Turkey trip report
 

We travelled on 1st week of August. We booked self catering accommodation in Sultanehmet. We arrived around 8pm and got a taxi from the airport. The man there settled on 1400 lira but then he opened the door for the taxi which someone else was driving. He did not talk about price at all. When the driver dropped us, he charged 1600 lira. I think one should get uber to avoid over charging.
When we reached the accommodation it was not what was claimed on booking.com. we felt like we were scammed. It was quite old and many things were broken. We went out to buy grocery and had dinner. It was around 11.30pm but shops were open and so restaurants. We ordered testi kebab which were v ordinary. There were many convenienve stores but they did not have much variety. Basically our first day was just wasted as we arrived late. I always suggest to get early morning flights so by the time you reach destination ( if its Europe) it is still day light. One can rest, buy essentials and explore local area.
Our second day was v hectic. We set off for Topkapi Palace. It was 10 min away but palace entrance was just behind the main street. It was really hot that day. We bought ticket online but still had to wait in queue. The palace had many courtyards. We went on Harem first. It was around £40/person. If one is interested in history they should add it in itinerary otherwise no need. We could not explore the whole palace as we were v exhausted because of heat. There were no ACs inside and for visiting every courtyard we had to come out of building and walk. Then we decided to pray at Hagia Sophia but queue was so long ( it was Friday) that we ended up going to restaurant. We did not buy Hagia Sophia ticket because if you intend to pray, the entry is free. We had gozleme in the restaurant but it was just average in fact dry. The restaurat had no AC and few pedestal fans. After that we tried to pray Zohr at Hagia Sophia but again waiting was 30 minutes and under the scorching sun. Anyways we prayed Zohr inside. Again there was no fan,no ACs in there.
We had online tickets for Basilica cistern. There was no queue at all. Inside was dark and humid and we just spent 30 min in there as it was v suffocating. We paid £120 which I think was just a waste of money as we are least intetested in history.
After that we went to accommodation, had some rest and went to Sema (dervish show) in the evening. Location was easy to find and ticket was reasonable just £20/ head. Previously I booked dervish show was £120 but I cancelled it later and bought this one. Then we prayed our Isha in blue mosque. We bought istanbulkart from ticket machine. Card cost 134 lira. We topped up with 300 lira. There was a man there who kept insisting that he would help us in buying it. But i read somewhere about possible scam so refused his help. We tried few times as we struggled finding the translation in English but one next to us helped us in buying. That night we had a dinner at rooftop restaurant and it was really good.

Second day: we went out n found Show supermarket which had a lot of variety of basic grocery. There was a shop next to it from where we bought Iranian Saffron. We had borek and pastry breakfast at the shop where there were many varities of bread and Borek. It was v cheap and really tasty. Name was Tarihi camberlitas borekcisi. Do try that. It was v delish especially meat borek and v cheap. Then we went to Galata bridge using tram from Camberlitas. We hopped off at Kadakoy and took photos at Galata bridge. It was hot so did not spend time there. There was no tram running to Istiklal street so we took a taxi. It cost us 400 lira. He dropped us just 10 min away from Taksim Square. We had bubble tea there, bought jewelley. We did not walk till the end of the street. At Taksim we took photos and after that we had Kunafa at Hafiz Mustafa. Then we decided to go back using tram. It was a v steep walk and almost 15 min walk. We went back home, had rest and lunch and got ready for the Bosphorus senset cruise. Driver picked us up. It was 3 hour cruise and cost was £80 for all 4 of us. Cruise stopped for a shopping for an hour though we could not get why they needed to stop there. That night we had Burger king. It was just ok like any fried chicken takeaway shop in the UK ,nothing special.

Third day: Though had a plan to go to princes island but changed plan and went to Florya gones Beach. We booked an Uber. Cost was £11. At entrance used our istanbulkart and bought ticket for lira 240 for 4 of us. The visitor there helped us in buying ticket. We went in. It was a hot day and it was v crowded. All sunbeds were occupied. Beach was not v clean. We spent 2 hours there. As you hardly get a chance to swim in UK beaches because of cold water so children did enjoy swimming there. We had lunch at golden crown hotel in Sultanehmet which was v near to accommodation. Their food was tasty and portion was v generous alongwith lot of condiments and sauces. In the evening , we went to explore local area. There was market for replica shirts n bags just behind Camberlitas tram. One needs to bargain if you want to buy. On way back, went to Show supermarket and bought spice mix and teas to bring back home. That night we booked Nusret ( grand bazaar brach). It was just 7 min away and was easy to find. It was not crowded. We had burgers and kofta kebabs as we are not fond of beef and lamb steaks. The bill was just £80. Portion was generous and no doubt there is a saying its cheaper to fly to to Istanbul to have Nusret rather than have it in London.

4th day: we went to grand bazaar. We spent half an hour there as we had a flight to catch. The flight was from Istanbul new airport. It took around 50min to get there. We booked Uber and it cost us £30, much cheaper than the taxi we took at arrival. Istanbul new airport has many food courts but food is v expensive. They don't take Lira, its paid in Euros. There is a lot of walk to get to the gate and is crowded too. After security check if you want to buy food, they don't take Lira, only Euros or card! It was a bit strange they don't accept their own currency.
Few suggestions for readers:
1. If you are in UK and have Monzo card , then you can use it too as it has a good exchange rate. You can shop and can withdraw money. Make sure you select Lira at checkout . Except the Camberlitas market, every resutatant and shop no matter how small it is accepts monzo.
2. Weather is v hot during day time and better at night ( breezy) so try to visit mosques and sight seeing at night. Mosques open at prayer times.
3. To cope with hot weather ,bring umbrellas and sun glasses and water spray bottles and portable fan with you. I bought portable usb chargable fan and spray bottle from amazon. Carry water bottles with you whenever you go out rather than buying everytime.
4. I found Binbirdirek area v expensive. That is the main area to access attractions.
5. Don't try to get taxi in old town of Sultanehmet. Either walk or use tram
6. The old town is maze of streets which are too narrow and uphill or downhill. Also there is a lot of construction going on so you must have sneakers rather than sandals.
7. Try to pre book popular attractions. If you are not interested in history, no need to go toHagis Sophia and Basilica.
8. Try to get Uber where possible including airport transfer. They come in 5 min. There is Bitaksi app too but we have not tried.
9. If you are staying in old town you may find accommodations which are quite old.
10. Istanbul is as expensive same as rest of Europe. For 4 nights and 3 full days, it cost us £800/person.
11. At even 12 midnight shops, restaurants and markets are open.
12. If you want to have budget holiday, try to buy grocery from Show or Sok supermarket and cook in accommodation.
13. Make sure while booking an accommodation that it has air conditioning too if you are travelling in August.
14. Avoid to go in July and August as that is the high season and too crowded so much so that you have to find way on footpaths.
15. The fruit is delish and v sweet. Almost everyday we went to supermarket to buy fruit like peaches, plums, apricots , grapes and fig. I never had such a tasty fruit in the UK.
16. To dine in any good restaurant , cost is at least 500 lira per person. At roadside restaurants cost is £300 lira for donor or wrap.