Sultanahmet part of the city
by namidub
The city is generally divided into two general sections,Sultanahmet (old city) and Taksim which represent modern part of Istanbul.Well being in this very historical city,there's simply no reason why u do not want to stay in the Sultanahmet part of the city.It is old,and u'll feel like you're in a BIG OPEN AIR MUSEUM.
I stayed in Hotel Ferhat which is very well-located.Few mins walk to Hippodrome and blue mosque,hence walking furthermore will lead to hagia sophia and topkapi palace.u can also walk all the way down to eminonu port.This is a really great walking city.U'll enjoy more when u're walking.Then u can choose to go back by tram or taxis.
The maze
by Lalique
You need to experience it, at least once.... I did it twice, though...
Grand Bazaar, one of the best touristic offer of Istanbul, a maze of rows, tonnes of different stuff..... 90% of tourists.... locals either sell, or pass thru to cut the way between the two streets....
One of the places where locals are multilingual and can guess your nationality for 95% at the 1st glance....
.... but you still need to experience it.
Beer - the local flavour
by hekate
I went to a pub and asked for dark beer but they did not have any. So, I decided to taste Turkish beer, which meant having Efes Pilsen.
I should say that I was pleasantly surprised by the beer. I liked it even though it was not dark. So, if you are a beer fan I would recommand to you not to leave Turkey without tasting Efes Pilsen.
I had put a link to their web-site but actually it doent worth following it unless you know Turkish.
Here is some infor I found on the net:
In 1969, The Anadolu Group started production in its first breweries, the Erciyas Brewery in Istanbul and Ege Brewery in Izmir.
Efes Pilsen has long been the preferred brand of beer-lovers in Turkey. With its state of the art technology, high production capacity and export potential, the Efes Beverage Group is a major contributor to the Turkish economy.
Efes' Ege brewery produced the first canned beer in Turkey in 1986. 1993 saw the introduction of first Efes Light, then Efes Extra. The company's product range was further expanded in 1995 with the addition of Everest Beer, followed by the introduction of Efes Dark in 1998.Also in 1998, the Lüleburgaz factory was purchased; this marked the introduction of Marmara beer brand to the Group's product line.
The sales and marketing firm of Efes Pilsen, Efes Pazarlama, has one of the most powerful distribution networks in Turkey, with distribution organisations in the provinces of Ýstanbul, Adana, Bursa, Ýzmir and Ankara, sales offices in Antalya, Samsun and 300 main distributors. Efes Pilsen, Turkey's beer market leader, has an annual production capacity of 910 million litres of beer, 97,500 tons of malt and 2,000 tons of hops.
Life under the bridge
by baronedivandastad
The Galata bridge looks normal when you drive on it (don't miss the view of the Blue Mosque by the way). But if you ask your cabbie to get you off at the southern end (on the Blue Mosque side of the coast) you can actually get under it from the busy bus station. There you'll see restaurants, pubs and all that.
Kiz Kulesi
by MalenaN
Kis Kulesi (Maidens Tower) is just offshore south of Üsküdar and it can be reached by boat.
The tower and island has been used as a defence point, toll booth, light house and for quarantine during cholera-epidemics.
According to the legend a princess was put here after a seer had said she was going to die from a snake bite. And she was, as a snake came with a basket of fruits.
There is a restaurant and cafe on the island but I have not tried them as I have only seen the tower from the shore.
Sign in with Facebook
Ýnönü Stadium
The mansion
Lycian Sarcophagus (5th century BC)
Waterfront Restaurants in Ortakoy, Istanbul
