Europe - Visiting Istanbul

Will be going back to Milan from LAX and I am thinking of connecting, this time through Istanbul via Turkish Airlines. Don't know anything about Istanbul. Is this a nice English-tourist friendly place to visit? Any opinions on Turkish Airlines?

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Well, I'd say that Istanbul is one of the great cities of the world – up there with London and Paris. There is enough to keep the visitor busy for months, and certainly the city will repay a few days.

Is it tourist-friendly? I have always found it so: it is a huge city (18 million people or so) and consequently it can be a bit anonymous. It is (as you know) on the edge of Europe and Asia, with part of the city in one continent and part in another, and it truly is as if the worlds of those two continents have met there. As someone seeking "English-tourist friendliness" you will be able to make excursions into the somewhat exotic but retreat happily to the safety of a European city as well.

My only experiences of Turkish Airlines have been between London and Istanbul and some internal flights within Turkey. I have never had any reason to complain, and the food is very good, even on short internal flights (and much better on the cross-Europe flight than any other European airline I have flown with recently for flights of similar length).

But beware, you might not be able to stop at one visit: as someone said, "Istanbul has a way of calling back those whom she chooses." :)

Istanbul is one of the world's great cities, with history around every corner. People are friendly and many have some English.

Turkish Airlines is ok, nothing exceptional but certainly competent.

TK, okayish airline, nothing terrible or extraordinary to report.

If you have not been to Istanbul, I'd recommend spending a few days in the city. The city does have unique cultural and historic sights. English is widely spoken, just budget timewise for long lines/crowds at tourist sights.

I did two trips to Istanbul last fall when the deals were plentiful. The non-stop to/from LAX-IST is great. New 777 and I was able to buy-up to premium economy at the airport (if that's available, I'd highly recommend it).

IST is a nice airport and if you have access to the Turkish airline lounge, go for it!

Istanbul itself is interesting and worth a visit.

Rather than starting a new thread, just wanted to jump quickly off this recent one (if the OP doesn't mind). My wife and I will be in Paris next spring for a week and wanted to head from there over to Istanbul as we've never experienced that area before.

She would like to end our vacation with a laid-back, beach-type of experience. After spending 4-5 days bustling around Istanbul (certainly not enough, I know), does anyone have suggestions of a nice beach-type atmosphere to head towards that's easily reachable within a few hours?

Ideally we'd be able to get there from Istanbul and spend another 3-4 days taking in scenery, strolling, relaxing on the beach, etc. I've heard of the Princes' Islands, but wasn't sure if that really fit the bill or was worth several days.

Any help is much appreciated!

stay in old town, not a high end hotel over in nowhere. walk a lot. learn the turkish word for "NO" (hayir) you will use it about 100 times a day. the food in not spectacular.

the food in not spectacular.

Do you think not? I think the cuisine is outstanding in Istanbul. If you like fish, try one of the restaurants on the waterfront of the Bosphorus in suburbs like Yeniköy and Bebek. If not, Hamdi (near Eminönü) is a popular restaurant: reserve a table and ask for one on the top floor, and enjoy the splendid views too.

Ideally we'd be able to get there from Istanbul and spend another 3-4 days taking in scenery, strolling, relaxing on the beach, etc. I've heard of the Princes' Islands, but wasn't sure if that really fit the bill or was worth several days.

I've found the beaches close to Istanbul to be a bit too urban for anything but an afternoons cooling off. The Princes' islands are nice, but not quite what you seem to seek. Hop a quick and cheap flight on Pegasus or Sun Express down to Dalaman or Antalya. Some of the beaches there are amazing. Check out Oludeniz, Patara, Kabak, or Cirali among others.

Will be going back to Milan from LAX and I am thinking of connecting, this time through Istanbul via Turkish Airlines. Don't know anything about Istanbul. Is this a nice English-tourist friendly place to visit? Any opinions on Turkish Airlines?

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i saw the old town could be of interest....sultananmet.....not sure.....i think its good culture for couples.....i saw flight that this was layover....would really like 3 days here

Rather than starting a new thread, just wanted to jump quickly off this recent one (if the OP doesn't mind). My wife and I will be in Paris next spring for a week and wanted to head from there over to Istanbul as we've never experienced that area before.

She would like to end our vacation with a laid-back, beach-type of experience. After spending 4-5 days bustling around Istanbul (certainly not enough, I know), does anyone have suggestions of a nice beach-type atmosphere to head towards that's easily reachable within a few hours?

Ideally we'd be able to get there from Istanbul and spend another 3-4 days taking in scenery, strolling, relaxing on the beach, etc. I've heard of the Princes' Islands, but wasn't sure if that really fit the bill or was worth several days.

Any help is much appreciated!

Take a flight to Bodrum (1 hr flight) which is a nice coast city where aegean and mediterranean comes together. You'll thank me.

I am going in November. Any known problems with just getting visa on arrival? Will Delta deny me boarding without the visa? I am us citizen.

Just found another thread on this. Sounds like no problem to get visa on arrival at IST.

I am planning a trip to Turkey this fall, after the tourists have gone and the weather is cooler. As a noob, I think that 6 nights in Istanbul will be a good opener for me. I'd definitely like to go back and tour Anatolia to see the ancient ruins, especially Mount Nemrut.

That said, when is the best time to book? I've been checking airfares for weeks now, and they mostly seem to hover around $750 r/t. I think I can do better.

Another question: Is it worthwhile staying on the Asia said of the city? Most of the hotels are in Beyazit on the European side. Also, my budget only allows for a 3-star hotel. Any warnings/recommendations for me?

I am planning a trip to Turkey this fall, after the tourists have gone and the weather is cooler. As a noob, I think that 6 nights in Istanbul will be a good opener for me. I'd definitely like to go back and tour Anatolia to see the ancient ruins, especially Mount Nemrut.

That said, when is the best time to book? I've been checking airfares for weeks now, and they mostly seem to hover around $750 r/t. I think I can do better.

Another question: Is it worthwhile staying on the Asia said of the city? Most of the hotels are in Beyazit on the European side. Also, my budget only allows for a 3-star hotel. Any warnings/recommendations for me?

Six nights should be ideal. Can't help you with airfares but I'd stay on the European side in the old town where you are near many of the main sights and there are hotels to suit all budgets. Take a boat trip up the Bosphorus!

We were in Istanbul for three days last month and LOVED it. We stayed at the Neorion in Sultananmet, imo one of the best hotels we've ever stayed. We found the food to be fantastic, and the locals to be some of the most welcoming people around. You will not be disappointed.

Anyone have issues with taxis -- either safety or waits -- at the Airport. I'm getting into Istanbul at 4 pm after a transatalantic flight and really don't want to wait in a line or get hassled when I'm half asleep.

Anyone have issues with taxis -- either safety or waits -- at the Airport. I'm getting into Istanbul at 4 pm after a transatalantic flight and really don't want to wait in a line or get hassled when I'm half asleep.
In my experience it's all pretty orderly, and I've never had to wait very long. The official taxis are yellow, and you follow the "taxi" signs after exiting the customs hall.

Taxis fares are metered. Istanbul taxi drivers don't always know their city as well as one might expect, but I think it's genuine ignorance rather than a scam. Leaving from the airport to go to some central spot like a hotel should pose no difficulties, but it is always a good idea to have the name of the place you're going and its address written on a piece of paper (or, once you've checked in, take a hotel card, etc, with you).

The drivers are generally pleasant or, in a few cases, not unpleasant.

I am planning a trip to Turkey this fall, after the tourists have gone and the weather is cooler. As a noob, I think that 6 nights in Istanbul will be a good opener for me. I'd definitely like to go back and tour Anatolia to see the ancient ruins, especially Mount Nemrut.

That said, when is the best time to book? I've been checking airfares for weeks now, and they mostly seem to hover around $750 r/t. I think I can do better.

Another question: Is it worthwhile staying on the Asia said of the city? Most of the hotels are in Beyazit on the European side. Also, my budget only allows for a 3-star hotel. Any warnings/recommendations for me?

I was in Istanbul in November last year, I was sure I'd manage to escape the crowds as I was visiting in the off season, boy was I wrong! Fortunately, I had been to Istanbul before so I wasn't pressed to visit all the must see sights. Visit sights early in the morning to avoid crowds. I had wanted to revisit Haghia Sofia as it was being restored the last time I was in Istanbul. The lines were extremely long, one morning I went just before they had opened, there was already a line of people waiting for tickets, I got a ticket and got in. An hour after Haigha Sofia opened hoards of tourists showed up.

I do not recommend staying on the Asian side, Istanbul is huge city and you will waste time travelling to the European side for sightseeing (most of the historic sights are on the European side). I'd look for accomodation in the Sultanahmet area as this will be your first visit to the city.

I do not recommend staying on the Asian side, Istanbul is huge city and you will waste time travelling to the European side for sightseeing (most of the historic sights are on the European side). I'd look for accomodation in the Sultanahmet area as this will be your first visit to the city.
I would second this. The Sultanahmet area is the place to stay, and there are lots of hotels there to suit all budgets.

The are some interesting things to see on the Asian side [e.g. the Beylerbeyi Palace, the wondrous Bağdat Caddesi (Baghdad Avenue), surely one of the most beautiful shopping streets in the world], but really all of the must-see sites are on the European side.

And one mustn't run away with the idea that the Asian side will be more "exotic" or more "Asian" to visit – the Grand Bazaar/Covered Market (Kapalı Çarşı) is on the European side, near the Sultanahmet area, whereas the above- mentioned Bağdat Caddesi (Baghdad Avenue), which would rival any shopping street in western Europe, is on the Asian side. (There are plenty of splendid European-style shopping and dining areas on the European side too – after all, Istanbul is not a simple city to define or characterise!)

we stayed in this place
http://www.ayasofyakonaklari.com/en/reservation.jsp

it appears the place has been cleaned up a bit. we stayed in pasha suite for $100 a night. that would have been maybe 10-15 years ago in feb. (there were about 5 guests there, total)if you face the aya sophia, you will hear frequent call to prayers from dawn to dusk

the location is fabulous. it is stuck into the wall of topkapi, and faces aya sophia.

For our last year's visit to Istanbul, we stayed at the TAN hotel in the Sultanahmet area. reasonable and recommended by another FTer. If we had booked directly from the hotel, probably could have gotten the airport pickup + a cash discount on the hotel's cost for 4 nights stay. --we used bookings & there was the airport pickup benefit. Property is clean, comfortable, quiet, good daily buffet breakfast with cooked to order eggs. good location, easy walk to Topkapi, etc.

A couple of years ago we stayed in the Biz Cevahir Otel in Sultanahmet - great location, clean rooms but at that time the breakfast buffet was passable but nothing better. The hotel offered an airport pick up. If you want dinner with a view try the roof terrace at the Blue House Hotel which is not far away - great views over the Bosphorus and of the Blue Mosque - the food was decent and reasonably priced.

Just found another thread on this. Sounds like no problem to get visa on arrival at IST.

There is no problem getting a visa for a US citizen. They didn't even ask any questions. They put a stamp in my passport and asked $20 for the visa.

Sultanahmet area is the only way to go. Mostly small hotels, except for the 4S.

As to the poster asking about visiting Turkey from Paris to see the beaches...why don't you go to Cannes/Nice etc? I wouldn't go to Istanbul to go to the beach and it's probably easier to get to South of France.

There is a nice Doubletree near the University and the Grand Bazaar.

There is a nice Doubletree near the University and the Grand Bazaar.

Spent a week there last month- very nice.

Any thoughts on safety for a solo American traveler? My friend was just there with his wife for 5 days and warned against a solo excursion. Said they felt unsafe most of the trip (though nothing happened). He tells me the hotel had all sorts of warnings about scams and even physical situations and insisted on ordering them round trip taxis everywhere. Of a 12 day tour around the region, he felt the most unsafe there of anywhere. (And he's not a meek guy by any means).

I've traveled quite a bit but was looking at a long weekend (this one actually!) in IST to recharge and am thinking this may not be the place to go myself for that purpose. Thoughts?

Any thoughts on safety for a solo American traveler? My friend was just there with his wife for 5 days and warned against a solo excursion. Said they felt unsafe most of the trip (though nothing happened). He tells me the hotel had all sorts of warnings about scams and even physical situations and insisted on ordering them round trip taxis everywhere. Of a 12 day tour around the region, he felt the most unsafe there of anywhere. (And he's not a meek guy by any means).

I've traveled quite a bit but was looking at a long weekend (this one actually!) in IST to recharge and am thinking this may not be the place to go myself for that purpose. Thoughts?
Well, I don't know: I've never felt especially unsafe in Istanbul at all. As in all big cities, there will be petty crime, I suppose, although I haven't encountered it personally. Sometimes in the touristy areas one is approached by someone who tries to take you under his wing (e.g. "Come with me, I can get you into the Blue Mosque without waiting in a line and it is shutting early this afternoon"); just politely decline and move on. One wouldn't accept such an offer in New York or London, so I am at a loss to know why one would accept it in Istanbul - although if you did nothing much is likely to happen beyond your forking out a lot of money for not very much.

I have also read about scams where tourists accept an invitation to go and have a drink with someone that approaches them on the street and find themselves drugged and robbed. Again, one wouldn't do that in New York or London, so why do people decide that it's safe to do it in Istanbul?

In truth, Istanbul is one of the world's great cities to visit, and it is perfect for a short break. Although one could spend a year there and not see everything, many of the main sites are within easy walking distance of each other in the Sultanahmet area. And myself, I'd say it's a pretty safe city for a visitor.

Appreciate the response, Christopher. I think it probably is fine but maybe he knows I'm not one to sit home at night and prefer to explore nightlife - and that is where he's worried.... I think I'm going to skip this long weekend, but instead work Istanbul/Turkey into a larger trip down the road.

I haven't been in several years but when I did go it was just another female friend and myself. We are both redheads and I'm rather tall, so we definitely stuck out visually. We had zero safety concerns and walked or took public transit all over the city.

It's like any other city: watch your bags, don't accept drinks from random strangers, don't follow people into small alleys, etc. use your brain and you'll be fine.

I had zero issues with harassment.

Appreciate the response, Christopher. I think it probably is fine but maybe he knows I'm not one to sit home at night and prefer to explore nightlife - and that is where he's worried.... I think I'm going to skip this long weekend, but instead work Istanbul/Turkey into a larger trip down the road.
Well, that might be even better, of course, although I've never felt alarmed when out and about in Istanbul at night. The sort of night-life that you're talking about (I imagine) is similar to that in any other "western" city.

I am planning a trip to Turkey this fall, after the tourists have gone and the weather is cooler. As a noob, I think that 6 nights in Istanbul will be a good opener for me. I'd definitely like to go back and tour Anatolia to see the ancient ruins, especially Mount Nemrut.

That said, when is the best time to book? I've been checking airfares for weeks now, and they mostly seem to hover around $750 r/t. I think I can do better.

Another question: Is it worthwhile staying on the Asia said of the city? Most of the hotels are in Beyazit on the European side. Also, my budget only allows for a 3-star hotel. Any warnings/recommendations for me?

Stay on the European side but avoid the old town or immediately around Taksim Square - it's busy and too full of tourist trap restaurants. If your budget is limited, consider renting an apartment or even a room in a home (sites like Wimdu). Istanbul is vast and there's a danger you spend all your time travelling.

Another question: Is it worthwhile staying on the Asia said of the city? Most of the hotels are in Beyazit on the European side. Also, my budget only allows for a 3-star hotel. Any warnings/recommendations for me?

I think most other people have said it already, but no, it's not worth it. You should be able to find something reasonably priced on the European side. Try Sirkeci, easy access to the tram, Sultanahmet, Eminönü... and a cheap cab ride to Taksim Square. Or even cheaper with the tram+funicular...

In case anything is interested, I just did a day tour during a quick 12 hour layover at IST. Was certainly enough time to run around and see all of the major sights.

http://hktravelblog.com/2012/08/istanbul-one-day-trip-guide/

BTW just did a lounge review (http://hktravelblog.com/2012/09/turkish-airlines-istanbul-ataturk-airport-lounge-review/) too for Turkish Airlines at IST. Hopefully can help some people know what to expect.

Is there anything in the Sultanahmet area by Hilton or Mariott? Or forget the diamond/platinum benefits and book elsewhere?

Is there anything in the Sultanahmet area by Hilton or Mariott? Or forget the diamond/platinum benefits and book elsewhere?

Doubletree Old City

Doubletree Old City

Worth it even though "Doubletree" isn't a full service hotel with such amenities? What would I get for benefits?

Worth it even though "Doubletree" isn't a full service hotel with such amenities? What would I get for benefits?

There are several threads that talk about this property. I have not stayed there yet but have a rez for later this year. Benefits are breakfast which gets good reviews and possible upgraded room. Internet. Diamonds report fruit baskets. No lounge floor. Hotel is relatively new, clean, small rooms, walking distance to key tourist sights, next to rail transit. The hamAm gets great reviews. Staff as well.

Full restaurant which also gets good reviews.

I will report back when i live it soon, but the other threrads will fill in gaps if you search here or google the hotel reviews.

Anyone have issues with taxis -- either safety or waits -- at the Airport. I'm getting into Istanbul at 4 pm after a transatalantic flight and really don't want to wait in a line or get hassled when I'm half asleep.

I've heard the taxis from the airport are fine. As are typically the ones from hotels. However taxis in tourist areas run a couple of scams. I know because I feel victim to them unfortunately.

1. Meter fixing. It's isn't as common as it used to be apparently when they used to be a night and a day rate but it still happens. Be wary of taxis with the meter placed in front of the gear shift. One scam is that the driver will position his hand so it's very difficult to see and follow the rate. In addition they will distract you by pointing out something and do something to the meter. And voila your ride that should cost 25 lira now cots 55... Newer taxis have the meter integrated into the mirro which makes this scam more difficult.

2. Swapping of bills these guys must be magicians or something. During a taxi ride MrsFDW handed me a 50 lira bill. I went to pay the fare and he did some sort of slight of hand and said this is only 5. I was a bit confused with the money so I thought maybe I had only given him a 5. Nope turns out I got scammed. From then I followed each bill into the drivers hand and would say here's twenty etc. in addition I made sure I had small bills to pay the taxi fares.

Not a scam but the driver will say something like Istanbul traffic really bad. Fare will be 30 lira. Get out if you can. Most fares are no more than 20. This was a problem at the chora church because all the taxis there were running the same story.

Yeah I've traveled a lot but these guys here are some of the slimiest cab drivers I've ever experienced. Some of them might not want to drive you up to the hotel for fear that you'll enlist their help. I found at Istanbul feels very safe but that a few bad apples can leave a sour taste.

Just what I've encountered I know most of the 20000 taxi drivers here are honest but its important to watch out.

In other advice do not order museum tickets online from the muze.gov.tr site. Apparently the barcode they use is very finicky and we had no luck getting any of the tickets to work. Furthermore no one at the site seems empowered to fix the problem. So instead of saving time by using e-ticketing it actually cost us time and money. One thing that just came out for foreigners in Sept is the muze card option which is 72 lira for 72 hours of access. That is probably something worth looking into.

So the way I figure, Istanbul owes me at least 175 lira between the taxi scams and the failed e tickets.

FDW

Coming to Istanbul in a few weeks. I don't use atm's abroad. How bad is the exchange in the airport? I'm only there a few days so won't need much. I plan to take the metro & tram to my hotel in Sultanmet (sp?) - the hotel is next to the Hotel Nena. I think the tram stop is Sultanmet - can anyone confirm this? Can I walk to the ferry piers from there? Any good suggestions you would like to share?

Coming to Istanbul in a few weeks. I don't use atm's abroad. How bad is the exchange in the airport? I'm only there a few days so won't need much. I plan to take the metro & tram to my hotel in Sultanmet (sp?) - the hotel is next to the Hotel Nena. I think the tram stop is Sultanmet - can anyone confirm this? Can I walk to the ferry piers from there? Any good suggestions you would like to share?You're equidistant between Çemberlitaş and Sultanahmet Stations, you would backtrack if you alight at Sultanahmet Station.

It's about 1 km to the ferry piers at Eminönü (15-20 minutes walk) or you can catch the same tram at Sultanahmet and exit 2 stations later at Sirkeci, same direction as travelling from the airport. From there just walk a block (slightly downhill) and cross a very busy street (Kennedy Caddesi/Avenue).

From there just walk a block (slightly downhill) and cross a very busy street (Kennedy Caddesi/Avenue).
But there are traffic lights for crossing the street and also (if I remember right) a pedestrian subway/underpass if you prefer that.

But there are traffic lights for crossing the street and also (if I remember right) a pedestrian subway/underpass if you prefer that.Ah yes, also the station after Sirkeci is Eminönü Station, but if I remember correctly Sirkeci Station is closer to the Eminönü Ferry docks.

Hello everyone, we have a trip planned, and on our way, we will be stopping by Istanbul on Feb 4 10:35pm to Feb 5 8:25pm.

We have nailed down to the following two hotels to stay:
1. Intercontinental Ceylan Istanbul
2. Crowne Plaza Istanbul - Old City, Ordu Caddesi

We have never been to that part of the world before, and are truly excited, despite the short stopover.

since it's a fairly short stay, we hope to stay near the old city where the attractions are, i.e. Grand Bazaar...etc

We'd assume that after we landed, and by the time we checked into the hotel, it'd be midnight already. Safe to wander around? Or should we just get a good night sleep and explore the next day until 6pm before we head back to the airport?

Thanks!!

The Crown Plaza is a great choice but get a good night's rest and explore Sultanahmet and the Grand Bazaar next morning. You'll need the energy!

Visiting Istanbul in late March. Anyone aware of airlines serving Malta out of Istanbul on a daily basis? Seems Air Malta and Turkish airlines do not provide regular daily service. Perhaps there's a regional airline.

I am going to have a stop over there for 12 hours and going to sightseeing in the city. How much Turkish money should I have with me? I am thinking maybe I am going to have a meal or 2 nothing fancy, little to none for shopping and a turkish bath visit.

I am going to have a stop over there for 12 hours and going to sightseeing in the city. How much Turkish money should I have with me? I am thinking maybe I am going to have a meal or 2 nothing fancy, little to none for shopping and a turkish bath visit.
100 USD = 180 TL
100 Euro = 230 TL

250 TL would be fine , also you can use credit card and USD, Euro in touristic areas

hamam: 60-90 TL
Lunch : 15-30
Dinner: 15-30
shopping: 50 TL
travel in the city taxi airport-city: 50 TL

The Crown Plaza is a great choice but get a good night's rest and explore Sultanahmet and the Grand Bazaar next morning. You'll need the energy!

We have worked out a temporary schedule, intense, but should be satisfying.

We arrived late at night, so we plan on starting the day at 830am, where we will take the metro and start at Galata Tower, overlooking the city, walk across the Bridge, then the new Mosque, Pasha Mosque, Gulhane Park, Topkapi Palace, Spice Bazaar, Cistern Basilica, Hagia Sophia, The famous Wall, Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, And finally, the Grand Bazaar before we leave for the airport at 6pm.

It's really packed I know, but we figured, this is our first taste, and being able to adore the architecture from outside, pose for pictures is enough. Do planning on spending a larger proportion of time in the Grand Bazaar though.

Hello everyone, we have a trip planned, and on our way, we will be stopping by Istanbul on Feb 4 10:35pm to Feb 5 8:25pm.
We arrived late at night, so we plan on starting the day at 830am, where we will take the metro and start at Galata Tower, overlooking the city, walk across the Bridge, then the new Mosque, Pasha Mosque, Gulhane Park, Topkapi Palace, Spice Bazaar, Cistern Basilica, Hagia Sophia, The famous Wall, Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, And finally, the Grand Bazaar before we leave for the airport at 6pm.Topkapi Palace (Topkapı Sarayı) is closed on Tuesdays (Feb 5th).

Topkapi Palace (Topkapı Sarayı) is closed on Tuesdays (Feb 5th).

ouch! but thanks for the headsup.

ouch! but thanks for the headsup.

For us Topkapi involved a 90 min wait in line. Touring the main parts of the buildings took about three hours, and we had to leave out seeing maybe 80% of the museums inside.

For us Topkapi involved a 90 min wait in line. Touring the main parts of the buildings took about three hours, and we had to leave out seeing maybe 80% of the museums inside.

Oh, we are more Realistic than that. We are only there for one day, therefore we will only be checking out the exteriors take some photos and move out. But we do plan on going back in the future for prolonged visit though.

Hi all,

We're visiting IST from Jan 8th at 10AM to Jan 9th at 7:30 AM.

Would you recommend staying near city center, or near the airport? Any hotel recommendations?

Also, if there are any must see attractions that you recommend fitting into the 18 hours we have, what would they be?

Hello everyone, we have a trip planned, and on our way, we will be stopping by Istanbul on Feb 4 10:35pm to Feb 5 8:25pm.

We have nailed down to the following two hotels to stay:
1. Intercontinental Ceylan Istanbul
2. Crowne Plaza Istanbul - Old City, Ordu Caddesi

We have never been to that part of the world before, and are truly excited, despite the short stopover.

since it's a fairly short stay, we hope to stay near the old city where the attractions are, i.e. Grand Bazaar...etc

We'd assume that after we landed, and by the time we checked into the hotel, it'd be midnight already. Safe to wander around? Or should we just get a good night sleep and explore the next day until 6pm before we head back to the airport?

Thanks!!Just a note - the Ceylan Intercontinental is near Taksim Square which is not near the Old City nor Sultanahmet. It wuld however be a short taxi ride or a long walk to Galata Tower, which is on the same side of the Golden Horn ad the bridge. By the way, I am at the Grand Hyatt which is across the road from the Intercontinental, and much of the taksim Square I knew has been torn down and the whole area is full of muddy streets and is under construction. Although I am a native New Yorker and walk almost evcerywhere, walking from the GH to anwhere else these last two days has been dangrerous.

I don't know your budget, but two years ago four of us (two couples) hired a licensed guide for two days and she avoided all lines at the sights you want to see.

I'll be amazed if you can get to see all of the sights on your list, especially the Grand Bazaar. (I await your trip report.) I assume you will take a taxi to the airport from your hotel, as I would be careful taking a taxi waiting outside the Grand Bazaar.

Oh, we are more Realistic than that. We are only there for one day, therefore we will only be checking out the exteriors take some photos and move out. But we do plan on going back in the future for prolonged visit though.There is really nothing to see about the Topkapi unless you queue to get inside the defense walls or hire a guide to take you past the queues.

Hi all,

We're visiting IST from Jan 8th at 10AM to Jan 9th at 7:30 AM.

Would you recommend staying near city center, or near the airport? Any hotel recommendations?

Also, if there are any must see attractions that you recommend fitting into the 18 hours we have, what would they be?

We're at the Doubletree Old Town right now and HIGHLY recommend it. Even with the cold, we've been easily walking or doing a tram+walk (tram is directly in front of the hotel) to pretty much everything. The hotel is nicer than most full Hiltons, staff is fantastic, and location has worked well for us.

(BTW, given your handle, if you want variety for food I recommend Swaat for Indian food over Dubb... and, quite surprisingly, be ready for a lot of the Turkish vendors to speak pretty good Hindi.)

Just a note - the Ceylan Intercontinental is near Taksim Square which is not near the Old City nor Sultanahmet. It wuld however be a short taxi ride or a long walk to Galata Tower, which is on the same side of the Golden Horn ad the bridge. By the way, I am at the Grand Hyatt which is across the road from the Intercontinental, and much of the taksim Square I knew has been torn down and the whole area is full of muddy streets and is under construction. Although I am a native New Yorker and walk almost evcerywhere, walking from the GH to anwhere else these last two days has been dangrerous.

I don't know your budget, but two years ago four of us (two couples) hired a licensed guide for two days and she avoided all lines at the sights you want to see.

I'll be amazed if you can get to see all of the sights on your list, especially the Grand Bazaar. (I await your trip report.) I assume you will take a taxi to the airport from your hotel, as I would be careful taking a taxi waiting outside the Grand Bazaar.

Thanks for the heads up. We have since decided to stay in the Crowne Plaza in the old city. As you suggested, we later found out about the location and its proximity. As far as taxi goes, we will try to avoid it as much as possible. It will be our last resort, instead, the walk from Crowne Plaza to the nearest Metro "yusufpasa" or "aksaray" will take us all the way to the airport.

I hope I am not missing anything.

And yes, there WILL BE a trip report. I've put too much time on this to put together this trip with UA miles.

Our itinerary will be Chicago - Paris (24 hours) - Frankfurt/Rothenburg (24 hours) - Dusseldorf/Koln (24 hours) - Istanbul (24 hours) - Maldives (4 days 4 nights) - Singapore (2 days) - Bangkok (24 hours) - Hong Kong.

2 people, business class in UA, LH, TK, and TG (including the A380) all for 205k UA miles.
:)

There is really nothing to see about the Topkapi unless you queue to get inside the defense walls or hire a guide to take you past the queues.
That's alright, our main trip this time is Singapore and Maldives, Istanbul and Bangkok will be a "taste" for future visits, while Paris, Frankfurt and Dusseldorf will be re-visits. Have to play with the 24-hour layover rule. But thanks for the heads up, we will be going back to IST in the future, I am sure of it.

For now, I am content with our short stopover.

Just a note - the Ceylan Intercontinental is near Taksim Square which is not near the Old City nor Sultanahmet. It wuld however be a short taxi ride or a long walk to Galata Tower, which is on the same side of the Golden Horn ad the bridge. By the way, I am at the Grand Hyatt which is across the road from the Intercontinental, and much of the taksim Square I knew has been torn down and the whole area is full of muddy streets and is under construction. Although I am a native New Yorker and walk almost evcerywhere, walking from the GH to anwhere else these last two days has been dangrerous.

I don't know your budget, but two years ago four of us (two couples) hired a licensed guide for two days and she avoided all lines at the sights you want to see.

I'll be amazed if you can get to see all of the sights on your list, especially the Grand Bazaar. (I await your trip report.) I assume you will take a taxi to the airport from your hotel, as I would be careful taking a taxi waiting outside the Grand Bazaar.

Thanks for the heads up. We have since decided to stay in the Crowne Plaza in the old city. As you suggested, we later found out about the location and its proximity. As far as taxi goes, we will try to avoid it as much as possible. It will be our last resort, instead, the walk from Crowne Plaza to the nearest Metro "yusufpasa" or "aksaray" will take us all the way to the airport.

I hope I am not missing anything.

And yes, there WILL BE a trip report. I've put too much time on this to put together this trip with UA miles.

Our itinerary will be Chicago - Paris (24 hours) - Frankfurt/Rothenburg (24 hours) - Dusseldorf/Koln (24 hours) - Istanbul (24 hours) - Maldives (4 days 4 nights) - Singapore (2 days) - Bangkok (24 hours) - Hong Kong.

2 people, business class in UA, LH, TK, and TG (including the A380) all for 205k UA miles.
:)

There is really nothing to see about the Topkapi unless you queue to get inside the defense walls or hire a guide to take you past the queues.
That's alright, our main trip this time is Singapore and Maldives, Istanbul and Bangkok will be a "taste" for future visits, while Paris, Frankfurt and Dusseldorf will be re-visits. Have to play with the 24-hour layover rule. But thanks for the heads up, we will be going back to IST in the future, I am sure of it.

For now, I am content with our short stopover.I'd trade two days in Singapore for one more day in Istanbul, Bangkok or Hong Kong.

I'd love to know how you did that in C for 205,000 miles. My recent RT EWR-HKG / SIN-EWR was 240,000 for two.

I'd trade two days in Singapore for one more day in Istanbul, Bangkok or Hong Kong.

I'd love to know how you did that in C for 205,000 miles. My recent RT EWR-HKG / SIN-EWR was 240,000 for two.

ORD-CDG-FRA-DUS-IST-MLE is 60k/person/C
MLE-SIN is 25k/person/Y
SIN-BKK-HKG is 17.5k/person/C

Bangkok is a last minute added stop, saw the TG600 in A388, just couldn't pass it up. Istanbul will remain one day for the rule being. As far as HKG, it's practically my second home, so yeah...:)

@flyhen I didn't realize your trip terminated in HKG, I thought you merely omitted HKG-ORD from the list.

One thing that worries me a slight bit, is how I am gonna find my way to the hotel. I get in late, 22:45. By the time I am out of the customs, it could be well after 23:30 or even later. Should I just arrange a hotel shuttle ride and shell out €45 for the both of us to Crowne Plaza Old City? Or is the Metro still running, and safe at that time?

Anyone?

One thing that worries me a slight bit, is how I am gonna find my way to the hotel. I get in late, 22:45. By the time I am out of the customs, it could be well after 23:30 or even later. Should I just arrange a hotel shuttle ride and shell out €45 for the both of us to Crowne Plaza Old City? Or is the Metro still running, and safe at that time?

Anyone?Even if the metro is running that late (I think it runs until midnight), it involves maybe too much of a walk / hassle at that late time when you probably want to get to the hotel as soon as possible.

We just took a taxi (to the Hilton, further away). It was something like 20 euros and took about 35 mins. Going back to the airport from the old town Doubletree with tram+metro took almost two hours for us. YMMV.

Edited to add: if you don't have to change to the tram, don't have too much luggage and get out by 23:30 then you might want to consider the metro.

Even if the metro is running that late (I think it runs until midnight), it involves too much of a walk / hassle at that late time when you probably want to get to the hotel as soon as possible.

We just took a taxi (to the Hilton, comparable distance). It was something like 25 euros and took about 35 mins. Going back to the airport from the old town Doubletree with tram+metro took almost two hours for us. YMMV.

Yes, being that late, we'd want to get to the hotel asap. Is there a dedicated taxi stand? 25 euros for 20km ride (to Crowne Plaza) is reasonable, but what about getting ripped off?

Yes, being that late, we'd want to get to the hotel asap. Is there a dedicated taxi stand? 25 euros for 20km ride (to Crowne Plaza) is reasonable, but what about getting ripped off?On second thought I think it was closer to 20 euros. Yes, of course there is a taxi stand. And we were warned about getting ripped off. What I do is that I turn on the navigator in my phone. That way I can see that we are taking a short route and the driver notices it too. Of course you can also always ask for the estimated fee before you get into the taxi.

You have to be ripped off pretty seriously to get close to the 45 euros you mentioned.

On second thought I think it was closer to 20 euros. Yes, of course there is a taxi stand. And we were warned about getting ripped off. What I do is that I turn on the navigator in my phone. That way I can see that we are taking a short route and the driver notices it too. Of course you can also always ask for the estimated fee before you get into the taxi.

You have to be ripped off pretty seriously to get close to the 45 euros you mentioned.

I agree, that's when the iPad Mini comes in handy. Judging from the google map, I will ask the driver to take Kennedy avenue along the sea side. Just hope they speak english.

Of course this works best with having your maps pre-loaded in order to avoid the costs of data transfer.

Anyway, I had a look at google maps and your route looks quite straight forward. There might be some congestion in the old town though.

Of course this works best with having your maps pre-loaded in order to avoid the costs of data transfer.

Anyway, I had a look at google maps and your route looks quite straight forward. There might be some congestion in the old town though.

i.e. Navigon Europe for iPhone/iPad

One thing that worries me a slight bit, is how I am gonna find my way to the hotel. I get in late, 22:45. By the time I am out of the customs, it could be well after 23:30 or even later. Should I just arrange a hotel shuttle ride and shell out €45 for the both of us to Crowne Plaza Old City? Or is the Metro still running, and safe at that time?

Anyone?

45 Euro would be insanely high.

That late i say take a taxi with meter. We did last week and yesterday morning. 31 Turkish Lira, plus a tip, 30 minutes max, and this was on the day of massive snow storm delays. Night traffic is clear. On way to airport at 6am the driver left meter off and we agreed 40 firm, took 20 minutes (but he drove fast). Your hotel is a block or two beyond where i was.

Metro is running and safe, but it is cold and you are shlepping bags and in an unknown city. Other than airport we used tram etc and walked a ton even at night -- never worth a taxi.

45 Euro would be insanely high.

That late i say take a taxi with meter. We did last week and yesterday morning. 31 Turkish Lira, plus a tip, 30 minutes max, and this was on the day of massive snow storm delays. Night traffic is clear. On way to airport at 6am the driver left meter off and we agreed 40 firm, took 20 minutes (but he drove fast). Your hotel is a block or two beyond where i was.

Metro is running and safe, but it is cold and you are shlepping bags and in an unknown city. Other than airport we used tram etc and walked a ton even at night -- never worth a taxi.

thanks for your assuring answer, when the hotel told us its €45 for two people, I was hesitating. Taxi it is!

thanks for your assuring answer, when the hotel told us its €45 for two people, I was hesitating. Taxi it is!My taxi from the airport to Taksim was about 50 TRY + 5 TRY tip although tips are not expected, and roughly the same for the return, about $31 each way, with no traffic. Sultanahmet should be less, although waiting in traffic might offset the benefit of the shorter distance.

Try this link for information about taxis in Istanbul:
http://www.wittistanbul.com/magazine/tips-to-prevent-popular-istanbul-taxi-scams/

thanks for your assuring answer, when the hotel told us its €45 for two people, I was hesitating. Taxi it is!

The price you are quoting might be for a private car service? On departure, I inquired at the front desk and was quoted around 100 Turkish Lira for a private Mercedes to the airport. Everyone we asked gave us an answer of 60-70 Turkish for a taxi which was much more than we paid.

Of course we arrived at IST around 11pm and we left our hotel at 6am, so there was no waiting in traffic. Your hotel is at most two blocks down from where we were so add a little to your costs.

If you are arriving/departing at peak traffic hours or the middle of the business day, consider public transit or a combo of public and taxi.

Personally, after getting off a 10 hour flight, seeing snow falling, etc the taxi was well worth under $20 USD for two people, including tip (meter said 31, I gave him 35). On departure, we opted for a taxi and paid 40 Lira flat, plus a generous tip because he drove so fast that I gained time in the Turkish lounge...

The price I was quoted was from the hotel front desk. I was pretty sure he told me €45 for both, not TL. Anyways, I appreciate all the info, and they are very helpful indeed. The 20-25TL taxi ride from the airport seems reasonable, and at that late at night (2330), chances are the 20km ride will go by fairly fast. I will have my GPS out and make sure he doesn't take us for a ride elsewhere.

As far as coming back to the airport, that depends on how long a walk from the hotel to the metro, and how long a ride it is. But if the taxi goes well, I don't see why I wouldn't take that back again.

Other than that, I am hoping a smooth trip.

Where's the best place to do shopping in IST aside from the Grand Bazaar? I want to pick up Turkish specialties such as towels, a mosaic lantern, etc. Cheapskates, weigh in.

I heard nice things about the Tuesday street market in Kadikoy on the Asian side. The prices are supposed to be better, as it's where the Turks themselves shop. I also want an excuse to venture into Asia, as I have never set food onto the continent.

Where's the best place to do shopping in IST aside from the Grand Bazaar? I want to pick up Turkish specialties such as towels, a mosaic lantern, etc. Cheapskates, weigh in.

I heard nice things about the Tuesday street market in Kadikoy on the Asian side. The prices are supposed to be better, as it's where the Turks themselves shop. I also want an excuse to venture into Asia, as I have never set food onto the continent.Isn't that an excuse in itself? ;)
I'd like to know the answer to your question as well. The small groceries we visited didn't even have any price tags for their merchandise.

Isn't that an excuse in itself? ;)
I'd like to know the answer to your question as well. The small groceries we visited didn't even have any price tags for their merchandise.I have heard that the Arasta Bazaar, which is closer to the Aya Sofia, etc. is easier to shop a than the Grand Bazaar for tourist type stuff. No idea about prices compared to the Grand Bazaar.

can anyone provide some personal restaurant recommendations? Anything from street food to michelin starred restaurants. We will be in Istanbul for ~4days/nights in the middle of April.

can anyone provide some personal restaurant recommendations? Anything from street food to michelin starred restaurants. We will be in Istanbul for ~4days/nights in the middle of April.I recommend the three restaurants at which we ate. We ate lunch in the Sultanhamet at Khorsani, which has both indoor and outdoor tables. The food was quite good, and it serves kebabs as well as other dishes, We were served a fabulous huge loaf of bread with our mezzes. It has a menu in English. It is next to the restaurant Adonin, which is recommended in the DK guide, and we ate there as well. I recommend them both.

We also ate on the other side of the Golden Horn at Zeyrekhane, which has a spectacular view high on a hill overlooking the city and the Golden Horn. Our guide took us there for a wonderful lunch. It has traditional Turkish food, and you will wind up ordering twice as much as you can eat as the portions are huge.

I recommend the three restaurants at which we ate. We ate lunch in the Sultanhamet at Khorsani, which has both indoor and outdoor tables. The food was quite good, and it serves kebabs as well as other dishes, We were served a fabulous huge loaf of bread with our mezzes. It has a menu in English. It is next to the restaurant Adonin, which is recommended in the DK guide, and we ate there as well. I recommend them both.

We also ate on the other side of the Golden Horn at Zeyrekhane, which has a spectacular view high on a hill overlooking the city and the Golden Horn. Our guide took us there for a wonderful lunch. It has traditional Turkish food, and you will wind up ordering twice as much as you can eat as the portions are huge.

Khorsani seems like a great choice. Considered that we will only be there for 1 day. We are looking for reasonable Turkish food. I love kebabs. Do you have the address of that place? Or is there any other place you'd recommend given my situation (within the Sultanhamet area of course)

Khorsani seems like a great choice. Considered that we will only be there for 1 day. We are looking for reasonable Turkish food. I love kebabs. Do you have the address of that place? Or is there any other place you'd recommend given my situation (within the Sultanhamet area of course)The first two are listed in Tripadvisor and are with a block from the Sultanahmet tram stop, not sure about the third.

The first two are listed in Tripadvisor and are with a block from the Sultanahmet tram stop, not sure about the third.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g293974-d1234612-r119483271-Khorasani_Restaurant-Istanbul.html

is this the one?

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g293974-d1234612-r119483271-Khorasani_Restaurant-Istanbul.html

is this the one?Yes, that's it. Adonin is next door. I've heard Rumeli across the street is good also but I haven't eaten there.

Going to start planning a trip in June/July soon - going with family (including 1 yr old daughter) - if anyone has any recommended hotels would be interested in hearing more!

Going to start planning a trip in June/July soon - going with family (including 1 yr old daughter) - if anyone has any recommended hotels would be interested in hearing more!
Do you have the Hyatt credit card? GH Istanbul is Category 4.

Do you have the Hyatt credit card? GH Istanbul is Category 4.

UK based - just applied for a UK Amex Gold - that will be my first card - new to the world of miles!!

On a related note, when I went to Istanbul in 2006, on my cab ride from the city to the airport, the taxi driver gave me counterfeit bills as change...since I was leaving the country I tried to spend that change in one of the airport shops only to be told by multiple cashiers that it was fake...

Aside from that minor incident though, I really enjoyed Istanbul - wouldn't hesitate to go back if the opportunity ever presented itself...
..
I've heard the taxis from the airport are fine. As are typically the ones from hotels. However taxis in tourist areas run a couple of scams. I know because I feel victim to them unfortunately.

1. Meter fixing. It's isn't as common as it used to be apparently when they used to be a night and a day rate but it still happens. Be wary of taxis with the meter placed in front of the gear shift. One scam is that the driver will position his hand so it's very difficult to see and follow the rate. In addition they will distract you by pointing out something and do something to the meter. And voila your ride that should cost 25 lira now cots 55... Newer taxis have the meter integrated into the mirro which makes this scam more difficult.

2. Swapping of bills these guys must be magicians or something. During a taxi ride MrsFDW handed me a 50 lira bill. I went to pay the fare and he did some sort of slight of hand and said this is only 5. I was a bit confused with the money so I thought maybe I had only given him a 5. Nope turns out I got scammed. From then I followed each bill into the drivers hand and would say here's twenty etc. in addition I made sure I had small bills to pay the taxi fares.

Not a scam but the driver will say something like Istanbul traffic really bad. Fare will be 30 lira. Get out if you can. Most fares are no more than 20. This was a problem at the chora church because all the taxis there were running the same story.

Yeah I've traveled a lot but these guys here are some of the slimiest cab drivers I've ever experienced. Some of them might not want to drive you up to the hotel for fear that you'll enlist their help. I found at Istanbul feels very safe but that a few bad apples can leave a sour taste.

Just what I've encountered I know most of the 20000 taxi drivers here are honest but its important to watch out.

In other advice do not order museum tickets online from the muze.gov.tr site. Apparently the barcode they use is very finicky and we had no luck getting any of the tickets to work. Furthermore no one at the site seems empowered to fix the problem. So instead of saving time by using e-ticketing it actually cost us time and money. One thing that just came out for foreigners in Sept is the muze card option which is 72 lira for 72 hours of access. That is probably something worth looking into.

So the way I figure, Istanbul owes me at least 175 lira between the taxi scams and the failed e tickets.

FDW

I am going to try & answer some of the questions and feel free to PM me if you want more specifics........
As the guidebooks say, you really need to stay in Sultanamet. We stayed at the Marmara Guest House and they arranged for private transfer from Ataturk for 20 Euro (recommended if you have a lot of luggage). Another option is the Metropolis.
Marmara has a history as a hostel and it shows. Travelers arrive at all hours of the day and night, and a surprising # are there for one night! The breakfasts are great (8-10, do not miss!) and Elif (the manager) is very helpful! Prices vary from night to night, so remember......everything in IST is negotiable!
There is no need to take a taxi from the airport. The fare on a high speed train is 6 tkl (3.50 US) with convenient connections (announced in English!) to Sultanamet station. (On the train ride, we marveled at all of the tourist hotels located miles from the CBD!).
We found the best market was on Wednesdays beside the Fatih Mosque.
The best (cheap) food option we found in Sultanamet was the Meat House. You can get a fish sandwich off the boat restaurants near Eminou station (Spice Bazaar) for 5 tkl. Watch the fishermen catch anchovies off the Galata Bridge - priceless! I also suggest you try fried anchovies (hamsi in Turkish) but not here......we went to Rumeli Castle (under the 2nd Bosphorus Bridge) and had hamsi in the village of Beret!
Finally, bring a good Istanbul (not Turkey) guide. Some locations are very difficult to find and finding locals who speak some English, know their stuff, and aren't trying to sell you something can be a bit of a challenge.
Final point for MRs.......plan to spend as much time as possible in the Turkish Airways lounge at Ataturk. The place is incredible!!

..plan to spend as much time as possible in the Turkish Airways lounge at Ataturk. The place is incredible!!As *Alliance Gold, will we be able to use the lounge prior to our internal Turkey departure? (Flying IST-Ankara in TK economy.)

As *Alliance Gold, will we be able to use the lounge prior to our internal Turkey departure? (Flying IST-Ankara in TK economy.)

Yes a lounge, but no not the one everyone here talks about. There is a different lounge in the domestic area that takes *G. When you depart Turkey out of IST, though, plan on spending time in the big lounge. Even my wife, who tolerates my FT-tendencies with good humor, was impressed.

jozdemir directed me to it last month in this other thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/turkish-airlines-miles-smiles/1411248-turkish-air-newbie-questions.html

there is a Domestic CIP Lounge' which is before you make it to the main Domestic Terminal when you're coming from the International Terminal. You go down in a lift and there you will clear security, check in and be transferred in a bus out to your flight. TK's website doesn't mention access for *G but according to the lounge finder on the *A website you have access to it

Yes a lounge, but no not the one everyone here talks about. There is a different lounge in the domestic area that takes *G. When you depart Turkey out of IST, though, plan on spending time in the big lounge. Even my wife, who tolerates my FT-tendencies with good humor, was impressed.

jozdemir directed me to it last month in this other thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/turkish-airlines-miles-smiles/1411248-turkish-air-newbie-questions.html

I suppose my onward journey from IST to MLE will not get my into that domestic lounge where everyone is raving? How's the international CIP lounge anyways?

I suppose my onward journey from IST to MLE will not get my into that domestic lounge where everyone is raving? How's the international CIP lounge anyways?
I understood that the raves were for the international lounge. Right?

As *Alliance Gold, will we be able to use the lounge prior to our internal Turkey departure? (Flying IST-Ankara in TK economy.)

Domestic flights have a separate terminal, thus a separate TK*G lounge. Not quite the same as the international one, but recently renovated (for the better) too.

Domestic flights have a separate terminal, thus a separate TK*G lounge. Not quite the same as the international one, but recently renovated (for the better) too.

So, the much raved about CIP lounge is in the international terminal? sweet!

I've recently acquired an Amex gold card which gives two free lounge passes a year - is it worth using them on my trip to istanbul? (on the way back I mean!)

So, the much raved about CIP lounge is in the international terminal? sweet!

Yes, the lounge everyone raves about is the international lounge. The domestic one is not bad by any means, btw.

I've recently acquired an Amex gold card which gives two free lounge passes a year - is it worth using them on my trip to istanbul? (on the way back I mean!)

I don't know how the Amex pass works. If your passes work for Turkish Airlines lounges, and you're going to be there, and have time to make use of it (don't do it if you only have 30 minutes) then I say YES. The only other one I would be tempted by is the Virgin Club in London (assuming the passes work there).

My boyfriend and I have 9 days in Turkey this February flying in and out of the Istanbul airport (not counting travel days). We for sure want to spend a considerable amount of time in Istanbul and don't want to rush around too much but does anyone have any suggestions of other cities or places in Turkey we should go as a side trip? Or advice on how many days we could eaisly spend in Istanbul before feeling like we are done? Thanks!

I finally booked on AA for Istanbul in March. For quite a while I was waiting for an airfare price dip, and kept checking and checking and it didn't happen. This morning there was a hotel price dip that I grabbed, a $266 savings. It was gone when I checked an hour ago. So I paid under $900 for 6 nights and r/t airfare.

My only qualm is the stopover in London that will be for almost a day before the connecting flight leaves. This makes a tough trip even thougher, but I wanted the AA points so I'll have enough to finally visit South America.

My boyfriend and I have 9 days in Turkey this February flying in and out of the Istanbul airport (not counting travel days). We for sure want to spend a considerable amount of time in Istanbul and don't want to rush around too much but does anyone have any suggestions of other cities or places in Turkey we should go as a side trip? Or advice on how many days we could eaisly spend in Istanbul before feeling like we are done? Thanks!

My suggestion is to fly south immediately upon landing in Istanbul. Transfer to the domestic terminal and catch a flight to spend a few days exploring and seeing the ruins and historic sites. Then back to Istanbul.

We did this and ended up with 4 full days in Istanbul, which were fantastic. You can easily spend longer, we were never bored and never ran out of things we wanted to see or re-see.

On full day 1 in Istanbul, I arranged a walking tour. Six hours, starting from our hotel, walking to the most common tourist sites. The guide was great and it also helped us learn how things work and get comfortable in the city. He also pointed out the Grand Bazaar and Spice Market and a couple of other areas but we didn't spend much time there beyond a quick orientation. Then on subsequent days we walked back to the markets and continued exploring museums, etc. One fun day was taking the tram over to the Asian side, vernicular up to the top, and after exploring we walked down to sea level and across the bridge and back to our hotel.

4-5-6 days in Istanbul would be no problem at all, but since we had never been to Turkey we wanted to see at least a little bit outside Istanbul. Much more to see next trip in the southeast and far west.

I highly recommend guides, although it is all doable on your own pretty easily.

So, the much raved about CIP lounge is in the international terminal? sweet!

The CIP International lounge in IST is everything everyone claims it is. I'm waiting for my return flight on a DCA-EWR-IST rt. I only have about an hour here and wish I had more! Pool table, baby grand piano, made to order omlettes and panini, etc. Very large and lots of natural light.

Oh, yea a week in Istanbul was pretty great too!

My suggestion is to fly south immediately upon landing in Istanbul. Transfer to the domestic terminal and catch a flight to spend a few days exploring and seeing the ruins and historic sites. Then back to Istanbul.


I'll be going to Turkey this Spring and debating whether to go with a tour group or just plan things out myself. You mentioned flying south in your earlier post... which city / airport do you recommend?

Thanks!

I'll be going to Turkey this Spring and debating whether to go with a tour group or just plan things out myself. You mentioned flying south in your earlier post... which city / airport do you recommend?

It really depends on what you want to see and how you like to travel. We went in the winter (reluctantly decided to skip Cappadocia) and prefer exploring a town/city vs hitting a different city/hotel every day, so we limited ourselves to exploring one area of the country outside of Istanbul. We flew to Izmir. Traveled by car to Kusadasi and then Pamukkale before returning to Istanbul from Denizili. Then time in Istanbul.

I'm arriving late afternoon around 3 PM and flying out at 6 AM next morning. Does anyone know if Golden Horn İstanbul Hotel has an airport shuttle? If yes, will they have reliable shuttle for my 6 AM flight?

Hi, guys, we are planning for a trip to Turkey in September, and I'm now struggling on deciding how many days we should spend there. Any recommendation for a first time visit? We won't be driving ourselves anyway.

I read some online source saying that a 3D2N in Istanbul is sufficient, how true is that? We don't like to rush while traveling.

And any nice nearby cities around Istanbul that worth a visit? Thanks a lot.

Hi, guys, we are planning for a trip to Turkey in September, and I'm now struggling on deciding how many days we should spend there. Any recommendation for a first time visit? We won't be driving ourselves anyway.

I read some online source saying that a 3D2N in Istanbul is sufficient, how true is that? We don't like to rush while traveling.

And any nice nearby cities around Istanbul that worth a visit? Thanks a lot.I think you could see the main sites in four days without rushing it too much. With main sites I mean Dolmabahce palace, Topkapi, the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, the underground cisterns and the Grand Bazaar and a short cruise. Five days would probably be better.

Hi, guys, we are planning for a trip to Turkey in September, and I'm now struggling on deciding how many days we should spend there. Any recommendation for a first time visit? We won't be driving ourselves anyway.

I read some online source saying that a 3D2N in Istanbul is sufficient, how true is that? We don't like to rush while traveling.


I would plan on minimum 4 full days in Istanbul, possibly 5. 4 worked out very well for us and we were able to see everything we wanted, but we did skip a couple of items like the river cruise (December weather didn't make it appealing). We walked everywhere for days and enjoyed it. I could easily do a full week in Istanbul and area.

We did a walking tour with a guide on day 1 which I highly recommend as a way to get oriented and see several of the key sites. Depending when you go, having a guide can help because they skip to the front of the ticket lines which can be long during tourist season.

I would plan on minimum 4 full days in Istanbul, possibly 5. 4 worked out very well for us and we were able to see everything we wanted, but we did skip a couple of items like the river cruise (December weather didn't make it appealing). We walked everywhere for days and enjoyed it. I could easily do a full week in Istanbul and area.

We did a walking tour with a guide on day 1 which I highly recommend as a way to get oriented and see several of the key sites. Depending when you go, having a guide can help because they skip to the front of the ticket lines which can be long during tourist season.

Anyone have a good recent recommendation on a English speaking tour guide? I'd be by myself so I guess I could pay someone just to take me around or a small group.

I don't think you need a guide. It would be a good idea to stay in Sultanamet at a place like Marmara House and they can help (see my entry # 89, above). (PM me if you want a name). Also, Rick Steeves Guide is a must!

I don't think you need a guide. It would be a good idea to stay in Sultanamet at a place like Marmara House and they can help (see my entry # 89, above). (PM me if you want a name). Also, Rick Steeves Guide is a must!

Respectfully disagree. You can do it all on your own for sure, and the geography is map'able, but I really enjoyed walking around town with the guide to get oriented and to learn much more about the places we visited than we would have just armed with books.

It was also a very efficient way to see the major tourist spots. Following that walking tour, we tackled the rest on our own (for example, no need for a guide at the museums or the markets).

I also found it a good opportunity to ask questions about culture, history, etc. The guides in Turkey are hyper-qualified/educated and regulated, so the guides are much better than in many other places I've been.

Obviously, personal taste dictates and you'll have a great time either way.

I DO agree that staying in the old city is the key. We loved the Doubletree, but there are lots of great options.

I will PM OP my guide's information.

Re the guide question, we did it on our own, did not find it difficult at all and there are great guides in Dolmabahce palace that are included in the price. To be honest, in Topkapi we overheard the guides of tour groups, don't remember if they were included in our admission or not, but a guide there is definitely recommendable to get something out of the visit, especially of the harem section.

For walking the town, of course a guide can be beneficial there too, but don't let him take you to different shops where he will receive a provision and you will be hard pushed to buy expensive stuff that will later be shipped home to you. This is especially true of carpet shops.

We booked a guide through Sea Song who was an ex history professor and absolutely wonderful!!! We are going to be using Sea Song again this year for Ephesus and maybe Dikili! Also, if there are women in the group have them bring a scarf as some of the sites require one and, if you don't have your own, will "lend" you one. Our guide recommended purchasing my own as "they are not always washed".

Just fyi: Headscarfes in public places are officially banned in Turkey:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headscarf_controversy_in_Turkey#section_3

I'm currently in IST. Holy crap, it's like I stepped into a different world. My inn is a few blocks from the Hagia Sophia up a steep hill.

One thing that amazed me was the quality of the goods at the souvenir shops. Artisan stuff abounds, with hanging mosaic lanterns, inlaid glass items and Turkish delight. In the US, you find mostly low end junk manufactured in China. Color me impressed.

I will post again about what I'm doing here. For now, jet lag is in charge.

Hi guys, thanks a lot for the advice...

Does it make sense for us to do Istanbul and Athens (+Santorini) in one week(7days 6nights)? Or is it insane?

Thanks a lot.

Hi guys, thanks a lot for the advice...

Does it make sense for us to do Istanbul and Athens (+Santorini) in one week(7days 6nights)? Or is it insane?

Thanks a lot.

Not if you want to relax and get a sense of each place. In my opinion, stick to one country. There are plenty of interesting places easily accessible from Istanbul. Or skip Istanbul and focus on Greece.

We booked a guide through Sea Song who was an ex history professor and absolutely wonderful!!! We are going to be using Sea Song again this year for Ephesus and maybe Dikili! Also, if there are women in the group have them bring a scarf as some of the sites require one and, if you don't have your own, will "lend" you one. Our guide recommended purchasing my own as "they are not always washed".

Many mosques (but not absolutely all, at least not always) require, or ask, that women should cover their heads. The "big" tourist sites, like the Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque) in Istanbul provide headscarves for use by visitors, but you might prefer to take your own in the sense that the scarves provided will have been worn by many other people before you. (They have always looked perfectly clean to me, so they obviously are washed, but obviously not after every single use.) If you take your own, nothing elaborate is required, just an ordinary scarf that you can put on your head. There is of course nothing to stop you wearing such a scarf round your neck, or putting it in a bag, when it is not needed to cover the head.

Both sexes should for preference dress reasonably modestly when visiting mosques, although I have never (personally) seen any problems about this in Turkey.

Hi guys, thanks a lot for the advice...

Does it make sense for us to do Istanbul and Athens (+Santorini) in one week(7days 6nights)? Or is it insane?

Thanks a lot.

Insane. Stick to Turkey. Maybe add one region in Turkey as 2 nights at the beginning, but dont try to even see all of Turkey. Then end in Istanbul for 4-5 days. You will have a much better, relaxing time and get more in substance in each spot vs rushing around. The rest of Turkey and Greece will still be there next trip.

Why does Istanbul have a burning smell everywhere you go?

4 days in Istanbul is pretty good. Don't trust where Google Maps has the Grand Bazaar (unless they have fixed it). We saw the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, Topkopi Palace, a river jaunt to the Asia side, a hop-on-hop-off when the weather was bad, Dolmabahçe Palace, a dinner cruise, the Grand Bazaar, a ton of cats, the Galata Bridge and still could have fit more in if she wasn't so jet-lagged. We stayed in Sultanahmet (Hotel Tria) and walked most of the time.

Why does Istanbul have a burning smell everywhere you go?

Kebabs? I wondered about that too...

If you get a chance go to the Ciragan Palace for brunch (lasts til evening) and sit out over looking the Bosphorus - magical!!!

Istanbul was awesome! I came back Thursday night and can't get it out of my head. I bought so much that I needed a porter to get my luggage home.

Has anybody ever converted a mosaic lamp from European to US?

Has anybody ever converted a mosaic lamp from European to US?

Just did this last month for my in laws. Five minutes with wire strippers, replacement plug, and electrical tape. Tested and worked fine. We did ask in Istanbul to make sure it could be switched. Glad you had a good trip!