Istanbul Guidebook
Best and worst sights, experiences and destinations:
Best: Hagia Sophia
Why: We were able to walk right on in at 0900 am with our printed tickets from the internet. We actually able to enjoy the place for 30 minutes without so many people!
Worst: The tram
Why: Anytime we took the tram it was so jam packed full that you could barely breathe. Not for someone who has claustrophobia. Also, in the afternoons when the tourbuses leave from the Hagia Sophia, they take the same route that the tram takes toward the Galata bridge so sometimes the short ride down to the bride can take 20-30 minutes!
Erika Malitzky in Spokane, Wa USA 05/06/2013
Best: Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent
Why: Architecturally nearly perfect. Tile work and colors were over the top. Accessible, unlike the Blue Mosque with its endless lines and pressure to move through. Actually, the Blue Mosque looks shabby in comparison.
Worst: Dolmabache Palace
Why: Waited in rain for 2 hours in early April for tix. Tour guides openly comtemptuous of Anglo travelers, and their English was so poor I gave up trying to listen to them. Herded, hustled though. This one should be dropped from the guidebook. This is a destination that should be left to the natives.
Wil Robinson in Ocean Shores, WA USA 04/28/2013
Best: Guidebook pronounciations
Why: Your Turkish language section needs improvement (see below). But one language style point in your book is immensely helpful. That's the parenthetical pronounciation after Turkish words and places. Thanks for this.
Eugene Carlson in Vashon, WA USA 04/27/2013
Best: Bosporus Public Ferry
Why: Value for a whole day's activity.
Jeanie Kerner in Aloha, OR USA 03/31/2013
Worst: Grand Bazzar
Why: You should see it, but it has the feeling of an underground US mall.
Jarrad Wright in Washington, DC USA 03/22/2013
Best: Chora Church
Why: amazing mosaics and frescos well described
Gail B in Ammerthal, Ba Germany 11/30/2012
Worst: Grand Bazaar
Why: Waste of time. Prices significantly higher than those on street leading there.
Lynda Lamb in Birmingham, AL USA 07/11/2012
Best: The Blue Mosque and the National Archaeologicall Museum anl
Why: Incredible beauty and size; fabulous collections and great interpretation.
Worst: The Grand Bazaar
Why: Overcrowded, insistent salespeople, and we're not very interested in shopping.
Cheryl Foote in Albuquerque, NM USA 06/14/2012
Best: Bosphorus cruise
Why: The perspective of the city from the water is spectacular
Worst: Basilica cistern
Why: the quintessential tourist trap
bud in corona del mar, ca USA 06/08/2012
Best: Bosphorus cruise
Why: The perspective of the city from the water is spectacular
Worst: Basilica cistern
Why: the quintessential tourist trap
bud in corona del mar, ca USA 06/08/2012
Best: Blue Mosque
Why: The Blue mosque have very cleverly organised free information talks for visitors when the mosque is closed for prayers. The team was welcoming and friendly and the presenter was excellent and informative about the history of the building and its religious significance. A great visit thank you
Irina Torsi in Lake Forest, ABD 04/17/2012
Best: Haghia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace is amazing!
Why: It is a must to visit at Istanbul. The summer palace is plenty of places to enjoy the turkish art. The audio guide is very helpful to catch all the details and history off the place. There is a cafe and restaurant with an outstanding view to the Gold Horn.
Judit in Philadelphia, PA USA 03/29/2012
Best: Zeugma Hotel
Why: I stayed there with my wife and 2 daughter. they organize baby coat (free of charge) . also they arrange for us free shuttle transfer from airport ( for 3 night accommodation) and i found in their reservation system extra services ( flowers , birthday cake ). it was very nice for my 3 years old baby :)
cem in minsk, Belarus 03/29/2012
Worst: New District Walk
Why: It really wasn't terrible, but in comparison to the Old District, the Dolmabahce Palace, the Bosphorus Cruise, the trip to Kadikoy, it was kind of ordinary. However, it was easy to find a shop selling all flavors and size packages of halvah (plain, cocoa, pistachio, etc) so it was worth it in the end.
Joan Carroll in Fort Worth, TX USA 03/15/2012
Best: Haghia Sofia, Blue Mosque, Chora Church, Mosque of Süleyman
Why: Stunning architecture and art. These buildings alone are worth the trip.
Worst: City Walls walk
Why: The walls and walk are very interesting, but the neighborhood is not safe, and not advisable for solo travelers, even during daylight. For a colorful Roma/Gypsy neighborhood, the southern area of Sultanahmet just north of the sea wall is equally interesting, and much safer.
Heidi in Doha, Qatar 01/29/2012
Best: Chora Church and Ottoman Military Band
Why: The mosaics in Chora are incredible, are well preserved and well lighted. We took tram 1 and tram 4 to get there (8TL round trip) The military museum was great for historians like me. My wife couldn't believe the quality of the hour long show put on by the Ottoman Band. Very professionally done; included in entrance fee of 4TL. Sit back, shut your eyes, and you can feel the Ottoman horseman racing across the deserts.
Worst: Dolmabache Palace
Why: Overpriced at 40TL. The guides rushed us through with almost no comment. Since it was a slow day for visitors, I guess they wanted to get the tour over with as fast as possible. The interiors are ornate, but no time given to absorb the atmosphere. Bad!
George Braun in Manassas, VA USA 11/29/2011
Best: Aya Sofya and Sulimanye Mosque
Why: In a city with many marvelous experiences, these were the pinnacle of pinnacles.
Worst: Bosporus Cruise
Why: The cruise up the Bosporus was lovely. However, there is NOTHING to do in Anadolu Kavagi except eat lunch (we were hoping for a nicer town, not just a pit stop). Our fish lunch was fresh and delicious, but our waiter disappeared after the entree. The return trip was quite boring, and I was not the only looking exhausted. It made for a long and tiring day, only the first half of which was worthwhile. A shorter cruise would probably be nice, and recommendations for other, more interesting towns on the Asian side would be helpful.
Harold Chasen in Philadelphia, PA USA 10/11/2011
Best: Dolmabahçe Palace
Why: Breathtakingly beautiful, I thought it was better than most of the 3 star sights recommended by the guidebook.
Worst: Carpet sales people
Why: No thank you did not work, we were stalked, followed and constantly harassed. What finally worked was "I already have lots of carpets, I don't need any more."
Joe Mackenzie in Kenmore, wa USA 08/06/2011
Best: Hagia Sophia
Why: Stunningly beautiful.
Worst: City Wall Walk
Why: Unsafe, directions are poor, guidebook needs to be immediately revised for the safety of travelors.
Joe Mackenzie in Kenmore, WA USA 08/06/2011
Best: Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent and the little Hagia Sophia
Why: Beautiful and so peaceful, gave me a true appreciation for the difference between a church and a mosque in inspirational decoration.
Worst: Being constantly asked where we were from as an opener for rug sales.
Why: Just got a bit old. Luckily no one had heard of Maryland so we used that but of course eventually someone had lived in Baltimore and gave us a 20 minute spiel before getting to the rug. Being polite we listened. Our first rug salesman helped us cut the line at the Blue Mosque gave us a nice tour and then several cups of tea and a rug later we were released. That was fun but you only want to do that once!
Anna McHale in Kensington, Md USA 04/25/2011
Best: The cistern.
Why: Amazing architectural space, impressive strangely like Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
Joe Costantino in Sofia, bulgaria 04/10/2011
Worst: New City area
Why: Not too impressed with the New City area, though glad we saw it since it might be more representative. We felt that Asian Istanbul communities of Harem and Uskudar reflect the more authentic side of Istanbul.
Joan Barnes in Portland, OR USA 04/01/2011