Merhaba!

Geliyorum Istanbul soon for 2 weeks! I will be spending the majority of my days alone, so i need some activites to keep me busy! Suggestions? I plan to buy a book, but i´d like some non-text book things to do also!

What is something you absoultely love to do in Istanbul? Cafes/Resturants i MUST go to? Any hidden treasures? I need ideas...

Katerina

What do you think of visiting some of the treasuries Istanbul has? Museums, parks, old city parts, castle, mosque, etc. etc. 

Oh, ofcourse! I have visited some this year...but i was hopping for some fresh ideas...maybe some hidden gems which arent noted in tour guide books etc. I think i will visit Topkapai palace, as alot of the rooms were shut when i was there due to maintenance

On the essay page there are at least 10 essays written by different members that tell about Istanbul. Maybe you could read them and get ideas from there?

 Love it! 

Don´t forget the Bacilica Cistern when you are in Sultan Ahmet.  It doesn´t take long to see but it is a really cool place especially when you imagine how long ago it was built.

you can get on balloon in Kadıköy Port and watch Istanbul from 300 metres

My favourite place in Istanbul is Bosphorus and surroundings. You can have a nice breakfast in Beylerbeyi; together with the amazin scene of Bosphorus.

Then, if you have chance and weather is good, you can drink a hot tea outside in Sarayburnu (Known as Park Gülhane) by the scene of two continents.

You can visit Historical Peninsula and taste the different atmosphere of this place.

Beyoğlu and its streets (Taksim, İstiklal, Sıraselviler and Cihangir) are other egzotic places to experience.

You can visit populer shopping centers of city; Kanyon and Cevahir for example.

As a classical tradition, you can visit Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet) and Haghia Sophia. You can go there by Zeytinburnu-Kabataş tramway line.

Of course there are more thousand things to do in Istanbul but these are my favourites.

thx

turkishcobra //

 Yes, ive been to the basilica cistern, it was very damp! But amazing all the same!

Turkishcobra....im not sure about the balloon...i´d love to see Istanbull from high up, but maybe i´ll stick to looking out of the plane window on arrival!

Thank you for your list! I have been to many of the places you have mentioned...but i guess i can go again, as they are wonderful places to visit!