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This is very nice boutique hotel in sultanahmet area.It is very close to every where in old istanbul.Please check the room photos.It is full of anatolian style lamps and decoration stuff.
Directions: it is in the same street with the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnici)
small, intimate, nice antique-filled rooms, each in it's own unique way..and the stuff is very welcoming and cool...many thanks again (could never stop!) to Mike, one of the owners, i'm really happy i met him:)
Directions: located near the Blue Mosque, Saint Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar and the most important is very close to Yerebatan Cistern
A charming hotel in the center of Sultanahmet is decorated with about 3000 (if the number is right:)) candle lamps in all rooms and authentic antiques. The hospitality is unique, and many thanks to Mike, the owner of the hotel! We had a wonderful time there!!
Directions: Sultanahmet, Istanbul
One of the most unique, friendly, magical places I have ever stayed in. Lovely hidden garden in the back. Colorful and clean and relaxing. Close to Aya Sofia and the Blue Mosque, but away from those parasite rug salesmen. Minutes from the Grand Bazaar. Delicious free breakfast, friendly English-speaking staff.
Unique Quality: Every room has dozens of hanging lamps (see website). Service is superb. Nice young men asking if you need a drink. If co-owner Mike thinks you have the right stuff, he may invite you into his private museum, where hundreds of tassels hang from the ceiling and the 60s live again.
Directions: Near Aya Sofia, on Yerebatan Caddesi about 100 m west of Basilica Cistern
The Kybele hotel in Sultanamet near the Ayia Sofia is a terrific place to stay: it's small, in an old building and all the ceilings are covered in glass lamps.
about $50 US. including breakfast
Unique Quality: The glass lamps covering the ceilings created a magical atmosphere. It's also centrally located for exploring the city, but set back on a side street so it's quiet.
$75.00 US dollars The hotel has almost 2000 small hanging antique lamps, all lighted, in the lobby, dining area, with antique furnishings. The staff all speak english and are eager to help. Our room had a 4th floor terrace with a view of Aya Sophia. All this with a buffet Turkish breakfast and super location. We paid $75.00 per night for two.
I will be in Istanbul in May.
As a middle aged woman can anyone suggest a reputable tour group to see Instanbul?
Try contacting these people by email http://hotels.magnificenttravel.com/
I arranged lots of 1 and 2 day tours with them that worked out very well indeed.
Be sure to state *clearly* your basic requirements, then reiterate them :)
My Turkey pages are here if you are interested. That was 3 years ago when I was 60.
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/d16ba/bde/
Is not so large???
Population: 10,034,830 [World Gazetteer, 2006)
Area: 1,538,77 km²
Population density: 6521 inh./km²
It required over an hour to drive from Sultanhemet to the Chora Church Museum in non-rush hour traffic!!
Hi
You can do Istanbul on your own quite easily. I sent you an email and attached my notes on Istanbul. I hope this helps.
Best of luck.
Hi HHol,
I agree that you can do it yourself. The only need is a good guide book in your language. All the main sites (Topkapi palace, blue mosque, grand bazaar, hagia sophia, spice bazaar etc.)are closed to each other, within walking distance. Choose a hotel at Sultanahmet district that we call historical area. Also, you can use light tram from sultanahmet to visit Dolmabahce palace and lively Taksim. For bosphorus tour, traditional ferry aparts from Eminonu, closed to Sultanahmet area. Some hotels also offer free airport transfer so dont forget to ask.
Have a nice holiday, Alper
http://locallypera.blogspot.com
As a woman traveling to Istanbul alone, there is a brilliant book I recommend that you read, Tales from the Expat Harem: Foreign Women in Modern Turkey edited by Anastasia Ashman and Jennifer Gokmen. I think you will be inspired by the wonderul stories the expat women wrote about as well as give you insight on Turkey's culture and traditions by their own account.
If you go to the official tourist site of the Turkish government, you'll most likely find a registered tour guide. I think you can do it on your own too but to make the most of your time, you are probably on the right track.
One time as a result of a VT meeting in Istanbul, I met a member visiting from New York who is friends with one of the owners of Kybele Hotel in Sultanahmet who calls himself Mike. Mike conducts daily tours of Kapali Carsi. If you can do that, it will be worthwhile. You can try to go there at 9 am and ask if you can join the tour. He has a wealth of information on Istanbul
Good luck!
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