A High-Energy City
This city is exhilarating! There are people everywhere with so many alleyways to walk down and foods to try.

Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque
We started our adventure by getting our Istanbulkart public transit cards and heading to the Fatih neighbourhood where the Hagia Sofia is. From obelisks brought here from Egypt in ancient times to the soaring domes of the Blue Mosque, Istanbul has an incredible history. Inside the mosques, you won't find human or saintly images - instead there are intricate patterns covering the walls and ceilings that inspired so much of the art in this area. Hagia Sofia, once the largest church in the world for 500 years, was unfortunately covered in scaffolding during our visit, but it was still pretty amazing to see.

The Bazaars
Next up, were the markets in the area. The Grand Bazaar was massive with a maze of crowded hallways filled with shops overflowing with goods, and ceilings that seemed to stretch forever. Walking from there to the Spice Market was its own adventure, with tourist shops, local restaurants, and many cat-themed items along the way (more on Istanbul's cat culture later). The Spice Market itself was a sensory overload: colors, aromas, and flavours everywhere. I tried a date stuffed with pistachio, walnut, and carrot - it was delicious.

Our Neighbourhood of Cihangir
Evenings in our neighborhood of Cihangir were cozy and delicious. We found a restaurant serving tender chicken shish that we went back to several times.

The Asian Side of Istanbul
We boarded the public ferry across the Bosphorus Straight. In minutes, we crossed continents from Europe to Asia. On the Asian side, we explored the Moda, Kadikoy, and Uskudar, neighbourhoods filled with cafes, shops, and more evidence of Istanbul's famous cat culture. Cats are beloved all over Istanbul, and are fed and cared for by locals and businesses alike.

We stumbled upon a sweet spread compared to Kinder Bueno - rich, chocolatey, and perfect on bread. If you like Nutella, this spread will is for you!

Walls of Istanbul
Back on the European side, we kept exploring. Coffee shops perched on steep streets welcomed us with warm bread and dips. Then came one of the most awe-inspiring sights: the Walls of Istanbul. Built by Emperor Constantine, these fortifications are over 1,500 years old. Standing there, Chris imagined invaders with giant ladders and siege towers trying to breach the city. Today, they're quiet, beautiful, and a hidden gem.

Balat
We also visited the cute neighbourhood of Balat, with its cafes and little shops. Kiremet Street is also there, famous for its colourful houses painted in purples, blues, pinks, yellows, and oranges.

Fish Bread
We tried "fish bread" by the water. Fish bread is a grilled fish fillet on a freshly baked bun.

Vibrant City
Everywhere we went, Istanbul felt busy, vibrant, and full of energy. Tourists checked out the sites, locals shopped and also fished in the Bosphorus Straight, cruise ships docked nearby, and the streets never seemed to slow down.

We only had four hours in Ankara, Turkey, so we hit the ground running.

Ankara Castle
Our first stop was Ankara Castle, perched high above the city. This hill has been fortified since around the 8th century BCE, though the castle itself dates to the 7th century CE. From the top, sweeping 360-degree views stretch across Ankara, while the surrounding streets are lined with charming alleyways and little gift shops.

Anitkabir
Next, we made our way to Anitkabir, the monumental resting place of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Republic of Turkey. We arrived just in time for the changing of the guards on the May 1 National Holiday. The plaza was packed, the atmosphere buzzing, and though we couldn't quite understand what was happening (no one around us spoke English) it felt like we had stumbled into a moment of national pride.

A Quick Bite
With time running short, we grabbed a quick meal: a chicken sandwich and fries combo. The drink option included Ayran, a traditional Turkish yogurt drink. At first sip, it tasted like the watery part of yogurt that separates at the top. It took me a bit to get used to it - I think I liked it....

Up Next
And just like that, our whirlwind morning in Ankara was over. We hopped on a bus bound for Cappadocia, ready to explore the underground cities of Derinkuyu and Kaymakli.

Exploring Cappadocia: Underground Cities, Balloons, and Fairy Chimneys
Cappadocia is the magical heart of central Turkey. This region is famous for its surreal landscapes, ancient underground cities, and skies filled with hot air balloons. Our journey here was packed with history, adventure, and plenty of surprises.

Descending into Derinkuyu
We began at Derinkuyu, the world's largest ancient underground city. Built by the Phrygians nearly 3,000 years ago, it plunges 85 meters below ground and once sheltered up to 20,000 people. Following red arrows deeper and deeper, we ducked through narrow passageways, explored hidden chambers, and marveled at stone doors designed for defense. Tool marks etched into the walls reminded us of the centuries of labour that carved this maze.

Eight stories underground, the silence was overwhelming. It's hard to imagine entire communities living here - complete with kitchens, stables, and even places to mill flour.

Kaymakli Underground City
From Derinkuyu, we hopped on a public bus to Kaymakli, another sprawling underground city. At first, the crowds made us think it wouldn't compare, but descending into its labyrinth quickly proved otherwise. Staircases opened into vast chambers, and the maze-like tunnels kept us wandering in awe.

Sunrise Balloons
Cappadocia is world-renowned for its hot air balloons at sunrise and it did not disappoint us. Hundreds of colourful balloons floated above the fairy-tale landscape, glowing against the morning sky. We hiked up from our hotel in Goreme to watch. Being up there felt like a magical, surreal experience. By 6:30 a.m., most balloons were already descending, so early risers definitely get the best view.

Hiking the Fairy Chimneys
With daylight still fresh, we set off into Love Valley, where the famous fairy chimneys rise like natural sculptures. Trails wound past cone-shaped formations, red mesas, and cave homes carved into the rock. Every turn revealed something new - columns, eroded cliffs, and hidden dwellings. In Cappadocia, we didn't have to plan our hikes - walking in any direction lead to breathtaking scenery.

Food and Coffee
Of course, no trip is complete without food. We sampled pide (Turkish flatbread pizza), rich clay pot stews, and finished with traditional Turkish coffee, served alongside Turkish delight on beautiful trays. Sitting in a cozy cafe surrounded by ornate Turkish decor and views of the rocks was the perfect way to spend lazy days.

Farewell Cappadocia
From underground cities to skies filled with balloons, Cappadocia is a place where history and magic intertwine. It was hard to leave, but we're excited for the next stop on our journey.

Bus and Logistical Info

• We took the train from Istanbul to Ankara, which we booked ahead of time on the official site. We took it from the Sogutlucesme station in Istanbul to Ankara Gar station. To go to Ankara, the trains only leave on the Asian side of Istanbul.
• We took the KamelKoc/Flix bus from Ankara to Goreme, which we booked ahead of time on FlixBus website
• We stayed in the town of Goreme
• To get to the underground cities of Derinkuyu and Kaymakli, we took the public bus: First we took the bus from Goreme bus station to Nevsehir, then got off the bus and crossed the street to catch the bus from Nevsehir to Derinkuyu and Kaymakli. The bus drivers were really nice and made sure we got off at the right stop in Nevsehir. Buses take cash payments only. It was about 60-140 Turkish Lira per person, depending on the bus.