Mum, Sis, the kids and I popped over to Istanbul for the weekend. We managed to keep the trip a surprise for the kids until we printed the boarded passes at the airport. You know I live for all those cute moments.

Istanbul is a big city with houses stacked so close and legendary traffic that makes the one in Lagos look like child’s play. I had this in mind while booking the hotel so I picked Best Western Premier in Sultanahmet which is just a 3-minute walk from Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace, and 15 minutes from the Grand Bazaar. 

My itinerary was something like this:

Day One

Shooting Range

Topkapi Palace

Hagia Sophia

Blue Mosque

She Tour’s Bosphorus Cruise & Cable Car

Grand Bazaar

Dinner

Day Two

Shopping in Laleli district

Beyoglu solo walking tour

Dinner and drinks

I was torn between going to Taksim square as it was a Saturday but I wasn’t up for partying by myself so I stuck to the district and found a lovely bar where I sang at the top of my voice to some of my favourite R&B and pop songs of the 90s and 00s

Day Three

Up, up and away.

Isav Silah & Poligon (shooting range). I was surprised at how cheap it was and the fact you just walk in, they hand you the gun of your choice and let you blast away. No briefing, no talks, just do your thing.

I sure did my thing. A few rounds later and I headed back to the hotel to get the rest of the crew who were asleep when I left.

Tour of the sights of Sultanahmet.

Then we got picked up for an afternoon bosphorous cruise. It was interesting but I could have done much more on my own, without a tour company.

Very blue/green water and lovely sky! The weather was refreshingly chilly.

Day two we all hit the shops in Laleli but with zero stamina for shopping I left them 30 minutes in and wandered off to Beyoglu. First stop was the Galata tower but with a queue snaking around it, I kept it moving through the back street further into the area.

Stumbled on a little shop selling soaps made with all natural products and I went a bit crazy in there.

Came up to Tomtom Suites, a rather lovely boutique hotel with a much raved about restaurant.

The restaurant was closed but the bar manager was kind enough to let me stay for drinks and enjoy the views of the city and the Bosphorous.

Had lunch at Varka Antakya, got dressed up in ottoman attire and had my photos taken, walked around some more before hopping on the tram back to the old city.

Walking from the stop to the hotel, I noticed another hotel with a rooftop. Looked up, saw the manager waving, smiled and he invited me up to have a look.

Had some more G&T while I watched the sunset there.

Went back to the hotel, watched a movie and then went for a walk.

Went into Mitani pub and restaurant and had the best meal of the weekend. Knocked back a few coronas and sang along to the cheesy songs blasting from the speakers.

Perfect way to end the weekend.

Tips: If you are going to do the museums, get the

3-day 

pass

(for 85TL)

 as you will have queue-jumping privileges

 and access to a number of the museums including 

Topkapi

 Palace and 

Hagia

 Sophia

. The queues at the tourist attractions are usually long and for a little bit more you can breeze in and out without standing for over an hour.

Trams and the metro are great ways to see the city without having to deal too much with the traffic which gets really bad from noon until evening. Plus, you get to people watch!

Barely had time to rest over the weekend and my body is now paying dearly for it.

xx