The city wakes up with tea, cats and a thousand stories

Friday

The overnight bus from Muğla rolled into Istanbul while the city was still stretching itself awake. Night buses have their own kind of magic, the soft hum of the engine, the quiet darkness outside, and if you’re lucky, two seats to yourself so you can actually lie down and steal a few hours of sleep.

Morning started the only proper way with hot, strong, sweet tea. We shared breakfast on the brand-new couches in the living room, exchanging stories and sleepy laughs. Somewhere between the tea glasses and plates of bread, we were officially welcomed by the real host of the house. A fluffy ginger cat who inspected us carefully before deciding we were acceptable guests.

Soon after, we stepped out into the chaos of Istanbul. The streets around Galata Tower were already alive, crowded, buzzing, full of colour and sound. We squeezed our way through narrow streets lined with beautiful stalls and charming little shops. Fabrics, lamps, spices, jewelry, every corner seemed to offer something new to look at.

When the heat started creeping in, we escaped with bubble tea in Tea Amo, cold and sweet, the perfect excuse to pause for a moment. Later we drifted down to the Bosphorus, where the city suddenly slows. People sitting by the water, ferries sliding across the strait, seagulls arguing overhead. We stretched out by the shore and simply watched Istanbul move around us.

Eventually our feet carried us toward the bazaar. Walking there feels like entering a kaleidoscope. Stalls exploding with colour, voices calling from every direction. We tasted different teas, sampled pieces of lokum dusted in sugar and wandered between endless displays of spices and sweets. Somewhere among the stalls we met a Couchsurfing friend who happened to be working as a vendor there. The bazaar suddenly felt even more alive, stories exchanged between customers, jokes between sellers, and endless experiments with jewelry combinations that somehow worked despite breaking every rule of style.

The afternoon slowly melted into evening as we crossed Istanbul’s bridges, watching the city change colour with the setting sun. Then came a mandatory street-food stop: balık dürüm. We grabbed a beer and watched the sun disappear behind the skyline. When the night settled over the city, we walked back through streets that had transformed again. Vendors selling stuffed mussels and fried sprats, the smell of the sea mixing with the buzz of nightlife. Just another Friday in Istanbul.

Saturday

The morning started with wandering and with stairs. So many stairs. Istanbul has a way of waking up your legs before your mind fully catches up. Narrow streets climb up and down the hills, unexpected staircases appear around corners, and the quiet rhythm of the city slowly comes to life.

Soon the streets opened toward the water and it was time for a ferry ride. Crossing the Bosphorus is always a small ritual. The wind gets stronger, the smell of salt fills the air, seagulls follow the boat and for a moment the endless movement of the city slows down. Istanbul drifts past instead of rushing at you.

Our destination was Kadıköy on the Asian side. The atmosphere there felt instantly different, relaxed and youthful, full of cafés, small shops and street life. We wandered through markets and vintage stores packed with old jackets, vinyl records and forgotten fashion treasures before rewarding ourselves with a delicious iced coffee, the perfect refreshment after the morning climbs.

From there we slowly walked toward Moda, a neighborhood that almost felt Mediterranean. Quiet streets, colorful houses painted in soft blues and yellows, small cafés tucked into corners. At one point we stumbled upon a surreal little surprise. A café inspired by the TV show Friends – Central Point, complete with an orange couch.

Another ferry ride took us back to the European side, this time to Fatih, where the atmosphere shifted immediately. The neighborhood felt far more traditional. Many women walked the streets wearing abayas and the area carried a calmer, more conservative rhythm. The cultural contrast between districts was striking, a reminder that Istanbul holds many different worlds inside one city. Luckily, one universal language here is food. We stopped at Buuzecedi Restoran, where the falafel was perfectly crispy and the hummus unbelievably creamy. One of those meals that suddenly quiets the table because everyone is too busy enjoying every bite.

The afternoon continued in Balat, one of the most colorful corners of Istanbul. Steep streets lined with bright houses, rainbow painted stairs, little antique shops and cafés hidden in old buildings. It is the kind of place where every turn looks like a postcard, but the real joy comes from simply wandering without a destination.

By evening the city pulled us back toward nightlife. We ended the day at Yabangee Base Cihangir Pub & Cafe, a lively expat bar buzzing with conversations from every corner of the world. The night slowly dissolved into dancing, karaoke and the kind of laughter that only appears when nobody is checking the time anymore.

Sunday

The last day in Istanbul started with movement. A morning workout that immediately filled the body with endorphins and energy, the kind that makes the whole day feel lighter from the very beginning. Sunday morning brought something special. We began the day with a Polish Holy Mass at the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua, a quiet and beautiful moment hidden in the middle of the enormous city. Sitting inside the church, listening to familiar words in a place so far from home, felt strangely comforting.

The rest of the morning moved at a slower rhythm. Wandering through the streets, small shopping stops, and several excellent iced coffees that helped us stay cool in the Istanbul heat. Sometimes the best way to experience a city is simply to walk without much of a plan. In the afternoon we crossed to another part of the city again, this time by tram, gliding through the busy streets toward Eminönü. The district immediately overwhelmed the senses. Crowds flowing through the streets, ferries arriving and leaving, street vendors calling out to passersby. Everything loud, vibrant, and alive.

From there we wandered through some of Istanbul’s most iconic places. Süleymaniye Mosque, standing proudly above the city with breathtaking views over the Golden Horn. The famous Blue Mosque, elegant and calm despite the constant stream of visitors. And finally Hagia Sophia, a place that feels almost unreal when you finally stand in front of it.

Somewhere along the way we met Fernando from Italy. One of those spontaneous travel encounters where conversation flows easily and suddenly you are sharing stories with someone you met only minutes before. Another reminder that cities are made not only of buildings, but also of people passing through them.

The evening arrived faster than expected. For our farewell dinner we went to Ziya Baba, a cozy local restaurant that felt like the perfect final taste of the city. Good food, relaxed atmosphere, and that quiet awareness that the trip was slowly coming to an end. Later we made our way to the bus station. Backpacks packed again, the night journey waiting ahead. And somewhere between the platforms and the buses we said goodbye to this incredible city. Goodbye to the ferries. Goodbye to the tea. Goodbye to the endless hills and colorful streets. Goodbye, Istanbul. Until next time.