Russian travel blogger Aleksandra Konovalova has identified several neighborhoods and tourist attractions in Istanbul that local residents actively avoid, according to a post published on her personal blog on the Dzen content platform.
Konovalova included the city's central historic district of Sultanahmet in her list, warning that cafe prices in the area are marked up by two to three times. She said that finding a genuinely high quality restaurant in the neighborhood requires extra effort and that the area is constantly overcrowded, adding that an Istanbul local would not visit without an essential reason.
Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, welcomes millions of international travelers each year. Sultanahmet functions as its historical core, housing famous landmarks including the Hagia Sophia mosque and the Blue Mosque.
Overpriced tourist attractions and dining
The blogger described the historic Grand Bazaar as a showcase designed primarily for visitors, claiming that local residents never shop there for essential goods. She also recommended avoiding waterfront restaurants in the Ortakoy neighborhood near the Bosporus Bridge, citing unreasonably high prices and poor culinary quality.
Konovalova advised tourists against visiting hookah lounges in the tourist quarters of Sultanahmet and Taksim, noting that local residents avoid them because of expensive prices. She emphasized that the atmosphere in those establishments is created specifically to match tourist desires rather than reflecting how Turkish people spend their evenings.
She also expressed dissatisfaction with the area surrounding the historic Galata Tower due to heavy tourist crowds. Many visitors travel to the district specifically to visit cafes serving the popular San Sebastian cheesecake, where she noted they end up paying triple the standard price.
Neighborhoods with high crime risks
Beyond overcharged dining spots, the Russian travel writer highlighted two districts that she advised tourists to avoid for safety reasons. The first was Tarlabasi, located adjacent to the busy Istiklal Avenue shopping boulevard. Konovalova explained that Tarlabasi maintains a mixed reputation, having long been known for crime despite currently undergoing large scale urban reconstruction and renewal.
She reported similar concerns regarding the Dolapdere neighborhood near Taksim Square. Local residents continue to advise against walking through Dolapdere unnecessarily after dark, she concluded.
Common travel mistakes in Istanbul
The warnings follow a previous blog post in which Konovalova detailed five common mistakes tourists make while visiting Istanbul. In that post, she stated that the worst mistake a traveler could make was booking a hotel located far away from the city's historic center.
