Istanbul 2025 a week in December
Dec 10th, 2025 | 04:55 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
Istanbul 2025 a week in December
Hoping to get to a true trip report but providing some high-level highlights here, with thanks to fellow Fodorites who helped me!
1. I felt very safe. Security is high. (Well, the Pope was there at the start of our stay). The hassle by vendors and merchants was so low-key it barely registered. Really, far less than anticipated.
2. We did attend a one - hour whirling dervish ceremony and I would recommend it. Do not applaud at the end as it is not a performance.
3. If you only go to one mosque, make it The Blue Mosque. And you can enter easily at 8:30 a.m. Free.
4. Public transportation worked like a charm, especially if you are good with Google maps. Do buy an IstanbulKart. It was easy as the kiosks offer a British flag, symbolizing English. I do not know any Turkish.
5. Sites are expensive for tourists…up to $50 in Turkish Lira (TL). Local people can enter for a fraction of the cost.
6. The pigeon market (weekends) was something I enjoyed seeing. Cats are indeed everywhere, which I loved.
7. Hills are steep in Pera. Not for the mobility-challenged.
8. That said, we loved our hotel, The Story Hotel Pera! Highly recommend. A steal.
9. If you are only in town four days, stay in Sultanahmet. Close to many attractions but busy and tourist-oriented.
10. Food is fantastic. I enjoyed Durumzade twice and a Culinary Backstreets tour. Great, it was our first as the cost and time had always deterred me. Worth it, to me.
11. A guide was helpful but not essential if you are great with maps and using the terrific Rick Steve’s ‘ guidebook to Istanbul.
12. The call to prayer is mesmerizing as is the view of countless minarets.
13. I preferred the Spice Market to The Grand Bazaar, but neither need take a ton of time, and I say that as a shopper.
14. The IST airport is huge and very efficient. If you have access to the Turkish Airlines’ lounge, use it, and arrive hungry.
15. We went to some interesting museums…Pera, free Friday nights, Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, The Ara Guler museum for photography and there are more.
16. I highly recommend having some Turkish cash. I got mine from a bank at home.
17. We went to both Dolmabahce and Topkapi Palaces. A guide was useful for context and meaning. Each takes hours.
18. We used NO tap water. Not for teeth. Not for drinking. Bottled water is cheapest to buy in the Metro station vending machines, a surprise to me.
19. Buy a simit from a cart in the mornings for 20 TL, but do not expect it to taste like a NY bagel.
20. Enjoy, it was one of my favorite destinations in the world…for point of reference I am 70+, enjoy big cities, and have been to only 4 continents.
1. I felt very safe. Security is high. (Well, the Pope was there at the start of our stay). The hassle by vendors and merchants was so low-key it barely registered. Really, far less than anticipated.
2. We did attend a one - hour whirling dervish ceremony and I would recommend it. Do not applaud at the end as it is not a performance.
3. If you only go to one mosque, make it The Blue Mosque. And you can enter easily at 8:30 a.m. Free.
4. Public transportation worked like a charm, especially if you are good with Google maps. Do buy an IstanbulKart. It was easy as the kiosks offer a British flag, symbolizing English. I do not know any Turkish.
5. Sites are expensive for tourists…up to $50 in Turkish Lira (TL). Local people can enter for a fraction of the cost.
6. The pigeon market (weekends) was something I enjoyed seeing. Cats are indeed everywhere, which I loved.
7. Hills are steep in Pera. Not for the mobility-challenged.
8. That said, we loved our hotel, The Story Hotel Pera! Highly recommend. A steal.
9. If you are only in town four days, stay in Sultanahmet. Close to many attractions but busy and tourist-oriented.
10. Food is fantastic. I enjoyed Durumzade twice and a Culinary Backstreets tour. Great, it was our first as the cost and time had always deterred me. Worth it, to me.
11. A guide was helpful but not essential if you are great with maps and using the terrific Rick Steve’s ‘ guidebook to Istanbul.
12. The call to prayer is mesmerizing as is the view of countless minarets.
13. I preferred the Spice Market to The Grand Bazaar, but neither need take a ton of time, and I say that as a shopper.
14. The IST airport is huge and very efficient. If you have access to the Turkish Airlines’ lounge, use it, and arrive hungry.
15. We went to some interesting museums…Pera, free Friday nights, Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, The Ara Guler museum for photography and there are more.
16. I highly recommend having some Turkish cash. I got mine from a bank at home.
17. We went to both Dolmabahce and Topkapi Palaces. A guide was useful for context and meaning. Each takes hours.
18. We used NO tap water. Not for teeth. Not for drinking. Bottled water is cheapest to buy in the Metro station vending machines, a surprise to me.
19. Buy a simit from a cart in the mornings for 20 TL, but do not expect it to taste like a NY bagel.
20. Enjoy, it was one of my favorite destinations in the world…for point of reference I am 70+, enjoy big cities, and have been to only 4 continents.
Feb 24th, 2026 | 01:47 PM
#3
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 25,341
Likes: 0
Thanks for that! I've been to Istanbul a few times and although I liked the city well enough, I never fell in love with it, as I have with other cities. But, reading about these layovers in Istanbul on Turkish Air makes me think about going back again...maybe stay a week before moving on to another destination. I'll have to take a look at their route map...
