Highlights
Instead of paying to see the views from Galata Tower, you can go to the Anemon Galata Hotel.
It has a really nice terrace where you can enjoy the same views having a nice coffee or a cocktail.
This cathedral-sized cistern is an underground chamber of 143 metres by 65 metres, capable of holding 80,000 cubic metres of water, and covering an area of 9,800 square metres with 336 marble columns.
It costs 5€ to get inside.
Hagia Sophia was choosen a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1985.
It costs 10€ to get in. Very crowded.
Some of them will try to cheat you. There are two different fares, one during the day and another one from midnight (double price).
Ask in your hotel how much should be some of the more common trips to make sure they don´t try to charge you more.
Ask the taxi driver to leave you at your hotel door so if you have any problem the people from reception can help you.
Eating & Drinking
Ottoman cuisine, ask for the gozleme (crepes) home made by two womans in the same moment you ask for them.
It's behind the cemberlitas hamami.
Live music at any time.
About 7€ per person
A restaurant where the estambulians go. If you want to expierence a real local restaurant go to Imroz.
Better don´t get a main course, instead ask for hot and cold appetizers and drink raki like the people around you.
Around 10€ per person.
A restaurant inside a thousand years old cistern.
The food and the service are very good.
Amazing place. Looks like a Dracula movie set :)
Sleeping
An Ottoman mansion in Sultanahmet. A wooden Turkish house.
Best ocation. In front of the Blue Mosque and 5 minutes walking from Topkapi Palace & Hagia Sophia.
It has a lovely patio with a small marble fountain, and an nice roof terrace.
It´s very clean & breakfast is quite nice.
Staff is really really nice and helpful.
Double room around 80€ per night.
Shopping
It´s a very nice area to walk around.
Lots of small streets full of antiques shops.
Walking down from Taksim Square to Tunel, are all the side streets on the left.
You can not be in Istambul without visiting the Great Bazar, but personally I prefer the smaller Spices Bazar, close to Yeni mosque. It is easier for "not professional" shoppers
posted by panzerdim
1 contributor
Photos from users
