Istanbul, breathtaking beauty or overhyped destination?

Hello everyone,

I’m sitting in my living room, trying to occupy myself somehow. The weather is a bit shitty, and I don’t have that many responsibilities at the moment. But maybe it’s a good occasion to wake up my creativity. Let’s see.

Yesterday, my residence permit finally arrived, so I can officially feel legal here 😄. And of course, as a must-have, I had to visit Istanbul.

As always, the decision to go there took me maybe ten minutes. I was bored, just scrolling through Instagram, and I texted my Turkish friend from Istanbul. She said she didn’t have much to do and could host me and show me around. Without even a hint of hesitation, I bought the tickets and with Turkish Airlines, I flew to one of the biggest cities in the world.

Was it worth it? What did I do there? Did I have any crazy adventures?

From the diary – Istanbul trip 18.09- 21.09

Thursday

Adventures from the morning.
I actually managed to wake up at 5 a.m. Everything was going according to plan, until it wasn’t. On my way to the bus station, I suddenly realized I’d entered some closed street and couldn’t get out. And that’s not all, when I finally escaped that weird hole, the bus drivers told me that my bus (which I had only 5 minutes to catch!) was leaving from a completely different place.

Stressed and full of adrenaline, I ran like crazy trying to find my bus to Bodrum Airport. It was my last chance. If I missed it, I’d never make it to my flight. I was so afraid I wouldn’t get there in time. To my surprise, the bus arrived late to some random bus stop in the middle of nowhere. I couldn’t believe my luck – I made it!

When I got to the airport, I realized I’d gotten off at the wrong terminal, international instead of domestic. So much fun, hahah. Somehow, with some spiritual power or whatever, I found my gate and safely flew to Istanbul.

Istanbul immediately surprised me with its colors. Early autumn was visible everywhere, and it was amazing. We had breakfast with Deniz and her boyfriend, typical Turkish food: menemen and çay. Mmm, sooo delicious. I absolutely love Turkish food.

We went for a walk around the campus of Boğaziçi University. It looked like something straight out of Hogwarts. So majestic and stunning. I felt like I’d traveled back in time. We drank lattes with a view of the Bosphorus, watching tiny ships and people in the distance. Then we continued our walk through the fancy district of Bebek, admiring the rich families and their beautiful houses. At every step, cute kitties were hiding, adding a special magical touch to the whole vibe.

Later, this time on my own, I took a ferry and explored a more touristic district. I discovered the Grand Bazaar and tasted so many delicious sweets. My favorite one was a Snickers lokum with peanut butter and chocolate, something so good I wish I could have it back in Poland. Everywhere I went, I could smell fruity teas, spices, sweets, and food. A total splash of senses! I did some shopping and just enjoyed the buzz. Later, I entered a mosque. It was beautiful, and actually my first time ever visiting one.

I ended my day eating çiğ köfte with Deniz. We had such a nice conversation and even went to a student pub (finally, some international music!). Deniz really took care of me and made me feel comfortable. She made my first day there so magical and somehow so local 🙂

Friday

Morning routine and beautiful outfits.
The day started with a bit of styling. I felt like matching Istanbul’s energy, so I put together a cute outfit and headed out. We visited a museum and explored the more traditional part of the European side. I had an amazing Turkish coffee and later a delicious lunch in the city. Pakistani hummus and falafels, my vegetarian tummy was very happy.

The best part of the Istanbul experience? Taking the ferry again! Such a vibe. We crossed over to the Asian side, to a district full of fashion and creativity. I liked it a lot. We went window shopping, bought some hippie-style clothes and accessories, and drank coffee on a very artistic street, kind of Italian vibes, I would say.

In the evening, we met with Deniz’s friends from ESN. We tried İzmir bombs with Nutella. Honestly? Disgusting. So sweet, almost impossible to swallow. I definitely don’t recommend it unless you want to get diabetes.

At some point, my friend lost her bag with all her documents inside.We spent part of the evening frantically searching for it, running around like maniacs. Finally, we found it in Green Coffee Nero. To celebrate, we sat down for an Efes beer at a local bar.

We ended our day drinking çay on the balcony, surrounded by beautiful candles. Such a simple but perfect ending🌙✨

Saturday

Solo day.
Beautiful, elegant outfit and I’m ready to head toward the city. I went to Taksim, a popular place known for its red tramway. So many colors everywhere, Turkish flags dancing in the wind. Perfect shopping day, I found a little thrift shop where I bought some cool T-shirts. And of course, walking couldn’t happen without coffee in my hand. This time, an iced one, perfectly matching the weather.

I let myself get lost in the maze of small hidden streets. That day, I didn’t want to follow any maps or guides, just pure intuition.

At some point, I stopped by a church and did my gratitude exercise. This kind of little ritual gives me so much motivation and happiness. I try to do it every day to remind myself how many amazing things are happening in my life.

For lunch, I had a festive meal in a vegan place. I sat on the terrace, almost alone, enjoying the peace and the sounds of Istanbul’s streets. The food was tasty and fresh, just perfect.

In the evening, I went for a walk near Galataport. It had a completely different vibe and style than other districts. I realized how each part of Istanbul has its own character. Colorful umbrellas were hanging above the streets, making the place look like a scene from a musical. I felt the sea breeze on my face, pure bliss.

Later, I took a bus to the Sirkeci district and visited the Blue Mosque after waiting an hour in the queue. Honestly, it wasn’t really worth it, because it looked quite similar to the first mosque I visited earlier in the week.

I finished my trip with a refreshing bubble tea, just wandering through the city one last time that evening.

Sunday

Slow morning and homemade breakfast.
We started the day calmly, enjoying a slow morning together. Then we went out for a cup of Turkish coffee with some spices, so aromatic and rich. Of course, we had fun doing a little fortune-telling from the coffee grounds, laughing and guessing what our future might look like.

After that, we took the ferry one last time, my favorite Istanbul ritual. The city looked so peaceful from the water. We visited a beautiful, fancy palace nearby and then took a walk in the park, enjoying the sunny weather with Deniz and Taha.

And then… it was time to head toward the airport. My short Istanbul adventure was coming to an end – full of colors, chaos, flavors, and warm memories. 🌿✨

✨ The End ✨

And that’s how my few days in Istanbul came to an end. A city full of contrasts, chaos and calm, tradition and modern vibes, noise and peace. Every corner had its own story, every ferry ride its own kind of magic.

Istanbul gave me so much: laughter, confusion, amazing food, unexpected adventures, and new memories. It reminded me how beautiful it is to be spontaneous, to just go with the flow and let life surprise you.

If you ever plan to visit, I’ve marked all my favorite spots – cafés, viewpoints, and hidden corners on this map:
👉 My Istanbul Recommendations on Google Maps (click to explore!)

I left with a heart full of gratitude, a camera full of photos, and a small hope that one day I’ll be back, maybe with a little more time, but with the same curiosity and open heart 💛