I will be reaching Istanbul on the 14th of feb for 5 nights . We wanted to do cappadocia for one day but wasn't sure about the weather and if it is sensible to do so.If not cappadocia then can anyone suggest anything else for a day . Among the regular tourist things to do are there any must do's in istanbul . what are the best places to shop in istanbul ?

A day trip is Cappadocia is a drudge and does not give the area its due. The usual sites in Istanbul are crowded for a reason. We are not shoppers.

We spent a week in Istanbul and it was clearly not enough.

I agree with IMDonehere -- Istanbul deserves at least 5 or 6 full days IMO. And IMO, Cappadocia deserves 3 or 4 days at a time of year when you can take advantage of its stunning open air sites. A good guide book should serve you very well. I found the Rough Guide the most useful of the half dozen I consulted.

Thnx,IMdonehere and kja. so like you say we should just spend our time in istanbul . I guess istanbul it is then but was there anything really which stood out for you that i should not be missing .

>>> but was there anything really which stood out for you that i should not be missing.<<<

Raj: Read some guide books (as kja recommends,Rough Guide has been good for me) and do your homework...quickly (you're leaving soon!)...you will fill up 5 days easily. Depending on weather(Feb temps could be around 10 C), I would suggest a day trip up The Bosporus...scenic and fun....leaving on an early ferry and spending a few hours at the terminus ...Anadolu Kavag(i)to do a little hikng up to the ruins on the hill overlooking the strait, have lunch in town, and head back to be in Istanbul late afternoon. You might want to consider the afternoon Janissary Guard show at the Military Museum (see pix) and the displays...also, I usually suggest a unique experience at the Pierre Loti Cafe (see pix)at no later than 4:45 pm to hear the 5:00 "call to prayer" from all of the mosques in the city (slightly out of sync)...those grilled fish sandwiches from the boats anchored at the Galata Bridge in Eminonu are very tasty. Kumkapi(u), the street of numerous fish restaurants(try the Cemal Balik)is a good place to stroll, and have dinner or lunch.

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...nesOfIstanbul#

Rajgoliya:
To me you shouldn't go to Capadoccia for one day, almost impossible to enjoy .
If you are interested, you can read my trip report on a visit to Turkey in 2011.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...d-valencia.cfm

Enjoy you trip!

tower has given you some GREAT tips!

If you are never coming to Turkey,then you should go to Cappadocia. Otherwise not.
You could go through my page to find out how I spent 4.5 days in Istanbul. And I wished I had another day.
http://ashwinbahulkar.wordpress.com/...o-turkey-trip/ ‎

Shopping:
I got great mosaics at good prices from the shops near Chora Church.
Paintings(printed ones ,not real,but beautiful) from shops at the end of Arasta Bazar,close to the rear exit of Blue Mosque.
Turkish delight from Egyptian bazar,get the ones with a lot of nuts.
Baklava: Karakoy Gulluoglu.