Muzekart for locals
by muratkorman
Muzekart (museum card) has been introduced in 2008 to boost museum visits by locals. There are over 1 million users in total at the moment. I recently discovered it and have obtained one for myself. It costs 20 TL and it gives free access to many museums (over 300) in Turkey. In Istanbul, you can visit main attractions such as Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Archeology Museum and more with this card. At the moment only locals having Turkish ID cards can get it, but there are rumours that there will be a similar card introduced for foreigners soon. It may be more expensive than the recent price, but it will still be worth getting it if you plan to visit a few museums in Istanbul or around Turkey. So watch out for it. You can visit https://satis.muzekart.com/index.html for details.
Fishing on Sunday
by Gokcecicek
Every weekend the sea road is full of fishermen. It is absolutely great. In the past, the sea was very much polluted and people could not benefit from the sea. Thanks to the last 2 grand mayors of Istanbul, now everyone takes his fishing material and goes by the sea to fish and to relax.
Ayran
by H-TownJourneyman
Ayran is a yogurt-based drink that is served in almost every restaurant & cafe in Istanbul, as well as Turkey for that matter. It is basically yogurt mixed with water, and salt is added. Ayran is usually drunk with a meal, but is also enjoyed as a refreshment on its own. Personally, this is one of the few traditional Turkish cuisine items that I don't particularly care for. I have tried it on several occasions, but it is just something about the saltiness of it that doesn't sit well with me. But by no means should this discourage you from trying it, as millions of people here love it! :)
Ataturk Cultural Center
by pginer
Located in Taksim sq. There are performances everyday. I went to listen to the Turkis orchesta and I was surprised: the director was a woman! They did very-very well and the ticket was very cheap (15 TL)
DID I REALLY WANT TO BUY TWO CARPETS..??
by schurlif about Big , modern store near the main bazaar....
I could have put this tip under Tourist Trap because in a way it was..... we were all ushered by our travel guide in this room for a "carpet show".... First though there was a whole ceremony with tea serving and drinking..... Then the carpets were rolled out , one after the other and praised to the heavens for their beauty and quality...... While one after the other of my group members sneeked away not so to be brainwashed and talked into buying a not at all needed carpet , I stayed on , really fascinated by their beauty .....And soon enough the vendors or salespeople spotted me as a possible "victim" and started to work on me.... but they didn't have to talk me into buying very much because I had decided allready that I would buy one and I knew exactly which..... Nevertheless they "got me" by talking me into buying two offering a big discount and free shipping whereever.... I hesitately went for two, paid U$ 1,000 and told them my adress in Sao Paulo..... The second U$ 1,000 were to be paid upon arrival of the merchandise which happened like 6 weeks later.... The last photo shows me happy and exhausted after all the bargaining... Touristtrappy but I didn't feel cheated , the decision was mine after all and I love my carpets which are my joy and pride untill today.... I think one psychological factor to buy was that I told myself the whole trip was so incredibly cheap anyway, so why not buy one of these beauties.....? Carpets....... I'm sorry not to be able to say what kind of carpets these were and from where they came but for me it was like a once in a lifetime experience.... I got certificates of course but I have no idea where they are..... This depends solely on your bargaining skills and also on the amount of units....
One carpet costs more than half of the amount for two.........
Mine are beautifully mild colored , about 2,5 m x 4,5 m and I paid U$1,000 each....
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Spices in the Spice Market - Istanbul
Emperor Alexander Mosaic
The Gate of White Eunuchs
Blue Mosque
