Travel advice - Istanbul

[Wilko]

Hi all,

Anyone here been to Istanbul ? any good? What to see? Where to avoid?

Before anyone tells me to look it up on google etc then yes I have read all reviews but there is nothing like listening to other peoples experiences I find

 

[Trufflehound]

Great place. Aya Sofia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace are all justifiably billed as must sees.

But don't miss the Grand Bazaar either. And the Great Cistern is amazing, but often passes under many people's radar.

Best memories for me were sitting with a beer in one of the cafes on the lower deck of the Galata Bridge, watching the fish rise past your nose as they're being hauled out of the water by the fisherman lining the top deck... Quite surreal when you've had a few.

 

[aftershavedave]

Great place. Aya Sofia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace are all justifiably billed as must sees.

But don't miss the Grand Bazaar either. And the Great Cistern is amazing, but often passes under many people's radar.

Best memories for me were sitting with a beer in one of the cafes on the lower deck of the Galata Bridge, watching the fish rise past your nose as they're being hauled out of the water by the fisherman lining the top deck... Quite surreal when you've had a few.

what he said. the great cistern particularly is magnificent and just a hop from the blue mosque. there's a fabulous restaurant the name of which escapes me just across from the blue mosque towards the river. very nice people too!

 

[Raphael Meade]

Great place. Aya Sofia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace are all justifiably billed as must sees.

But don't miss the Grand Bazaar either. And the Great Cistern is amazing, but often passes under many people's radar.

fantastic place and gotta second everything truffle said there. they really are truely incredible and must sees. really really friendly locals too.

have fun!

 

[Theatre of Trees]

What the others said above. Also the boat trip up down the Bospherous, the waterway that separates Asia and Europe.

Be careful of the fish restaurants near the Bospherous otherwise you'll spend most of the holiday on the bog, take toilet roll with you but stick the used paper in the bin not down the pan.

 

[Rich Suvner]

any good cheap places to eat? i'm off there with missus too in june for week then down to bodrum and dalyan. can't wait.

 

[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

What do you want to know. Ask and I will provide.


Cheap places to eat everywhere in Istanbul.. tell me what you like.

Preferably PM.

Istanbul... one of the seven wonders of the world.

 

[gullshark]

Istanbul travel guide - Wikitravel

Good website that.

 

[clapham_gull]

Great City.

Blue Mosque isn't all that really. It's just huge but there are better mosques with more intersting interiors.

Don't miss Aya Sofia, offers much more inside that appears from the outside.

It was so far ahead of it's time in terms of the architecture, that I believe one of the architects was given the death penalty when he presented the plans.

Take a look at how the arches inside are offset to give the building strength.

This was apparently quite visionary at the time.

Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazarre also well worth a visit.

Ephesus also a must if you are visiting Turkey.



Everything worth seeing is all based in small area in the old town.

We were given a top off about an amazing restaurant that overlooked the blue mosque. You had to walk upstairs to it, it was in old building and had very few tables and I had an amazing meal in there.

For the life of me I can't remember what it was called.

 

[tomysupercup]

You can "do" all of the main sites (mentioned above) in a couple of days or one day if you are really pushed for time and you get up very early!). Some of the "smaller" mosques are just as impressive as the Blue mosque and have far fewer tourists in them.

I would recomend the area called Kadikoy. There are virtually no tourists (which after a few days around Sultenahmet is a great thing) but some of the best bars in the city around Kadife Street. You can wander down to Fenerbahce's stadium from here in about 10 minutes. Catch a ferry from Eminonu which is a 10/15 minute walk or a 3 minute tram ride from Sultenahmet. Dont miss the last ferry back or you'll have a pricy cab ride on your hands.

There are some great cafe's, restaurants and bars around Sofyali Street at the southern end of Istiklal Cad.

Besiktas's stadium is also really central as is the Kasimpasa stadi home of Kasimpasa SK.

An amazing city, you'll have a great time.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Yep a great City. And something different from other City breaks. Not everywhere sells beer ..............

 

[Wilko]

Cheers for all your advice, I am planning a 3 day trip staying right in the centre (v.close to the blue mosque) so it sounds like I can cram plenty in during that time.

Sully - Is it expenisive for food, drink, taxis etc? Also, what is the weather like at the end of May?

ta

 

[Beach Hut]

Turkey is a beautiful country and really cheap as chips, once of the best countries I have ever been to.

As for the locals you could not meet more honest or nicer people and do not be fooled by English neanderthals stupid views on Turks they really are very pleasant people.

 

[Wilko]

Istanbul travel guide - Wikitravel

Good website that.

Good read. Ta for that

 

[Carrot Cruncher]

You could do worse than staying here...

Luxury Hotel Istanbul, Taksim: The Marmara Istanbul Hotel – Taksim Luxury Hotel In Istanbul

 

[Horsham Gull]

take in some loval football