Ah, Istanbul. A city where you're just as likely to get run over by a motorcycle on the sidewalk as you are crossing the street. It was my first trip to Turkey, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I had visions of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express mixed in with a smattering of Midnight Express. And fortunately for me, it was nothing like the latter.

The city's soundtrack is a melody of street vendors barking their wares, a constant "lady, lady, lady", mingled in with the blasting of car horns, all punctuated with the haunting, melodic Call to Prayer five times a day. Istanbul is an exciting mix between ancient and modern. Opulent luxury pushed hard against the hustling assault of markets selling spices, handbags, kababs and rugs.

Like with most cities I visit for the first time, I Google the shit out of it, finding places of historical significance, places I slot into the " must-see " category. But lately, I have taken on a more visual approach than the digital equivalent of Fodor's Travel Guide, and that is Instagram.

What I like about researching a place through Instagram is that although there certainly is tremendous overlap with the historical elements, Instagram widens the spectrum from which I experience a place. For instance, the cats of Istanbul or the unusual staircases.

Sure, they don't hold as much historical significance as an ancient mosque or sell as many gold-ish trinkets as the Grand Bazaar, but what they offer is a local texture, colour and feel that is often missed by just following Google.

So Here’s My List…

The 12 Most Instagrammed Places In Istanbul

And trust me, they are worth the visit.

Grand Bazaar

Considered to many as the world’s first shopping mall, built in 1461, the Grand Bazaar is everything you’d expect from a Turkish market. With a dizzying labyrinthine maze of over 4000 stalls, you are guaranteed to get lost. But if one were going to get lost, it’s not a bad place to do so. It sells everything from rugs, spices, clothing, jewellery, local sweets and an explosively massive selection of knock-off designer bags.

Where: Beyazıt, Kalpakçılar Cd. No:22

The Blue Mosque / Sultan Ahmet Square

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, popularly known as the Blue Mosque for its interior of blue ceramic tiles, is one of the city’s best-known landmarks.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, most Instagram shots are taken in the courtyard of the mosque, the largest of all the Ottoman mosques. Unfortunately for me, the interior was under construction, so scaffolding was more prevalent than the blue tiles.

Where: Sultan Ahmet, Atmeydanı Cd. No:7

Hagia Sophia

Almost 1,500 years old Hagia Sophia has had a lot of many lives. Originally a Greek Orthodox Christian Basilica, a Roman Catholic cathedral, a museum and most recently an Ottoman Imperial mosque. Long lines to get in but worth it.

Basilica Cistern

This place blew my mind. Recently reopened after a long renovation, Basilica Cistern was built to hold water under the city around 550 AD and was rediscovered again 1000 years later. The city has added statues, music and changing mood lighting to this old reservoir creating the feeling you have walked into a stunning movie set. And you would not be wrong. It has been used as a location for several movies that include Dan Brown’s Inferno and three James Bond movies; Sky Fall, From Russia With Love, and The World is Not Enough. Definitely most Instagram-worthy.

The Bosphorus Strait and the Ortakõy Mosque

One of the best ways to see Istanbul and not sit in traffic is to take a scenic boat cruise along the Bosphorus Strait, the waterway that officially divides Europe from Asia. One of the highlights was the Ortakōy Mosque, one of the few in the city that sits on the water’s edge. Our tour stopped on the Asia side, where we explored the stunning exterior of the Küçüksu Palace, another must-see. Once a private palace, now a museum.

Galata Tower

Offering spectacular 360-degree views of Istanbul, the Galata Tower was built in the 14th century. Two good tips. One, buy your tickets first thing in the morning and then visit at night. The city’s lights reflecting on the Bosphorus is really something, and the queues to buy tickets will only grow well into the evening. Two, bring cash. This no-credit card tourist attraction is worth the climb, but you won’t be going anywhere without cash.

Where: Bereketzade, Galata Kulesi, 34421

Umbrella Street

Karakoy is a jewel of an example of a well-gentrified neighbourhood. Once a functioning port with crowded warehouses, it is now the future home to The Peninsula Hotel and a bustling place to have lunch and grab a drink in one of the many street’s colourful cafes and bars. And who doesn’t love a colourful umbrella canopy?

Where: Hoca Tashin Street In the district of Karakoy

Dolmabahçe Palace

Sitting on the shores of the Bosphorus, the Dolmabahçe Palace was constructed by Sultan Abdul Mecit. Its incredible gardens, gates and exteriors are without question Insta worthy. Unfortunately, the stunning, ornate palace rooms are off-limits to photographs. Tip: Bring photo I.D. This will allow you to sign out for a free audio guide which makes exploring the palace and the grounds even more interesting.

Where: Vişnezade, Dolmabahçe Cd., 34357 Beşiktaş

Istiklal Street and Taksim Square

This long colourful street with its stores and food vendors is filled with classic photo opportunities of street life in Istanbul. You can hop on their historic tram for a short ride to Taksim Square.

Neighbourhood: Beyoglu

Cats of Istanbul

This was a piece of Turkish magic I wasn’t expecting. Istanbul is filled with the healthiest-looking, friendliest feral cats I have ever come across. And living peacefully amongst these wild cats, wild dogs (see Blue Mosque photo above). The city clearly takes great care of these animals. All the dogs are chill, tagged and are looking like they are in no way starved for food or attention. I just loved this.

Where: Everywhere

So that is a brief summary of my trip to Istanbul, as told by Instagram. Until next time, keep exploring. You never know what it waiting for you around the corner.

The 12 Most Instagrammed Places in Istanbul