Five Day’s in Istanbul (June 2025)

Istanbul not Constantinople

By Allan Brown and Marla Laine Brown:

In 1877, Italian writer Edmonds de Amici wrote: “Istanbul, a universal beauty where poet and archeologist, diplomat and merchant, princess and sailor, northerner and westerner scream with the same admiration.” His Constantinople travelogue, published long before the city was officially renamed Istanbul, played a significant role in shaping the perception of this unique city. 

I don’t disagree. Istanbul, a city steeped in history that spans two continents, connecting Europe and Asia, was an unexpected pleasure. We had the privilege of visiting this vibrant city for five days with our friends Ann and Maureen. Ann, who had visited Istanbul before, gave us a private tour and recommendations. For instance, without Ann’s suggestion, we probably wouldn’t have discovered the Sultanahmet Palace, a charming boutique hotel located directly across from the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, and Sultanahmet Square within Istanbul’s historic center. From our room, we could hear the mesmerizing calls of prayer that echoed between the mosques. We also purchased the Istanbul E-Pass, which allowed us free entry to many of the sites while skipping the lines and providing guided tours. It was definitely worth the money. However, our short time in Istanbul was not enough. We have plans to not only return to the city, but also explore more of this fascinating country. 

Unlike our typical blog posts, we’ve instead chosen to create a YouTube wrapping up our 5 days. Please enjoy our eleven minute video.

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