Exploring Istanbul
 

We will be in Istanbul for 2 days before meeting up with friends to explore the major highlights. Does anyone have any suggestions on things to do outside of the major tourist attractions? Interesting neighborhoods to wander through, non-touristy things that would give us a feel for the area? Anything?
Thanks for your help!

In order to get a feel of the the city, you have to wander through different parts of the city and, yes, also through some parts which are crowded by tourists as well as by natives.

Here some thoughts:

Istanbul's "main street" is Istiklal Caddesi and the City Center is the Taksim Square. Walk down the street to get a feeling of contemporary Istanbul.

Things are very different around Galata Bridge - you will see more country people.

Another story is Ortaköy - many intellectuals there.

You will see a lot of traditional people in the Bazaars - the Covered Bazaar is rather touristy, but the nearby spice market and clothing market is frequented by locals.

You might call it touristy - but I also strongly recommend a boat ride in order to see the upscale neigbhorhoods at the waterfront.

You will get a true insider's view if you take a boat to the Princes' Island - a very different part of Istanbul.

Istanbul is famous for its nightlife - there are many trendy clubs - do some further research to find out which ones are currently the hippest. A visit to Istanbul would be incomplete without clubbing.

Traveller1959 has it just right --- just wander. One of the best days we had in Istanbul involved the ferries.

We were going to take the ferry someplace, I forget where, and wandered down to the mass-grab-ass, wonderful confusion that the ferry terminal presents. In our confusion, we got on a ferry. It pulled away from the dock, and we soon realized it was the wrong one.

Who cares? We had a most wonderful afternoon sitting on the upper deck, watching the scenery, dickering with vendors, and talking to people wanting to practice their English. We got somewhere, got off the boat, and caught the next one back to Istanbul.

A great day!

:-)

I would add Princess Islands to good recommendations above and also Balat area.....

Happy Travelling,

Murat

Thanks so much for all your suggestions....any local spots to eat?

In the Galata area, I recently had an excellent and moderately-priced meal at Kiva Han. www.kivahan.com
It's on the same square as the landmark Galata Tower.

The upper-class neighbourhood of Istanbul is Nisantasi. You can wander around and shop at Louis Vuitton or eat in a posh cafe with the beautiful people.

You can go to Buyukada for the day and take a carriage ride to the view the monastery. Have a cappuccino at the Splendid Palas Hotel and talk to some of the "gold" ladies who are in residence.

I certainly hope you are going to view the mosaics at Chora. To skip them would be a major faux pas.

I recommend having dinner at Yesil Ev in Sultanahmet. Sit outside in the garden with its fairy lights and trickle fountain. Afterwards, visit the bar at the Four Seasons which is just across the alley.

Thin

thanks! great suggestions....

For restaurants I'd recommend Sofyali 9 in the Beyoglu neighborhood--definitely a local hotspot and the food is delicious.

Also, if you have the opportunity it's really neat to go to a soccer match. Definitely an authentic Turkish experience!

More info and pics in our Istanbul post at http://patrinadoestheglobe.blogspot.com/

My best dinner in Istanbul was near Tunel, in the Richmond Hotel, wwww.lebiderya.com
The clientele was both tourists and Turks, the view of the Bosphorus gorgeous, the food creative and delicious.

This is my favourite restaurant in Istanbul:

http://www.feriye.com/

They cook recipes from the Sultan's Palace in an innovative, modern way. High end. Not touristy.

My second recommendation would be Divan Lokantasi in Divan Hotel near Taksim Square. Modern ambiance. Also traditional Turkish food prepared in modern style. Also a favourite of locals. High end.

Hi

If you want an inexpensive local snack in a picturesque setting go to Ortakoy and try "Kumpir". From Wikipedia:

"Kumpir, a baked potato with various fillings, is a popular fast food in Turkey. In its basic form, it is made with potatoes that are wrapped with aluminum foil and baked in special ovens. The potatoes are cut straight from the middle and the insides are mixed with unsalted butter and puréed with kaşar cheese. However, all sorts of foods can be added to the potato: mayonnaise, ketchup, pickles, sweetcorn, sausage slices, carrots, mushrooms and Russian salad. The cafés in Ortaköy, Istanbul make kumpir that are especially popular with the tourists and offer even more ingredients."

I think the Divan Hotel is closed for renevations.

My mother and I at the Divan and thought it was very, very good.

There is another Divan restaurant near the Bosphorus in Ortakoy.

Thin

As noted up the thread, the Taksim area is quite interesting and lively. Be sure to take a Bosphorus cruise. You will love Istanbul! Have a wonderful time!