Must see!
Istanbul is the only city in the world located on two continents – Europe and Asia. Istanbul is bounded on the north and the south by two seas, the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, respectively; and in the center flows the Bosphorus Strait.
What To Do:
• Search for the Sunken Palace Cistern (Yerebatan Saray) – It is an eerie subterranean “sunken palace” of 336 marble columns which could hold 80,000 cubic feet of water in case of drought or siege.
• Visit the Egyptian (Spice) Market for food, spices, coffee, snacks and some tourist souvenirs.
• Enjoy the Bosphorus Cruise – The perfect half-day Istanbul excursion, up toward the Black Sea past castles, palaces and Ottoman-Victorian villages • Bring yourself to the Grand Bazaar – It’s the ultimate medieval “shopping center” with 4,000 shops! Shop ‘til you drop!
Where To Eat:
You’ll find plenty of nice eateries in Istanbul. Check out the following restaurants and sample some of Turkey’s local dishes:
• Konyali Topkapi Sarayi Lokantasi – They have been serving celebrity royalty for more than 100 years. Some of the specialties of the house are their börek, the slow-cooked tandir lamb, and orange baklava.
• Hamdi Et Lokantasi – Specialties of the house include the erikli kebap, minced meat from a suckling lamb in which all of the fat has been cooked out, and the showcase testi kebap, a stew of diced meat, tomatoes, shallots, garlic, and green pepper cooked in a terra-cotta pot over an open fire and served tableside by breaking the pot (minimum 10 people, advance orders required).
• Cezayir – The star dish here is the Hamsi ceviche, bringing South America to the Black Sea. The small fish, popular in northern Turkey’s coastal cooking, is marinated in lime, ginger and coriander.
Where To Stay:
There are five hotel districts in Istanbul catering to all sorts of budgets. Choose the best according to your tour plans and area preferences.
• Best Western Taşhan Business & Airport Hotel (2 Star hotel) – Located in Taşhan Ave. No:57 • Hotel Nomade – Divanyolu Caddesi, Ticarethane Sokak 15 • The Marmara Residences – Atıf Bey Str. No: 67, Acıbadem, Kadıköy
How to get there:
There are two airports in Istanbul: the Ataturk airport and Sabiha Gokcen. Most flights within Turkey go through Istanbul, as the city is the major flight hub of Turkey. You may also come to Istanbul by bus or train from Europe or neighboring countries. However, flights are suggested since trains are slow and buses can be tiring.
References:
Tourismturkey.org English.istanbul.com Turkeytravelplanner.com Trave.NYtimes.com Twarp.com Professionaltravelguide.com
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