Souq Waqif

Souq Waqif is one of the most enchanting attractions of the beautiful city Doha. Almost over a 100 years old, this souq was once a place where traders came to sell wool, cattle, rugs & traditional goods. Souq Waqif literally means ' the standing market' & today it is one of the most attractive area in the city with fabulous galleries, quaint restaurants specializing in Middle Eastern Cuisine, souvenir stores, attractive shops selling traditional jewellery, perfumes, oils, clothes, spices & what not!

Walking distance from the Doha Corniche, Souq Waqif has a perfect location & is very popular with the locals as well as tourists. The Souq looks stunning during the day & it is a very common sight to see people taking photographs of the camels, traditional Arabic architecture, tastefully decorated streets & pretty restaurants! At night the atmosphere at Souq Waqif will have you mesmerized with crowded streets & beautiful lights that give you a real magical experience.

A Breakfast morning at one of the many fancy restaurants is one of my favourite things to do. Make your trip to the souq early so that you can admire the camels before it gets too hot & find a nice cozy spot for a sumptuous breakfast of your choice. If you are lucky you can see the the Royal Guards of Qatar on horse backs riding through the streets while you enjoy your breakfast!
Once you finish breakfast take a stroll & explore the many interesting shops selling beautiful textiles, household things, oils & perfumes, shoes, bags, rugs, pearls, lamps & more! There is also an animal market in the souq where you can buy yourself a pet rabbit, kitten, puppy, parrot, turtle or fish!

For a totally different experience of Souq Waqif, a visit at night is guaranteed to make your trip magical! All the restaurants are decorated with lights & you can see every other person sitting around with Shishas. If it is the smell of spices that fill the air during the day, then it is the smell of flavoured Shishas that fill the night air at Souq Waqif. The winter months are exceptionally beautiful at the Souq with beautiful fire lamps all around the streets!

Souq Waqif is a popular hot spot for various activities & workshops. It also houses some interesting galleries. Music, Performances, Artists making Bangles on the street & decorated mules rides through the souq are common sights at Souq Waqif. For all its beauty & charm a visit to Souq Waqif has topped my must do list in Doha!

A pretty watercolour picture of Souq Waqif

iSTANBUL!

Full of energy & life, iSTANBUL has this charm that makes you fall in love with the city in no time!
With a rich history, friendly people, great food, addictive music & amazing nightlife Istanbul has everything to make your visit a trip of a lifetime!
Istanbul, 'The City of Time' is the only city in the world that connects two continents. The magnificent Bosphorus Bridge connects Europe & Asia giving Istanbul a beautiful blend of culture & lifestyle. For a true experience of this beautiful city here is my personal Istanbul Must See & Do List!!

Bosphorus Bridge - The beautiful Bosphorus Bridge is something everyone must see in Istanbul. It looks beautiful in daylight & totally spectacular at night! The area around Bosphorus is one of the most popular areas in the city!

Prince Island - While in Istanbul, take a day cruise to the very stylish Prince Island. Make sure you take the  Horse Carriage Tour of the Island, admire the luxurious villas, eat seafood at one of the beautiful sea side open restaurants & take some memorable photographs!

Topkapi Palace - The Topkapi Palace is an important stop to admire the Ottoman reign in Turkey. The whole palace compound is beautifully maintained & there are some quaint restaurants that have the best view of the Bosphrous & Marmara Sea! I am sure it is for this fabulous view that the Ottoman Sultans chose Topkapi as their residence for over 400 years!

Istiklal Street - Istiklal street is the most 'happening' place in Istanbul. The whole street is crowded & busy with shops, eating joints & little groups of students & artists playing music, singing & having fun! In the evening the whole street lights up making Istiklal look like it is all set for a Christmas or New year Party! There is a tram that goes up & down but no vehicles are allowed on the street. Kinda reminds you of Bangalore's Commercial Street & Brigade Road on a busy holiday!

St Antonie's Catholic Chruch - The beautiful brick colour St. Antonie's Church is the largest Catholic Church in Istanbul. It is located in the busy Istiklal street. The Church is a Minor Basilica & is run by Italian Priests. There is Holy Mass every morning & evening.

Bosphrous Cruise - A unique way to tour Istanbul's Bosphrous is to take a half day cruise down the Marmara Sea & Black Sea! You get a taste of both the European Side of Istanbul with Forts & Palaces (The Four Seasons Property on the Bosphrous is simply beautiful) & the Asian Side with fabulous villas & homes. It was truly one of the best sightseeing tours I have been on!

Ortaköy - Ortaköy is another very happening area in Istanbul with a magnificient view of the Bosphrous. Popular for 24 hr Parties & Night Clubs, it is one place you can hang out every other day! There are excellent Seafood restaurants, coffee shops & small joints that sell Turkish snacks.

Sultanahmet Area -  Apart from being the center of popular landmarks of Istanbul like the Hagia Sophia, Byzantine Hippodrome, Museums & Palaces, this Area is filled with quaint streets full of Turkish restaurants & pretty shops that sell Turkish souvenirs. All the restaurants are full at night & you get the most authentic Turkish Food here. The Cozy Pub & Restaurant at Sultanahmet has great food & a story to tell!

Grand Bazaar - The Grand Bazaar is a shoppers paradise & one of the best places to pick up Turkish Carpets, Turkish Lamps & beautiful Iznik Ceramics! If you love souvenirs like me, a trip to Grand Bazaar can drive you crazy! Make sure you bargain & get all your ceramics packed well before you leave!

Turkuazoo - Turkuazoo at the Forum Istanbul Mall (One of the best malls in Istanbul) is the first giant aquarium with a 80 m long underwater tunnel! There are over 10, 000 sea creatures & the Turkuazoo Diving Center gives you an opportunity for Diving with Sharks!!

Turkish Delight - Turkish Delight or Lokum is a Turkish sweet absolutely delicious! Fruit, Hazelnut, Pistachio, Rose & Lemon are the most popular flavours of Turkish Delight. Every nook & corner of Istanbul has shops selling Turkish Delight. I highly recommend the local Turkish Delight from the streets of Istanbul!

Travel Information:-

Airport - Atatürk Havalimanı Airport, Istanbul

Airline - Turkish Airlines

Visa - Required depending on your home country.

Currency - Turkish Lira / Euro / US Dollars

Local Transport - The Tram connects the City well. Taxis here run on meter charge. To travel to the Islands take a ferry or boat from Ortaköy.

Language - Turkish / Arabic / English / French

Best Time to Visit - April - May / Sept - Oct

Souvenirs - Turkish Carpets, Turkish Lamps, Turkish Delight, Iznik Ceramics