Istanbul Travel: Why I Pick It Over Paris, London, Rome

Ask me where to spend a long weekend in a big city and my answer is Istanbul. Every time. I like Paris, London and Rome, but when I compare them with Istanbul travel as a whole package, there is no contest for me. Here is why, and where I push back on my own opinion.

Two continents, one city

Istanbul sits on both sides of the Bosphorus, so part of the city is in Europe and part is in Asia. That changes how the city feels. You cross the water to go for dinner and land in a different neighbourhood with a different pace.

The ferries are the best part. Take a public ferry from the European side to Kadıköy on the Asian side and you get a Bosphorus cruise for the price of a normal city transport ride. Sit outside, get a tea and watch the skyline slide past. Try getting that from the Seine or the Thames.

Is Istanbul worth visiting? The history says yes

Rome has the Colosseum and Paris has the Louvre. Istanbul has Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, the Süleymaniye Mosque and the Grand Bazaar, and most of it is within walking distance in the old city. The city was the capital of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires, and you can feel the layers as you walk around.

It never feels like a museum to me. People pray, shop and argue about football in the same streets where emperors and sultans once ruled. Rome often feels like a beautiful archive. Istanbul feels like a living city that happens to be thousands of years old.

The food is the real reason

This is where Istanbul wins for me, and it is not close. You can eat very well without a reservation or a big budget. A proper Turkish breakfast is cheeses, olives, eggs, tomatoes, honey, bread and endless tea. It is a long, slow meal, and I plan whole mornings around it. Simit, the sesame bread rings sold from street carts, is a cheap, perfect snack. Balık ekmek, grilled fish in bread eaten near the water, is simple and very good. Then there are kebabs, meze and baklava, and the standard there is high.

In Paris or London you can spend a lot on a meal that is just fine. In Istanbul, a simple place with a queue of locals usually beats a fancy restaurant. Follow the locals and skip the laminated menus on the tourist squares.

Value: your money goes further

I will not give you exact prices, because they move fast and the lira changes a lot. The pattern has held for years, though. Skyscanner’s city break comparison put an Istanbul trip at around 157 pounds, excluding flights, against roughly 369 for Paris, 413 for London and 416 for Rome. That study is a few years old, so use the numbers as a rough guide and not as a budget. Another comparison found a meal in Istanbul about 32 percent cheaper than in Paris, and taxis far cheaper too.

In practice that means a better hotel, more good meals and fewer moments where you do the maths before ordering a second coffee. Check current prices before you book. I have never come home from Istanbul feeling the city took my wallet hostage.

The atmosphere

Istanbul is loud, busy and a bit chaotic, and I mean that as a compliment. The call to prayer rolls over the rooftops. Cats own the streets. Shopkeepers invite you in for tea, and you do not have to buy anything.

Each neighbourhood has its own mood. Sultanahmet is for the big sights, so go early, before the crowds. Karaköy and Galata have coffee, galleries and views over the Golden Horn. Balat has colourful streets and quieter lanes. Kadıköy on the Asian side has markets, cafés and a more local vibe.

When to go and what to know

Spring (April and May) and autumn (September and October) are the best months, with mild weather and fewer crowds than peak summer. Summer is busy and hotel prices peak. Winter is cheaper and quieter, but cold and often wet. If you travel around Ramadan or Eid, check the dates, since prices can rise and some places change their hours.

Istanbul has downsides too. It is a huge city with hills, traffic and crowds, and you will walk a lot. Haggling in the bazaar takes patience, and in the busiest tourist areas people pitch you constantly. A polite no is enough. Plan three or four days, not one.

My verdict

Paris will always deliver elegance and polish, and Rome is the classic Roman holiday. But if I want history, food, water, energy and good value in one place, Istanbul is my pick. It is also an easy way to start getting to know Turkey, because it makes you want to see the rest of the country.

Watch the reel above for the quick version, then tell me on Instagram which city you would choose and why. I read every reply, and I am happy to help you plan your Istanbul trip.