These golden horn neighborhoods where locals actually eat instead of tourist zones. Food literally half price of sultanahmet with bigger portions and better quality

Bus from eminonu or 20 minute walk along water. Family restaurants serving home style turkish cooking 120-180 lira per person instead of 300+ tourist areas

Plus all those colorful ottoman houses everyone photographs. Area around bulgarian church especially photogenic with little tea gardens overlooking bosphorus. Every neighborhood has its market day