DS is going there in February (he’ll be in the area for work). He’s 24 and can handle himself, and I have some Turkish friends he’ll meet up with. Wondering if anyone used a specific guide they could recommend, or have any other tips. He’ll be staying in Bebek in an AirBnB. Thanks
Not terribly recent, but we were there for a few days two years ago. Stayed near the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Cisterns. Definitely an area worth exploring, although the offers of rugs, leather jackets, and tour guiding can be overwhelming.
Lale Pudding Shop for an informal meal or Matbah Restaurant near the Hagia Sofia (their historic recipes were one of my top ten meals ever).
Or course, he’ll do the markets.
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We went several years ago. We loved the food tour through Istanbul on Food. We also book most of our European day tours through Viator. They have quite the assortment and you can cross check them with reviews on TripAdvisor. What was really helpful is to go with someone experienced to the grand bazaar. Too overwhelming on your own the first time.
We like to do a walking food tour on one of our first days. Not only do you understand the cuisine better but you also get a sense of the neighborhoods and lay of the land. They’ll usually give good restaurant suggestions as well. It’s a fascinating city, he’ll have a great adventure.
@stradmom - thank you for the recommendations! It makes me want to go there!
@Lassie3 – good idea about the walking food tour. I remember the grand bazaar as being overwhelming. Sort of like Macy’s Herald Square on steroids, all outside, with people shoving things in your face. Thanks!
We’ll be in Istanbul later this month. Any recent recommendations/experiences?
We were in Istanbul in 2019 and stayed near Taksim Square, very walkable to Istiklal Street. Saw all the main sights and it’s a very pretty place. We spent 10 days in Turkey total. It’s a very large country.
We don’t have too much time unfortunately. So, we will only be in Istanbul.
I was there in October. Istanbul only. My first visit and greatly enjoyed it. I stayed at The Marmara Taksim. Took the hop-on-hop off bus the first day to get a feel for the city.
Do not exchange currency at the airport. Use an ATM. You need local currency for the taxis. Exchange rates within Istanbul were fine. Airport exchange is monopolized and EXPENSIVE
Yes! Was in Istanbul summer 2023 and had a wonderful time.
Some recommendations:
Do hire a tour guide with van to take you to Topkapi and Blue Mosque and the other big/crowded sites. Licensed guides are abundant and they offer excellent 1 or 2 day itineraries to see the main sights and they know what time of day to hit each one and how to arrange drop off and pick up spots.
If time allows spend a couple hours wandering around Sultanahmet after seeing the big sights there.
A 1-2 hr cruise up and down the Bosphorus is a delightful way to see the coastline.
Dolmabahce Palace along the Bosphorus is beautiful and easy to navigate without a guide.
Taksim Square and Istiklal Street have nice shopping and cafes and little passageways.
Many people skip the grand bazaar in favor of the smaller spice bazaar if at all claustrophobic.
1924 Istanbul is a fabulous vintage Russian restaurant off Istiklal, very ‘last days of the Ottoman Empire’ atmospheric.
Not far is the Pera Palace hotel, where Ataturk died and where Agatha Christie supposedly hid out. It’s a nice place to stay as well.
We stayed in the Ciragan Palace hotel along the Bosphorus and it was insanely stunning, a real Ottoman palace that’s now a fantastic hotel.
The Galatoport - the new cruise ship terminal and shopping arcade - is interesting to wander around to get a sense of Istanbul’s present and future since so much of tourism there is focused on the past.
Ortakoy Square is a lively neighborhood with waterside cafes and a beautiful small mosque, very pleasant in the evening full of locals and tourists alike. The House Cafe at its center is good and has a huge menu.
Bebek is an upscale seaside neighborhood with nice fish restaurants along the waterfront.
The cats all over the city are an absolute highlight. Stop and coo over each and every one of them 