Istanbul in a Day | Our Mistake at Hagia Sophia + Ferry Ride & Turkish Coffee

Istanbul in a Day | Our Mistake at Hagia Sophia + Ferry Ride & Turkish Coffee

A city where east meets west. [Music] Even in just a short time, this city feels endless. Hey everyone, welcome back. Today we are on the way to Istanbul, Turkey where we are going to stay for one night or more or less 24 hours. I know it’s not a lot of time to fully explore the city, but we are going to be there for a layover. Let’s see how much we can do and see in just one day. [Music] [Music] After a long flight, we finally touched down in Istanbul, Turkey. For convenience, we pre-booked a private transfer from the airport to our hotel through Kluk for just $40. Now, I actually compared it with Uber here at the time, and it shown me up to 1,675 Turkish LRA. So really, it’s not that big of a difference. But here’s the twist. Uber in Turkey isn’t like what we’re used to. It’s actually yellow taxis. And yes, they are me. So for us, going with a private transfer just felt way more convenient. [Music] Finally here in Istanbul and we’re currently staying at Hotel St. Sofia located in Sultan Nameit area. This is really close to main attraction like the highest Sofia and Blue Mosque. I know Sultanamemed area is a very touristy area, but we only have 24 hours here and we want to be as much as possible close to the main attraction. It’s currently 400 p.m. and we’re going to go out and start exploring, but we’re not going to explore Sultaname area yet because we’re saving it for tomorrow. So maybe tonight um we might go to Galata Tower and the surrounding area and if we have the energy, maybe cross to the Asia side. So let’s see. Actually, we were getting pretty hungry at this point. So, we headed to a place that’s famous for a dish we were really looking forward to trying. Ja kebab. This spot is known for cooking the meat horizontally, which gives it a unique flavor and texture. The setting is simple, the service is quick, and the meat is incredibly flavorful. Honestly, it doesn’t need any sauce or extras. It’s served simply with just some flat bread and that is more than enough. Got some iron. We paired it with iron, a cold and salty yogurt drink that complimented the richness of the meat perfectly. I don’t know. This is amazing. They drop it off. Quick giving this viewer. [Music] [Music] Okay, now so time for some dessert cuz I’ve been eyeing this shop earlier. The moment I saw this dessert shop, I just knew I had to get in here for their baklava. We ordered an assorted plate. And honestly, this was the moment I had been looking forward to. So, we paired it with traditional Turkish tea and it was served with a little piece of Turkish delight. Yeah, it’s not too sweet. I like the chocolate one. Now, time to burn off all the food we ate. We walked over to Amanda Pier to catch a ferry across to the Asian side of Istanbul. Tapping in with just a credit card was so easy and it only cost about a dollar and some change. Since we only had a one chance to catch the sunset in Istanbul, we knew it had to be out on the water. [Music] Sailing along the Bosphorus Straight, crossing from one continent to another. Istanbul is a city that sits on two continents, Europe and Asia. And honestly, being out on the water is a must when you are here. Taking the ferry is actually how a lot of locals commute every day. It’s very easy and a great way to experience the city. After a short and super scenic ferry ride, we arrived at Kadikoy Pier, which is on the Asian side of Istanbul. But since we were still exhausted from the long flight, we decided to just take the return ferry back to the European side. With the sea breeze, the views, and that colden sunset, there’s just something so peaceful about seeing it stumble from the water. It’s seriously one of the coolest parts of being here. [Music] [Music] [Music] Hi. Hello. Hi. Oh my god. You’re chubby. We got off at Carakcoy and right away the vibe felt so lively. From there we started walking toward the Tower. Man, it’s a bit of a trek, but the streets are lined with souvenir shops and little stops that make the walk feel like part of the adventure. [Music] Hi. [Music] Okay, so we got off at Kakoy Fairy Dog and we just made our trick to Galatada Tower. When we finally reach Galatada Tower. Wow. Standing tall since the 14th century, this medieval stone tower has watched over Istanbul for centuries. You can climb up for some of the best panoramic views of the city. But when we arrived, the line was way too long. The area around it was buzzing with energy, packed with shops, cafes, and people just hanging out. And of course, we couldn’t resist another dessert stop. We ordered their famous Sunsan cheesecake, which is honestly really good. The outside was perfectly caramelized and the inside was soft and creamy that just melted in your mouth. After dessert, we decided to call it a night and headed back to our hotel. Between the long flight, all the walking, and the food comma from all the baklava and the cheesecake, we were more than ready to rest up before the next day. [Music] You want to go inside? Good morning. So, we only have few hours left here in Istanbul before we go back to the airport. So, right now we’re in the Sultanameit area. So, we’re going to Haya Sophira and then Blue Moss and then maybe have some Turkish coffee. Oh, there’s another one that’s asleep. Okay, this is really cool. So, they have a vending machine here to feed the stray animals. Love that. So, now we are in line to get tickets for Haya Sophia. Keep in mind that there’s a dress code if you’re visiting Haya Sofia. So, I’m wearing hijab right now because since it’s a mosque, you need to like cover your head if you’re a woman and you can’t expose your legs and your shoulders. So for men, you also have to wear. If you don’t have any covering, don’t worry because you can get it from the booth outside for a small fee. Okay, so we’re kind of surprised with how much we paid. We paid like $2,400 Turkish LRA or like $60 per person. I’m not sure if it’s because of the price increase they had the past year, but um yeah, we’re just surprised with how much it is right now. Okay, so this is the part that I regret. The ticket we paid was actually a combined ticket that includes a museum that wasn’t in our plan to see. And the basic entrance ticket is actually only €25. At the booth, we were told that we could no longer access the main area because it is for prayers only. We were told that the basic ticket only gave limited access to the balcony and the standard ticket will have access to the mosque, balcony, and a museum. So, here’s my advice. Double check exactly what the ticket includes before buying. If you just want to experience Haya Sophia itself, the basic ticket is all you need. Don’t make the same mistake with it. Oh, kitty. [Music] [Music] Kaya Sophia is one of the most iconic landmarks in Turkey. Built in the 6th century as a church, later converted into a mosque, then a museum, and in 2020, it’s been converted once again to a mosque. This place has witnessed over 1,500 years of history. Its massive dome and grand architecture have made it a symbol of Istanbul. Standing at the crossroads of empires, faiths, and cultures. Not going to lie, this is an interesting place to visit. Haya Sophia is currently a mosque, but you can still see remnants of its past as a Christian church. Some of the mosaics remain, including the Virgin Mary with Jesus and even St. John the Baptist. [Music] Now, time to walk across the square to the Blue Mosque, another one of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks just sitting opposite Haya Sophia. [Music] Okay, so we were supposed to visit the Blue Moss, but unfortunately it’s closed today and it’s going to open at the Yeah, it’s going to open 2:30. 2:30. Yeah. So, we’re not going to be here by then. Instead, we just stumbled into Arasa Bazaar, a small market that tucked right behind the Blue Mosque. It’s not as big or crowded as the Grand Bazaar, but it was fun to walk through, browse the shops, and take in the colors and patterns of want to buy this. In Turkey, the evil eye is commonly found in markets, often sold as blue glass talisman believed to protect against curses caused by envy and jealousy. [Music] Now, time to try Turkish coffee. I heard so much about its unique taste and how people are saying it’s an acquired taste, so I’m really curious to see what it’s like. I did ask for sugar, though, so I’m not sure I’ll get the authentic flavor. It’s strong. There’s some grains. I should have tried it without sugar. Are you going to do another Turkish coffee? Oh, they do actually do Turkish here. Okay, I’m going to get pistachio coffee. Is there like a pattern that you have to follow? Oh, cool. Oh, wow. So, how’s it hot? Is it fire? No, it’s electric machine. Oh, it’s electric. Yeah, maybe 400 to 500°. Oh, wow. It’s really hot. It’s maybe 10 seconds. Okay. Okay. It’s nice. It’s not boiling. It’s not working for me. I’m not good. It’s good. Can just like push inside. Okay. Yeah. Like this. Oh, okay. [Music] Yay. Okay. First time to try pistachio coffee that I made. I made it. Okay. Take two. [Music] It’s good. I like it. I can taste the pistachio. Wait. Really? It’s good. I can taste the pistachio. It’s a little sweet, but it it’s enough. Like, it’s not too sweet. [Music] Right. Yeah. Time to try Turkish coffee. This time without any sugar. The taste is interesting. Yeah, it’s way different from what I had earlier. Maybe because I had sugar. Cheers. I think with a few more cups, I could really learn to appreciate it. [Music] I’ve ordered my coffee. I like that one. And just like that, we are back in the airport. We’re just waiting to board our next flight going to Tanzania, Africa. So, we’ve had a really great time the past 24 hours. I know there’s still a lot of food and maybe coffee shop that I want to try, but we only have 24 hours and it’s kind of impossible to do and try all of that. That’s a wrap for Turkey Adventure. So, thank you guys for watching. I hope you like this video and if you do, please don’t forget to like, subscribe, and I will see you in the next one. Bye-bye.

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We only had one day in Istanbul, Turkey for a layover – and wow, what an adventure! From making a mistake at Hagia Sophia, to crossing continents on the Bosporus Ferry, indulging in Turkish desserts, and sipping strong Turkish coffee… here’s everything we did in 24 hours in Istanbul.
If you’re planning your first trip or spending a layover, this vlog will give you an idea of what to expect, what not to do, and of course the must-try food.

📍 Timestamps:
00:00 Intro – 24 Hours in Istanbul
01:00 – Touchdown Istanbul/ Airport Transfer
01:50 – Hotel
02:33 – Şehzade Cağ Kebap
03:31 – Hafiz Mustafa Turkish Dessert
04:05 – Eminonu Pier/ Bosphorus Ferry Ride (Europe to Asia)
05:52 – Exploring Karaköy & Galata Tower
07:25 – San Sebastian Cheesecake at Viyana Kahvesi
08:01 – Next Morning
08:35 – Visiting Hagia Sophia (Avoid Our Mistake)
11:30 – Blue Mosque (Closed During Our Visit)
11:52 – Stumbling into Arasta Bazaar
12:40 – Turkish Coffee Experience/ Coffee No. 4
15:00 – Closing

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