5 Unique Things You Must Do In Istanbul

It’s hardly surprising that Istanbul, a megalopolis of some 15 million inhabitants, straddling two continents and with a fascinating past stretching back into prehistory, should have more than its fair share of offbeat things to do.

Visits to the iconic Hagia Sophia cathedral and the monumental Blue Mosque are obligatory, as is exploring the magnificent Topkapı Palace complex. But do make time between the big-hitters to revel in Istanbul’s more idiosyncratic offerings: pigeons tumbling by a Byzantine palace, dervishes whirling in the Orient Express station, dawn sculling on the Golden Horn and Trotsky’s old home on the picturesque Princes’ Islands. Terry Richardson, author of the Rough Guide to Istanbul, lists his favourite unusual things to do in the city.

* Watch dervishes whirl in the terminal station of the Orient Express

Founded by the Mevlana (AKA Rumi) in the 13th century, the followers of the Mevlevi branch of Sufi Islam are better known in the West as whirling dervishes. Watching them spin in synchronised unison to focus more clearly on God is a mesmerising experience, especially with hypnotic traditional Sufi music playing in the background. The incongruous venue, the waiting room of the late 19th-century Sirkeci Station, once the terminus of the fabled Paris-Constantinople Orient Express, only adds to the quirky charm.

* Row on the Golden Horn

Few visitors leave Istanbul without a ride across to Asia or up the continent-dividing Bosphorus Strait on one of the city’s iconic ferries, but only a handful get more intimate with the waters running through its historic heart. Sculling a lightweight rowboat along the calm waters of one of the world’s greatest natural harbours, and watching the domes and minarets of the city’s skyline emerge from darkness into the pink light of dawn is a magical experience. Go to Istanbul Tour Studio to find out how to do it.

* Go underground in Istanbul’s Byzantine cisterns

Of all Istanbul’s surviving Byzantine-era (330–1453AD) cisterns, the cavernous, atmospherically lit Basilica Cistern, in the heart of touristy Sultanahmet, is the most special. After visiting it, and for a different experience, head to the recently renovated Serefiye Cistern. This veritable forest of beautifully carved marble columns is exquisitely lit and free to enter. Even further off the beaten track, in the ultra-conservative district of Fatih, is the Sultan Sarnıçı. Its brick vaults, marble columns and intricately carved capitals come to life at weekends, when it hosts various events. Entry is also free, and just opposite is the massive Aspar Cistern, once a reservoir for the city but today a busy park.

* Sample a fresh-fish sandwich by the Galata Bridge

Spanning the Golden Horn and linking the tourist heartlands on the historic peninsula with the bustling entertainment districts of Karaköy and Beyoğlu, the Galata Bridge and its surroundings are so busy they form a microcosm of the city itself. Read Dutch writer Geert Mak’s The Bridge to find out all about the colourful characters to whom the bridge is home. No visit is complete without sampling a street-food fish sandwich, a charcoal-grilled fillet of mackerel slapped into a half loaf of fresh white spread and garnished with onion, tomato, rocket and sumac. They’re sold from boats or stalls on both the Eminönü and Karaköy sides of the bridge for around €2.

* Pigeons, not walls, come tumbling down

We doubt there’s a pigeon market in the world that has a better backdrop than the one in Istanbul’s Fatih district, where pigeon fanciers congregate each Saturday on a dusty lot next to the 5th-century Walls of Theodosius, arguably the greatest and most successful city walls ever built, and the once-grandiose Byzantine Palace of Porphyrogenitus. Prospective customers inspect a bird that takes their fancy with great care – not surprisingly, for these are mainly working-class men and the birds sometimes fetch hundreds of dollars. If you’re lucky, you may get to see one do its stuff, which is not racing but mid-air tumbling and other aerial acrobatics accompanied by claps of the owner’s hands.