In light of the recent news about the military coup in Turkey, I felt that it was unjustified and would put off many people from traveling to this beautiful country. While safety is an important issue to consider, I believe that Turkey will clean up its act and restore faith among travellers quickly.

One of my best memories in Turkey is running the Istanbul marathon in Oct 2013. It was cool weather, not humid like Singapore and the running route took me past many important sights and attractions. Istanbul used to be the capital of three different empires – Byzantium, Constantinopole and Ottoman. It is now Turkey’s thriving cultural and financial hub. Take note that while Istanbul is the most popular city, it is not the capital city, of which the title belongs to Ankara instead and it is a city that is less frequently visited.

Old City

A main attraction of the postcard pretty Old City, the Grand Bazaar in Beyazit houses just everything that you can imagine, vendors sell the gamut of products from spices to shisha sets to (magical) carpets. It is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, home to more than 3000 vendors. Wind your way through the wholesale district and grab a commuter ferry to take in the illuminated sights from a distance.

Another major sight to behold in the Old City is the Blue Mosque. The Blue Mosque (known as Sultanahmet Camii in Turkish) is a historical mosque in Istanbul. It is known as the Blue Mosque because of the blue tiles surrounding the walls of interior design. Non-Muslims are allowed to enter the mosque grounds during non-prayer times, but they need to take off their shoes and women must be appropriately covered. The interior of the mosque is stunning, definitely the most magnificent mosque that I have ever visited.

Beyoglu

Dubbed as the city’s creative, Western-influenced dinning and entertainment district, Beyoglu is an eclectic patchwork of sub-quarters. Peruse through the shopping corridor where vendors call out to you to gain your attention or head to Grande Rue de Pera for some luxury indulgence. The pedestrain street and its web of side streets would defnitely keep you occupied in the neighbourhood for several hours. Go to Balik Pazari, Beyoglu’s heralded fish market, for some of the freshest catch; followed by chocolate sampling in Meshur Beyoglu for a sweet ending to your meal.

Bosporus

Those who seek romantic enchantment in Istanbul need look no further. This 19-mile strait, which separates Europe and Asia in the middle, blesses visitors with waterfront mansions, shoreline palaces and colourful marinas. Spend a day ducking into the area’s artisan workshops, bakeries and barbershops. How else can one see the six Ottoman palaces in such jawdropping splendour?

Do take a commuter ferry to the other side of the city as you can get to experience traveling like a local. In order to pay for the ferry, the IstanbulKart can be used to pay for all forms of public transport and it is similar to our ez-link card. It is much cheaper to take a commuter ferry to experience the crossing from Europe to Asia (or vice versa) instead of signing up for an evening sunset boat tour with one of the several tour operators in the city.

Don’t let the terrorist attacks or military coup affect your decision to visit Turkey. Not all parts of the country are under attack and the people are so friendly. If you are stranded in Turkey, do pay close attention to the news and also to inform MFA of your whereabouts. Let there be peace.