Hello, Fodorites. I am travelling to India in October,and will have a 32 hour layover in Istanbul. I am thinking of staying at the Empress Zoe hotel.Any other recommendations? Have you used a guide for a local tour? Since I will only be there for a short time, I want to make the most of it!

I forgot the second part! I will be there on October 29,which apparently is the Turkish Independence Day? Is there anything I should know about that that would affect my travel plans?

About the Independence Day -- the only thing you should know is that the Turks put out an inordinate number of Turkish flags around their holiday, much like we Americans do around July 4th. We were there in 2003 for their 80th "birthday party" and didn't know it, so we thought they were rather insanely nationalistic, only to find out that The Blue Mosque was lit up like a Christmas tree for good reason.

I would possibly get a guide if you only have 32 hours...or just take a cab up to Sultanahmet for the day, that'll certainly keep you busy as that's where The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Grand Bazaar and Topkapi Palace all are.

Happy travels,

Jules

also, make sure you have dinner down on the water overlooking the Bosphorus -- that's where all the fireworks displays are.

Jules

The excellent guide I had on an almost three-week tour of Turkey in October also does freelance guiding when she's not committed to a tour. She's an Istanbul native. You can contact her at: [email protected]

Thanks for your very helpful responses.

Try http://www.toursinistanbul.com/

I have not tried them but saw recommendations on rick steves website.

Curious whether anyone used Rana.