IV drips in Sirkeci and Eminönü, by the Golden Horn

Sirkeci and Eminönü are the working heart of the old city: the Spice Bazaar, the ferries crossing to Kadıköy and Üsküdar, the old Sirkeci Station where the Orient Express once ended its run. Hotels here range from historic façades near the station to small modern places with roof terraces over the Golden Horn. Guests tend to be busy, curious and out from early morning, often with a long market day behind them.

Streets around the bazaar are crowded until evening and some lanes close to cars, so we plan the approach from Gülhane Park or the waterfront side. The nurse comes up to your room and stays throughout, checking vital signs before and during the drip. Evening calls are common after a long walk across the Galata Bridge, and late-night visits are possible for travellers with an early flight.