12 Things to Do in Istanbul in July

If you're planning a trip to ancient Byzantium or Constantinople in July, you're going to find the weather to be quite hot and the crowds crowded with tourists. However, the amount of things that Istanbul has to offer its visitors makes it easy to plan your stay in such a way as to make your visits as comfortable as possible. Not forgetting, of course, that you will be able to attend a couple of very interesting events.

The best way to make the most of your time is to combine the must-see sights (Hagia Sophia, the Galata Tower, the Blue Mosque and many others) with other lesser-known attractions and, therefore, with fewer visitors. Leave the former for the early morning, late afternoon or lunchtime and spend the rest of the time discovering **Istanbul'**s secret corners.

If you love jazz and you're travelling in July, you're in luck. Not only will you be able to take interesting tours of Istanbul's most representative monuments, but you will also be able to attend the concerts that form part of the city's International Jazz Festival, one of the most important in the world.

This festival has been organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and the Arts (IKSV) since 1994. During the festival, numerous jazz, soul and blues concerts are performed by international and local jazz, soul and blues musicians. The festival also gives young talents the opportunity to make a name for themselves during the three-week event.

One of the attractions of the festival (which may appeal even to those who are not very fond of this type of music) is that the concerts take place in various parts of the city, including some very interesting historical buildings.

Although the venues change every year, making it necessary to check the programme before you go, previous editions have featured concerts in venues such as the Archaeological Museum, parks, boats on the Bosphorus and St Irene's Church, not to mention some of Istanbul's best nightclubs.

For several years now, Rumeli Hisari Fortress has been hosting a series of concerts, mainly classical music and opera, throughout the month of July. Although the place is worth a visit in its own right, if you are one of those who want to enjoy this kind of music in a wonderful setting you should try to come here one night.

Rumeli Hisari was built in 1452 by Sultan Mehmed II on the European shores of the Bosphorus. You may have seen it silhouetted on a hill if you've been on one of the cruises in this area. It is located in the Sarıyer district.

The fortress now houses a museum and an open-air theatre, where concerts are usually held from 21:00 in the evening. The complex also has a beautiful garden where you can see artefacts such as cannonballs and part (it is said) of the chain that enclosed the Golden Horn to prevent invasions.

The neighbourhood in which it is located is also known for its many fish restaurants, which are cheaper and less touristy than those in Kumkapi.

How to get to Rumeli Hisari

Although you can get there by taxi, the most convenient way to reach the fortress is by bus on the 25 bus from Taksim Square or the 40 bus from Dolmabahce.

Sometimes the best meals in a city don't take place in fancy restaurants. In the case of Istanbul, where I recommend you take a food tour of Istanbul, you'll find few experiences more enjoyable than having a great fish sandwich right next to the Galata Bridge.

There are a number of boats there that specialise in serving this simple but tasty food. Although you can go all year round, the temperatures in July make it the ideal time to sit at the tables they set up and enjoy the balik ekmek, as the sandwich is called.

My recommendation is to go for dinner (they usually close around 22:00 - 22:30), as in summer it's almost impossible to find a seat at midday. The funny thing is that, despite being in a very touristy area, opposite the Spice Bazaar and the Yeni Mosque, the vast majority of diners are locals.

Once you find a table you have to go to the boat to order your sandwich. Watching the mackerel being prepared (it takes only a few seconds for the mackerel to become boneless) is a real spectacle. Afterwards, you'll have to ask one of the workers between the tables for your drink. You can also ask for mussels and a glass full of pickles.

Out of the rainy season, although with the inconvenience of the large number of tourists, one of the best activities you can do during the month of July in Istanbul is to cross the Bosphorus to Anadolu Kavagi, the last town before reaching the Black Sea.

The route starts from the Eminonu pier and during it you will be able to see from the boat buildings as impressive as the Dolmabahce palace or the mansions located on the seashore. If you're lucky, as I was the last time I did this tour, you might even see dolphins frolicking around the boat.

The ferry makes two stops before reaching its final destination, Sariyer and Kamlica, although I recommend that you don't get off until you get to Anadolu Kavagi.

Once in the village, once a small fishing village with a large military base due to its geographical location, the best thing to do is to go up to Yoros Castle. Apart from seeing its ruins, from its position you will be able to enjoy incredible views of the Black Sea.

After coming down from the castle (and always pending the ferry's return timetable), I recommend that you go to one of the restaurants in the village. Almost all of them offer a closed menu (quite cheap) consisting of squid, stuffed mussels and fish. Until a few years ago, you could still see how the fish was picked directly from the boats arriving in the village, but nowadays (for health reasons I suppose) this aspect has disappeared.

One of the best places to escape the crowds of Istanbul's historic centre during the summer is the Ortakoy neighbourhood, located almost under the Bosphorus Bridge.

This beautiful area is characterised not only by its youthful atmosphere, but also by the presence of several open-air cafés that are perfect for hanging out during the long days of July. The views of the Asian quarter of Üsküdar are another attraction of the area.

In addition to these cafés, you shouldn't miss the small but stupendous Ortakoy Mosque, situated practically on the water.

The streets behind Ortakoy Square are also worth a stroll. In recent years it has been filled with cafés, restaurants and bars and has become one of the trendiest places to enjoy a night out in Istanbul.

How to get to Ortakoy

Ortakoy Square can be reached by a half-hour walk from Dolmabahce Palace, which is easily reached by tram from Sultanahmet itself.

Another option is to get to the palace and then take the #22 bus to the Ortakoy district itself.

If you've been to Istanbul with children and want to offer them a few hours of fun, there's probably nowhere better in the city than the Isfanbul theme park, formerly Vieland. And because it's open-air, July is the best time to visit.

This large park is popular with Istanbul families at weekends, so it's probably best to visit on a weekday. Among its main attractions is a huge rollercoaster that reaches up to 110 kilometres per hour. If that's too much for you, don't worry, the park has rides for all ages, as well as a shopping and dining area.

To ease the heat, for example, you can also take a ride on the Çilgin Nehir rapids, with boats that can hold up to nine people.

Although you can get there by bus (line 36CE from Karakoy, across the Galata Bridge), the most convenient way is to book an excursion which includes entrance fees and transport.

During your stay in Istanbul in July you will sometimes want to look for cool places to escape the heat. Without leaving the essential places to see in the city, I am going to recommend two that you can see in the same morning or afternoon.

The first one is the Gülhane Park, which you can reach on foot or with an Istanbul tourist bus. This large garden is the oldest in the city and was once part of the Topkapi Palace.

The park has been restored in recent years and now houses some of the city's best museums. In itself it is a great place to stroll along the shady paths or sit on one of the terraces in the area closest to the sea and enjoy fabulous views of the Asian side of the city.

Before or after relaxing in Gülhane, a visit to the Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman sultans for centuries, is a must.

The palace is huge and has several different areas to visit, from the treasure rooms to those housing various religious relics, not forgetting the harem, for me the most valuable.

There is also no shortage of gardens in the complex, with plenty of fountains to soothe you from the summer heat of the city. In fact, it is not uncommon to find visitors picnicking in the palace gardens.

If you take the tram you will have to get off at the stop called Gulhane. Don't get lost, as there is another stop called Topkapi which is in the opposite direction and has nothing to do with the palace.

July's fine weather makes it the perfect time to embark on a sightseeing cruise along the Bosphorus. Not only will you get to enjoy a fantastic dinner and belly dancing show, but you'll also get to see some of Istanbul's best sights from a different perspective.

The cruise starts at sunset, so you'll witness the sun set behind the Suleiman Mosque. In the evening light, you'll pass behind the Topkapi, the Blue Mosque and the Dolmabahce Palace on a route so beautiful you won't know where to look.

One of the most popular drinks among Turks to cool off on long July days is ayran. My recommendation is to try it on one of the terraces below the Galata Bridge or from one of the viewpoints on the streets leading from Istiklal Caddesi.

Ayran, along with raki, is considered the country's national drink. Its composition is quite simple, containing only yoghurt, water and a little salt. This makes it perfect for recovering the salt that the body loses through sweating.

Nowadays it is difficult to find homemade ayran in Istanbul, but the more commercial version is also great. Although not everyone will be able to get the hang of the drink, no one should fail to at least try it.

Joaquin's Traveller Tip

Its yoghurt base may lead many to think that it is a typical breakfast drink. However, the reality is that it is usually drunk at mealtimes and if you ask for it for breakfast you will be met with a look of incomprehension from the waiter.

Among the disadvantages of travelling to Istanbul in July is the sheer number of visitors to the city. However, most of them tend to concentrate on Sultanahmet and the Galata Tower area, while many other areas of great interest receive much less attention. I suggest, therefore, that you take a little tour of one of these areas: Fener.

Fener is undoubtedly one of Istanbul's best neighbourhoods to visit. It was originally the city's Greek quarter and as soon as you enter it you'll discover that its streets are narrow and steep. Don't worry if you lose your sense of direction, as this is normal in the area. Take your time to discover the beautiful colourful Ottoman houses that will pop out at you at every turn as you contemplate the life of the neighbourhood, with its children playing ball.

One building you shouldn't miss is the Greek Orthodox Lyceum, easily recognisable by its red bricks. A nearby staircase takes you to theChurch of St. Mary of the Moghuls, also known as the Red Church.

Other places of great interest are the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Cathedral of San Giorgio, not to be missed.

On the shore of the Golden Horn, in the area between Fener and Balat, you'll find the Bulgarian church of St. Stephen, built entirely of iron.

July is one of the hottest months in Istanbul, something you should bear in mind when planning your trip. Average highs are around 28°C, while average lows are in the mid-20s. In any case, it's best to check the weather forecast before you travel.

The heat doesn't stop it from being a fairly rainy month, and you shouldn't be surprised if a short but intense thunderstorm breaks out as you stroll through the streets.

Despite its large size, Istanbul is not a complicated city to get around. However, driving your own car is not a good option, as the traffic is a real nightmare.

The city' s transport network consists of the metro (which you'll hardly use as it's not located in the most touristy area), the tram (the most useful), buses and the very convenient ferries.

To use any type of transport you need to get the Istanbulkart, a wallet card that you can load with any amount you want. Of course, you can also buy individual tickets, but it's worth getting the card from any machine near the stops or in the city centre.