Istanbul has it all
After a half dozen travels to Istanbul, private and for business, I am still in love with this outstandig metropolis. Outstanding in any way. Istanbul is multicultural, has two thousand years of history, all kind of architecture, varied sightseeing possibility, day & night life for everyone, shopping from A – Z, amazing good cooking and at least wonderful nice people.
Pictures
Follow these link on flickr to see the pictures of our trips to Istanbul. Most of the pictures have precise geotags and are linked with the map of Istanbul.
Below is a short list of must see places. Just click on the links or use the tags and search the web or go to the TripAdvisor page of Istanbul.
Points of Interest
Bazaars
Spice Bazaar, Grand Bazaar, Old Book Bazaar, Arasta Bazaar
Mosques & Churches
Sultan-Ahmed (Blue) Mosque, Süleymaniye Mosque, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate
Museums
Hagia Sophia, Taksim, Chora Museum, Istanbul Naval Museum, Istanbul Modern Museum
Additional points of interest
Topkapi Palace, Galata Tower, Galata Bridge, Dolmabahçe Palace, Basilica Cistern, Tunnel, Bosphorus, Golden Horn, Istiklal Avenue
Parks and Gardens
For a complete list visit this page of the Istanbul tourist information.
Hamams in Istanbul
For a list of the Hamams click here.
Good Restaurants
Around Istiklal Avenue in the district Beyoglu:
Varka Antakya Lezzetleri, Yeni Lokanta, Giritimu Meyhane
Recommendation from the Istanbul tourist information:
Peymane La Cucina
Tom Tom Mh.
Bogazkesen Cad. No:61/1 Beyoglu
+90 212 293 3136
In the quarter Kumkapi (in the district Fatih):
Kör Agop a good fish restaurant.
Şehsuvar Bey Mh.
Ördekli Bakkal Sokak No:7
34130 İstanbul
+90 212 517 2334
Another restaurant in Kumkapi with the german speaking chef Barbaros is the Tiryakii (german site here).
Tiryakii Restaurant
Kadırga Limanı Cad.
Üstad Sok. No. 3
34110 Kumkapı Fatih – İstanbul
Reservation: +90 532 624 7300 or +90 212 458 22 00. If you want to make the reservation in german, ask for Barbaros.
GSM: 0532 624 73 00
E-Mail: info@tiryakii.com
Fish Market
In Kumkapi is a small but interesting fish market. Here is the location in google maps. The market is near the Kennedy Road and the Kumkapi train station. If you are on the way to the restaurants in the same district you will like to visit the market before you enjoy your dinner. Maybe you will see the fish you later eat.
Hotels
Nevertheless which category you prefer I recommend to book a hotel room along the Istiklal Avenue in the district Beyoglu (map). It has its points. It is a good start for the daily activities and you have a short walk to the shopping avenue Istiklal and at least it is the center of the night life. My personal favorite is the Troya Hotel. Be aware to book the superior room. The standard rooms are too small. And by the way… if you are searching for a quite place then Istanbul is not your city.
Hotel Troya
Tepebaşı, Meşrutiyet Caddesi. No:45
34430 Beyoğlu/İstanbul
+90 212 251 8206
Arrival & Hotel Transportation
The best place to arrive is the Atatürk Airport (IST). There is at least one flight on a daily basis from Germany to the Atatürk Airport in Istanbul. For the transportation to the hotel I recommend to take a cab. The ride takes about 30-45min along the Kennedy Road. Don’t pay more than 20 – 25 EUR (March 2014). And a final advice: Not every cab driver is as good in english as you. Please write down the address of your hotel or use the saved contact in your mobile phone and show it to the cab driver.
Istanbul tourist information
A good source is the web page of the Istanbul tourist information (english/german). This page (also in german) is a summary of the travel infos and other articles of interest.
Using Mobile
This page is optimized for mobile phones. It loads very fast and gives you the possibility to use it as your pocket guide.
Questions & Comments
If you have any questions or additional infos please feel free to add a comment.