SashieZo

My husband and I are going on a Med. cruise mid october and will be docking in Istanbul at approx 1pm Sat departing 2pm Sunday. The fact that we will be able to have a dinner off the ship in Istanbul is one reason why we picked this particular cruise.

Here is my itinerary - we are in good shape and love to walk

Sat dock 1 pm (hopefully)

Spice Market
Grand Bazaar
Blue Mosque
Hagia Sophia
Tokapi Palace (Harem tour)
we would like to have dinner on Beyoglu -Cicek Pasaji (former flower passage)

Sun depart 2pm

Istika Cudassi
Taksim Square
Galata Tower

I don't want to spend hours at the Grand Bazaar but would like to pass thru. However, it looks daunting and like a maze...will it take me four hours to get out? We (me really) would rather go to the Spice market - it is all spices and foods - I'm thinking if we go to the Spice market, we won't have to go to the grand Bazaar.

I also thought that before or after
dinner we could walk around Istika Cudassi and not do that Sunday.

Any suggestions for Sunday? or
Should I break up my Saturday itinerary? I don't know how much time is needed in each site...

I need help please!!

thank you

TravelandNature

Do you know how close the cruise dock is to these sites ? Perhaps it is possible to take the above ground rail from the dock on the Bosphorus into the center of the city ?

In general, plan to do the indoor things - the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque in the afternoon. These are cool places and a break from the heat.

Plan to do the walking in the markets either in the evening or the early morning. The T. Palace is probably better done in the morning, as well.

Yes, you have a lot of things on your plate. You will find that a lot of what you want to see is nearby the Hippodrome area.

Istanbul is a lovely city; the citizens oviously take a great pride in the cleanliness and the parks. Try to slow down and enjoy the city a little.

TravelandNature

CarrieAnn40

I was there this August and we walked through the Hippodrome to the Blue Mosque at 9am. We had to queue for a bit to get into the Mosque and probably spent 20 mins in there. It is only 5 minutes across the park to the Agya Sophia where we had to queue for about 20 mins and spent about half an hour in there. A couple of minutes across the road to the Basilica Cistern which really was well worth visiting. The queue was 10 - 15 minutes and we spent a leisurely half hour in there. Including queueing and refreshments we were through by midday but we took our time.

It is about 15 minutes walk up to the Grand Bazaar from the Cistern. It is big but you shouldn't get trapped in there. We kept finding ourselves heading back out onto the street and having to go back in again!

Topkapi Palace was heaving by 10.30am in August and we were there for an hour and a half. You have to pay to get into the Palace and then again for the Harem, which had a long queue when we were there, so we gave it a miss.

The Spice Bazaar has all the foods, spices etc as well as much of the same sort of stuff as the Grand Bazaar, although it is much smaller. I don't remember much in the way of proper jewellery at the Spice Bazaar though.

The Galata Tower is across the bridge, fairly close to the Spice Bazaar. The art deco Komondo Steps are close to the tower. We walked up the steps and did the tower in less than an hour.

All these places are linked by the tram line.

SashieZo

Thanks so much. Our ship docks north of the Galata Bridge.

Is it better to take the tram to the old city. We like to walk but don't want to waste time unless of course there is things to see and admire along the way.

how long is the walk across the bridge?

Thanks again

Guenmai

The view from the top of the Galata Tower is a must. As for the Spice Market, if you're speaking of the Egyptian Market, it shouldn't take that long as it gets very redundant after a short period.

As for the Grand Bazaar, one can't just run through it. I had a friend, from Istanbul, go with me and even he was confused a bit. We spent maybe an hour and a half and then, it was good that he was there to find a way out, as it was confusing to me and I have a very good sense of direction.

Also if you want to make purchases, you need to bargain which takes time. And there are many vendors selling the same goods, so it takes time to go to several vendors and compare prices. I'm a big time bargainer and got all that I needed to buy after bargaining. Happy Travels!

Proenza_Preschooler

Cicek Passage is right off of Istaklal Caddesi so you can stroll the street (and take a walk around Taksim Square) after your dinner.

We never ate in Cicek Passage because my mother did not like the looks of it. There is a strong odor of beer and fish along the alley.

There isn't much to see at Taksim Square. This is wear Stambulis catch buses.

Hagia Sophia is really just a big empty building. You can spend just a half hour inside. To save time, go to the top floor and look at the beautiful mosaics. On way out of Hagia Sophia, look up at beautiful mosaic above the doorway.

DO NOT MISS THE HAREM TOUR. I don't care what anyone says, this is the best part of Topkapi.

You don't need to spend a lot of time at the Grand Bazaar or Spice Bazaar, but I think the Spice Bazaar is more interesting because it is by the water. (Do not buy that Calvin Klein or Dior perfume from gypsies at Spice Bazaar. It is just re-packaged water.)

Thingorjus

Guenmai

Oh, at the Tokapi Palace be prepared to go through medal detectors which also takes time. I was there in the spring of 1999 and they were in place then. I was staying on the same street as the palace so went early. when I came out of it, there were long lines. Aya Sophia is a short walk away as is the Blue Mosque. I would go in the following order: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, and last the Spice Market. Now, as far as your dinner choice, I don't know where that is so can't comment on that.

As far as your second day, I can't remember what Istika Cudassi is. But, the Galata Tower and Taksim Square I went to. I wasn't impressed by that Taksim area and much preferred Sultanahmet and am glad that I stayed in Sultanahmet. Happy Travels!

Proenza_Preschooler

Oh, forgot to mention that I, personally, would rather spend a few hours at Chora to see the fabulous mosaics than see the Blue Mosque or Grand Bazaar.

The Grand Bazaar is just an old-fashioned shopping mall.

The Blue Mosque is certainly atmospheric, but there really isn't anything to look at inside.

Thin

josephina

With your time frame and with the sights you would like to see, I would take trams wherever possible.

I cannot speak about lines since a)we went in January and b) we hit the Topkapi Palace at opening.

I'm thinking (and I could be VERY wrong)that you dock very close to the Spice Market, so you could either start there or end there on any day. And it wasn't the highlight of our visit anyway.

Discouting whether or not you stop at the Spice Market first, I would place the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Cistern ( I loved that) as your easy priorities. They are at the same tram stop up the hill from the bridge and all very, very close to each other. You can then wander further over to the Topkapi Palace or leave that as a first on your next day.

Then you get get on the tram to go out further (in the same direction) to the Grand Bazaar.

While I enjoyed looking at Taksim Square and the Galata Tower on the other side of Istanbul, quite frankly, the Dolmabahce Palace over there is my most lasting memory. On your second day, it might be interesting to do the tram to the Topkapi Palace (old world) in the a.m., and then hop it to go over the bridge to the Dolmabahhce Palace (new world)for a sense of how Turkey's interests shifted. Of course, since I cannot remember offhand what days each of these are closed...

As I write this, I want to emphasize my one belief: There are no rights, no wrongs in touring. The only sin, I feel, is not having some sort of plan that you can "break away" from on a moment's whimsy. You have made a wonderful start.

Seamus

Yes, your itinerary is pretty full but it is doable. Here is what I would suggest if you want to see all of these places:

On Saturday take a taxi from the ship to see Haga Sophia and Blue Mosque. Then move on (walk about 15-20 minutes or take the tram from Sultanahmet stop on Divanyolu two stations to the Bazaar stop) to stroll through part of the Grand bazaar (it is huge and there is a lot of repetition, just wander for a while and gawk.) From there you can amble to the Egyptian Spice Market, which is much smaller. (Both markets are open until 7 PM.) Then either walk across the Galata bridge or hop on the tram at Eminonu to go across the Galata bridge, get off at Karakoy stop and walk across the street to the entrance to the Tunel funicular. When you get off at the upper station of the Tunel train walk down to Galata tower (also open until 7 PM.) After that, head back uphill to Istiklal cadessi, which is a street lined with shops and restaurants that runs uphill from the Tunel funicular station to Taksim square (which is rally nothing special at all). There is a tram that runs along Istiklal. Cicek pasaji is off Istiklal (to the left as you are going uphill) about halfway between the Tunel station and Taksim square. You may have to walk through the sometimes smelly fish stalls to get to the restaurants but it is worth it. Enter Cicek, take the first (I think) right then the next left and you are on the section lined with restaurants. After dinner you can stroll up Istiklal (perhaps stopping for dessert at one of the bakeries with window service) to Taksim square where you can pick up a cab back to your ship.

Sunday: Agree the harem tour is the best part of Topkapi. That is also the visit likely to take the most time. I would do it first thing Sunday morning, planning to arrive around 9 AM (opens at 9:30). At the Topkapi entrance there are guides who put together impromptu groups and get your tickets, saving you waiting in line. Be aware that Harem tickets are timed entrance, so be sure to get them on arrival. If you use one of the guides they get them for you - just be sure to tell the guide your time restraints. After your Topkapi tour, jump in a cab back to the ship.

propertravel

As Seamus said, your program is doable in a day if you manage timing at Spice Market and Grand Bazaar Basilica Cistern and Turkish Islamic Arts Museum in the same area is also good places to visit. If you are at Topkapi around 2 pm. you can also see the Mehter (Janissary) Band performing 5 days a week. You could break things into two. Having said that Chora Museum can be rewarding & exciting to visit as well.

Tram can be used easly after disembarking from the ship to reach to Sultanahmet and back especially at rush hours taxis do stuck on traffic as well.

Happy travelling,
Murat

sandra3120

Sashie - as a lover of Istanbul, I scond both Josephina's and Seamnus' commeents. The Yerebatan Saray is just over the road from the Hagia Sophia, and it fascinating to see that cistern. As well, Dolmabahce is well worth the few hours it takes to tour (that Waterford Chandelier alone, gift from Queen Victoria is jaw-dropping). Josphina's statement that seeing Topkapi for the Ottoman period and Dolmabahce for the post-Ottoman is right on the money and will give you a very good idea of the rich history of this fascinating city that straddles Europe and Asia.

wanttogo

SashiZo:

You really have an ambitious schedule
set out for Istanbul. I believe that
DH and I had five full days there last
Spring and he feels that we should
go there for at least 3 more days on
a future trip to Turkey.

I do have one suggestion-the Rustem Pasa Mosque. It is very close to the Spice Bazaar and and the interior is just beautiful. It is a relatively small mosque and the tile work is
magnificent. Also, for what it is worth, I found the Grand Bazaar to be a total waste of time.

Have a great time.

Pat

SashieZo

thank you all for your wonderful suggestions. I think I am going to re-work my itinerary and get back to you!
thanks so much