9 days in Istanbul - What to do last few days?
 

Greetings. We're planning on 9 days in early October based in Istanbul. Assuming we cover all the traditional "must-sees" the first week or so, would appreciate your recommendations on something different or off the beaten path for the last few days. We are not hikers or bikers but do appreciate the sea and seaside. Like authentic cuisine and especially like places devoid of tourists if that is ever possible.
Thank you in advance for any and all tips.

ttt

Dear AMV
This was the itieanary i wrote before you can change it according to your wish
DAY 1.
Blue Mosque
Topkapı Palace
Underground Cistern
DAY 2
Hagia Sophia
Archeological Museum
Grand Bazaar
DAY 3
Spice Market
Bosphorus Cruise
Taksim Area
DAY 4
Chora Museum
City Walls
Greek Orthodox Patriarche
DAY 5
Galata Tower
Jewish Museum
Güllüoglu Baklava ( if you like to try Turkish sweets)
DAY 6
Süleymaniye Mosque
Take a feryy to Asian Side ( kadıköy )
And you want to ask more about Istanbul.
My mail is [email protected]

OK, One more hint:


For a nice hike, landscape and culture, take a small commuter boat across to uskudar from besiktas (right at the square after the Naval Museum. You need to buy plastic tokens at machine or window) or from Eminonu.

Once at uskudar, take a taxi to past Cengelkoy, to the huge military highschool with a fabulous sea front, and then walk back to the village and up the hill on one of the side streets, for fabulous views, old wooden buildings, and some newly restored mansions. the village itself is lovely also. Try some of the crisp tiny cucumbers.

Excellent early morning light for photography. You can also have a good breakfast in the area, at a restaurant directly on the sea.

Later, take a taxi to the top of Camlica hill for a panoramic view of the whole city.

Wow. Thanks so much. Will definitely be doing this! This is exactly the kind of experience we love.

otherchelebi - Is the view from the top of Camlica hill better than Pierre Loti Café?

waggis, Camlica is the highest hill close to Istanbul. It will give you all of the old and the new city as well as quite a bit up the bosphorus. Pierre loti is not very high and will give you mostly golden horn and the surrounding area.

Similar panoramic views can be had from the tops of some highrises like the new Saphire building also. But camlica hill has its own mystique despite the fact tha the tea garden on top is managed by the islamic fundamentalist municipality of the city and will not serve alcohol, and is a very popular location for very conservative moslems.

By the way,

AMV, the name of the military school is "Kuleli" pronounced 'coolelly'.

And just ask the greengrocer to wash the small cucumbers for you (half kilo = yarim kilo, should be enough for two,) and you can eat them with the skin. Just bite a tiny bit off the tips.

Thank you, otherchelebi, for sharing your time so generously with us first time travelers to your country! I've discovered Fodors in 1999 while planning a trip to Paris. I don't think there's been anybody over these years who comes close to your precise information regarding transportation schedules and locations as well as where to eat, attend a concert or discover off the beaten path neighborhoods. You're the very best!!!

They should make you an honorary citizen with no taxes for a lifetime ;-)