TÜRKIYE

Sultanahmet is home to several structures dating back to the Ottoman Empire. On day one we visited the Basicila Cistern, Hagia Sofia Museum, Topkapi Palace and Harem, and the Blue Mosque.

Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarayı)

Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya)

Topkapi Palace Harem (Topkapı Sarayı Harem)

Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii)

With the biggest museums and historical sites finished, we headed north toward the busy shopping areas and mosques, stopping by the Grand Bazaar, Mosque of Süleyman the Magnificent, and Spice Bazaar. Afterward, we walked to the Golden Horn to see views of the city from the Galata bridge.

Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı)

Mosque of Süleyman the Magnificent (Süleymaniye Camii)

Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı)

We took a quick flight to Cappadocia, a historic region full of volcanic rocks and underground structures. The first morning, we had a hot air ballon flight bright and early. Later in the day, we hiked in Pigeon Valley near the town of Göreme, and took a drive to walk through Uchisar Castle.

Hot Air Balloon

Pigeon Valley

Uchisar Castle

Cappadocia also has many underground structures carved into the soft volcanic rock. The Göreme Open Air Museum features several churches and monasteries built into the mountains. Derinkuyu Underground City is a creepy experience, with narrow staircases leading several stories underground into cavernous dark rooms.

Göreme Open Air Museum

Derinkuyu Underground City

After flying back to Istanbul, we spent the final days of the trip in the new district of Istanbul, across the Golden Horn from Sultanahmet. The Galata district and Istiklal Street are very modern, with nice restaurants, designer stores, and even a Shake Shack. But older structures, like the Galata Tower, still stand.