Vacation Packages to Istanbul

General Information about Istanbul

Istanbul is a city in Turkey located along the Bosphorus Strait, which joins the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea, and is located in both Europe and Asia. This city is the most populated in Europe and one of the most populated cities in the world.

Geographically, Istanbul stands out for being built on seven hills and having a Mediterranean climate, with mild summers and cold and rainy winters in which snow is possible.

One of the most outstanding aspects of Istanbul is its cultural richness, since throughout history several empires ruled the region and this is observed both in the buildings that can be seen there and in its symbolic heritage, since in Istanbul the juxtaposition between its past and its present and between its two continents, Asia and Europe.

Istanbul: One City, Many Cities

The history of Istanbul is fascinating when you consider that this city was the capital of the Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman empires. This is so due to its prodigious economic situation, which owes its permanent activity to the geographical point in which it is located, central to the commercial routes.

Today, the capital of Turkey was transferred to Ankara, however, Istanbul continues to be its administrative capital, and the heritage of the different peoples that passed through it can be seen in every corner.

How Is the Culture in Istanbul

Traditional Istanbul Food and Drink

Istanbul is an excellent destination if gastronomic tourism is your thing, since its cuisine has the best of traditional Ottoman recipes with fresh local ingredients full of flavor.

To start, we recommend you try Dolma, a vine leaf that is usually stuffed with rice, onion, minced meat, pine nuts, and spices. Another delicious dish that you will find is Midye dolması, mussels stuffed with rice with cassis, pine nuts and mixed with various spices. Finally, be sure to try one of the most typical Turkish dishes, borek, a dish made with puff pastry, stuffed with cheese, spinach, or meat.

As for the drink, you should try the ayran, a traditional alcoholic drink made from yogurt, water and salt. If this is not to your liking, you can try raki, an aniseed drink with water and ice.

Lastly, a must on your trip to Istanbul is the famous baklava, a cake made with pistachios or walnuts, filo pastry and honey or syrup. Also consider the rahatlucum, a carrot, lemon and walnut-based dessert.

The Dervishes Spiritual Ceremony in Istanbul

If you plan to visit Istanbul you should know that one of the most spectacular events that take place there is the spiritual ceremony of the Dervishes.

The Dervishes are practitioners of Sufism, a mystical ideology within Islam, which was banned for a time but today is considered an Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Here we tell you more about this practice.

The Ritual of the Dervishes

The rite performed by the Dervishes consists of going round and round to reach a state of ecstasy and thus achieve contact with Allah, and then offer this connection to humanity. This rite is called Sema and its execution involves a series of steps.

At the beginning, a group of musicians and the Dervishes and the Seyh arrive, who are dressed in black to represent death, and a prayer to Muhammad is performed. Then the drums sound and then the flute, and the Dervishes and the Seyh begin a kind of dance in which their clothing and the way they carry their bodies change.

Towards the end of the ceremony, everyone wears white, symbolizing purity after having killed the ego and been reborn, and a joint prayer is held to achieve salvation. Without a doubt, it is a religious experience that deserves to be seen.

What to Give If You Travel to Istanbul

If you are thinking of traveling to Istanbul and don't know what to bring your loved ones as a gift, Turkey's blue eye is a great option. Formerly this ornament was used as an amulet to protect babies from all evil.

At present this tradition has spread and you will find that in several places the Turkish eye is sold for energy protection against envy to people of all ages.

In case blue is not your color, do not worry because you will find this amulet in different colors, including black, which symbolizes success, the attraction of power to the wearer's life.

Do not hesitate, take a turkish eye to your loved ones and why not, one for you, on your next trip to Istanbul.

Cultural Aspects to Take into Account If You Travel to Istanbul

Istanbul is a Turkish city where Islam is mostly professed, for this reason you should take into account some questions if you plan to visit this beautiful city. To begin with, the women there dress discreetly, so we recommend that you wear modest clothing, except when you're on the beach.

He also considers that in Istanbul, as in all of Turkey, eating and drinking in public during the month of Ramadan, the month of fasting in the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, is not welcome. To give you an idea, the last one was held in May (2022).

In turn, it is important that you control that the volume of your voice, audio and music is not too high, both in private and public spaces, as this is considered disrespectful.

Likewise, if you want to avoid problems during your trip, avoid talking about political issues, as this could land you in prison.

Finally, if someone offers you Turkish tea, do not reject it because the tea ceremony symbolizes a way of making a pleasant approach between peers and it is a great tradition in Turkey.

What to See and Do in Istanbul

Istanbul stands out for its beautiful landscape in which the natural and the constructions of different civilizations throughout history are juxtaposed creating a unique postcard.

Also, due to its proximity to Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Troy, many travelers take advantage of their trip to Istanbul to combine with these destinations.

Are you looking to visit the Topkapi Palace or the iconic Blue Mosque? Do you want to take a boat ride on the Bosphorus? Do you want to discover delicious gastronomy while touring this eclectic city?

If the answer is "Yes" in Greca we have several proposals for tourist packages to Istanbul, which you can modify and adapt according to your needs and times.

There are travel packages for all tastes. Choose your own adventure according to your needs!