So here’s the part two of my travels in Turkey!
In this post I wanted to share some of my favorite things to do for free or things that are at the very least cheap. As I said in the previous post, I do a lot of budget travel and this trip was no exception.
Free Things to Do in Istanbul
- Exploring the harbor area (and the different sites there)
- Visiting the mosques, e.g. the famous Blue Mosque
- Spending a day in a park, e.g. in the area near the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia or in the Gulhane Park (former Royal Gardens of Topkapi Palace)
- The Museum of Painting and Sculpture has free admission on the days its open and the Modern art museum also has free admission on one day of the week (Thursdays)
And Some Cheap Things to Do
- Taking a cruise on the Bosphorus (the short 1,5 hour cruises that are also used by locals are quite affordable)
- Haggling your way to a good deal on souvenirs at the bazaars (prices are cheap to begin with but you can really strike a bargain there)
- Eat food from food stands instead of restaurants right in the center (because they will have higher prices)
If you go to Istanbul, enjoy the scenery – the city is gorgeous – and pet the friendly cats, enjoy some apple tea and walk along the river. I guarantee you’ll love it! Also, as a bonus, I really recommend visiting the Topkapi palace which is a bit pricier but well worth the money! You could spend an entire day roaming the grounds of the huge, gorgeous palace. And there’s a restaurant and great view of the ocean. What more could you ask for?
