See what the experts are saying about Istanbul. Get expert advice on how to get there what to see and more.
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Sustainable travel & ecotourism
One of the things that continually amaze me about Turkey is its ability to leapfrog over many of the challenges that traditionally, the "West" has had to grapple with. Turkey seems to be a caldron of budding (and more recently, established) e... Continue reading »
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Package tours
Package tours are simply a way to buy the airfare, accommodations, and other elements of your trip (such as car rentals, airport transfers, and sometimes even activities) at the same time and often at discounted prices. One good source of... Continue reading »
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Tips for gay and lesbian travelers
The fact that homosexuality is legal in Turkey is an interesting result of centuries of segregation of the sexes, veneration of female virtue, and lazy afternoons spent in the hamam (Turkish bath). Nevertheless, we're talking about a fairly c... Continue reading »
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Tips for senior travelers
Always mention the fact that you're a senior when you first make your travel reservations. For example, many hotels offer seniors' discounts. Don't be shy about asking for discounts, but always carry some kind of identification, such as a dri... Continue reading »
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Tips for travelers with disabilities
Although ramps have begun to appear in select Turkish hotels and museums, don't expect seamless access. However, Turkish hospitality being what it is, it'll be the odd tour guide or group leader who won't bend over backward to accommodate you... Continue reading »
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Tips for women travelers
Bait and Switch -- It's hard to believe, but in the major tourist areas of Turkey, particularly in the streets of Sultanahmet, an entire industry thrives on the acquisition and manipulation of emotions for economic gain. Foreign women, recept... Continue reading »
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Staying connected
Telephones To call Istanbul from abroad: 1. Dial the international access code: 011 from the U.S.; 00 from the U.K., Ireland, or New Zealand; or 0011 from Australia. 2. Dial the country code: 90. 3. Dial the city code 212 for the... Continue reading »
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Suggested itineraries
Frankly, 3 days is scarcely enough time to explore very much of anything anywhere, let alone Istanbul, the seat of three world empires. Expect only to cover the bare basics of Istanbul, and to leave thoroughly exhausted, with an aching back a... Continue reading »
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In one day
The Byzantine, Roman, and Ottoman kings, Caesars, and sultans were quite obliging when they clustered their lives in, around, and on top of each other's centers of power. The headliners of each are conveniently located in and around the Old C... Continue reading »
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In two days
On day 2 (having spent your first day following the 1-day itinerary), you'll have to work a little harder to cover the mosaic of Byzantine, Ottoman, and Republican sites scattered to the four corners of Istanbul. Start: St. Savior in Chora/Ka... Continue reading »
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In three days
With 3 days at your disposal (having spent your first 2 days following the 2-day itinerary), you have the luxury on day 3 of stopping to smell the roses, figuratively speaking. After 2 days of manic exploration, it's time to poke your nose in... Continue reading »
Istanbul Travel Experiences
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Welcome to the 'Bul
Our day began with an overcrowded bus ride form Turkmens up to the main bus station in Olympos. We had the pleasure of having three very... Continue reading »
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Mnemonics for Turkish
How to say thank you in Turkish: Tea Sugar A durham - more like tay shukur adihremToday I moved back to the hostel... Continue reading »
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East Meets West
If I asked which continent Turkey is on, what would you answer? The Lonely Planet includes it in their "Europe on a Shoestring" gui... Continue reading »
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There ıs no place lıke thıs...
My flıght left from Athens at 8 ın the mornıng. ı had no ıdea what to expect when arrıvıng ın Turkey. After landıng I waıted... Continue reading »
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Very Old Things
On our first whole day in Istanbul, we tried to see as much historical stuff as possible. Fortunately, the major sites are all located ar... Continue reading »
Popular Istanbul Hotels
- Alzer Hotel
- Med Cezir Hotel
- Erguvan Hotel Istanbul
- Alzer Hotel - DBL REC - ALREADY LIVE
- Garden House Istanbul
- Faros Hotel Istanbul
- The Bosphorus-Swissotel Istanbul
- Tash Konak
- Hilton Istanbul
- THE MARMARA PERA
