istanbul

[sophia]

After years of saying 'I will try Istanbul this year', I have finally booked it and will be going in October. I'm so excited & it's my first ever city break too so will be something very different for me.
We will be meeting up with a few of our friends from Icmeler which will be lovely.

Has anyone got any tips or some 'must visit' places / restaurants etc?? Thanks.

[Susi1962]

Sorry I can't help as I've never been but this is something I've always wanted to try so I'll be watching with interest to see what the ICR crowd come up with!

[sandybeach]

I have also been looking at visiting Istanbul, please write a review when you come back and let me know any tips. I am thinking of visiting in January staying in the Sulmanhet (sp)area. But i am a little unsure of going as i would be a lone traveller, no one else fancies it and i dont know anyone there.
Sandy

[JT]

We have arranged many "trips" to Istanbul from Icmeler.

Take your normal 2 week holiday and do it early for the year after then I will arrange return transfers to Dalaman, flights to Istanbul then a hotel in the area of most interest to tourists.

All hotels have tour offers at reception that usually go mornings then a different one in the afternoon or buy a book, read up and then do your own thing.

We normally book people into clean basic hotels in the Sultanahmet for 2 or 3 nights and you have lots to explore around there from the Bazzaar to the Galata Bridge with its Balik Ekmek boats to the 100's of fishermen all lined up.

[madmackem]

JT you really suprise me I thought the first tourist attraction you would have mentioned would have been the Blue Mosque, my friend stayed in Istambul this year for a week and said it was fantastic, wished she had stayed for 2 as there was that much to see. it was really hectic there and that she had never see so many people in one place, she said that people dont look as if they are walking they just move in a tide of bodies LOL.

Elaine

[JT]

Elaine I did my dear.

Sultan Ahmed IS the Blue Mosque but thought I would give it it's proper name.

Lots to see in that area.

[madmackem]

Sorry about that JT will put brain in gear before opening mouth in future.

[JT]

Heheheheheh

[paulo]

I wanna go to Istanbul to see some footie, my fav turkish team Galatasaray, I also want to go to izmir to see Karsiyaka too.
I might take a week Icmeler and a week in Istanbul next year, something to defo think about.

[JT]

I did the 3 grounds while there and was a good time

[Katiehutchinson_1991]

paulo karsiyaka is a really nice place in izmir and is nice when you walk along the harbour front
if your going to izmir i would recommend you take the boat over to karsiyaka and spend some time there
hope this helps
xxxxx

[paulo]

paulo karsiyaka is a really nice place in izmir and is nice when you walk along the harbour front
if your going to izmir i would recommend you take the boat over to karsiyaka and spend some time there
hope this helps
xxxxx

Thats handy to know as I intend to explore these places thouroughly.
Ive just found a Turkish language course near where i stay too so thatll help a lot too im sure.

[Katiehutchinson_1991]

aw thats good
unfortunately living in aberdeen means that there isnt much options for me like that
but if you want to see karsiyaka i have pictures on my facebook
xxxxx

[paulo]

aw thats good
unfortunately living in aberdeen means that there isnt much options for me like that
but if you want to see karsiyaka i have pictures on my facebook
xxxxx

Katie that sounds ace, my name is Paul Harthill, Im the only one on facebook so feel free to add me.
P

[Katiehutchinson_1991]

aw ok i will hope you like the pictures
they are under the izmir '10 album
xxxxx

[glm]

Me & my husband went to Istanbul for our honeymoon in April and have to say the place is AMAZING, cant recomend it enough. Must do trips are, the Blue Mosque, Agia Sophia, underground cisterns and a boat trip up the Bosphorus!

We stayed in Sultanhamet which is the old district and has the Grand Bazarr and Spice Bazarr both of which are a must. We also visited a mosque down by the Bosphorus and it was right when they were calling for prayer so we stayed in there for over an hour watching it was the most amazing experience. We visited the Blue Mosque but not the Agia Sophia as the ques were very long and had been warned that its expensive wheras the Blue Mosque is free. The underground cisterns are very worth a visit also. We went over to Taksim Square one night for dinner and then walked down the main high street which is breath taking, so many people so late at night and there is music and lights and a real buzzing atmosphere, the 1940's trams are amazing also.

We walked most places but the tram system is very cheap and very easy to use, we managed to get around very easily, going over from sultanhament to taksim within twenty minutes no problem.

Its pricier in Istanbul than Icmeler which we were expecting as it is city and you also dont get the same friendliness as in icmeler, i.e. people dont tend to remember you as its such a vast city but the people are still friendly, polite and helpful and we have the most amazing honeymoon there!!

You will love it im sure.

[sophia]

Thanks for all your replies, very helpful.

GLM, your review just got me very excited indeed! Especially when i'm sitting in my office in london looking out at the grey sky! Only six weeks to go now.

We are staying in the Sultanahmet area too so sounds like we shouldn't be too far from all these places. I can't wait, all of these places sound magical! x

[glm]

You will have a magical time.... if there is anything you want to know before you go just shout I will hopefully be able to help.