5 Places to Have a Great Valentine's Day in Istanbul

There is only one month left before the Valentine's Day. If you don't have any plans, or are planning to visit Istanbul for the day, we have some destination suggestions to make the best of your time.

1. Buyukada

Buyukada is one of the Prince Islands. Actually it is the biggest one. It is rather calm at week days. At weekends, you can escape the crowd by visiting the upper part. You have three transportation choices: coaches, bikes and feet. Coaches may sound romantic, but the horses are working unfortunately too hard and the prices are somewhat high. You can rent a bike, but it is hard to bike upwards. My favourite choise is walking. You can enjoy the air, the blue sea, old houses, flowers and trees.

And Buyukada hotels...I have stayed at three different hotels at different times. If you don't want to walk much, pick a hotel that is near the port. If you have courage to climb a slope, then you can find hotels with an overview of the Marmara Sea. The one I stayed was restorated old mansion with a spectacular view and a great breakfast.

2. Taksim

Taksim would be a good choice for city lovers. If you like liveliness, that's the place. Istiklal Street is the street that never sleeps, so it won't take you long to find pubs and restaurants. Taksim Square is the most probable candidate for being the center of Istanbul. There you can use buses or the metro.

Taksim hotels are mostly beautiful and central. However, being central may bring the price up. Compare the hotels and distances. Istanbul usually have a heavy and sometimes unexpected traffic jam, so staying in the heart of the city can be advantageous.

3. Sultanahmet

Sultanahmet is the old city of Istanbul. Sultanahmet seems to me as a more religious place, but of course, it is highly touristic and there are many luxurious hotels that accept couples without any question. You can add a sightseeing tour to your romantic day.

Sultanahmet hotels, like Taksim hotels, can be also expensive, and again compare the prices. There are also hostels and pensions that may be lovely and cosy.

4. Bosphorus

The views from Bosphorus can turn an ordinary day into a romantic one. Bosphorus refers to a long coast, so you have many options both on the European side and the Asian side. The picture below is from Arnavutkoy. On the European side, there are Bebek, Kurucesme, Arnavutkoy, Tarabya, Istinye, Yenikoy, Rumelihisari, Baltalimani, Sariyer; on the Asian side there are Kuzguncuk, Beylerbeyi, Cengelkoy, Kanlica.

Bosphorus hotels vary by styles and prices. The idea is usually that if you are close to the coast, the prices are higher. It isn't hard to walk to the coast, so you can try hotels that are somewhat inside. You can stay at Besiktas hotels or Kadikoy hotels. They are close to Bosphorus, and have more options for backpackers or students.

5. Polonezkoy

Polonezkoy, previously Adampol, is in Beykoz. In the end of 1800's, Polish exiles settled in here. Polish traditions are still continued, and in the spring they have a cherry festival. Poloneykoy is one of the most natural places you can find in Istanbul. That is partly because it is far from the center. Public transportation may be tricky, so if you can, renting a car is a better solution.

Polonezkoy hotels are just inside this serene atmosphere. It is one of the best romantic places of Istanbul. I haven't stayed overnight here, but based on the unique environment of the district, I don't think the hotels and pensions will disappoint their visitors.



Quick tip: It is better to book a hotel from a trustable website than randomly book one when you come. You won't probably have a problem to find a room, but some hotels want marriage licence. If you don't have one, they don't accept you as costomers.(It happened to me once, and it is one of the most irritating things in the world.)