Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Turkey Related Subjects => Places to Visit => Topic started by: Andrew H on October 13, 2010, 22:22:14 PM
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We are flying up to Istanbul next week after leaving Ovacik.
Anybody got any suggestions what we should see ?where to eat? tours? etc
this is our first time there but only have 3 days.
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We went for 3 days and saw Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Bascillian Cistern and Ayi Sophia and a shopping centre. We stayed in a hotel near the beginning of where the tram starts and they were all within walking distance. Personally I dont think you need a guide but I'm sure there will be plenty volunteering!
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Would try to find time for the Dolmabahce palace, Ortakoy and the islands.
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you really need a couple of weeks
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Buy a guide book and follow your nose. Avoid the guide touts unless you wan't to end up in a carpet shop.....they are very plausable and very good at what they do:(
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We had five days in Istanbul, still was not enough. Definitely do no miss the Topkapi Palace which is fabulous, even though we visited I would go back to see it again, an amazing place and you can get lunch or a snack there at a restaurant overlooking the river. There is also a gift shop in the ground which was the cheapest shop we found, run by the government, full of geniune Turkish items, all with prices on them.
Avoid the Grand Bazaar, hated it, huge place like a maze where everyone was in your face trying to sell, gave us a headache. Blue Mosque was also beautiful, don't try and see too much, plan to go back as Istanbul cannot be rushed.
One place we ate at was an Hotel "The Orient Express" which had a roof top restaurant where there were wonderful views of the city looking down to the water, the bridges and all the cruise boats. We were lucky enough to see a firework display from this vantage point. The place is open to the public. Food and service was very good, book and ask for a table near the front.
As Tribalelder says, buy a guide book, our hotel gave us a map and a guide book free. It's very easy to find your way around.
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Many thanks for all the information as you say wont try to see too much but some of the places sound great.Did anybody go on a boat trip?
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"Did anybody go on a boat trip?"
Lots, a trip up the Bosphorus or a ferry to Buyukada to me is a must do. 8)
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Aya Sofia Topkapi Palace The underground cystern are must sees. If you dont mind crowds go to Istiklal Street just to be amazed at how many people there are & to see the old trams and some great lokantas too.
Grand Bazaar is an experience & some cheap kebab places there.
Everywhere is fab & trams make it so easy to get around quickly & cheaply.
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a trip on the ferry to buyukada is great no cars and lorrys,just go round the island on horse and carriage.
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quote:
Originally posted by davybill
a trip on the ferry to buyukada is great no cars and lorrys,just go round the island on horse and carriage.
and packs of dogs
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The Grand Bazaar is actually very quiet in the winter months,well has been when I have been.
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The Grand Bazaar was amazing. I'm usually quite good at mental navigation but, we got turned around so much we nearly got lost. Fascinating place to go - loved it.
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Thanks for all the info just got back from Istanbul. Did pretty well everything suggested including Ferry to the islands and the horse trip. Bazaar was busy [check gate number you enter and you can find your way back there] as was Palace, but trams great and so cheap.
I would recommend the President hotel in the centre walking distance to most things.
Only downside it rained 24/7 for 3 days ans Sobiah airport is quite a long way out but so much more pleasant than Dalaman. Food [and wine] can be expensive but worth getting an internal flight there if you are staying in Calis etc as we pretty much had the plane to ourselves going up there.
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quote:
Originally posted by Connor
The Grand Bazaar was amazing. I'm usually quite good at mental navigation but, we got turned around so much we nearly got lost. Fascinating place to go - loved it.
If you get lost in the Bazaar just head down hill ;)
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Can't wait we are going soon for a break.
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If you go in the springtime, it is worth walking through Gulhane Park, which is in the shadow of Topkapi palace. Very relaxing place amid the hustle and bustle with wonderful flower beds and there is also a museum in the grounds showing scientific inventions.
A visit to Pera Palace hotel would be good - newly refurbished. I have not seen since refurbishment but there used to be a cafe, very art deco, which I would have thought would have been kept. Also this is the hotel where Agatha Christie wrote Murder on the Orient Express! Hotel is situated near to Istiklal Caddesi, and you can reach this by using the Tunel - worth seeing.
This part of Istanbul has different architecture to Sultanahmet, churches and embassy buildings that are interesting though. Also Cicek Pasagi off Istiklal Cad.
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We loved Istanbul.
6 days and 5 nights filled with loads of things to do and places to see.
Favourite place was Dolmabahce Palace and the Bascilica Cisterns were amazing.
Great transport links so easy to get around.
Have to go back again as we never made it to the enormous Shopping Malls this time.
Weather was dry and just a little colder than here. Hotel used and recommended was the Hali. Breakfast taken on roof terrace overlooking the Hagia Sofia, the Bosphorus and Blue Mosque.
Look out when there for the airport shuttle to Sabiha Gokcen airport only 10 euro per person from your hotel and he did the journey in 1 hour.
All on all a great break.