[demo] Walking Ist — Non-Touristy Guide to Istanbul with immersion in the local environment

Main —

If you're thinking about a weekend escape to Istanbul or you're already there and need a few ideas for where to go and what to do - no matter if you've been before or it's your first time - it will be an unforgettable one!

No mosques, restaurants, or basilicas here. Forget what you read in all those online articles! This guide is totally handcrafted, with my own discoveries of locations and routes around the same central area. No tourist traps - but still within walking distance!

What you will find here —

• Interesting routes for hiking
• Cozy local cafes to fit any budget
• Unknown and hidden places away from the hustle and bustle
• Personal top list of doner kebabs (trust us, it's important)
• Differences between a doner and a durum
• Secrets of the shoe cleaner

And much more that the guide will be too shy to tell you!

To the first 20 bonus buyers, I will send a guide on shopping in Istanbul (second-hand shops, vintage stores, souvenirs, leather goods, and gifts).

1. Karakoy

• The cutest and most vibey coffee shops
• Museum of modern art, along the way to which you will experience emotions
• A neighborhood with no people and lots of graffiti, perfect for photos
• Fish market and how it is organized

2. Сihangir

• The territory of the old museum, where there are no people and there is a garden
• Shop with vintage postcards and posters
• Antique street
• The best pide with meat, cheese, egg (your choice) in the city
• Viewing platform with a view of the Bosphorus, mostly visited by locals

3. Kadikoy

• Coffee shops with the best coffee in town
• A district that won't leave you indifferent
• Best places for breakfast
• Quiet bar streets away from prying eyes
• Places where you can drink beer and be yourself, meet interesting people
• Cheap tea shops with a special atmosphere
• Best spots for sunset watching

For who —

If you have already been to Istanbul as a tourist and are tired of sightseeing,  If you're keen to really soak up all of Istanbul's vibes - poor and rich, happy and sad, sometimes even dangerous.

For why —

In my opinion, the biggest attraction of Istanbul is its uniqueness and freedom. Istanbul itself is a sight to see. But in order to see it, you need to turn away from the tourist's ways and go into the unknown.

Sometimes I walk around and don't find anything interesting to take a picture of, but more often than not, I retreat into the silence and vibe of the locals without hustle and bustle. There's nothing to take pictures of there, because observing and enjoying the scenery is much more pleasant.

Istanbul is sooo diverse! It's like three totally different cities in one - each part with its own unique look and feel.