The majority of the visitors visit Istanbul with a list, hurry, get what they came to receive and go away a little sweaty. The city contains over 15 million residents, two continents and circa 2,700 years of history. But Istanbul is a city that doses not penalise hurry, and does not reward haste. Tea comes in small glasses so you’ll order another. The ferries maintain a timetable which has no concern with your schedule. 

Take your time and arrive at the city and you tend to spend more time, travel less and listen.

Take the ferry, even when a bridge is faster

The most affordable experience in the city is the public ferries which are crossing the Bosphorus. Riding to Kadikoy in Asia, it takes approximately 20 minutes (from Emenonu or Karakoy on the European side) and costs a similar amount to a ride with an Istanbulkart but with the same view as the tour boats.

Have a tea with the onboard vendor and stand in the open deck. Observe the seagulls mobbing anybody who carries a simit (the sesame bread ring on sale at every corner) at the level of the shoulders. You will lose at least one simit in this manner. Consider it as a local tax.

Walk the neighborhoods the tour buses skip

Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque are worth visiting Sultanahmet. And it is also worth the early beginning, before the square becomes one long que about.

Then walk up a hill to the Süleymaniye Mosque, which was constructed in the 1550s by an architect by the name, Mimar Sinan. Its garden terrace is faced by Golden Horn. Then continue on to Fener and Balat, with its steep lanes running through among the houses of various colors, antique shops.

A large part of what you will be walking through is included in the Historic Areas of Istanbul that are a UNESCO registered area since 1985.

Shop like you intend to keep it

The Grand Bazaar has been trading since the 15th century, with thousands of shops spread across dozens of covered streets. Bargaining is expected, so keep it friendly. The seller has done this ten thousand times. If tea is offered, accept it. Just go with a slow fashion rule: one thing you’ll use for years beats ten things you’ll regret by the airport.

A few pieces you might like:

• A peştemal: This flat-woven cotton towel was made for the hammam. It’s light, dries fast and doubles as a beach towel, a scarf or a picnic blanket. It will probably outlive every towel in your closet.
• A handwoven kilim: Only if you have the floor space. Ask where it was made and by whom; good dealers enjoy that question.
• Hand-painted ceramics: They make far better gifts than anything with “Istanbul” printed on it.

Treat breakfast as an event

A Turkish breakfast, or kahvalt, is not a meal that you eat standing. It comes in in a miniature version of a procession of dishes: cheeses, olives, tomatoes, honey with clotted cream (kaymak) and eggs scramled with peppers (menemen) and a basket of bread to clean it up. Budget an hour and a half and omitting lunch.

On the Asian side, it can be done in Kadıkoey. Its fish market and its neighbourhood are crowded with delis, pickle stores and produce stands, and the neighbourhood does not seem like a place people come to, but like a place people live.

Beauty Treatments

It is not solely fair that Turkey has become one of the most active destinations of the medical tourists and the joke of the teeth of Turkey is not entirely objective. There are highly trained dentists and up-to-date clinics in Istanbul. And, in case you are considering dental implants in Turkey, or a well-shaded zirconium crown, the Oral Health Foundation’s guide to going abroad for dental treatment covers what to ask about treatment plans and aftercare before you book. 

Pack light, stay longer

The best thing to bring home from Istanbul is the habit of slowing down. Take the ferry over the taxi, the one good towel over the bag of trinkets, and the long breakfast over the packed schedule. The city will be just as big and chaotic when you leave. You won’t be.