Oh, to have a fun, night on the town with your girlfriends….what could be better? A beautiful holiday away in an exotic city for starters! And we have just the place for you. In fact we can’t wait to go back!
On a recent visit to Istanbul, we were wowed by the beauty of this cultural destination. Talk about having it all – this is one of the most exciting cities in the world. The gorgeous blend of East meets West makes for a city that is vibrant and packed with things to do, replete with bazaars, bars, baths, restaurants and clubs. Istanbul is no doubt a great choice for an Indian destination wedding (more on that later!); but what really stood out to us is that it would also be perfect for a bachelorette celebration with a difference. And here’s why…
Travelling with the girls means you do want to pick a locale that offers a safe environment without being boring. We found Istanbul to be a very safe destination and the best part was the extremely polite and friendly locals. Perfect for wandering with girlfriends, don’t you think?!
Istanbul is such a traveller haven for a reason. The city houses some of the best hotels and accommodation options for all kinds of groups and budgets. We stayed at the Ciragan Palace which was formerly a Sultan’s palace!
Elegant yet modern, it was perfectly situated by the Bosphorus and they pulled out all stops to make it a fabulous experience for us.
Once you get your stay sorted, let’s talk about the fun stuff you can do in the city.
What do we girls like to do when we get together? Shop till we drop! And the city is perfectly geared for retail therapy…such an exotic shopping haven! Apart from malls with a variety of brands from high street to uber luxury, Istanbul is famous for its bazaars. The Grand Bazaar kept us busy for hours with its beautiful ceramics, gems, jewellery and more.
No bachelorette do is complete without a little partying and Istanbul definitely does not let you down in this regard. We came across some of the best bars and clubs with great ambience and music. Beautiful places with beautiful people!
Need something a little laid-back? Grab a sun-kissed meal at a tea house or restaurant along the beautiful shores of the Bosphorus (Tugra at Ciragan Palace was fabulous!) or take a food tour. You can even try a wonderfully relaxed brunch at one of the restaurants and happily people watch. Or you can also exercise your own cooking skills by taking an Ottoman cooking workshop.
All that shopping and sight-seeing wearing you down? Then you must try a Turkish Bath or Hamam. We cannot recommend these enough and it’s a must-do when in Turkey! We experienced the Hamam at Ciragan Palace and it was wonderfully relaxing and rejuvenating. The pampering fits right in for a girly afternoon during a bachelorette celebration. Besides, once you leave with your skin glowing like we did, you are more than happy to get decked up for another night on the town!
Best way to cap off the trip – a cruise! We opted to float down the Bosphorus on a private yacht…such bliss! Imagine high tea on a yacht with champagne and live cocktails. It was one of the nicest ways to take in the sights of this stunning city. East and West at its finest!
