In Istanbul, there are many outside spots where you can enjoy sipping your tulip-like glass of hot �ay along the Bosphorus.
The breathtaking views along the Bosphorus never gets old to me! I love watching the boats pass by, men fishing along the Galata Bridge and families strolling along the waterfront.
My husband and I recently discovered a new location to drink our �ay along the Bosphorus. One Sunday afternoon, we took a 10-minute ferryboat ride from Besiktasto �sk�dar � the quickest way to travel from Europe to Asia.
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| The seagulls soar right along the ferryboats. |
Here, the vibe of the city instantly changes. The district of �sk�dar, Istanbul's oldest-established residential suburb, has a more relaxed atmosphere as well as being home to more traditional Turkish families. We saw few women who weren�t wearing headscarves and long trench coats.
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| Daily life in �sk�dar in Istanbul. |
Along �sk�dar�s waterfront, the area is bustling with activity. Boats are arriving and departing about every 10 minutes. We strolled a bit through �sk�dar and then decided to follow the crowd along the waterfront.
Note: there are several mosques and a nice market area in �sk�dar that�s worth exploring if you have time.
After a 15-minute walk along the promenade south of �sk�dar, we discovered a busy �ay bah�esi (tea garden) with one of the best views of Sultanahmetand the Kiz Kulesi (Maiden�s Tower). This small tower off the coast has existed since Byzantine times. You also can see the Topkapi Palace, Aya Sofya, the Blue Mosque, the Dolmabah�e Palace along the European shore.
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| At first, I tried to hold my �ay and take a photo at the same time. To the left is the Kiz Kulesi (Maiden's Tower) and Sultanahmet is in the far background. |
This �ay bah�esi is filled with wooden benches and stretches along the Bosphorus towards the bus station at Harem. We pulled up a front-row seat, ordered our �ay and spent an hour both reading our books.
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| A view of the tea garden and it's bleacher-like seating. |
At 2 tl per glass of �ay and 1 tl for asimit, this is a very cheap way to spend the afternoon. Plus, the Bosphorus view is priceless!
Where is your favorite location to enjoy the Bosphorus view in Istanbul?
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| Fisherman along the promenade near �sk�dar in Istanbul. |