Street Performers
by H-TownJourneyman
As with many big city's throughout the world, Istanbul does have street performers. There aren't the same numbers of them here that are in city's like Amsterdam, Paris, or New York, but I saw quite a few in various areas around town. One particular group that I couldn't help but smile while listening to was a trio of musicians in the Levent area. It seemed more like a karaoke performance, with one guy playing guitar, one guy on a keyboard and synthesizer, and one guy singing, although he seemed to be reading the lyrics to the songs from a piece of paper. Maybe not the best musical performance, but it was definately entertaining, and it brought a smile to many of us in attendance. It was a couple of bucks well earned!
Head food!!
by balhannah
This was a Country where I didn't expect to see vendors carrying food for sale on their heads.
Mainly, it was the type in the photo, and some when I was sitting beside the sea, carried a stool, which pulled apart so they could sit their tray of food on it. Clever!
I did notice, that they have a hollow round that they sit on their head before putting the tray on it.
Things to bring
by muratkorman
You will be walking around Istanbul, visiting many places. A sports bag to carry your personal items will be very helpful. Istanbul has 4 seasons of weather. It can be very hot or very cold depending on the season. Check the weather report before you arrive and bring suitable clothes. Everything can be found in stores, try to minimize what you bring. Batteries are easily found so you don't need to carry a big stock with you. There are not much camping/outdoor possibility. However, you can go to Prince islands for a swim if you come in summer time. Bring your swimming suit if you want to do so.
Kool Kadikoy
by Tijavi
Hip, young, rumbling, and bohemian Kadikoy on the Asian side offers a refreshing antithesis to old, historic Istanbul. A perfect time to cross the Bosphorus to see Kadikoy would be around sunset when the Istanbul sky glows in deep orange and flaming red. As I got off the ferry, the bohemian vibe was right away palpable with a group of young music students (probably on their way home from the classes on the European side) playing and singing Hotel California amidst the throng of humanity - in animated spontaneity.
Across the street from the ferry terminal, the early evening crowd gathered around snack stands for quick eats before going on their journeys home. Walk further towards the market area, and this is where Kadikoy's charm is most striking. The shops sell almost everything from fresh catch to colorful lamps. Soak up the local flavor as much as you could - there are hardly any tourists here. If you're tired and hungry, grab a chair in one of the many pubs around and order hamsi - fried fresh anchovies with a dash of lemon - washed down with local brew Efes before you head back to European Istanbul.
Ferries from Eminonu, Karakoy and Besiktas leave every 10-30 minutes (depending on which terminal) and services are up to as late as 10:45 pm (check the schedules before boarding the ferry).
Carpet touts
by sswagner about carpets
Everywhere in the tourist areas of Istanbul are people who are on a neverending quest to get people to enter their carpet shops. Many people do come here to buy carpets, and that is fine. However, it can get a bit annoying to have people constantly try to get you to shop for carpets when you are focusing on sightseeing. It gets to the point where you have to totally ignore them. "Them" refers to people who will probably first ask you where you are from. it starts as a polite conversation and ultimately leads to a sales pitch. The best thing to do is not make eye contact or simply say "No, Thanks" and move on. With that said, there are good carpets to be bought. Simply, there is the right time and the right place. Be advised that purchasing carpets requires a bit of research. One must learn the types of carpets and kilims, how to spot a good handmade one, and what type of price to expect to pay. We did buy a small one while we were there and hopefully got a good deal on it. Turkish rugs are certainly a work of art. you might want to start with the state-run shop between the Blue Mosque and Haghia Sophia to get an idea of what to expect with carpets. Bargaining prices should fetch somewhat of a lower price than the state-run shop. There are probably a lot of other tips that can best describe exactly what to look for much more eloquently than I can. Happy hunting! Survey says:
Carpets. The number one answer. It varies widely. Bargaining is essential.
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Outer corridor - Hagia Sophia
Ceiling decor
Alexander Sarcophagus, Istanbul Archaeology Museum
Now you've arrived
