Travel Day – Istanbul 2026

🇹🇷 Istanbul
🌦️ Goldilocks weather

The one with… no sleep, a party bus, and a slightly chaotic wander to the sea

The long-winded version

3.05am – And we’re off

My little car was packed and I was ready to hit the road. I was off to Luton via Olney to collect Hannah.

It was dark, cold, and felt slightly ridiculous to be this awake at that hour. But inside, I was buzzing. This was one of my favourite trips last year, and I couldn’t wait to be back in Turkey.

• Two suitcases squeezed into a Smart Car ☑️
• Long stay car park ☑️
• Security ☑️
• Breakfast with the girls at the airport, all in their Istanbul T-shirts ☑️

7.08am – Airplane mode on

I was on the plane chatting to Ana, a lovely Hungarian lady heading to meet her boyfriend in Istanbul.

They had eaten a Turkish meal last year and she said it was the best she had ever had. So, naturally, they booked a trip to Istanbul. Fair enough!

Behind us, we heard the air steward ask a passenger, “Are you flying to Istanbul?”

Ana looked at me, completely deadpan, and said, “Where else would they be going?”

That set us off. Full giggles. Possibly more tiredness than humour, but still… one of those moments.

Right. Airplane mode on. Let’s do this.

13.40 – Landed

Now the fun began. Finding the driver.

He had sent me a video, which turned out to be a genius move. We all followed one man in a neat little line like well-behaved lemmings… until we stopped.

And waited.

Turns out the bus had a puncture. Of course it did.

Eventually, we boarded what can only be described as a party bus, complete with twinkly disco lights.

15.10 – Into Istanbul traffic

We were finally on the move.

It was about a 40-minute ride, weaving into Istanbul traffic. Sickness tablets had already been deployed at Luton, and I was very grateful for them at this point.

16.00 – Hotel check-in

Check-in was smooth, and the main guy on reception was brilliant.

Within minutes, he had sorted us a group meal by the sea for that evening and helped us negotiate a sunset river cruise with dinner and a show for the following day.

I do love it when things just fall into place like that.

16.35 – A wander, Julia style

Six of us set off with one simple goal: find the sea and a bar in the sunshine.

What followed was a proper little adventure through the backstreets of Istanbul.

We wandered down narrow lanes where washing hung between buildings, past sleepy cats stretched out on warm stone steps, and through little pockets of the city that felt a world away from the main roads.

Some paths dipped steeply downhill. Others turned into staircases that seemed to go on forever.

At one point, we found ourselves navigating around areas sectioned off with cones and barbed wire, squeezing past walls and wondering whether we were still on an actual route or just making one up as we went along.

It felt slightly edgy, but never uncomfortable. More like we had stumbled into the city’s hidden layer.

All the while, we were on a mission to find an Istanbul Christmas bauble. No luck today, so the Grand Bazaar was firmly added to tomorrow’s list.

But we did buy baklava. Very sweet!

A rooftop moment

We eventually emerged, feeling very pleased with ourselves, at a rooftop bar overlooking a mosque.

The call to prayer drifted across the skyline, the light was softening, and it was one of those lovely “this is why we travel” moments.

20.05 – Turkish tea and the evening adventure

We met in reception for free Turkish tea, which, to me, tastes reassuringly like a standard cup of tea… just in a slightly fancier glass.

Then our driver arrived, and off we went to the restaurant.

Istanbul traffic deserves its own paragraph

I thought Romania traffic was bad.

I take it back.

This was a whole new level.

Traffic lights appeared to be more of a suggestion than a rule. Helmets on bikes seemed optional. Lanes were flexible.

I was in the front seat, which in hindsight was a bold choice. Debs was next to me, wrestling with her seatbelt.

“I’ll just hold it,” she said, as we swung down a narrow street.

We then had to reverse because a van was coming towards us with no lights on. And it was dark.

People wandered into the road without a second thought, horns were going constantly, and yet somehow it all worked.

I quickly realised that honking here seems to mean “I’m here” or “thanks” rather than “move!”

It was chaotic, fascinating, and slightly exhausting all at once.

The restaurant

Wow.

The restaurant was set right on the waterfront, with the sea stretching out in front of us and a huge, beautifully lit mosque rising up on the hillside behind.

As dusk settled, the whole skyline seemed to glow. The domes were softly illuminated against the darkening sky. It felt calm and grand at the same time.

As we sat there, menus in hand, chatting and soaking it all in, we noticed something slightly unusual.

Buckets were being lowered down from above.

People were fishing. With buckets.

It all felt slightly surreal, like we had wandered into a scene we didn’t quite understand but were very happy to be part of.

Dinner, roses and thorns

Dinner was memorable. And slightly pricey.

Over £50 for a bottle of wine, so that was a no from me. My spaghetti bolognaise was £25. I think the price reflected the location. A beer was around £7.

While we waited, we completed our roses and thorns. I love this part of the day.

Most people’s thorn was the early start, which was no surprise at all. But the roses were lovely:

• Being part of a great group
• Exploring together
• The little unexpected moments throughout the day

That’s what it’s all about.

22.30 – Back to the hotel

We were back on the bus and heading to the hotel.

Bloom was now next to me, also attempting the seatbelt puzzle. I tapped the driver and said, “Seatbelt,” with some helpful hand gestures.

“No problem,” he replied. “I am safe driver,” as we swerved past one of what felt like a thousand yellow taxis.

Reassuring. Sort of.

Bloom just held the seatbelt.

Goodnight Istanbul

I fell into bed absolutely shattered, but smiling.

It had been a brilliant travel day, full of little moments, and the adventure was only just getting started.

Tomorrow… walking tour and river cruise.

For now, good night, and as always, thanks for reading.