Istanbul marked the end of my interrail journey throughout Europe back in 2008. I fell in love with Turkey, the people, the raki, and the tavla (backgammon). Whenever I look through my pictures of Istanbul, I yearn to go back.
Someday, I will. For now, enjoy this sunset over the Istanbul Harbor which I snapped from the balcony of a Sultanahmet hostel.
I would love to feature your travel photo on Backpackingmatt’s Friday Travel Photo series. Send us an email to matt (at) backpackingmatt (dot) com if you’re interested.

















14 May 2010 at 12:17 pm
Siiiiiiigh
14 May 2010 at 1:04 pm
Lovely!
14 May 2010 at 1:08 pm
Lovely picture. I loved Istanbul, too, and definitely want to return.
14 May 2010 at 4:57 pm
Thanks Steph, Carol, and Dina! I could spend weeks in Istanbul alone just wandering the many different feeling neighborhoods!
15 May 2010 at 9:02 pm
Thanks for your great picture which brings back happy memories of the terrace on the hotel I stayed in, in Sultanahmet
.I just got back from Istanbul a few weeks ago and I love it too! It is such a fantastic place. I definitely want to go back again sometime. And to the rest of Turkey! The people were so friendly, the food was delicious and I’ve never been a place to rich in culture and history.
16 May 2010 at 10:31 am
Glad you enjoyed it!
19 May 2010 at 7:34 pm
That looks great with the cloud cover and reflection. I can’t wait to go to Constantinople in person, I mean, um, Istanbul. Nothing like kicking back with your feet on the ottoman and watching the sky change colors
19 May 2010 at 8:01 pm
Thanks, mate. Glad you enjoyed it. Istanbul is fantastic. Email me up for a hostel recommendation closer to the time you arrive.
2 June 2010 at 1:06 pm
My home for a year. My family and I lived in Istanbul in 1988. It was a hard time for all of us so I don’t think of those times as exotic or fun but it was the last year we spent in Turkey before moving to America. I have wanted to return ever since. It’s easy to fall in love with a city like Istanbul…!