Tarawih prayed at Mihrimah Sultan, a steaming tea drunk against the Bosphorus, and conversations tasting like güllaç... Discover the spiritual soul of Üsküdar with your family.
When you step into Üsküdar square, Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, the elegant work of Mimar Sinan, welcomes you. A little further on is the peaceful courtyard of Valide-i Cedid (New Valide) Mosque echoing with the sounds of its fountain. Waiting for the iftar time in these historical courtyards is the best way to explain the Ottoman Ramadan culture to your children by living it. Breaking your fast with the cool wind blowing from the Bosphorus when the evening adhan is recited, and standing shoulder to shoulder with thousands of people for the tarawih prayer under those historical domes wipes away all the fatigue in one's soul. In every rakat prayed, you feel the prayers of the ancestors who have prostrated in the same place for centuries right next to you.
After the tarawih prayer, a sweet liveliness begins in the back streets of Üsküdar. You can walk arm in arm with your family towards the Maiden's Tower or the sincere streets of Çengelköy. Sitting in a halal and decent cafe and ordering a steaming, perfectly brewed tea in a traditional thin-waisted glass is the unchangeable ritual of this. Alongside it, of course, is the rose of Ramadan, a fresh güllaç or a warm baklava with pistachios... The taste of those deep, cheerful conversations made with your spouse and children in these places, completely suitable for family privacy without any disturbing elements around, stays on your palate for a lifetime.
In the late hours of the night, while the lights of the Bosphorus reflect on the waters like a sea sparkle, it is time to return home. Whether you listen to the familiar sound of the sea and seagulls while crossing by ferry, or take a short trip with Marmaray; you will feel that indescribable lightness and serenity inside you. It is as if all the burdens on your shoulders were left on that tea table, in that mosque courtyard. A Ramadan evening spent in Üsküdar is a complete 'HalalWorld' experience where not only the stomach but also the soul is fed, and the family is tied tighter to each other. What is left behind are beautiful memories engraved in the minds of the children and a tranquility preparing for the next day's fast in the hearts.
When Ramadan is mentioned in Istanbul, one of the first places that come to mind where the heart of spirituality beats is undoubtedly Üsküdar. That mystical air that welcomes you the moment you get off the ferry is the herald of an unforgettable evening with your family.
Üsküdar is the most beautiful spiritual breath given to our modern life stuck between concrete piles. This Ramadan, even if you have your iftar at home, definitely turn your route to this blessed district for tarawih and the warm tea conversation afterwards. Experiencing this, walking peacefully on its streets with your family in safety, without worrying about haram, is priceless. As HalalWorld.com, we are proud to offer you the most suitable, alcohol-free, and family-friendly hotels on this spiritual journey in Istanbul. We wish you a Ramadan full of health, healing, and peace in advance.
