: Go early (opens around 8 AM). Extra ticket required for the Dark Church (worth it).
After we returning from Cappadocia we stayed near the Galata Tower Area called Beyoglu at serviced apartment: NOA – Ali Hoca 6.
Here are the things we did near the Galata/Beyoglu area
Galata Tower
Historic stone tower offering panoramic views of Istanbul. Plenty of restaurants, boutique shops and cafes in the area.
Tip: Walk the lower level for restaurants and cafés.
Nice Food in Ortaköy Area
Stroll the waterfront market streets — lots of casual food options and great sunset views.
Galata Bridge
A lively bridge connecting Karaköy and Eminönü. Great for photos of the Golden Horn, fishermen at sunset, and the Istanbul skyline.
Büyük Mecidiye Mosque (Ortaköy Mosque)
Beautiful waterfront mosque framed by the Bosphorus Bridge.
Tip: Popular to visit early morning for quiet photos. Often busy on weekends with crowds in the Ortaköy market area.
Istanbul Füniküler (Karaköy – Beyoğlu)
This historical funicular began operating in 1875.
Tip: Fastest way to reach Taksim from the tram line, saves you walking up a very steep hill.
Istiklal Street
Famous pedestrian avenue lined with shops, cafés, and historic buildings. Shops typically open until 10–11 PM.
Tip: Look for side streets (passages) for quieter cafes and rooftop bars.
Zorlu Center Shopping Mall
Upscale mall with luxury brands and high-end dining.
Tip: Good rainy-day choice. Connected directly to the subway (via Gayrettepe Metro Station).
AIRFARE, ACCOMMODATION, & GETTING AROUND
To safe on airfares we flew via Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – staying one day. We had a comfortable stay at Traders Hotel, KLCC. Giving us easy access to most sights we wanted to visit.
Between Kuala Lumpur to Istanbul we flew Emirates and Batik Air between Perth to KL. Doing so saved us just under $3,000! Total flight for both legs was $4,644. Not bad given we booked just a few months before the trip.
Around Istanbul we mainly went around with taxi, ordered via Uber. That way everything is fixed price, scam free. For shorter distances we went on the tram, which we simply tapped credit card to get on and getting off.
For major sights (Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace) we bought combined skip the line tickets via Headout.com. Safes us plenty of time lining up on the ticket counter.
FOOD & DRINK: Eat Like a Local
First time we visited Turkey back in 2012 we made the typical rookie traveller mistake of just eating tourists food. This time around with a bit more knowledge and reseatch, we ate REAL Turkish food!
When people said Turkish food might be mediocre… that was the biggest LIE. To our surprise – every single meal has been unreal – from perfectly grilled, juicy kebabs to warm, flaky gözlemes made fresh right before our eyes, and crispy wood fired pides that hit every craving
Other than the usual pide, kofte & gozleme. Our favourites include: Turkish Village Breakfast – Köy Kahvaltısı (kinda like Turkish Yum Cha!), Saksuka, Menemen, Testi Kebab (Nevsehir region), spicy Lahmacun. From street food to homestyle comfort dishes – not a single bad bite.
IS TURKEY SAFE?
We went in July 2025, the summer peak season to visit. To simplify the trip we visited two of the main places to visit: Istanbul and Cappadocia. Turkish people are one of the friendliest people we ever met after our many years of travel. Our boys were greeted with kindness every day during our holidays.
