Journey from Armenia to Istanbul and Our First Day in Kadıköy

Hello friends. In today’s post I’ll tell you about our journey from Armenia to Istanbul and our adventures in the city. We arrived at Yerevan Airport for our flight as our next stop was going to be Istanbul. But right from the start we encountered some issues. Our flight was originally scheduled for 22:20 but it was first delayed to 00:30 then to 13:00. That meant we had to wait about six hours there.

We were flying with Fly One for the first time. The ticket cost 85 euros per person, baggage not included and it was a direct flight.

While waiting we thought it would be a good idea to grab something to eat. We got soup at the airport. There were some interesting piroshkis, ham sandwiches and even Caesar salad. My friend got some of those too. We snacked while waiting. At that point we didn’t know how long we’d have to wait. We had plans to spend some time in Istanbul. My friend’s family and sibling were also coming to Istanbul. After almost a year we’d finally meet them again and we were excited.

During this time we explored some really interesting places and showed them to the family as well since it was their first time in Istanbul. They didn’t know much about the city and had barely seen anything besides the hotel. So they were waiting for us. Our journey was packed from the very beginning.

Anyway the adventure was just beginning. We still didn’t know when our plane would take off. We had been waiting at the airport for nearly seven hours. According to the schedule the flight should have departed 45 minutes ago but they hadn’t even announced a gate number. Everything was uncertain. We felt completely lost. When I checked the website it said our flight would be at 04:20 in the morning but it felt like it would never actually happen.

Then the plane finally arrived. We took off at 02:00. Two hours later we finally reached Istanbul. We took a bus into the city center. The bus was called Havaş and it goes directly to Taksim. That’s where we were staying, near Istiklal Avenue. This time we landed at the big airport, not Sabiha Gökçen. Anyone arriving here should be ready for a lot of walking because this airport is one of the largest in the world. We got on the bus and went to rest, we needed energy for exploring Istanbul. I’ll be sharing this adventure with you all of course.

The bus fare was 200 lira per person, paid by card. Generally you go down to the second basement floor where there are buses to various parts of Istanbul. We spent the night at a hotel. It was called The Red 23 and located in the Tarlabaşı neighborhood, quite close to Istiklal. We weren’t very satisfied with the place. I took a shower but it was a disaster. The water pressure was super low. The funniest part was that the room had a small kitchen corner which even pricier rooms usually don’t have.

The bedcover was actually clean. I specifically checked it thinking maybe they hadn’t done proper cleaning.

We were lucky to get our room key because we had read many exhausting reviews where people said they couldn’t check in at midnight. Downstairs there were fruit and vegetable shops and 24-hour markets. We even found water at midnight. I got a 5 liter bottle. Then we got ready and met up with my friend’s family. We had big plans for Istanbul. So many places to explore. By the way the hotel was in Tarlabaşı, known as one of the most dangerous and high-crime areas of Istanbul. Of course we didn’t tell the family that so they wouldn’t worry. It was cheaper but unfortunately the conditions were poor. Still 24 hour shops made it easy to grab snacks and essentials.

Our plan included visiting the Asian side. We went outside and right across the street was the beginning of Istiklal Avenue, full of tourists and very safe. Using a map we easily planned our route. It showed where to get off and which stops to pass. Istanbul is a very noisy, crowded, loud city. We got on a bus and then took a ferry to the Asian side which we hadn’t really explored before. There were many places to stay, scenic spots and tourist areas there too.

We first arrived at a pier called Eminönü. You can buy fish sandwiches, corn or roasted chestnuts there. The ferry to Kadıköy departs from this point. Tickets cost only 50 lira, about the same as a bus fare. We went up to the top deck because the weather was hot. The next ferry was in about 40 minutes. The New Mosque, Galata Bridge and the restaurants I mentioned earlier were all there. The fish sandwiches, anchovy or salmon, were really tasty. This area is called Süleymaniye Neighborhood. The views from above were fantastic. Honestly I missed Istanbul. The weather was also great. Last time we had to wear coats but this time it was perfect.

We arrived in Kadıköy in about 20 minutes. It was a fast and comfortable trip. We continued walking and stumbled upon a shopping mall that felt like a little piece of Dubai inside Istanbul. It’s called Emaar Square. It was built by the same company that built Burj Khalifa in Dubai. There’s also an observation deck on the upper level with a view. Once inside we were convinced of its Dubai-like design.

The place had open-air sections, luxury boutiques and a hotel called Eros. On top of the hotel there’s a spherical viewing platform. From there you can see great views of the city. The place was luxurious and stylish. I think it’s one of the first areas in Istanbul designed in this kind of modern architecture. The store design and outdoor spaces were very eye-catching. The shopping center goes three levels underground. You can find everything there, from high-end brands to simpler items.

We then visited the Address Hotel. It also had a viewing area with a view. There was even a Louis Vuitton store. It’s a perfect place for shopaholics. You could easily spend an entire day here. We then returned to my friend’s family. There’s also an aquarium in Emaar Square but the entrance is on a different side. Their construction projects are usually high quality and impressive. I used to think old Istanbul was only about historic sites but now I see there are modern areas too. This is a newly developing region. Modern malls and new buildings are noticeable here. It’s a stronghold of modernity. The entrance to Skyview, the observation area, is through the mall, down to the minus second floor. The aquarium is also here. This mall is so huge you could easily get lost in it.

We eventually reached Skyview. There was a lit-up arch we passed under and went up. We bought our tickets, 30 euros per person. Three of us went up since the parents were a bit scared of heights. The ascent started fast. Our ears were popping.

To be honest I was a bit disappointed. Half of the view was blocked. There were no details of the Bosphorus, islands or the cityscape. The buildings looked like toys and weren’t very visible. There was a glass-floored bridge below.

In the new observation area there were seats, cafes and a lovely view. I couldn’t believe such a place existed in Istanbul. Red-roofed houses, skyscrapers... We crossed the glass bridge and were surrounded by views from every side. We had arrived at the perfect time, right before sunset. We reached the wing-shaped photo area and took a nice photo with Istanbul in the background. The top part wasn’t that impressive but the lower area was stunning.

There were binoculars too. You didn’t need to pay, they were included with the ticket. You can take photos with your phone in the open area, just be careful not to drop it. On the left were traditional red-roofed houses and on the right, skyscrapers and mountains. It was an amazing spot. At first we thought it was just an ordinary lookout point but at sunset it turned magical.

We arrived in Kadıköy, which is also on the Asian side, but it stands out with its historic streets and warm vibe. In the evening the area gets really crowded. We had been here last time too but I hadn’t shared a post. Kadıköy is really great. There’s a market, restaurants and walking paths all together. Stuffed mussels were served with lemon but we didn’t want to get them this time due to a past experience. In some places they weren’t washed properly and still had sand.

There were pizza places, cafes, everything. It was crowded. We hadn’t eaten anything yet. My friend’s family had gone for breakfast but we only had water. We had been in Istanbul for about 24 hours but still hadn’t had a proper Istanbul-style dürüm. A dürüm here costs around 30 euros. But this street was worth it. It was famous for both bars and street food. No cars were allowed so it was great for walking. People from all over the world come here. Mussels, pizza, dürüm, everything is available.

Kadıköy is like a maze. You need navigation not to get lost. It’s tricky to return to the European side. Last time we were told students often gather here, probably due to the bar and beer culture.

We reached another part of the street and every table was full. It was even more crowded this time. One of the most popular places in the city. As I mentioned before the neighborhood is home to a wide range of people. Migrants sell small souvenirs and bracelets. It’s perfect for those who care about aesthetics.

It was time for us to finally eat a dürüm. It was an expensive meal but it looked delicious. There were chicken and beef options. Everyone picked what they liked. I chose the chicken and fries dürüm. My friend went for a wet burger. It was apparently delicious last time. This time they got it without cheese but it was still amazing. Even better than McDonald’s. The soggy bun was a very creative idea.

Prices were generally around 100 lira. While eating my dürüm I realized how much I missed Istanbul-style wraps. Felt like I could finish it in three bites. It lacked some sauce but the salad, pickles and chicken were tasty. Overall it was a good dinner.

Now we were getting ready to take the ferry back to the European side. That’s where I’ll wrap up our first day’s memories. I’ll keep sharing my Istanbul adventures with you. See you again soon with a new post. Take care.