Istanbul in 4 days
Nov 4th, 2014, 08:04 PM
#1
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Istanbul in 4 days
Hi- please help me put our daytime itenerary together. We'll be in Istanbul 4 full days, Sunday thru Wednesday (leaving Thursday). Would like one day for Bosphorus cruise (and whatever else we can fit in?) Should we take a shorter cruise because of limited time, or is it worth devoting the whole day to longer cruise? Can we see Topkapi Palace, Aya Sofiya, Basilica cistern, and the archeological museum in one day (maybe Sunday)-if we have a pass to avoid lines and start at 9:00 and go until closing 18:00? One day for the Blue Mosque, the bazaars and The western district. And last day for anything you think we missed that is a must see. I know I'm trying to fit too much in, but this may be our only trip to Turkey. We are pretty ambitious and average upwards of 10 miles a day on most trips. If I've made a mess of this, please help me sort it out! Your experience and knowledge is invaluable. Thanks!
Nov 4th, 2014, 09:46 PM
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"Should we take a shorter cruise because of limited time, or is it worth devoting the whole day to longer cruise? "
It depends on your interests! For me, devoting a whole day to the Bosphorus, if given only 4 days in Istanbul, would not have been worth it. In retrospect, spending a full day on the Bosphorus, when there was so much I skipped in the area even with 6 very full and busy days in Istanbul, was perhaps the biggest mistake of my time in Turkey. (It was pleasant and I'm glad I saw it -- it just had a huge opportunity cost that I'm not sure was worth it for MY interests.) But my interests are, I'm sure, different than yours. FWIW, my favorite cruise while in Istanbul was along the Golden Horn. (I boarded near the Eyüp Sultan Mosque and got off near the Galata Bridge.)
"Can we see Topkapi Palace, Aya Sofiya, Basilica cistern, and the archeological museum in one day"
I was not able to see all those places in one day -- they took me closer to 1.5 days. I saw Topkapi Palace and the Archeological Museums on one VERY long day and the Aya Sofya and Basilica Cisterns a different day, taking about 1/2 day to do so. But again, it depends on your interests and travel pace. I'm willing to explore from the time things open until everything is closed and then walk around a bit, and I generally don't stop to eat or shop anytime during the day -- but I do like to take the time to see the things I am actually seeing. And what that means for me is, I'm sure, different than what it means to you or anyone else.
As I already mentioned, I spent 6 very full and very busy days in Istanbul and did NOT see everything I would have liked to see. In addition to prioritizing, you might want to figure out ways of adjusting your plans on a day-by-day basis if you find yourself "behind" schedule -- for example, if we don't finish visiting the Topkapi Palace by x o'clock, we'll need to skip Y...
Oh, and BTW, you haven't mentioned the Chora Church/Museum, Rüstem Pasha Mosque, or Galata Tower -- some of my favorite places in Istanbul.
Enjoy!
It depends on your interests! For me, devoting a whole day to the Bosphorus, if given only 4 days in Istanbul, would not have been worth it. In retrospect, spending a full day on the Bosphorus, when there was so much I skipped in the area even with 6 very full and busy days in Istanbul, was perhaps the biggest mistake of my time in Turkey. (It was pleasant and I'm glad I saw it -- it just had a huge opportunity cost that I'm not sure was worth it for MY interests.) But my interests are, I'm sure, different than yours. FWIW, my favorite cruise while in Istanbul was along the Golden Horn. (I boarded near the Eyüp Sultan Mosque and got off near the Galata Bridge.)
"Can we see Topkapi Palace, Aya Sofiya, Basilica cistern, and the archeological museum in one day"
I was not able to see all those places in one day -- they took me closer to 1.5 days. I saw Topkapi Palace and the Archeological Museums on one VERY long day and the Aya Sofya and Basilica Cisterns a different day, taking about 1/2 day to do so. But again, it depends on your interests and travel pace. I'm willing to explore from the time things open until everything is closed and then walk around a bit, and I generally don't stop to eat or shop anytime during the day -- but I do like to take the time to see the things I am actually seeing. And what that means for me is, I'm sure, different than what it means to you or anyone else.
As I already mentioned, I spent 6 very full and very busy days in Istanbul and did NOT see everything I would have liked to see. In addition to prioritizing, you might want to figure out ways of adjusting your plans on a day-by-day basis if you find yourself "behind" schedule -- for example, if we don't finish visiting the Topkapi Palace by x o'clock, we'll need to skip Y...
Oh, and BTW, you haven't mentioned the Chora Church/Museum, Rüstem Pasha Mosque, or Galata Tower -- some of my favorite places in Istanbul.
Enjoy!
Nov 4th, 2014, 10:05 PM
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I would recommend a ferry trip to the Princes Island (Adalar),south-east of Istanbul in the sea of Marmara.No cars,horse drawn carriages and bicycles,lovely restaurants with fresh sea-food.Rent a bike and peddle away or simply walk around.This would take a good half a day.
Nov 5th, 2014, 02:39 AM
#4
kja has excellent advice.
Here is an alternative to the standard Bosphorus tours by Sehir Hatlari and Turyol, both leaving from Eminonu :
There is a hopon-hopoff boat tour by Dentur (similar company and boats to Turyol) leaving from Kabatas, the last stop of the tram T1 towards the Bosphorus. This will allow you to get off at Emirgan to visit the Sabanci museum and eat at terrific Changa restaurant there, or any of the other landing spots for interesting walks and decent meals. Check the schedules on-line.
It is highly likely that you will be lucky weather wise. We seem to have entered a 12 day stretch of what we call `Pastrami Summer` of sunny skies and unseasonably high temperatures (but cooling at night) This will give you a chance to eat or just linger outside at many cafes on the Bosphorus or upscale spots like Nisantasi-Tesvikiye where you will see a totally different life style than you will at the historic peninsula.
I strongly recommend a visit to Abdi Ipekci Street at Nisantasi one evening or night to have a drink at any of the many cafes like Kirinti or Midpoint, or eat or have tea at Saray pudding shop for traditional Turkish fare on the main Tesvikiye Street. Try 'Tavuk Gogsu' a milk pudding which has unnoticeable strands of chicken breast that makes the pudding somewhat chewy, at Saray.
The Kebap restaurant, Kosebasi, across from the entrance to Park Hyatt at Tesvikiye is also a good dinner choice. Rather more expensive but miles better than any standard tourist fare you will get at Sultanahmet or Sirkeci.
Nisantasi would win over Beyoglu and Istiklal in terms of modern Istanbul scenes and good food, pleasant area.
However, Istiklal represents the early 20th Century Istanbul with its architecture, historic tram, more run of the mill restaurants and cafes, shady side streets and all types of pedestrians from the beautiful to the rather ugly, with a good doze of Middle Eastern visitors thrown in, street vendors, the great Kokorec fast food joint, Sampiyon, that sells grilled and chopped sheep's intestines spiced with thyme, hot chilis, cumin and supplemented by fresh tomatoes and green chilis in a warm half loaf of bread. (you will not regret eating this, but only at Sampiyon at entrance to Flower/Fish market off Istiklal midway at Galatasay.)
In fact why don't you do Istiklal one night and Nisantasi/Tesvikiye another night?
I am afraid a ferry to the Princes Islands would be low on your four day agenda as it would kill a whole day, unless you just wish to get away from the hassle of being sightseeing tourists and join the Arab tourists in search of the Green and the Azure.
Here is an alternative to the standard Bosphorus tours by Sehir Hatlari and Turyol, both leaving from Eminonu :
There is a hopon-hopoff boat tour by Dentur (similar company and boats to Turyol) leaving from Kabatas, the last stop of the tram T1 towards the Bosphorus. This will allow you to get off at Emirgan to visit the Sabanci museum and eat at terrific Changa restaurant there, or any of the other landing spots for interesting walks and decent meals. Check the schedules on-line.
It is highly likely that you will be lucky weather wise. We seem to have entered a 12 day stretch of what we call `Pastrami Summer` of sunny skies and unseasonably high temperatures (but cooling at night) This will give you a chance to eat or just linger outside at many cafes on the Bosphorus or upscale spots like Nisantasi-Tesvikiye where you will see a totally different life style than you will at the historic peninsula.
I strongly recommend a visit to Abdi Ipekci Street at Nisantasi one evening or night to have a drink at any of the many cafes like Kirinti or Midpoint, or eat or have tea at Saray pudding shop for traditional Turkish fare on the main Tesvikiye Street. Try 'Tavuk Gogsu' a milk pudding which has unnoticeable strands of chicken breast that makes the pudding somewhat chewy, at Saray.
The Kebap restaurant, Kosebasi, across from the entrance to Park Hyatt at Tesvikiye is also a good dinner choice. Rather more expensive but miles better than any standard tourist fare you will get at Sultanahmet or Sirkeci.
Nisantasi would win over Beyoglu and Istiklal in terms of modern Istanbul scenes and good food, pleasant area.
However, Istiklal represents the early 20th Century Istanbul with its architecture, historic tram, more run of the mill restaurants and cafes, shady side streets and all types of pedestrians from the beautiful to the rather ugly, with a good doze of Middle Eastern visitors thrown in, street vendors, the great Kokorec fast food joint, Sampiyon, that sells grilled and chopped sheep's intestines spiced with thyme, hot chilis, cumin and supplemented by fresh tomatoes and green chilis in a warm half loaf of bread. (you will not regret eating this, but only at Sampiyon at entrance to Flower/Fish market off Istiklal midway at Galatasay.)
In fact why don't you do Istiklal one night and Nisantasi/Tesvikiye another night?
I am afraid a ferry to the Princes Islands would be low on your four day agenda as it would kill a whole day, unless you just wish to get away from the hassle of being sightseeing tourists and join the Arab tourists in search of the Green and the Azure.
Nov 5th, 2014, 01:15 PM
#5
I like the idea of a hop on hop off boat tour. We had only 3 days as well and were rushing from one place to the next. We did take a boat cruise . . . my guess is it lasted about 1 1/2 hours, the weather was great, and what we could see from the boat was really amazing. But I seriously think that that amount of time on the boat looking at the shore -- the European side, then the Asian side, was just about right.
Nov 5th, 2014, 01:42 PM
#6
I do NOT recommend a day trip to any of the Princes' Islands with only 4 days to spare in Istanbul.
I have stayed at the Splendid Palace Hotel on Buyukada.
I do recommend the Chora Church, however, and the over-the-top Dolmabahce Palace.
Also the Suleymaniye Mosque.
Thin
I have stayed at the Splendid Palace Hotel on Buyukada.
I do recommend the Chora Church, however, and the over-the-top Dolmabahce Palace.
Also the Suleymaniye Mosque.
Thin
Mar 16th, 2015, 01:26 AM
#9
Soods, I missed your last question.
Having a leather coat made for you may not be possible within the time available.
One of the better leather shops is "Koc Deri" with shops at Nisantasi and at the Grand Bazaar. Once you have seen their collection, you may not wish for another design.
Just be aware that their ticket prices at the Grand Bazaar shop is usually double their actual price, (or something like that)
Even at their Nisantasi store you can probably get a good discount, something that is not possible at any other type of store outside the touristic areas.
For good quality but not very fancy leather, my favorite is "Dessa" which also produces for Ferre. Dessa shops are at most of the better malls, including Cevahir mall which is easily reachable by Metro at Mecidiyekoy stop.
A cheaper but fine brand is "Derimod" also at malls including Cevahir.
Having a leather coat made for you may not be possible within the time available.
One of the better leather shops is "Koc Deri" with shops at Nisantasi and at the Grand Bazaar. Once you have seen their collection, you may not wish for another design.
Just be aware that their ticket prices at the Grand Bazaar shop is usually double their actual price, (or something like that)
Even at their Nisantasi store you can probably get a good discount, something that is not possible at any other type of store outside the touristic areas.
For good quality but not very fancy leather, my favorite is "Dessa" which also produces for Ferre. Dessa shops are at most of the better malls, including Cevahir mall which is easily reachable by Metro at Mecidiyekoy stop.
A cheaper but fine brand is "Derimod" also at malls including Cevahir.
