Suggested itinerary for Istanbul??

Old Jul 13th, 2014, 06:41 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Suggested itinerary for Istanbul??

We have four days in Istanbul. Sunday afternoon, all day Monday, all day Tuesday and most of the day on Wednesday. Not sure how to organize our visit. Looking at the tours and most seem to repeat the same places....cruising the Golden Horn, the Hagia Sofia, etc. Putting this trip together at the last minute and need some suggestions. Any suggestions are most appreciated. Favorite attractions, cultural experiences, culinary musts, walks, favorite guides. Thank you in advance.
mbw220 is offline  
Old Jul 13th, 2014, 08:28 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,606
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wow, quiet morning on the board! We just got back from a trip to Istanbul - we had been before. Our favorite sight was definately the Topkapi Palace, esp. the harem for which you pay extra. You need maybe 3 to 4 hours to explore this complex. We also really liked the Cistern - this does not take long at all but is pretty unique.

I had looked forward for years to seeing the Aya Sophia but was a bit disappointed - not sure why. We also went to the Chora Church, and again, if you have seen other mosaics, we were a bit let down.

Istanbul is very hectic and crowded and partly for this reason we did a HOHO day - I don't usually like this option for sightseeing but it was nice to get an overview of the city above the crowds. We did a short Bosphorus cruise - it was also a great way to see the city.

We stayed at Hotel Neorion - loved it - we used their facility for a haman experience - loved that! There are quite a few public ones too - I'd really urge you to do that, again a pretty unique, cultural experience.

Rick Steves has a guide to Istanbul - has several walks, one of which is a back streets walks around the Grand Bazar / Spice Market area. Altho it was super crowded (I don't care much for crowds, can you tell?) it was amazing. All the little shops selling everything you can possibly imagine.

Istanbul is a fascinating city but very chaotic. There is a walking tour - Istanbul Eats, I think that would probably be great but we thought it was too pricey. We ate several times at modest little places near the Spice Market - delicious, esp. the lamb. Enjoy your trip! and hopefully some others will chime in with their likes and dislikes.
suec1 is offline  
Old Jul 13th, 2014, 08:41 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
One of my favorite places in Istanbul was the Topkapi Palace. For a slightly higher admission fee, you can access the harem rooms and the Garden of the Favorites with a guide. I spent several days in the Grand Bazaar and the vicinity, and loved that part of town.
Kathie is offline  
Old Jul 13th, 2014, 09:11 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 17,949
Received 22 Likes on 4 Posts
Can you buy a ticket to the Harem once you're inside Topkapi?
HappyTrvlr is offline  
Old Jul 13th, 2014, 09:17 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,357
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We spent 3 full days in Istanbul, and barely scratched the surface. We loved it all and hope to go back someday. I don’t think you need a tour to see the city, it is very walkable, fairly compact, and the people extremely friendly.

Here is how we filled the 3 days – and they were really full:
Day 1: Topkapi Palace in the morning (start early, 9am) and be out by 1pm, this way you avoid the big tour buses. Lunch, then Aya Sofia, the Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern. We were blown away by Aya Sofia, with its layers of history, and liked it more for that reason than the Blue Mosque.
Day 2: Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Yeni Cami, Suleymaniye Mosque, Rustem Pasa.
Day 3: Dolmabahce Palace, Galata Bridge and Chora Church. We thought the CC mozaics were amazing.

At least another day for a harbor cruise would have been great. We stayed in Sultanahmet and walked everywhere on day 1 and 2, used trams on day 3. We did not find it chaotic at all (maybe because we were there in early October?), just full of life and energy, and we’ll go back. Have a great trip!
xyz99 is offline  
Old Jul 13th, 2014, 02:43 PM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Did anyone use any tour guides? What hotels did you use?
Looking for something with a rooftop garden or just a charming garden for that matter?

Thanks for your input.
MBW
mbw220 is offline  
Old Jul 13th, 2014, 02:50 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,312
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bookmarking
wtm003 is offline  
Old Jul 13th, 2014, 02:58 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,522
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We used Backpackers for tours(not a backpacking experience by any means)..We did 3, 1/2 day tours and loved the quide..Deliete (sp?)and she was a delight..We stayed at Tashkonak and looked at the newer one across the street,,Almina Hotel..which was pretty awesome for the price at that time (2 yrs ago). Don't know what the rates are now. Almina had a lovely roof garden..Tashkonak had a peaceful garden and roof breakfast patio,,Both were in Sultanamet..TK gavr a discpount for cash and arranged a pick upo and drop off for the airport. IST is a great experience..
amer_can is offline  
Old Jul 14th, 2014, 05:25 AM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Can't find Backpackers for tour guides. Do you know the website address?
mbw220 is offline  
Old Jul 14th, 2014, 07:50 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,496
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Only place I used a guide was Topkapi. There are licensed guides near the entrance who put together groups of travelers based on common language. Added bonus is the licensed guides have access to expedited ticket lines, reducing the wait. Do go in the morning, do visit the harem and do allow a few hours to do it all.

Other Istanbul sights are easily done on your own using a decent guide book / downloaded info. One of the best sites I have found is www.turkeytravelplanner.com

On Sunday, a nice relaxing place to visit is Ortaköy with its waterfront cluster of cafes and shops.

The Aya Sofia, Blue Mosque, Cistern and Hippodrome are quite close to each other and easy to cover at a leisurely pace in half a day.

Dolmabahçe Palace is a great visit, but is closed Mondays so plan accordingly.

The Grand Bazaar is more or less a tourist must see but quite honestly once you have seen a row or two you've pretty much seen it all. The Spice Market is smaller but much more interesting, IMO. I loved meandering from the GB to the SM, passing all sorts of shops and stalls selling what seemed like everything in the universe. After the SM your location allows to easily visit the New Mosque (despite the name, built in the 1600's) then the Galata bridge area.
Seamus is offline  
Old Jul 15th, 2014, 07:00 AM
  #11  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you Seamus. Great suggestions!
mbw220 is offline  
Old Jul 15th, 2014, 07:03 AM
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We arrive at the Ataturk airport about 12:30am in the morning. Our hotel will send their car to pick us up for 30EUR for the two of us. Would we be better off just hailing a taxi? Would there be taxis at that time in the morning?
MBW
mbw220 is offline  
Old Jul 15th, 2014, 07:35 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,606
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I don't think 30E is a bad price - I'd go for that - some hotels give you free airport transport (usually one direction) if you book a 3 night stay. We arrived mid-day - it was chaos, maybe evening would be quieter but I still think it would be a good idea to have transport lined up.

We really liked Hotel Neorion - it had a lovely rooftop terrace overlooking the Bosphorus and it had a very nice free mezze buffet every afternoon (and free airport pick up if you stayed 3 nights or more)
suec1 is offline  
Old Jul 15th, 2014, 08:00 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,326
Received 4 Likes on 2 Posts
There are taxis at both istanbul airports all hours. the cost to Sultanahmet is about 50TL plus tip (possibly 3-5TL)

This means that the taxi will cost you almost exactly 20 Euros.


You will also be surprised to see how busy the city will be at that time.
otherchelebi is offline  
Old Jul 15th, 2014, 10:29 AM
  #15  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Anyone have any suggestions for an reasonably priced dinner at
scenic outdoor restaurant maybe overlooking the water or the city?

How big are the portions in Turkey? Is sharing allowed at restaurants? Any other dining tips.....Keep reading how everyone drinks raki, can't image that I will like it. How available is wine and beer with dinner? Welcome any and all suggestions dining or otherwise.

Thanks so much everyone!!!!
mbw220 is offline  
Old Jul 15th, 2014, 11:29 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,606
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We dined at Imbat - great view - food was good, view was better, probably need a reservation. High end restuarants will have beer and wine - budget places esp. in Sultanahmet - probably not. Portions were not US, need a doggy bag size. I think we usually got maybe 2 appetizers / 1 entree or maybe 1 app. 2 entrees. We usually stopped for baklava on the way home - YUM
suec1 is offline  
Old Jul 15th, 2014, 11:50 AM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,326
Received 4 Likes on 2 Posts
It is difficult to find a reasonably priced scenic outdoor restaurant close to the center in Istanbul.

I also do not know what figure you would find reasinable.

Try Assk Cafe at Kurucesme, past Ortakoy. This is a very popular cafe with decent food ranging from $8 to $20 per plate, with a bottle of cheaper but good wine at about $40.

Next to it is the Italian Restaurant Mia Mensa, with the same view but upscale seating and service. Prices are about 50% higher.

There are quite a few rather expensive fish restaurants in the same area, some on the sea coast, Park Fora, Mavi Balik and a couple in the Supper clubs Sortie and Reina and one on the other side of the roadon the slope and with a decent view, called Kydonia. We ate at Kydonia and could manage for about $125 for two by having enough meze (starters) but only one main fish plate. Similar fare at Park fora or Mavi would have been $150-200 or maybe even more. The restaurants in the supper clubs Sortie and Reina will usually charge about $100/person including drinks and you can probably negotiate for a fixed set meal. they are fun and great for people watching if you eat after 9 PM and stay till midnight or later

When you go to the fish restaurants, they will start bringing the meze and laying it on the table without asking you sometimes. Do not be embarrassed by asking what everything is and then telling him to remove any and all that you do not want. Later they will bring warm sraters to just place on your plate. So, again, tell them what you wish of the warm starters if any and do not let them force feed you. Finally, if they do, then do not order a fish or any other main plate, since you would be full already.

Raki is cheaper because you dilute it add ice and drink it slowly on as you eat like you would drink wine. A 20 cc bottle of raki is ample for two and would be equivalent to a bottle of wine or even more in terms of alcohol content. However, if you are not partial to aniseed, you should forget it.

You cannot go wrong with the low to medium range Doluca brand wines like DLC, Antik or Kav. Try the Turkish Kalecik Karasi or Okuzgozu grapes which are both smooth with the former more tanini and the latter more fruity. For whites try Narince or Emir grapes. Our Rosees are also decent.

To answer another of your questions :

the portions are usually small, definitely a fraction of what you would get in the United States.

starters are usually tiny. You can get a large or a normal side salad. Try the Gavurdag salad of tomatoes-onions-parsley-walnuts-pomegranate sours (usually only at kebab restaurants)


A reasonably priced and good restaurant is "Sunanin Yeri", on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, at Kandilli, across from the lit up Rumeli fortress.

Take a regular municipality ferry to Uskudar fro Eminonu and a bus or taxi to Kandilli. (taxi may cost about 30TL)

The restaurant is on the coast at the traffic lights at Kandilli. Ask for Istavrit, the small horse mackerel that they fry to perfection. Follow my instructions on how to eat it on my eating fish post from a few years back.

When you get back, you may have to take a smaller motorboat to Kabatas and a tram from there to Sultanahmet.
otherchelebi is offline  
Old Jul 15th, 2014, 11:54 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,326
Received 4 Likes on 2 Posts
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...istanbul.cfm?9
otherchelebi is offline  
Old Jul 15th, 2014, 05:33 PM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 17,949
Received 22 Likes on 4 Posts
Thanks for another helpful contribution OC!
HappyTrvlr is offline  
Old Jul 16th, 2014, 10:44 AM
  #20  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you thank you...what truly helpful information.

Are we taking a motor boat back because it would be fun or have the buses had stopped running later in the evening?

Seeing that we do not speak Turkish, will we be able to ask for directions if we get lost along the way

At the restaurants, do we pay in cash with Turkish Lira, Euro or can we put our bill on our credit card?
mbw220 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -