Top 5 Things To Do When Visiting Istanbul
May 8th, 2010 by Coffee Lover
Istanbul is one of the most ancient cities in the world, with hundreds of amazing Things to see, do and experience. Here we’ve selected five of the best to help you make the most of your trip to Istanbul.
1. Sample the local cuisine
Of course, the first thing you’ll want to do after your long trip to Istanbul is fill yourself up on the fantastic local cuisine, and where better to start than with a Turkish Kebab House. Kebabs are typical South Eastern Turkish food and although you may be familiar with the western version, there is nothing like a true Turkish kebab. A traditional kebab may be cooked over a flame or grill, but if you prefer something in the form of a sandwich, look for a doner kebab – very thinly sliced roast lamb on flatbread, with vegetables and a delicious yogurt and garlic sauce. Alternatively, fresh fish and seafood can be found in abundance in Istanbul. You can wash your meal down with a selection of Turkish delicacies – Raki is a particularly strong distilled liquor made with anise and grapes (know to the locals as “Lion’s Milk”!), and Turkish Coffee is a real treat for any coffee lover. Just remember to sip it slowly and to not drink the muddy substance at the bottom of the cup (it’s those finely ground coffee beans) unless you really need a serious caffeine hit!
2. Go Shopping at the Grand Bazaar
At the world famous Grand Bazaar there are some 4,000 merchants selling their various wares on this series of covered streets. Anything you may want to buy in Istanbul can be found here, from gold and silver to carpets, slippers, boots, books, purses, foods and much more. And remember to haggle! Contrary to what you might be used to, merchants at the Grand Bazaar are generally offended if you simply pay the asking price. You’ll be expected to and try and talk them down, until eventually an agreement is reached. If you tire and walk away, don’t be surprised to hear the merchant calling after you with a fairer price.
3. Enjoy the Turkish Baths
Whether you’d prefer to soak, steam or to have a massage, a stop at a Turkish bath can be a wonderfully relaxing break. Just be sure to check the hours of the local bath according to sex. The sexes bathe separately according to specific hours for men and others for women.
4. See Topkapi Palace
Topkapi Palace was home to the Ottoman sultans for nearly 400 years. Here, in addition to the amazing architecture and gardens, you will see swords and daggers, royal clothes, carpets, textiles, ceramics, jewels, armor, and many other wonderful treasures. Take a day to enjoy the splendor of the artistic and architectural delights that can be found in Topkapi Palace.
5. Visit the Hippodrome
The Hippodrome, on the square next to Sultan Ahmet Mosque, was built 480 meters long by 117 meters wide and could contain 100,000 people. This massive amphitheater occupied a very important place in Byzantine life. In Roman times, the chariot races held here were major social events. In Ottoman times, the hippodrome hosted polo games as well as circumcision ceremonies of the crown princes.
John Smith
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/top-5-things-to-do-When-visiting-istanbul-68619.html
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I am planning to visit Istanbul, Turkey in the near future. Could you recommend some 'must do' things?
I am a kind of a trvel bug but have never been to Turkey. But when ever I asked all those people who visited it, almost everybody recommended it very highly, unlike any other destinations where some like and others not. So, now I have decided to travel Turkey but I have not much idea as to what attractions it gets. Travel brochures and web sites are too many commercial info and I think it is better to talk to others who have visited this destination.
Many thanks, everybody. These details are so helpful AND the web site referred to by ZORBEY, Whow!!! It feels like being in Turkey!
ok i’m gonna make you a list of must do’s in istanbul:
-visit Sultanahmet area first.
-visit Hagia Sophia
-visit Blue Mosque
-visit Topkapi Palace
-visit Dolmabahce Palace
-visit Taksim Square and istiklal street
-eat iskender kebab in a restaurant
-if you like drinking you should try Turkish raki
-visit shopping malls like Cevahir,Akmerkez,Metrocity and Kanyon!
-have a bosphorus trip
- go to ortakoy and eat kumpir
-and finally buy lots of souvenirs because you will miss istanbul a lot!
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if im the one who would see Türkiye the first time i would probably go İstanbul and see the architectural artworks,Haghia Sophia,Blue Mosque,Sultan Ahmet,Archeology Museum,,Topkapı Palace,vapour tour on bosphorus.About foods dont have any doubts and if your looking for sun and sea, visit the south mediterrean beaches or west Egean beaches and also there you can find antique city tours and to the middle Anatolia you can visit the first civiliziations leavings and Kapadokya the most amazing place in the world,it has no imitiations on the Earth,and obviously it is not a human made place,We call there FairyChimneys.you will be suprised when you got here.you will find many cultures shadows and have amazing stories.see the chaos in life and love it
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Well, you are very welcomed to our country.
If you are going to come to Istanbul, the only city between two continents, cradle of many cultures i can tell you that you are going to have a lot of fun.
The most important thing about Istanbul is that it has been the home of very important empires so you have a lot of ancient places to visit.:
Dolmabahce Palace
Hagia Sophia Museum
Topkapi Palace
Basilica Cistern
Yildiz Palace
Ciragan Palace
and more…
But according to me when you come to istanbul don’t limit yourself seeing only ancient places try to visit Ortakoy, Taksim,Nisantasi,Sariyer, Bebek,Kadikoy,Moda,Famous Bagdat Street to know us better.
Nite life is just great in Kurucesme,Ortakoy,Taksim…
Go to hammam to get an experience of Turkish bath: Galatasaray Hamami,Cagaloglu Hamami…
Check the shows of Fire of Anatolia before coming here on internet and i reccommend highly that you buy a ticket and go see their incredible Turkish dance show.
Well go to Assk Cafe in Bebek and take a coffee just near the sea.
Enter in Cihangir streets and buy pogaca.
You should absolutely taste Turkish and Ottoman Cuisine:
Vegetables, meat,pilav in 30 different ways…. Turkish Cuisine is of the best cuisines of the world with its rich and various choices.
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In addition to all the mentioned places, don’t miss walking in Istiklal Street in Beyoglu and to visit the Princes’ Island (Buyukada).
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of course first of all Beyoglu; the hearth of istanbul i think:) you will love it. you should see Bosphorus, you will love it too. if you wanna see some historical places, you must see Sultanahmet, you can find Sultanahmet Mosque and St Sophia(ayasofya) there and when you are there don’t forget to visit Sultanahmet Köftecisi:)) (for dinner or lunch dont know). you can take a boat tour too, to feel "Bosphorus Magic".let me do a list;
I. Eminönü, you can eat fish there. (you can take a boat tour here). go to Topkapı Palace from eminönü and then go to sultanahmet by street railway easily. in sultanahmet visit Sultanahmet Mosque and St Sophia. u can find lots of historical places here. from here you can use the railway again and go to Beyazıd.
II. And then see Beyoğlu.(especially at night). you can walk from Taksim Square to Tunnel. you can go to Kabataş from here and see Istanbul Modern if you are interested in art. and maybe in kabataş, Tophane, you can try Narghile if you didnt try before. oh dont forget to visit Galata Tower. you can go there from Tunnel. and under the Galata Bridge u can find some restaurants for a romantic dinner:)
III.At last, for night life u can find good places in Beyoglu. Jazz Cafe, Babylon, Riddim etc.
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,I visited Turkey 4 times and i stayed in Istanbul all those times, first of all their (bazaar)is very famous it is very old shopping center and they kept it like that also there is a museum which is one of the most interesting museum in the world the biggest diamond that they call (mountain of light) is there also (tobcopy))is a very old palace that Meany kings lived there with their wives and u will see how hundreds of women lived together as wives of one king ,is right by the sea on top of the mountain.there are so Meany places to see which are famous in the history,and night life in Turkey is fun fun and fun,specially if u go to (bosphor) which is Asian side of Istanbul a huge bridge divides European side from Asian side they call those clubs (cabaret) very traditional and cultural singing and dancing and their food is one of the most Delicious foods that i had in my life. all and all your trip to Turkey will be one of your most interesting ones u will see meny things that we all been reading in history books, I would love to go back for a visit,they are very smart,hardworking people but majority are poor and they love American dollars make sure u exchange money in the bank not in the bazaar or privet people they might give u more money but some times those moneys are countrified, these were my experience and what happened to me but as we all know it can happen every where when u travel,at the end if u want good, clean, and fair rate hotels u can find them in (aksaray )or( lalally).
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Other contributors give you a very good idea about Istanbul. As far as I see from your question you are after cultural and historical attractions. I can recommend you to visit a website which is composed of 15.600 categorized pictures of Turkey. So you can better know what to expect or where to see. Those pictures are taken by Dick Osseman.
http://upload.pbase.com/dosseman/
You may post other questions on a specific places later on, to learn deeper about its history.
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