I'd heard a lot about the Balat district in Istanbul, thanks to all the social media hype.

What was once a run-down and sketchy part of town has been transformed into a vibrant and Instagram-worthy area, with its colorful houses and staircases.

To be honest, I wasn't really looking forward to visiting Balat, but since our plans got cancelled due to the weather, I decided to spend the morning there and see what all the fuss was about.

I took the tram from Sultanahmet to Eminönü, then switched to tram line T5, which takes you directly to the colorful neighborhood. The stops are pretty close together, so it's easy to find the right tram. The stop is also called Balat, so you can't miss it.

On the way, you can enjoy the views of the Golden Horn, but make sure to get off at the right stop.

Once we arrived, we headed straight to the most popular colorful houses. They're not too far from the stop, but be prepared to walk up a hill, so wear comfy shoes. I initially wanted to wear a dress and sandals, but ended up choosing jeans and sneakers instead.

Along the way, we saw some other colorful buildings, but according to the map, we needed to keep going. It's actually really convenient that even the basic Yandex map highlights all the attractions.

But when I turned the corner to the location I was looking for, I have to say I was a bit disappointed. The houses weren't as vibrant as I expected, more like a faded photo. I get that some bloggers add filters to their posts, but it looked like a letdown. Even the steep incline couldn't make up for it.

After that, we headed to the next houses, hoping that at least they'd match the photos online. It's a bit of a trek, but we had a few steep climbs and drops between houses. The whole area is weirdly mixed with colorful and gray facades. I'm not even getting started on the massive difference between brand-new and ruined buildings.

Every now and then, you'll stumble upon some interesting colored grates or balconies. But they're few and far between, and the surrounding buildings and trash make it hard to appreciate them.

What really caught me off guard was how, despite being super popular, the houses here are clearly in need of a renovation. It's clear they haven't been painted in ages.

When we got to the famous colorful houses, there were already a few people there. We waited in line and took a few snaps. To be honest, finding a decent angle was a challenge.

From there, we decided to head to the Greek Lyceum. Plus, it was visible from a distance, which made it a great landmark for us navigation-challenged folks.

The Lyceum itself is made of red brick, but the geometric patterns make it look stunning. It's more like a museum than a school building.

After walking around, we decided to head back down. The views from there were just as good as any lookout point. Just be careful – the cobblestone was slippery, and the slope was steep. Luckily, there were stairs in many places.

As we walked, we met tourists who had no idea what to look at in this area and had come because of social media ads. They were asking passersby for recommendations.

I have to say, when I looked at the map, all these places are right next to each other and close to a tram stop. That's a pretty clever move. Tourists will walk around the hilly area and before leaving, they'll definitely pop into some eatery for lunch or dinner.

So, the owners tried to outdo each other. Some created entire photo zones to attract as many diners as possible.

Some of them seem quite modest, while others have become so popular that people often take photos in front of them, proudly displaying them as if they were some kind of landmark.

I, on the other hand, preferred taking a photo in front of one of the rainbow-colored stairs, although the fruit juice vendors ruined the impression.

I also liked the house with a huge peacock graffiti. The artwork looked fresh, and the house was well-maintained. If most of the buildings in the area were like that, the place would be even more attractive to tourists.

After spending about an hour and a half in Bala't, we headed back. My impressions were mixed. On the one hand, the area seems to have become safer due to its past, and thanks to active promotion, it has attracted a lot of tourists from different countries.

However, on the other hand, the houses need repairs, and the paint is due for a refresh. The photos on bloggers' pages are clearly misleading. It's not worth going there just for equally colorful photos, especially if your hotel is far away.

But if you have enough free time to just wander around the winding alleys, why not? I've decided for myself that the Bala't area didn't live up to my expectations, and I wouldn't recommend going there specifically.

Now, I've been using this thing for a while, and I've gotta say, the shipping was lightning-fast. I mean, I ordered it on a Tuesday and it showed up at my doorstep on Thursday. That's what I call value for money.
But what really gets me is the customer support. I had a question about the return policy, and I sent them an email. Next thing I know, I've got a response from a real person, not some automated bot. It's clear they're committed to making things right.
So, if you're on the fence about this product, I'd say go for it. The build quality is solid, the ease of use is top-notch, and the customer support is second to none. What more could you ask for?
I'm really happy with my purchase, and I think you will be too.