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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Last couple of days ın Istanbul!
Its our last day ın Istanbul today after havıng an amazıng past 4 or 5 days. We're fındıng people around here have started to recog... Continue reading »
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Turkish Delights
We entered Istanbul amidst rush hour and the endless suburbs were snarling with traffic. It felt like we'd never make it to our hotel but... Continue reading »
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The Turkey is Finished Before Thanksgiving
By DanAs a matter of convenience more than anything, we saved Istanbul for the end of our time in Turkey. I hesitate to say that it’s lea... Continue reading »
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Istanbul Pt.2: Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace
Bright and early the next morning, we rolled out of bed and continued on part 2 of the Istanbul tour. We brought along an extra pair of s... Continue reading »
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It's Istanbul not Constantinople
We traveled for ages on the train through the suburbs of Istanbul before finally reaching the centre. All of the houses were covered in f... 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
