General info for Cruise passengers..
by Erkmen
Many tourists are coming to Istanbul through Cruises and they only have one day to spend from 8 to 18.. And they want to see the main parts at least in such a short time..
So here is what to do for Cruise passengers..
Cruise port in Istanbul is at Karakoy, just opposite of eminonu pier.. Take a walk through the Galata bridge and reach to Eminonu, take the tram from eminonu and after 3 stops get off at Sultanahmed.. Pass the square and follow the road from the back of St sophia to the Topkapi palace... I advice a tour to harem also.. Spend 2-3 hrs at the Palace..
Afterwards go back to the St Sophia.. and enjoy there on both floors.. Climb up to the gallery for second floor, watch the wonderful mosaic.. Spent around 1 hour..
Walk up a the tram way.. Have lunch at Sultan Pub or Sultanahmet Koftecisi..
After Lunch visitthe Blue mosque Just in front of St Sophia.. See the wonderful tiles.. After blue mosque, look for the hippodrome next to the mosque..Enjoy the monumnets in the park.. Than walk to the st sophia and just on the other side of the road is the Basilica cistern.. Basilica cistern is a must see with the medusas head.. Spent around 1/2 hour at Cistern and either walk up the tram way or take a tram to Beyazit.. There you can lead to Covered bazaar from the Carsikapi gate.... You can have a souvenir shopping.. Dont go in to every street you will be lost.. Just spend 1-2 hrs max.. Leave the bazaar from the same gate.. And take the tram back to Eminonu..
At Eminonu look for the New mosquee and next to it is the spicemarket.. Spicemarket is a small covered shooping place where you can find spicesand souvenirs also.. From the spice market you can walk back to your ferry again..
If you are early and still have time, you can try a Turkish bath after the covered bazar.. Try Cagaloglu hamam near St sophia.. Just in the same street with Basilica cistern but you shall walk around 200 m. in to the street.. After Hamam you can take the road back to your cruise. I dont advice Taxi, As the distances are short and easily reachable through Tram.. But the traffic can make you loose more time.
The truth about Turkish hospitality!
by MonsieurL
You will find that what a majority of people say here is indeed true!
HOWEVER....
1. If you are in a shopping district with high priced items, this hospitality has a definite purpose... to get you into their shop, and to browbeat you into buying expensive items at tourist prices. So if you go into a shop with lower priced items, have no fear! If it is a leather shop, or a carpet shop, THEN you should be on your toes. If you are not interested, refusing the tea and going is NOT rude! IT is just business.
2. If you run into a man in the shopping district who wants to help you find something by ESCORTING you around, THEN you should break it off. Odds are he is either trying to get you to go to friend's shop, or wants the prices to be bumped up a little to get his 'cut'.
After all that, if you go to any restaraunt, or home, or hotel, people are VERY friendly! Practice your Turkish... talk to them.. it's OK!
Just watch yourself when shopping :)
Fenerbahce football
by midnight_mike
Fenerbahce is one of Turkey's top football clubs. Many of its players have moved on to major European clubs and the team has even done well in the Champions League. Tickets sell fast so you should try to buy them as soon as possible.
"Yali" house by Bosphorus seashore
by Birsen
It is impossible to visit Istanbul without being tempted by a romantic ferry-ride up the Bosphorus straits. Lining the Bosphorus shore are magnificent ancient monuments: stone fortresses, marble palaces and yalis
It was in the latter half of the 17th century, when the Empire stretched from Makkah to Budapest and from Tunis to Tabriz, that it became fashionable for Ottoman viziers, admirals and civil and military pashas to build prestigious summer homes along the Bosporus, the strait that separates Europe and Asia. These homes were called yalis, a word deriving from the Greek yialos, or seashore.
More Laid Back than the Grand Bazaar
by Hopkid about Arasta Bazaar
A lot less crazy than the Grand Bazaar (at least when we were there), shops here are set along two sides of a single outdoor lane just outside the south wall of the Blue Mosque. The bazaar was orginally set up as a money-making venture to support the mosque. There are many shops here with good quality crafts including carpets, ceramics, and jewelery. Be sure to visit Iznik Classics and Tiles if nothing else than to get an education between the differences between Turkish ceramics, china, and quartz-based products. The price increases, respectively, but at least you'll know how to tell the difference and get an idea of what to expect to pay. Ceramics, carpets, kilims, jewelery, gifts. Varies
Sign in with Facebook
Ceiling detail - Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia
Maidens' Tower (left) after sunset
Buyukada pier
