What should travellers not miss in Istanbul beyond the obvious sights?
Do not make Istanbul only a mosque-and-palace checklist. Some of the best travel value is in ferries, breakfast, tea, markets, meyhane evenings and crossing the water just to feel the city change.
Answer
The monuments matter, but Istanbul’s pleasure is often in the connective tissue. Ride a ferry not because it is efficient, but because the city looks different from the water. Eat breakfast slowly. Leave room for tea, fish, bakeries, markets and a neighbourhood evening where the plan is not to conquer another attraction. Cross between Europe and Asia for mood, not just bragging rights. This is where Istanbul stops being a list of famous interiors and starts feeling like a city people actually live in. The practical move is simple: protect unscheduled time, especially around meals and the water.