Istanbul in a Day • The Blonde Abroad

With less than 2 days to spend in Istanbul, I felt overwhelmed with what to put on my itinerary. There’s so much to see and do in the city and I wanted to see it all. So with careful planning and lots of walking (I’m talking OVER 13 miles), I managed to see all the highlights of Istanbul in just one day.

Here are some of the highlights from Istanbul in a day!

The Blue Mosque

One of the most famous and iconic destinations for tourists in Istanbul is commonly referred to as the Blue Mosque. It was built in 1616 and there are over 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles!

The Grand Bazaar

One of my favorite stops was the Grand Bazaar. It is one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world – built in 1461, stretching 61 streets and consisting of over 3,000 shops!

Istanbul by Rooftop

The best way to see Istanbul is from a rooftop and there is no shortage of epic opportunities in the city. Most rooftop locations are safely guarded by locals, so it was an amazing experience to have one all to myself.

Hagia Sofia

Hagia Sophia has been standing for more than 1400 years. It served as an Orthodox Cathedral until 1453 until Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II (who conquered Istanbul) converted it into a mosque.

During the conversion, the Sultan covered the religious symbols rather than removing them, so today visitors can witness a unique monument that straddles time and religion.

Turkish Coffee Stop

A trip to Istanbul wouldn’t be complete a pit stop for a cup of Turkish coffee. Turkish coffee is the rocket fuel of caffeinated concoctions. It’s a bit thicker in consistency than espresso and has a distinct flavor of cardamom.

The grounds left after drinking Turkish coffee can also be used for fortune-telling!

Be sure to read my The Solo Female Traveler’s Guide to Istanbul for more tips and recommendations! And if you’re looking to visit Istanbul, be sure to check out my guide on The Best Time to Travel to Turkey!

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THIS is my travel sidekick I cannot fly without 👇
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Did you know that 1 in 4 flights are delayed or canceled? It’s enough to make you go mad… unless of course you have @airhelp!

AirHelp is a flight & claim tracker app that is a complete lifesaver on travel days helping me...

✔️ Track unlimited flights (no ads, no limits)
✔️ Get real-time updates for gates, terminals, and baggage claim details
✔️ Receive automatic alerts if I’m eligible for flight compensation
✔️ See my travel history log with a built-in travel map (my favorite part)

Honestly, I wish I had this app sooner! It would’ve been a game-changer on long-haul flights with my toddler. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or just planning your next adventure, this is one of the smartest tools you can have on your phone.

Download the @airhelp app today and fly with peace of mind.
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#AirHelpApp #TravelSmart #StressFreeTravel

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THIS is my travel sidekick I cannot fly without 👇
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Did you know that 1 in 4 flights are delayed or canceled? It’s enough to make you go mad… unless of course you have @airhelp!

AirHelp is a flight & claim tracker app that is a complete lifesaver on travel days helping me...

✔️ Track unlimited flights (no ads, no limits)
✔️ Get real-time updates for gates, terminals, and baggage claim details
✔️ Receive automatic alerts if I’m eligible for flight compensation
✔️ See my travel history log with a built-in travel map (my favorite part)

Honestly, I wish I had this app sooner! It would’ve been a game-changer on long-haul flights with my toddler. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or just planning your next adventure, this is one of the smartest tools you can have on your phone.

Download the @airhelp app today and fly with peace of mind.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#AirHelpApp #TravelSmart #StressFreeTravel

Paris is always a good idea 🍷🇫🇷 🥐
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Summer might be winding down, but it’s quite literally impossible for Paris to have a bad season.

Whether you’re marveling at the Christmas decor during Winter, enjoying the cherry blossoms of Spring, celebrating Bastille Day in Summer, or embracing a crisp walk in Autumn, there is always a reason to visit Paris.

Here are just some of my favorites in Paris—be sure to save this for your next visit!

Let me know if you want my Ultimate Paris Guide below (with more tips on where to stay, where to eat, and what to do!) and I’ll send you a link!
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#paris #eurotrip #visitfrance

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Paris is always a good idea 🍷🇫🇷 🥐
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Summer might be winding down, but it’s quite literally impossible for Paris to have a bad season.

Whether you’re marveling at the Christmas decor during Winter, enjoying the cherry blossoms of Spring, celebrating Bastille Day in Summer, or embracing a crisp walk in Autumn, there is always a reason to visit Paris.

Here are just some of my favorites in Paris—be sure to save this for your next visit!

Let me know if you want my Ultimate Paris Guide below (with more tips on where to stay, where to eat, and what to do!) and I’ll send you a link!
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#paris #eurotrip #visitfrance

This might be the last car seat you’ll ever need 👇
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We’ve trusted @cybex_usa since Ollie was a newborn. Through flights, road trips, and every adventure in between, @cybex_usa has been with us around the world.

As a first-time parent, I admittedly went through more car seats than needed. Now, there’s the Callisto G 360. 🙌

It’s designed to work from newborn up to double digits, which means no more swapping seats at different stages.

This seat features 360° rotation, a one-time install, and SensorSafe alerts, making travel days and everyday drives so much easier (and safer!) 💛
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#CYBEX #TravelWithKids #travelsafe

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This might be the last car seat you’ll ever need 👇
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
We’ve trusted @cybex_usa since Ollie was a newborn. Through flights, road trips, and every adventure in between, @cybex_usa has been with us around the world.

As a first-time parent, I admittedly went through more car seats than needed. Now, there’s the Callisto G 360. 🙌

It’s designed to work from newborn up to double digits, which means no more swapping seats at different stages.

This seat features 360° rotation, a one-time install, and SensorSafe alerts, making travel days and everyday drives so much easier (and safer!) 💛
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#CYBEX #TravelWithKids #travelsafe

Night dives are scary… until they’re not. 🌙🤿
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I used to think they were terrifying—it actually took me almost 50 dives before I built up the courage to do my first one. But now? I’m convinced there’s nothing more magical underwater.

What makes them so amazing is how different the ocean feels at night—you’ll see a whole new cast of marine life, from squid glowing like shooting stars in the dark to nocturnal creatures like octopus and lobsters emerging from their hiding places, and even manta rays depending on where you are in the world. ✨

On a recent trip to the Maldives with @tbaescapes, I had the chance to do a night dive with manta rays—easily one of the most incredible experiences of my life. You drop torches into the water, squid glowing like stars shimmer in the glow, and then the mantas come swooping in. They flip, spin, and dance above you in the dark… it honestly feels otherworldly.

Safe to say, I’ll never pass up a night dive again. 🖤
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#Maldives #ScubaDiving #NightDive #MantaRays

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Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18098849836527194

Night dives are scary… until they’re not. 🌙🤿
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
I used to think they were terrifying—it actually took me almost 50 dives before I built up the courage to do my first one. But now? I’m convinced there’s nothing more magical underwater.

What makes them so amazing is how different the ocean feels at night—you’ll see a whole new cast of marine life, from squid glowing like shooting stars in the dark to nocturnal creatures like octopus and lobsters emerging from their hiding places, and even manta rays depending on where you are in the world. ✨

On a recent trip to the Maldives with @tbaescapes, I had the chance to do a night dive with manta rays—easily one of the most incredible experiences of my life. You drop torches into the water, squid glowing like stars shimmer in the glow, and then the mantas come swooping in. They flip, spin, and dance above you in the dark… it honestly feels otherworldly.

Safe to say, I’ll never pass up a night dive again. 🖤
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#Maldives #ScubaDiving #NightDive #MantaRays

From toddler to big boy, this year’s birthday gift called for something a little extra special. Something that builds confidence and a love for adventure.

That’s why I went with the EZ Bike from @royalbabybikes. 🚲
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It’s designed to help little ones learn real balance with their “slide before ride” philosophy.

@royalbabybikes believes training wheels inhibit kids from learning real balance, creating a false sense of mastery whereas the EZ Bike helps kids learn proper balance faster. It starts as a balance bike so kids build confidence without relying on training wheels, and with the quick-release crank, it easily transforms into a pedal bike when they’re ready!

@royalbabybikes’ slogan “Once a RoyalRider, always a Loyal Rider” means their mission is all about inspiring kids to embrace biking and enjoy the outdoors from a young age. They’ve been Amazon’s top-selling kids’ bike brand for years, with award-winning designs built on research and development, it’s lightweight, easy to ride, and actually fun for kids to use.

Ollie was absolutely in love with his birthday gift and was off exploring within minutes — safe to say we’re officially along for the ride!
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#royalbabybike #EZbike #royalbaby

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Amanda | Chasing My Sunshine

The key photo for this post is STUNNING. I live everything about it. This tour sounds like a great bang for the buck. Istanbul has been on my list ever since I was a little girl playing a Madeline game. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

July 22, 2015 at 9:16 pm · Reply

Deepti @ Endless Postcards

I love your vlogs — so interesting and beautiful, with awesome transitions!

I’m going to Istanbul next year and it’s one of the parts of my trip that I’m most excited for, especially because of the Blue Mosque and the The Grand Bazaar. Beautiful photos as always, looks like you had loads of fun!!

July 23, 2015 at 1:53 am · Reply

Newer

Here are some of the highlights from Istanbul in a day!

The Blue Mosque

The Grand Bazaar

Istanbul by Rooftop

Hagia Sofia

Turkish Coffee Stop

Be sure to read my The Solo Female Traveler’s Guide to Istanbul for more tips and recommendations! And if you’re looking to visit Istanbul, be sure to check out my guide on The Best Time to Travel to Turkey!

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