Turkey |
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ISTANBUL - WHAT TO SEE
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| 1. |
25 May 2008 Sun 03:28 pm |
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Am staying in Istanbul in June for 3 nights. First visit. will be staying in old part. Would like to see some of the main sights but do not want to be rushing around. So looking at guide book are these the main places to visit
GRAND BAZAAR
SULTANAHAMET MOSQUE
TOPKAPI PALACE
DOLMABAHCE PALACE
AYA SOFYA
BLUE MOSQUE
How long would you allow for each place?
Which of these are close to each other?
We will visit again so it does not matter if we cant see everything.
Would like to do a boat trip across Bosphorus. What is shortest journey?
Any restaurants that anyone can recommend in the old quarter.
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| 2. |
25 May 2008 Sun 03:39 pm |
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Look at Marion's post in the travelling to Turkey section.
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| 3. |
25 May 2008 Sun 04:07 pm |
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got it - thanks
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| 4. |
25 May 2008 Sun 07:18 pm |
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anyone help with my question about ferries across bosphorous?
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| 5. |
25 May 2008 Sun 08:48 pm |
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Blue mosque is close to Aya Sofia and close to the Grand Bazaar and I think Topkapi is close to that area as well. I am not sure about the Bosphorus trip though. Topkapi palace trip may take at least 2 hours, depending on how diligently you will be looking around (it's like a big museum). Aya Sofia - take a tour guide, it will be much more worthwhile, but will take close to an hour. Blue Mosque - it will take a few minutes to see  . There are plenty of good restaurants, so I'd suggest that you just walk around and explore the area and stop where you like.
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| 6. |
26 May 2008 Mon 10:45 am |
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thank you very much catwoman for information
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| 7. |
26 May 2008 Mon 01:33 pm |
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The Bosphorus tour i went on took around 1 1/2 hours and cost 6 lira each back in January. Not sure if the price has risen now its tourist season.
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| 8. |
26 May 2008 Mon 05:34 pm |
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Quoting Johnk: Am staying in Istanbul in June for 3 nights. First visit. will be staying in old part. Would like to see some of the main sights but do not want to be rushing around. So looking at guide book are these the main places to visit
GRAND BAZAAR
SULTANAHAMET MOSQUE
TOPKAPI PALACE
DOLMABAHCE PALACE
AYA SOFYA
BLUE MOSQUE
How long would you allow for each place?
Which of these are close to each other?
We will visit again so it does not matter if we cant see everything.
Would like to do a boat trip across Bosphorus. What is shortest journey?
Any restaurants that anyone can recommend in the old quarter. |
While you are there, go to the Basilica Cysterns, they are opposite the Blue Mosque across the tram line. All of these places are close but make sure you know which exit you come from the Grand Bazaar as you could come out in the wrong place! I came out in the University square, but if you have a good map of Istanbul you should be OK. I bought one from Stanfords Maps shop in Covent Garden, London. You buy on line. It is a Euocity map.
The area around Galata is really nice too, with quaint streets, and you come to the Galata Bridge with all the restaurants underneath. But a nice cheap interesting option is to stop at the kebab shop just before the bridge, sit and have a 2YTL kebab, a beer and watch the world go by!
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| 9. |
26 May 2008 Mon 05:41 pm |
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Quoting libralady: But a nice cheap interesting option is to stop at the kebab shop just before the bridge, sit and have a 2YTL kebab, a beer and watch the world go by! |
I quite like this idea.  Let me know when you're in Istanbul LL!
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| 10. |
26 May 2008 Mon 05:47 pm |
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Quoting catwoman: Quoting libralady: But a nice cheap interesting option is to stop at the kebab shop just before the bridge, sit and have a 2YTL kebab, a beer and watch the world go by! |
I quite like this idea. Let me know when you're in Istanbul LL! |
Can I join you? 
I don't eat meat though - so a veggie one for me
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| 11. |
26 May 2008 Mon 05:47 pm |
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Quoting magnadea: Can I join you?
I don't eat meat though - so a veggie one for me |
Absolutely! Can't wait!!!
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| 12. |
27 May 2008 Tue 12:00 pm |
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i can get a map from local waterstones bookshop. Will go to places mentioned plus basilica and of course the kebab shop!! cant wait to see the place
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| 13. |
27 May 2008 Tue 12:07 pm |
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You know, after the Bosphorus trip, cross the Galata Bridge and enjoy an evening drink in Galata Tower. The view from the top is stunning at night.
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| 14. |
27 May 2008 Tue 01:12 pm |
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Quoting catwoman: Quoting libralady: But a nice cheap interesting option is to stop at the kebab shop just before the bridge, sit and have a 2YTL kebab, a beer and watch the world go by! |
I quite like this idea. Let me know when you're in Istanbul LL! |
Well well, i dont think there is kebab for 2 liras remained there... and i would think about it twice if they are 2 lira... about the meat inside and how they made... i mostly prefer a Balık-Ekmek there!!! then go under the galata bridge and smoke some nargila with some alcohol... oh!!
i guess i missed my city...
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| 15. |
27 May 2008 Tue 01:31 pm |
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Quoting SuiGeneris: Quoting catwoman: Quoting libralady: But a nice cheap interesting option is to stop at the kebab shop just before the bridge, sit and have a 2YTL kebab, a beer and watch the world go by! |
I quite like this idea. Let me know when you're in Istanbul LL! |
Well well, i dont think there is kebab for 2 liras remained there... and i would think about it twice if they as 2 lira for it... |
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| 16. |
27 May 2008 Tue 02:07 pm |
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Quoting Johnk: i can get a map from local waterstones bookshop. Will go to places mentioned plus basilica and of course the kebab shop!! cant wait to see the place |
I did have trouble finding a good map of Istanbul that I why I tried Stanford Maps.
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| 17. |
28 May 2008 Wed 12:48 pm |
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Hello! Just wanted to add what somebody has already suggested about the area near Galata tower. Istiklal Cadessi is up there which takes you into the 24hr buzz of Taksim. Well worth a wander if you are up there anyway.
Another little side trip if you want to get somewhere a bit quieter and off the tourist beaten path is Ortakoy. A quaint little place by the water frequented by locals. it is a reat place to take in the view of the Bosphorous and a great lace to take a picture of the Bosphorous bridge (which, incidently is beautifully lit at night). You are standing in Europe but in spitting distance of Asia. Eat kumpir (jacket potato with umpteen fillings) by the water and people watch!
Getting there: Take the tram to Kabatas, about 10 minutes from Sultanahmet. Kabatas is the end of the line so no danger of staying on too long! Then get a bus to Ortakoy. It takes you up through Besiktas and then onto a long road with walls on either side. You pass under a couple of small bridges and then yo can see a few shops and an intersection ahead. get off there and walk towards the water in the direction of the big bridge. Lots of cobbled streets with nice stalls and shops to wander around. A restful couple of hours guaranteed and only 20 mins from Sultanahmet.
If you private message me with your e-mail I have some other things I have sent to other people that I can send you. These have ideas for lots of places and retreats from the heat!
Enjoy ...........it's an amazing city!
Carl
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| 18. |
28 May 2008 Wed 09:24 pm |
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Quoting Johnk: Am staying in Istanbul in June for 3 nights. First visit. will be staying in old part. Would like to see some of the main sights but do not want to be rushing around. So looking at guide book are these the main places to visit
GRAND BAZAAR
SULTANAHAMET MOSQUE
TOPKAPI PALACE
DOLMABAHCE PALACE
AYA SOFYA
BLUE MOSQUE
How long would you allow for each place?
Which of these are close to each other?
We will visit again so it does not matter if we cant see everything.
Would like to do a boat trip across Bosphorus. What is shortest journey?
Any restaurants that anyone can recommend in the old quarter. |
Grand bazaar---at least 1 hour excluding the hassle, depending whether you really like that kind of tourists' shopping and bargaining. In fact those sold in the bazaar, you can find them along he streets in the Old city and every tourist's spots. Spice bazaar at the Eminonu can be an alternative. Smaller, selling also spices beside souvernirs. Save up much time for visiting.
Sultanahmet Mosque is another name for Blue Mosque---takes less than an hour. You can walk across one small park to get to the Aya Sofia. If you visit without joining a tour guide(which I think not necessary), you need 1.5 hour including walking up to the top.
Tokapi Palace is near to the Aya Sofia. For me, touring in Tokapi and Dolmabache Palace are quite more than enough. So I recommend you go to Dolmabache and than take a taxi to Ortakoy pier and try the baked potato("Kumpir") there. A nice lookout to the bridge and not so "tourist buzz".
For food---if you like fish, try the fish market at waterfront left side of Kadikoy tram station. Sit at the little tables and chairs, watching the people fishing at Galata Bridge while eating fried hamsi(little fishes they catch there). 5 liras per dish! Of course you can try at any of the fancy fish restaurant under the Galata Bridge or at right side of the Kadikoy station. For me, I prefer dining in Kumkapi, 5 minutes by taxi from Sultahnamet. Try Capari restaurant. They have a salt-baked big fish, served in flame! The cooking is very good there. Live turkish music makes the place very "turkish". Tell the manager about my name "ninja", he will give you a dessert for free! 
Another famous fish restaurant is Balik Sabahasin in Sultahnamet. Grilled kalamari and blue fish are really good there. A little expensive though.
If you like kebab, I think there are so many choices there. Anyone will be good. Try the Sultahnamet Kofteci(meatball) along the tramway near the Basilica Cistern(tripods are not allowed in there for taking photos) which is a good spot for visit, taking less than an hour.
Oops, I've been talking too much. Ah ha, coz I find it so difficult to open this website with my laptop. It's very strange.
Anyway, hope you had a fantastic time there.
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| 19. |
28 May 2008 Wed 11:51 pm |
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carlbos and ninja....thank you for taking time to reply. Ortakoy sounds good but may have to leave for another visit. we only have 3days and want to take our time.
Sorry ninja not keen on fish!!! so got to be turkish kebabs.
Anyone good local restaurants that can be recommended would be appreciated.
I know we will enjoy Istanbul. Am really looking forward to it
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| 20. |
30 May 2008 Fri 12:51 pm |
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Very informative,thank you all
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| 21. |
30 May 2008 Fri 01:28 pm |
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thinking of adding Ortakoy in now as may need to relax somewhere after spending day in city centre.
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| 22. |
30 May 2008 Fri 05:08 pm |
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That would be a smart choice, John.
I forgot about the cruise on the Bosphorus. You can join a half day tour including a 2.5 hour cruise and a cable car trip to a hilltop to have a panoramic view of the old city. Such tour will usually start after 1 pm. So you may have the whole morning touring around Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia and Basilica Cistern.
Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazzar or the Spice Bazzar, then the Galata Bridge at Eminonu will take almost whole day.
Before going to Ortakoy, you can visit Dolmabache Palace which is very close.
Kebab cafes are everywhere. As far as it is not served at places with hot buffet dishes, kebabs are good and just a name for meat dishes in restaurants. There is one Turkish reataurant at the train station in Sultanahmet, called Cankurtaran. 10 minute walk from the Blue Mosque. It is where local people like to go. Try to sit outside to dine with seaview. The park beside the restaurant will be good for relaxing with drinks or icecream after meals. Note that this restaurant does not serve alcoholic drinks.
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