For the traveler inside DEL-YYZ flyers

If you:

• are flying between Toronto and Delhi;
• do not like taking long flights;
• want to break your journey into two 8 to 9-hour legs;
• have a traveler in you;
• would like to strike off another amazing city from your Bucket list (Oh, if you do not have this one on the list, you might want to reconsider your list);

Then I have got you an option to spoil yourself - ISTANBUL, TURKEY. A transcontinental city, beautifully placed on the merger of 2 continents, Asia and Europe. Istanbul is an orgasmic mix of art, history, culture, and food. Many empires came and ruled this part of the world, and left their impressions behind. You might consider taking a 3 day stop or a long weekend to experience the city. I won't say that you will be able to see or experience everything, but I am damn sure that you would leave longing for more on your next visit. This city might be added to your favorite layovers. So this is how you can rock & roll -

1) Flights: Look for Turkish Airlines flights between Delhi and Toronto. For the best deals, I would prefer the Turkish Airlines' website. I found the best price on the airline's website rather than going for some third party booking. Now, if you haven't been on Turkish Airlines, then let me assure you that flights operated independently by Turkish Airlines are good. 5 on 5 for comfort and food in even economy class (Have personally experienced many airlines including Turkish, British Airways, American, Qatar, Emirates, and Etihad). So look for the red Turkish Airlines logo on the legs between Delhi and Toronto as some flights are operated by Indigo as well. I have used a picture for your reference with Friday Check-in and Monday Check out. Just visit www.turkishairlines.com and use a multi-city filter to book this trip. Thank me later ;)

2) Stay: The flights are done, now where to stay? Well, you are visiting for a short duration and to get the vibe of the city, I have filtered 2 best neighborhoods for you i.e Sultanahmet and Beyoglu (Taksim/Cihangir). My personal recommendation would be Beyoglu, towards Cihangir. Why? Because Sultanahmet is the most famous tourist spot and is always crowded. If you stay near Cihangir, you would not only be away from the crowd but also have access to Sultanahmet by a metro which is super convenient. This way you would experience a place next to Bosphorus, which forms part of the continental boundary between Europe and Asia and divides Turkey by separating Anatolia from Thrace. You can choose to be on the European side with a fantastic glimpse of the Asian side - the picture is from the balcony of the Airbnb I found. You can contact me for my personal preferences on this one ;)

3) The plan: You might still be wondering, how can you possibly experience the vibe or heart of the city in such a short duration? Let me tell you what I do to make most of my experiences. I generally prefer or plan to spend at least 5-7 days in a city to build my experiences around a new culture. But if I have fewer days, I filter down to spending time in 1 or 2 neighborhoods, depending on the time and neighborhood. I have experienced 82+ cities to date (in and outside India) on the same principle. For Istanbul, I would recommend you 2 neighborhoods for this short one - Sultanahmet and Beyoglu (Taksim/Cihangir). Both neighborhoods offer you an abundance of art, history, culture, and food. Go go go!

4) Visa pro tip: Have a valid US travel visa and get your Turkish e-visa in less than 10 minutes.

This is the Author's personal point of view, based on personal experience and not influenced by any person or organization. All the images belong to the Author. #Turkey #India #Canada #Immigration #Travel #Layovers