The road to Istanbul from anywhere in Bulgaria will take no more than 8 hours; the border with Turkey is located in the southeast of the country. Istanbul is a city of contrasts: in the Orthodox district, women wrapped in black hijabs make purchases with a basket directly from the window of the 5th floor, and at the same time, on the Galati Bridge, barely covered with clothes, tourists admire the view of the Bosphorus with a glass of wine. Here the magnificent decor of the mosques, and on the next street, Turkish children in rags play in the dust of the dilapidated pavement. Having lost all fear, cats hide from the scorching sun in the most unexpected places. The magical cuisine revives the taste buds (especially after a long stay in Bulgaria, where “sharena sol” is the only seasoning): aromatic coffee, truly magical Turkish delight made from pistachios and roses, spicy “menemen” omelette with a cheese crust, donruma of all colors of the flavor rainbow. In general, if you are suddenly bored with Shopska salad and the ruins of modern Sofia, get ready for new taste and visual impressions in Istanbul.
The Road From Bulgaria to Istanbul
Those who want to admire the endless fields of Bulgaria can travel to Istanbul by car. To cross the Bulgaria-Turkey border, you only need a Russian passport and a residence permit/permanent residence card (if you have one), and insurance for your car that includes the territory of the “modern Ottoman Empire.” For railway lovers, traveling on the fast train Sofia - Istanbul is ideal. A ticket to a comfortable compartment costs about 40 levs. The train departs daily at 9 pm and arrives at 8.30 am. Read more about the train and how to buy a ticket in this article. The most impatient ones can fly to Turkey from the airports of Sofia, Varna, Burgas or Plovdiv. Flight time to Istanbul is 1.5 hours. The cost of a plane ticket is ˜250 BGN, the most profitable flights come from Sofia and Burgas. Oddly enough, the price does not depend on the time of year.
Border
Three border points connect Bulgaria with Turkey. The largest and most visited is “Captain Andreevo - Kapikuli”, since the road connecting Istanbul and Sofia passes through it. You can spend 2-3 hours (or even more) in line. Another, less busy option “Lesovo - Khamzabeyli” allows you to bypass the border almost without delay. Happy holders of a Russian passport are allowed visa-free entry into Turkey, as well as residence for 60 days (but not more than 90 days in a six-month period).
Parking and traffic in Istanbul
The Turks drive incredibly recklessly, even regular city buses fly through the streets as if they are participating in a prize race, to say nothing of the drivers of private cars. Trucks overtake each other, overtaking can be done even on the side of the road, almost no one uses turn signals. Transport interchanges in the city are complex. You can get stuck in a traffic jam even at night, it feels like Istanbul “never sleeps”. In other words, if you are not ready to participate in survival races, leave your car in a paid parking lot for the entire duration of your trip. The cost of one hour of parking in Istanbul is 7-13 liras (2-4 levs), a day 15-50 liras (5-15 levs) depending on the area. Be sure to inquire about parking availability when booking your hotel. As a last resort, you can leave the car in one of the alleys for free, but here you can scratch it.
Istanbul metro map
Istanbul public transport
For comfortable movement around the city, it is worth purchasing “Istanbulkart” - a card that is uniform for all public transport. The cost of the card is 6 liras (2 BGN). You can top up your balance at the machine at any bus stop. Card holders can use all ground transportation, metro, steamship services and even the city toilet. The average cost of a trip by bus is 2 liras (0.5 levs), on the metro 2-4 liras, however, transitions between lines are paid, so plan your route in advance. Metro operating hours in Istanbul: from 6 am to 12 pm. It is worth noting that the stations are clean and safe.
The Uber taxi app works in Turkey. You can choose a trip at a fixed price, especially if you are worried that the driver will deceive you. However, the application requires internet to work. Be prepared for the fact that Bulgarian cellular operators provide Internet connection services in Turkey for additional funds. The author of the article once ended up with a large sum of money and has since taken out the SIM card at the border.
Hotels and areas of Istanbul
There are an incredible variety of accommodation options in Istanbul. The buildings in the center of Istanbul are very dense, so the view from the window “over the city” is a luxury, but open verandas on the top floor are popular. Below is the approximate cost of living in Istanbul and the most convenient areas. It is worth mentioning that hotel staff are very polite to guests (this is especially noticeable for those who have been living in Bulgaria for a long time). Accommodation in the central area of the city will save time and reduce transport costs, since the main attractions will be within walking distance.
| Hotel class | Cost | Examples |
| Lux | 500/700 lev | Daru Sultan Hotels Galata (central location, breakfast, city view, parking) |
| Medium | 250/350 lv | Hilton Istanbul Kozyatagi (central location, breakfast) |
| Economy | 100/150 lev | Cibali Hotel Istanbul (central location, breakfast) |
The price is for a double room in the city center per night
Those who want to get closer to the traditional Turkish way of life can rent housing in the Orthodox district Fatih or Fener. Women here wear a hijab, and venerable elders leisurely drink coffee in every alley. There are no alcoholic drinks on sale, but decorated Korans and sacramental Turkish clothing are sold everywhere. In this area there is the Fatih Mosque of the same name, an ancient aqueduct and the Vefa Bozacısı cafe, which has been serving boza since 1876. The areas of the old city are very atmospheric: the alleys are full of unguarded ancient dilapidated buildings with a centuries-old history.
The Eminönü area is perhaps one of the most convenient for living. It includes the Egyptian and Grand Bazaar, pedestrian bridges moor here, Eminonu Square is both a pier and the starting point for public transport. The Sultanahmet district is located away from the center, however, it is famous for a large number of historical sites, here is the Sultan Ahmet Square of the same name, the largest park in Istanbul - Gulhane, the Blue Mosque, ancient cisterns. The Laleli area is suitable for shopping; a large number of stores are concentrated here: casual clothes, shoes, evening dresses.
Which area to live in Istanbul
The region Galata received its name in honor of the Galata Tower. Those who want to admire the view of Istanbul at night can linger on the embankment between two pedestrian bridges. Cafes and restaurants in this area offer European menus; hotels of a higher class are located here. The main attraction is the ancient pedestrian street Istiklal, 1.5 kilometers long (like Moscow's Arbat), it passes through the Kabatash district and ends in Taksim. The area Uskudar is located on the other side of the Bosphorus Strait, and is not suitable for tourist accommodation, as it is very far from attractions. However, there are also several observation platforms, historical sites and parks.
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