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Turkey Travel Tips

Ancient cultures, delicious food, and warm, sunny beaches: We love and Turkey! What tips do you have for your fellow travelers to the East Mediterranean?

I want to add my comments! 

Bus travel to Cappadocia
I made a trip to Cappadocia by bus, visiting valleys and natural castle around the region. 2 days 3 night trip that I found at www.travelcappadociatours.com was really complete and great. You can learn a lot about history and see many beautiful places. The hot air ballon is the top atraction of the place and I really recomend it. I followed suggestions from the manager of the tour agency Huseyin and I found everything very well organized beleived his experiences
Sandra
London, Australia   01/25/2012

Very easy to see Turkey by bus!!!
My husband and I toured Turkey for 16 days in December and highly recommend using the bus system. It's very easy to do, and extremely economical. We used a travel agency affiliated with the Marmara Guesthouse in Istanbul (Shashot Travel) to book our daytours in several places and to reserve several of our hotels; we also spent about half the trip on our own...We flew into Istanbul and spent the first 3 days at the Marmara before flying to Cappadocia for two days...from there, we took a bus to the Mediterranean Coast (Antalya, then on to Kas and Fethiye ) and then took a bus inland and toured Pumakkale, Ephesus, and finally, the Aegean Coast (Mesme Penninsula) We flew back to Istanbul from Izmir...very easy to take Turkish Airlines flights within the country for the longer distances. Research your trip and make plans to see the country by bus..we avoided overnight bus rides and instead traveled during the day in order to see the countryside!! We LOVED Turkey and hope to go back very soon! It's SO interesting culturally and historically and the scenery is spectacular...the people are super friendly and it's easily half the cost of Europe or less!!!! Check it out for the adventure of a lifetime!!!
Laurie
EDMONDS, WA  USA   01/13/2012

Re Deniz House
When we first arrived in Turkey the airport recommended another accomodation provider .. it was terrible ; night 3 we arrived at Deniz House and everything was perfect, the hospitality, room service, breakfast, cleanliness, room decorations, bedding ... all faultless. The view from our room was lovely and staff could not have been more helpful. I look forward to seeing beautiful Turkey again and staying at Deniz House.
Ksren
Adelaide, SA  AUS   01/11/2012

Deniz Houses Hotel in Sultanahmet
Deniz Houses Hotel in Sultanahmet,a nice place ?We left something in the room ,When we return back a week later ,the stuff there help us to find it ! www.denizhouses.com ''
lily
nanjing, China   12/20/2011

sultanahmet
You should definetely see basilica cistern in Sultanahmet in Istanbul.
henry
amsterdam, USA   12/19/2011

Naz Wooden House Hotel in Sultanahmet'
Our holidays in this hotel were perfect, the hotel is very nice, the rooms are small but comfortable and clean. the breakfast is plentiful and good. I will recommend your hotel to all my friends who want to come to Istanbul. With my best regards
romano tranquilli
roma, italy  USA   12/19/2011

Turkey Travel Agency
To simplify the process of flight and hotel bookings in Turkey we used the services of Backpackers Travel in Istanbul. Communication was prompt and easy, the Hotels they recommended in Istanbul and particularly in Goreme offered excellent value, internal flights and airport transfers worked seamlessly. Highly recommended.
John Arnold
Yorba linda, CA  USA   11/19/2011

Istanbul
Istanbul tips: RS Guide excellent for our six independent days in Istanbul. Especially recommend Sultan Hill Hotel, right behind Blue Mosque and a short wealk to Palce, Cistern, Hagia Sophia and Sultanahmet Tram. Staff wonderfdul, shuttle to and from Airport timely and easy. Discount with RS Book. Non RS recommendation for eating: Hotel Alzer, far end of Hippodrome from Hagia Sophia. Sixth floor views fabulous, food good and appropriately priced and ubo is the friendlies waiter in Turkey.
George Werner
Pittsburgh, PA  USA   11/09/2011

Carpetium in Selcuk
My wife and I visited Ephesus on 3 Oct. 2011, and after a very enjoyable tour of the ruins, Terraced Houses and museum we decided to make an impromptu visit to Carpetium Carpet Manufacturing in Selcuk, as it was on our way back to Kusadasi. Rick Steves recommends Carpetium in his new guidebook "Mediterranean Cruise Ports" (page 1203) as an alternative to the high priced carpet shops in Kusadasi; note that while Carpetium's prices are lower they still expect you to haggle. Although we had given no advance notice of our visit we were hooked up with a fluent English-speaking guide/salesman, Andre, who gave us a very informative tour of the carpet weaving operations on-site; we were particularly intrigued by the way the silk thread is removed from the cocoons. After this we were ushered into a private room and given a presentation on the various carpet weaving regions of Turkey, designs and the qualities of Turkish carpets. This, of course, was the sales end of the visit, but we found it to be very low-key, particularly when compared to what you can experience at the usual carpet shop in tourist areas, and gracious. After ogling several silk carpets valued in the tens of thousands of US$, we decided to purchase something more modest. In this regard we settled on a 212cm x 155cm Hereke wool on cotton carpet with a floral design and a slightly smaller Kazak wool on cotton with a geometric design. After completing the paperwork, photgraphing each carpet and signing the back of each. we were informed that the carpets would be delivered to our doorstep within six weeks, but no later than eight weeks. Well, here it is three and a half weeks later and the carpets were delivered to our doorstep bright and early this morning by FedEx complete with certificates of origin/guarantee. The two of them were folded into a relatively small package and exceedingly well wrapped in several layers of thick plastic. I've just unwrapped them and they are as gorgeous as they looked at Carpetium. What made this whole exercise even more pleasant was that the agreed price included Canadian import duties and taxes. All in all we had a very pleasant experience with Carpetium and thank Rick and his team for doing much of the leg-work in seeking them out.
Bryan
Oakville, ON  Canada   10/27/2011

Turkish Visa @ airport
In response to the post below regarding the cost of a Tukish visa, you should note that the cost varies depending on the passport you carry. For example, Canadians pay US$60/Euro 45 for a 90 day, multiple entry visa, whereas UK passport holders pay GBP 10 and New Zealanders pay zero. I think it's a reciprocity issue, i.e. tit for tat, so best check at your nearest Turkish embassy or consulate. Also, I believe the fee is payable only in US$, Euros or GBP (for UK); they won't accept Turkish Lira.
Bryan
Oakville, ON  Canada   10/27/2011

Bakpackers Travel
My experience with Backpackers Travels Istanbul started about an year back when I came to know about the company through google search. The response to my first email to them last year itself was amazing. Atilla's reply to my email was not only to the point but also exhaustive in all respects. I travel all over the world. I have been availing of services of many travel agencies around the world and am happy to say that I have not dealt with a better agency. Sales Team of Backpackers is extremely professional, prompt and particular about details. This time I had the good opportunity of seeing their office at Istanbul.
ravindra verma
NEW DELHI, INDIA   10/23/2011

Turkish Visa @ airport
Sept/Oct-2011, Flying into a Turkish airport you first need a VISA before passing through Customs. Three prices!!,30 day,15.00euro,60 day-30.00euro.90 day45.00euro. Make sure you ask for a visa for the time you will be in Turkey. We didn't and it cost us 45.00euro!!!!!each person!!!!!!!

John Calder.Sidney,BC
John & Rosalind Calder
Sidney, B.C.  USA   10/21/2011

Private tours in Istanbul and Kusadasi/Ephesus
My wife and I have just returned from our first trip to Turkey and want to share with you the excellent experience we had with private tour guides in Istanbul and Kusadasi/Ephesus. Since our stay was limited, and although we had purchased Rick Steves' excellent guide books, we decided that the best way to maximise our time in both places was to engage the services of private tour guides. In this regard we contacted Kagan Kosagan of KSG Tours http://www.privatetoursinturkey.com/ Right from the start before we left Canada we were impressed with the service provided by Kagan, the principal: He replied to our enquiries and questions promptly and completely, notwithstanding the 7 hour time difference, and helped us find a very nice "boutique-style" hotel in Istanbul; this was even before we had formally engaged his tour services. The two guides he assigned us, Hale Koca in Istanbul and Yelda Celik in Kusadasi/Ephesus, were outstanding. They are very bright, knowledgeable and articulate, as well as being very accommodating. We quickly deveoped a good rapport with each. Bottomline: the three days we spent with Hale and Yelda were well worth the money. We will use the services of Kagan and his team when we return to Turkey in the not too distant future and recommend him without hesitation.
Bryan
Oakville, ON  Canada   10/13/2011

allow 90 min at Kayseri airport
Turkish airports generally have two security checkpoints - one as you enter from the outside, and the second one to get to your gate. for this reason, if you are staying in Goreme (Cappadocia) and flying out of Kayseri, be SURE to get to the airport 90 min in advance!! You will need the time! There are very few flights from this airport, so if you miss your flight, you will likely be stuck there all day (8 hours or more) until the next (and last) flight.
Brenda
Pottstown, PA  USA   09/25/2011

Recommendation for help with booking budget travel
We just came back from a two week family vacation in Turkey. One week was on a Turkish sail boat. We booked that through V-Go based in Fethiye. They were great to work with. We sailed one way along the southern coast of Turkey and the per day cost per person was about 50 euros, which was cheaper than the rest of our trip! That included 3 meals per day, a berth and of course transportation on the boat.

There were 16 of us, so planing for budget hotels on the rest of the trip was a bear. So I went with Backpackers Travel for help, and I would recommend them highly.

From our very first email contact, Backpackers Travel were the most organized and professional agent we encountered in Turkey. In response to our initial query they gave a precise estimate within 24 hours, and were able to do whatever we requested for our two-week self-organized trip with 16 people! They answered each subsequent email promptly, courteously, and efficiently. They were able to provide us budget-priced accomodations and transportation, which not every agent was willing to do. There were a lot of people in our party, with multiple connections and dates, but in the end the trip went without a hitch. The quality of what they booked for us was what was advertised. I especially appreciated the summary sheet they sent with all the details laid out. Everything Backpackers promised to do was done on time. Including our last minute changes. We worked with Tahsin Unsal and he was a joy to work with, and the modest service fee they charge was well worth it. I highly recommend them.
Kevin Kelly
Pacifica, CA  USA   09/07/2011

Confusion departing Bodrum
I had a bad experience getting out of Bodrum. I took the 45 minute Havas bus from the downtown Bodrum Otogar (bus station). The buses are supposedly linked to each flight so that they leave the station two hours before each flight. They had a board with this info written on it. I was there for the correct departure. I showed the driver my Turkish Airlines ticket which showed that it was to London with a stopover in Istanbul All on Turkish Air. So he took me to the International terminal which is 1 km from the Domestic terminal. It turns out that even though I was connecting to a London flight, all Turkish Air flights from Bodrum depart from the Domestic terminal.

So I had to race to get a cab from the International Terminal to the Domestic terminal making it with only 5 minutes to spare before I would have violated the Turkish Airlines checkin requirement of one-hour before the flight departs.

By the way, Turkish Air gave no hint on their ticket information that there were two terminals.

Morale of the story: Always verify the exact name of the terminal and double check. I had no idea that in a small town airport like Bodrum they would have two terminals at different locations! Always allow more time.....
Michael
Bothell, WA  USA   06/17/2011

Mosque of Sόleyman restrictions
On 30 May 2011, the mosque of Sόleyman the Magnificent was open, but the outer courtyard was closed for restoration (and hidden by temporary walls covered with posters). The cemetery with his and her mausoleums was chained shut -- temporarily? For the season? Couldn't tell.
Bob Leedom
Glenwood, MD  USA   06/14/2011

Istanbul and Turkey trip
The Turkey Trip of visiting different historical places through New Deal Travel Agency was very well arranged and we enjoyed. Everything, pickup from Istanbul air port to hotel and after all those places which we wanted to visit. Starting from boarding lodging and providing transportation etc. in all those places and back to Istanbul air port was very enjoyable. This trip was very well managed and we appreciate for all your arrangements' and efforts you made to make this trip enjoyable for us. For travel to Turkey I like to recommend the tailor made tours with new deal travel which can be found at E-mail : info@privateistanbultours.com web : www.privateistanbultours.com Thanks again.
Khan
NY, USA   05/28/2011

tour Istanbul
For travel in Istanbul we would like to recommend the walking tour with back packerstravel which can be found at E-mail : info@backpackerstravel.net web : http://www.backpackerstravel.net We arrived by ship on May 19 2011 at 8am and walked until 4pm with a free lunch period for an hour and a half. Ahmed gave us an all day walking tour of Istanbul. He was charming, informative, easy to understand and he was able to answer any of our questions about the country or history. We found each of the sites fascinating and with our smaller group we were able to move to each place of interest quickly. We appreciated the pick up by the van at the start of the tour and Ahmed was very clear with the instructions and stations to use on our return using the tram. When we returned to our ship we found from others that we had had by far the most pleasant and informative tour and for so much less than the bus tours. Highly recommend Ahmed and your tour group. Regards Mrs.L. Paterson London Ontario Canada
Laurel Paterson
London, ON  Canada   05/24/2011

Cappadocia
We booked a 2-day tour of Cappadocia with Gokay from Backpackers Travel travel agency. He helped us book our transport (overnight bus) there and back, a cave hotel room and the 2 days of tours. Definitely the easiest way to visit Cappadocia is with a tour group, it can be really tricky to get around to everything because you have to drive. But we didn't have to worry about a thing, everything was taken care of and well planned!
Hillary
Caledon, ON  Canada   05/20/2011

Turkey Tips and Ideas
I've thought about writing up some suggestions on Turkey for the past few years, finally had a reason to do it, and thought I'd share them here. These are based on several trips to Turkey I took while working on projects there from 2004 through 2009. Hopefully you will find this useful.

Guidebooks: I used Lonely Planet most often. Its descriptions of tourist sites are a bit thin, but it has just about every inhabited area and every site worth seeing described in it. The Rick Steve's Istanbul guide is quite useful and worth picking up for that city. At sites that had them (e.g. Ephesus, Cappadocia-area) I bought an English language guide at a gift shop when I first arrived. Those were helpful and made nice souvenirs.

Things to bring: I found three things especially useful – a compass, a small flashlight, and wet naps/tissues. The compass was great for driving and also navigating in big cities. The flashlight helped at sites that are not well lit. The wet naps/tissues helped outside of big cities where restroom facilities sometimes consist of pit toilets and jugs of water.

Cash – I suggest that you keep as much as you expect to need to cover all of your expenses each day on hand. I used an ATM card and never had a problem getting cash. Many places take only cash and sometimes credit card machines are down, even at big sites (once at the Topkopi Palace for me). Other places (e.g. hotels) will often give a cash discount.

Cell phone – I got an inexpensive used cell phone in Turkey and purchased credits from one of the many locations that sell Turkcell credits. Ask your first hotel for advice on the best place to buy one.

Food and water – I drank tap water and ate whatever caught my eye. The only time I had a problem was when I inadvertently ate cig kofte (a raw lamb dish).

Transportation: For some of my trips I used one carrier to get to elsewhere in Europe and a second to get to Turkey, rather than flying directly. This method will increase your air travel options and may decrease your cost. Turkish Air flies throughout Europe and is a nice option to get to Turkey if you find a flight deal from a U.S. carrier to a city in a nearby country (e.g. in Germany or Italy). Inside Turkey I found that flying between cities located more than about 4 hours apart was the best way to get around the country. Prices were reasonable and it saved a lot of time for sightseeing compared to taking a bus or driving long distances. For example, Izmir is a short flight from Istanbul and well-situated to visit Pergamum, Ephesus and other sites along the western coast.

I rented a car to sightsee rather than taking any organized tours or using buses or trains. Road signs were good enough for every site I wanted to see and I never got lost with a basic road map coupled with guide book maps. A car saves time, provides flexibility and allows for visits to minor and often quite interesting sites.

Communication: I don't speak Turkish, but did not have trouble communicating in even the most rural areas. I used a phrase book to learn a few basics, and would point, write on paper or make gestures.

Sightseeing: I spent most of my time in Istanbul, around Izmir, around Cappadocia and around Adana, so my recommendations are focused on those areas. I think Istanbul and Cappadocia are the two most unique places to see in Turkey and should be a priority. However, if you only have a week you may want to do Istanbul and the sites near Izmir instead.

Istanbul – Every time I flew, I arrived at Ataturk airport. I recommend taking a cab from that airport into Istanbul. It's a bit pricy ($20 to $25 or so to Sultanahmet in 2009), but it gets you downtown and started fast. There are buses you can catch back to the airport for less, just ask at your hotel or look for the advertisements.

Sultanahmet is my favorite area to stay in or near. It has all of the top ancient sites and plenty of smaller local hotels that are focused on tourists. However, there are some nice modern business hotels (e.g. Hilton) near Taksim Square, if you prefer that. Look for a hotel that has a rooftop terrace for a nice view. I like Empress Zoe (1st choice) and Blue House in Sultanahmet. There are also a lot of decent restaurants near those two.

The Rick Steve's guidebook is pretty solid on ranking the sites in Istanbul. The big thing I found with Istanbul is planning what order to see things and how much time to allow for each site. Check opening/closing times and dates and proximity to other sites to determine the best order. Don't listen to sales people who tell you a site is closed as a ploy to get you to go to their shop instead. Here are my estimates of touring times for a good, but not super detailed look at the places I liked most in Istanbul. These are listed roughly in order of my recommended sightseeing priority.

Aya Sophia – 2 hours – the top site in Istanbul to see in my opinion

Topkopi Palace – 6 hours – take the extra tours such as the harem tour to get the full experience and book them as soon as you arrive at the palace Archaeology Museum – 4 hours - a must see site for the sarcophagi alone

Blue Mosque - <1 hour – a great place if you only have limited time to sightsee the day you arrive or depart

Hippodrome area – 1 hour – see this early morning or late evening when other sites are closed.

Kariye Museum – 1 or 2 hours – a gem of a church. Plan on taking a cab ride over to it.

Basilica Cistern -1 hour – a perfect site to see at night since it's dark in there anyway

Islamic Art Museum – 2 to 4 hours – lots of rugs, doors, furniture, and decent ethnographic displays

Suleiman Mosque and Tombs – 1 hour – This was being renovated in 2009. Double check its status before visiting.

Galata Bridge and adjacent markets – 2 hours – more fun than the Grand Bazaar. Walk across the bridge and through the streets up the hill to Istiklal Street to check out all of the interesting market areas.

Istiklal Street and Taksim Square – 3 hours – a great stroll before and after dinner

Bosporus Cruise/Andolu Kavagi – 6 hours if you take the cheap local ferry boat, eat lunch and tour the castle that overlooks the Black Sea. This is a nice option for an easy day.

Grand Bazaar – 2 hours – a great place to buy trinkets for presents/souvenirs. The book bazaar is nice for miniature artwork. The streets around this have similar shops and some have nicer things. Rustem Pasa Cami – <1 hour – a mosque worth a quick look near the Galata bridge

Dede Efendi House – 1 hour – A nifty 1700's-era furnished house of a famous composer. It's worth a visit if you have a spare hour. No one else will be there and you'll have the caretaker to yourself.

Galata Tower – <1 hour – nice view of the city from the top

Spice Bazaar – <1 hour – good for a picture in front of mounds of spices

Dervish Show – 2 hours – see one at or associated with the Dervish lodge for an interesting, albeit slow, cultural experience.

City Walls – 1 hour - I checked these out on a morning run. Worth a quick look if you're seeing something nearby.

Izmir – I suggest flying here from Istanbul, then heading north and south to the sites. If you have limited time, spend it at Ephesus in Selcuk to the south. Around Izmir I liked the following:

Bergama – This is the location of Pergamum, a Greek/Roman-era city to the north of Izmir. The best stuff was looted and is in Berlin, but the asclepion and acropolis are still well worth a day. The red basilica along the road to those sites is worth a quick look on the way up or back from the acropolis.

Selcuk – I like the atmosphere is Selcuk compared to the hotels around Kusadasi along the coast. There is a nice [INVALID]ion of small hotels and restaurants in town. There are also some nice low-pressure shops to pick up gifts for friends and family. If its still in business, I got a great backgammon at Celsus Ceramics back in 2004.

Ephesus is the must see site in Selcuk. It's on par with Pompeii in Italy, but much more manageable. I did not hire a guide, but did pick up an Ephesus "before and after" type guidebook. You can give Ephesus itself a good look in a half a day. I recommend the the ruins of the temple of Artemis, archaeological museum, and ruins of the church of St. John for the other half day. A small necropolis (grotto of the seven sleepers) is also nearby and worth quick a look. If you have more time, Sirince is a village nearby that is nice place to visit for lunch and a walk around.

Ruined Cities - Priene is a ruined Greek-era city that's an easy half-day trip to the south of Selcuk. If you have more time you can travel further south to Miletus and Didyma too. These cities are fun to visit and you'll have them mostly to yourself. However, you can just pick one if you're tired of seeing ruins.

Cappadocia – I drove up here from Adana every time I visited, so I can't suggest the best way to travel to this area. Having your own car once you're here makes sightseeing much easier. It allows you to look at some top notch sites that are not frequently visited. There are five main types of sites here – underground cities, Byzantine-era churches, ruined villages/castles, caravansaries, and fairy chimneys. Here are my thoughts on each type of attraction:

Churches and monasteries – Goreme is best place to see churches. It has the densest concentration of churches in the best shape and the village has lots of places to stay and eat. Along with the open air museum in Goreme, be sure to look at the buckle church and church of the evil eye nearby. I have a particular fondness for the El Nazar church because the caretaker opened the church back up when I arrived with a co-worker at closing time one afternoon. He gave us a guided tour and invited us to his office for tea even though just about our entire conversation was conducted with guidebook pictures and gestures. The second best place to see churches in the Ilhara Valley. It's a great day hike through the woods with a nice scattering of churches built up along the cliff walls. Gulzelyut is a nice village with some interesting sites near Ilhara.

There are lots of other stand-alone churches I really like in Cappadocia. The top two are the Church of St. John in Gulsehir and the Eski Gumusler monastery near Nigde. Both are outstanding and thinly visited.

Ruined villages and castles – The Uchisar castle is worth a quick visit for the nice views from the top. Zelve village is a nice attraction, but not a priority. The rock carved monastaries and church-complexes provide a similar experience with the addition of artwork on the walls and ceilings.

Underground cities – I like Derikyu and Kamakli the best. If you have not visited one before, I found that this is one case where hiring a guide is worth it to point out some of easy to miss details of the rooms. There will be guides selling their services near the entrances. Negotiate on price and expect the length of the tour to adjust accordingly. If you're in good enough shape and want a quick experience there is a nice underground village near Guzelyurt. You'll have to be able to use hand/footholds carved into the rock to climb up one of the tunnels between the floors. My group had it to ourselves when we visited.

Caravansaries – Sarihan near Avanos is the easiest to visit and has been fully reconstructed. It's a nice setting for an afternoon tea break. Avanos is also a nice village nearby to stop in for a meal and to shop for pottery. In my experience many of the other caravansaries are often closed. Those near Aksaray are close enough to the main road to Nevsehir to pull off and quickly check out even if they are closed.

Fairy Chimneys – the best are near Uchisar, Goreme, and the Deverent Valley (Zelve). There are plenty of pull-offs along the road near these.

Adana – Traffic in Adana itself is chaotic, so allow time to get in and out of the city. There are three hotel options I used that work well and each gives a different experience. The Zaimoglu Hotel is a 4-star hotel in the middle of downtown is my top recommendation. Because of its location it will give you a complete Adana immersion experience. In 2004 I stayed at the Sari Konak apartments on the north side of town several times and would recommend them. It is located in a quiet neighborhood near a park. The fanciest and most western hotel is the Hilton on the east side of the River.

Adana itself has few sites of interest. The Sabanci mosque and adjacent park are nice and the archaeology museum is close to those. Most of the other museums, sites, and mosques are worth a visit only if you have some time you need to kill. The best experience is simply walking around the historic downtown. While here, be sure to try to Adana Kebap and any of the desserts made with local pistachios.

A car is a must to see most of the sites outside of Adana as they are located on smaller side roads with infrequent public transportation. You will have these sites to yourself. Here are my favorites for day trips from Adana. You can often see several of these in a day depending on where you're heading.

Anavarza – This is a ruined Roman-era city and Byzentine-era castle to the east of Adana. The views of and from the castle are spectacular. I loved this site, but it's also the only one where I've felt harassed rather than helped by the locals. They have a bit of a racket here. Regardless of where you park, a local may appear and charge you a small fee for parking. Another is likely to insist that you need a guide to walk you around the site. It's actually not a bad idea since there are some dangerous spots around the castle, but if you hire one negotiate the price up front. The locals may also try to sell stuff (e.g. fake "antique" coins and such) once you're done at the site.

Hierapolis-Castable – This is a ruined Roman-era city and castle to the east of Adana. It's worth a quick look if you're touring in the area. However, I like Uzuncaburc to the west of Adana near Silifke better.

Karatepe – This is a ruined Hittite city east of Adana worth visiting. Although not large, it has some impressive artifacts. You are required to use an escort as part of the admission price.

Kizkalesi – These are two Byzentine-era castles west of Adana on the coast near Silifke. Both are worth visiting. You have to pay admission at each castle and, unless you want to swim, you'll have to hire a boat to visit one of the castles. There is also a nice beach here.

Kozan - This is a ruined Armenian castle north of Adana with impressive views.

Silifke – This is a good location to stop for lunch or dinner. It's easy to drive around. There are some decent ruins here too – a castle, temple and old cistern.

Uzuncaburc – This is a ruined Greek-era city and one of my favorite places to visit around Adana. The road to the site is scenic and has some interesting and quite large mausoleums. The ruins of the city include a city tower, temples, market gate, amphitheater, and necropolis. The locals I've met here have been quite friendly. You may be able to obtain some photocopied English language pages of information from the tea shop near the amphitheater.

Yilankale – This is an Armenian castle just outside Adana to the east. It's a convenient castle to visit and is in good shape with walls and many rooms still intact.

Antakya – There is a decent regional museum here and some other minor sites nearby. The city had the most middle-eastern feel of all of the cities I visited in Turkey and has some different cuisine. I enjoyed it, but would not take the time to drive all the way to it unless you're headed towards Syria.
Rob
Dunwoody, GA  USA   04/02/2011

Turkey Traveller
Just returned from Turkey and had great experience, we did take a trip to 6-Days Gallipoli, Troy, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Cappadocia in one itinerary, all the arrangements were perfect, we booked through http://www.gallipolitour.com/ and would be happy to use their services again.
Sharon
New Jersey, NJ  USA   03/03/2011

Hotel in Cappadocia
We went to Cappadocia and loved our stay in Mόstafapa?a at the Old Greek House. We were there for Thanksgiving and it was off season, but Sόleyman and his helpers put out a terrific Turkish meal for us.

The inn is located in the heart of Cappadocia, about an hour from the Kayseri airport. We couldn't have been happier with our choice. The inn has a lot of charm, and the price is reasonable.
Tim Templeton
Laguna Beach, CA  USA   01/19/2011

Ephesus Tours
My husband and I felt we just had to comment on the most enjoyable and reasonably priced tour we had of Kusadasi.

We had arrived on the 18th of June with Royal Caribbean. Ertunga was waiting for us at the port with and air-conditioned car, most welcomed in the heat, and his very polite, courteous and safe driver. We had arranged a private tour because I have difficulty walking for extended periods; well to be honest I have to take a break after only 10-15 minutes. I was concerned that it might present a problem, but Ertunga was most understanding. We had an amazing and relaxing tour of Ephasus. The pace at which Ertunga showed us around was never rushed. His knowledge of the history of that amazing place was very informative and told in a way that was enjoyable and not stuffy. He also gave us time to wander around by ourselves allowing us to soak up the atmosphere. The itinerary for the tour had been chosen by us and included a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary. An amazing place, that gave me an overwhelming feeling of serenity and calmness. We were fortunate enough to be there as the priests celebrated Mass. Of course we could not have visit Turkey without going to a carpet factory, or to be more precise, a Carpet Weaving Cooperative. You can see how the carpets are made; starting with how the silk is extracted from the silk worms to the skill employed by the girls weaving the carpets. We also have a lovely meal, with of course the chance to sample the local wine. A "secret" place I would highly recommend you ask Ertunga to take you to, the top of Ataturk Hill. You will see the most amazing views of the Kusadasi bay and Pigeon Island.
suzanna
Oakland, ca  USA   12/28/2010

Turkey Highlights in 3 Small Itineraries in just 3 weeks
My wife and I spent three weeks in Turkey this past July. A great itinerary for those who enjoy culture and history could include: - 4 days in Istanbul - enough for most of the tourist highlights. Like Rome, the majority of sites are concentrated or easily accessed by public transportation. Best if you stay in Sultanahmet. - fly to Izmir for a week around the Aegean, rent a car for Pergamon, Selcuk (much more than just Ephesus), historic sites south to Didyma and east to Parmakkule - Last 10 days - drop the car off in Dalyan, bus to Marmaris (optional Rhodes visit), over to Fethiye and few days Blue Cruise to Olympos ending with a couple days in Antalya in the old harbour area to relax. Fly back to Istanbul for North Americans.

Awesome, even without Cappadocia!

You don't need a guide, Turks are super friendly, a clean safe country, great shopping and English is commonly spoken. Plus the last great bargain in Europe! And so much more to see... we'll be back.

Brian F.
Brian
London, ON  Canada   12/13/2010

Turkey hotel, restaurant, sites, tour guide and driver recommendations for Istanbul, Ephesus, Bodrum, Fethiye, Cappadocia
My partner and I travelled for 14 days in Turkey in October-November 2010. Below are some of the best hotels, restaurants, sites, tour guides and drivers encountered during our trip. We're listing only the things you might not find in a guidebook or on the web[INVALID]experiences and people we found particularly wonderful.

During our trip US $ 1 = TL (Turkish lira) 1.40. So 15 TL is about $10.

The weather was reasonable, though a little cold and moist sometimes. But we liked the smaller crowds and better deals off-season. It had been colder and wetter the week before we came.

If any of the phone numbers or email address have been stripped from the version you're reading, please see the full text at http://faculty.washington.edu/swittet/Turkey.

Our itinerary:

* Arrived Istanbul, walked a bit, slept in Sultanahmet (Old Town). Spent next day sightseeing in Old Town. * Spent two nights in Cappadocia, then back to IST for a night. We had a guide and driver in Cappadocia. * Five nights on the Aegean Coast: two nights outside Ephesus (in Sirince), a night in Bodrum, two nights in Fethiye. We had a driver only. * Four nights in Beyoglu (Istanbul New Town). Walked a lot. Also travelled by tram, ship, and subway.

Normally I make all travel arrangements on my own, but this trip was complicated (a lot of far-flung places were on our list, it was clear we'd need a car and I didn't want to drive) so we worked with an agency. I contacted Lale Aran, co-owner of SRM Travel (www.srmtravel.com). Phone +90 (216) 386 7623. (to call from inside Turkey: (0216) 386 7623) lale@srmtravel.com laleATsrmtravelDOTcom

You may know Lale from the Rick Steves TV shows or podcasts. She and her husband wrote the RS Istanbul guidebook. Lale had many good ideas for an itinerary that worked, places to see, and places to stay. I highly recommend SRM if you don't want to arrange everything yourself. Plus, Lale can get cheaper domestic flight tickets in-country than foreigners can on the web (and you probably won't want to wait until you're in Istanbul to book tickets).

Istanbul

Our Old Town hotel was not memorable, so I won't mention it. But when we returned from the coast, we moved across the Galata Bridge and up the hill to a hotel in the New Town, a block from Istiklal Street, in a happening district with lots of interesting restaurants.

Hotel: Pera Suites Me?rutiyet Caddesi Orhan Adli Apaydin Sok. No:17/A Tepebas? 34430 +90 (212) 252 50 50 info@theperasuites.com infoATtheperasuitesDOTcom ? www.theperasuites.com

We stayed in a Junior Suite, which is a studio apartment with small kitchen. The price was reasonable and the location excellent with restaurants, bars and clubs and small shops close by (Pera Suites are a block from the famous Pera Palace Hotel if you're looking on a map). The area is lively at night and even though the windows are double-paned, there is a hole in each for ventilation, so every word (and shout and late night song) rings clear. It helped to block the vent hole with pillows and to run the air con for white noise. The other challenge at Pera Suites is language (if you don't speak Turkish). The staff are very friendly and want to be helpful, but they have limited English and aren't able to assist with directions or information or recommendations. But they try their best! We recommend the place, especially if you are noise-tolerant (or are usually out making noise).

Food: You can get many variations of Turkish and regional food around Istiklal and in the other nearby neighborhoods. You will find surprisingly few restaurants offering other cuisines (Thai, Chinese, Italian, French, etc.) We saw a few Chinese restaurants.

By chance we had some of our best foodie experiences a block from Pera Suites, at Enstitu, the restaurant of the Istanbul Culinary Institute. The food was fantastic and the value was great. Both meals we had at Enstitu were much better than at trendy Leb-y-Derya restaurant nearby, but at half the price. (Also, unfortunately, without the great Leb-y-Derya view). The Enstitu staff are friendly and helpful, led by manager Gila Birman. Enstitu is near the Pera Museum and is open for lunch and dinner, closed Sunday.

Enstitu Mesrutiyet Caddesi No. 59 Phone 0212-2512214 www.istanbulculinary.com/eng/enstitu/restaurant

Nearby, across from the Tunel upper station, we stumbled on KV (kah-ve, or coffee) who offered a great Turkish buffet lunch for TL 14.50. This was a very good deal in a pleasant setting. They also have a la carte dishes, coffees and drinks.

KV Tunel Gecidi No. 10 Phone 0212-2514338 www.kv.com.tr

On the side streets outside the Spice Market we found the best lokum (Turkish delight) and nice cheeses, nuts and other foods.

Cappadocia

Our guide in Cappadocia was Deniz Turgut, a licensed free-lancer who often works with SRM. Deniz has a wealth of knowledge and radiates a wonderful, positive energy. We spent three days with her and felt that we had become good friends. She taught us as much about today's Turkey as she did about the ancient monasteries. When a detailed question stumped Deniz, she researched it at home[INVALID]very helpful! Deniz also arranged lunch with a village family who have recently opened their home for meals. There is no restaurant signage, it's their house, and we sat on the veranda with a lovely view while the kids played nearby. Food was great! We highly recommend seeing Cappadocia with Deniz. And if you get in touch, please mention that you heard about her from Scott and Gary.

Deniz Turgut Licensed guide in English and Spanish +90 (532) 587 47 24 ozbucakdeniz@hotmail.com ozbucakdenizAThotmailDOTcom

Hotel: We stayed at the new cave hotel SRM is building in Mustaphapasa village, near Goreme, called Sinassos Villas & Cave Suites. They have finished six rooms, and are building more now. Our rooms were charming, spacious, comfortable and quiet. There is a common area with a computer and wifi. Breakfast is at the historic "Old Greek House" next door. SRM hasn't launched a website yet (contact Lale for reservations):

Sinassos Villas & Cave Suites Sahin Caddesi, Vezir Sokak No: 1 Mustafapasha +90 (384) 353 5020 through 5022 lale@srmtravel.com laleATsrmtravelDOTcom

The Old Greek House hotel and restaurant is charming. The mom grows the herbs, rolls the dolmas, makes the jams. Mustaphapasa is a nice town and interesting to explore.

Yes, go up in a balloon: Everyone told us that, and now we repeat it too. While ballooning is pricey (~US$220 each for a less crowded, longer ride), seeing Cappadocia from the air is worth it. We flew with Deniz's husband, co-owner of Butterfly Balloons. Mustafa did a great job (we saw everything, then landed in the bed of the truck) and he is entertaining too. I understand that he has a travel agency, so Mustafa can probably help with lots of things.

Mustafa Kursad Turgut Butterfly Balloons Phone: +90 (384) 271 30 10 mustafa@butterflyballoons.com mustafaATbutterflyballoonsDOTcom www.butterflyballoons.com

Aegean Coast

We didn't book a guide for our tour down the Aegean Coast, but we wanted a driver. I was concerned that there might be some language challenges, because Lale couldn't guarantee a driver with strong English. But to our delight, Nuri was great! His self-taught English is extensive and once again we made a local friend. Nuri would ask hotel staff about sights to see in the area and helped us access Turkish food options we wouldn't have found otherwise.

As a driver he was safe and courteous and like Deniz, Nuri shared a lot about his life and events in Turkey. He works for Ertur, an agency in Kusadasi. You could write Nuri directly, or ask for him through the Ertur website. Again, if you get in touch, please mention our names.

Nuri Ezer Driver (and culture guide and, previously, DJ) Phone: +90 (554) 885 45 41 dj_noureee@hotmail.com dj_noureeeAThotmailDOTcom www.ertur.com

The first two nights on the coast we stayed in the hills above Ephesus, in the village of Sirince. With Sirince as a base, we visited Pergamum and Ephesus. I didn't care much for Sirince (it's touristy and the food was mediocre) and I found the Kirkinca House rooms to be uncomfortable. If I was to do it again, I'd likely try Selcuk instead.

On the way from Sirince to Bodrum (third day) we visited Priene. Then Nuri suggested another stop, at a small, roadside temple site covered in Lonely Planet, but not heavily visited. It's called Euromos, and it was one of my favorite stops of the trip. The temple has columns on two sides and sits in a quiet, forest setting. We were the only people there (even the ticket office was empty). It was fun to explore, and to imagine folks like us coming here in the past to pray or for a festival. Euromos was just one of Nuri's great suggestions.

For us Bodrum is overpriced and overdeveloped but it has a world class underwater archeology museum set in an old Byzantine fort. Don't miss the museum if you are at all interested in the classical world. And there are great views of the twin harbors of Bodrum from the castle walls.

We stayed in the Su (water) Hotel. It was bright, quiet and an easy, 10 minute walk to the marina and restaurants. No TV in the rooms, but they have free wifi and a pool. The hotel is owned by Mr. R. Zafer Kustu, who [INVALID]d the interesting collages in the rooms and hallways.

We had an Asian dinner in Bodrum, at the Hong Kong restaurant on the marina. While a bit expensive, the dishes were well-prepared and very tasty. The chef is from Xian, China (home of the terra cotta warriors).

Su Otel Cad.1201 48400 Bodrum +90 (252) 316 6906 suotel@superonline.com suotelATsuperonlineDOTcom www.suhotel.net/eng/default.asp

Next stop was Fethiye. At this point we had entered the Mediterranean (not Aegean) seacoast and were in the heart of ancient Lycia. The Lycians carved elaborate tombs into the cliff faces, and we saw a lot of those. The first were in Dalyan, on the way to Fethiye. In Dalyan you can hire a boat for a two hour tour to see the tombs and the local turtles. But you also can get an excellent view of the tombs from the public park and sidewalk by the river.

Fethiye: we liked Fethiye better than Bodrum[INVALID]it felt more natural and manageable. Note: King Amyntos' tomb in Fethiye looks better from the road than up close where you can see the graffiti.

One thing you must do in Fethiye is have dinner at the fish market. You buy your (very fresh!) fish or shellfish from the market stalls in the center of the square, then carry the raw, cleaned fish a few steps to one of the surrounding restaurants. For TL 5 each person, they cook the fish to order and provide bread and salad. You can buy additional mezes if you need them (the fava bean paste is great) and musicians serenade tables who invite them (for a tip). Our meal at the Fethiye fish market was one of the best of the trip.

In his quest to learn about the area, Nuri gleaned local recommendations for visiting Lycian tombs and other ruins. He drove us to a site in the mountains called Pinara. It was fun hiking over the mountain to see the tombs and well-preserved theater. Again, we were nearly the only people there. Take water with you as there are no services at this slightly remote site (4 km of bad roads).

From our Fethiye base we also hiked in the picturesque "ghost city" of Karakoi, deserted at the time of the great population shift in 1924, when Greeks were forced out of Turkey and Turks out of Greece. The walls remain, but no one has lived there since.

We also visited Xanthos (Lycian, Greek and Roman ruins) where they are discovering new roads and new mosaics every year. As at Ephesus, they have uncovered only a fraction of the site.

Turkey is great, safe and easy. You need to go!
Scott Wittet
Seattle, WA  USA   11/15/2010

Ephesus (Kusadasi port)
If you're cruising into Kusadasi, a guided tour of the Ephesus site is a must. In late October, our half-day van tour for four with an excellent guide and driver cost $200 US plus tip through New Faces Travel, operated by Yasar Karadag (recommended by another traveler). A guided van tour arranged by the cruise ship company would have cost $500. Be sure to see the beautiful mosaics of the Terrace Houses, under the tents next to the Ephesus site. The tour cost covered all admission costs to the sites.
Richard Foote
Lakewood, OH  USA   11/14/2010

Private tour of Ephesus
My husband and I recently returned from a Mediterranean cruise, during which we stopped in Kusadasi, Turkey where we visited Ephesus. I highly recommend a private tour if you are visiting Ephesus. The site is very large and can seem to just be a jumble of ruins without a guide's explanation. I also highly recommend that you tour the Terrace Houses excavation site in Ephesus. We both considered this the highlight of our tour.

We were very pleased with our tour agency (EKOL Travel) and guide.
Peggy Schweiger
Spring, TX  USA   11/02/2010

Akbil transit passes
Just got back from a week on Rick Steves' City Tour of Istanbul with Alp, a wonderful guide. One thing he did on our tour's first day was distribute an Akbil transit pass to each of us, loaded up with roughly 20 lira each. If you're planning on spending more than a day or two in Istanbul (read: not descending on Istanbul off of a cruise ship), get an Akbil right away! They're like a key-sized keyfob and you can just pin it to your jacket or pocket and you will never have to stand in line to buy a jeton (token) to ride a tram. Probably the single most convenient thing we found.
Lani Teshima
Dublin, CA  USA   09/29/2010

@Barbara re: rug salesmen
Barbara, our guide told us it is perfectly fine to say "No thanks" (or I guess "Hayir, te?ekkόrler") when they talk to you. If they choose to continue to bug you, then it's perfectly fine to ignore them. That way you don't have to feel like you have to avoid their gaze. One guy got me good. We were walking past the Blue Mosque taking a shortcut back to our hotel, when a guy behind us said, "Ma'am, you dropped something!" I turned around and looked at him, and he said, "Your smile!" That made all of us laugh. It's probably the oldest sales pitch in the world but it was still amusing. We just told him "Thank you, but no" and kept walking and it was fine. My husband got approached by rug salesmen constantly because the one splurge in his life was his nice Movado watch, and I guess the guys just honed in on that and assumed we had money. He took it all in stride, though, and would have a conversation with them as they approached him... but he would never stop walking, and after a few back-and-forths he would finally say, "So what are you selling?" and they would tell him, at which point he would say "No thank you." They would all, to a T, tell hubby to have a nice day and they would part amiably.
Lani Teshima
Dublin, CA  USA   09/29/2010

private istanbul tours
We have just returned from our first trip to Turkey. we asked Erkan from www.privateistanbultours.com to organize a private tour for us . He did so and we were more than pleased. We had 4 nights in Istanbul, 2 in Cappadocia, 2 in Kusadasi and 1 night in Gallipoli. Our transfers, tours, hotels and internal flights were all efficient and well coordinated. Our drivers and guides were excellent.. knowledgeable and very accommodating. An excellent company and very cost efficient as well.
Brian
Melbourne, Australia   09/25/2010

Eastern Turkey on my own
Last year I traveled to Eastern Turkey. I loved it. The Kurdish people are so generous and kind. My favorite city is Van but I enjoyed Kars as well. While based in Kars I took a side trip out to Ani. Ani is the beautiful ruins of the great Armenian capital. I visited in May and the area was covered in wild flowers. One tip for finding hotels in the East of Turkey. Use the Lonley Planet book to find the general area but do NOT stay in any of the hotels they recommend. Maybe when they recommeded the hotels they were OK but I found them to be dirty and double or triple the cost of hotels across the street or next door. Use the book as a general gide to where hotels are located but then find your own lodgings. Also look at the room first and if you stay more then one night ask for a 20 or 30 percent discount. I found Eastern Turkey to be very safe and a wonderful experience! I traveled alone. I am a woman i my 40s
addie
houston, tx  USA   08/26/2010

Izmir Shore Excursion
We took a fantastic Izmir, Turkey shore excursion provided by Izmir's Piramit Tour Travel www.ephesusruins.com www.izmirshoreexcursions.com Staff were efficient, had the best price, and the itinerary was great. Showed us the hightlights of Izmir. Since we had an early start, we were ahead of the big bus crowds and this made for pleasant sight seeing. We finished the tour early, and in addition to the itinerary, they drove us around beautiful Selcuk and we took the scenic coastal route on the way back to the cruise ship.
Graciela
Pierce County, WA  USA   07/08/2010

Turkey Trip Report
Turkey is one of the most wonderful countries to travel to - I made a solo trip there in 2007 and found it to be not only incredibly beautiful and diverse, but the people were friendly and the food absolutely wonderful (and very inexpensive!). I kept a blog of my 2 week trip there if anyone is interested in reading it. It has lots of travel tips and photos - just go to http://mardeeinturkey.wordpress.com
Mardee
Cincinnati, OH  USA   07/04/2010

Istanbul Hotel recommendation
Istanbul with my husband and adult daughter: Stayed at the Ada Hotel in Old Sultanahmet: http://www.adaistanbul.com/ Luxurious boutique hotel, so close to the Blue Mosque and major sites, yet on a quiet little street. We splurged for the full view of the Marmara Sea and it was worth every Turkish Lira. Thick white towels, spacious room, comfortable bed with gorgeous linens. Dr. S encouraged us to visit sites that he felt we would appreciate and he was right. He steered us to good restaurants and helped us navigate local transportation, including the ferry up the Bosphorous. His wife welcomed us every morning, along with her staff for a bountiful breakfast: French pressed coffee, Turkish teas, elegant egg, potato & cheese dishes with lots of fresh fruit; all overlooking the sea. The calls to prayer at the mosques in front of the hotel were beautiful and magical.. the seagulls flew around the night-lit minarets. We highly recommend this lovely hotel. A lot of people write about the aggressive sales people. Our experience was that the first day were were agog at all the sites and got approached. The next days we were more purposeful and didn't get the same response at all. It became fun and we got into lots of good discussions with sales people and restaurant people. Must see: Baptistry Cisterns.
Tatiana Promessi
Los Altos, CA  USA   06/16/2010

Rug Salesmen
Just returned from 13 day Turkey tour. Fantastic in every way. Really, really aggressive and annoyeing rug salesmen will start with the question, "Can I ask you a question", then move on to tell you about their cousin in your town, and then to give you tea, and then to the HARD sell of a rug, (Also applies to pottery, etc., etc.) When first in Istanbul I was really annoyed and angry about the constant barrage. Returning to Istanbul after the tour, I had learned enough Turkish, and rid myself of my attitude, and just laughed it off. One tactic I learned, never utter. out loud a positive comment on a window display, or they will be on you! Hope you also learn to say no effectively.
Barbara Metz
Seattle, WA  USA   05/03/2010

Turkey
I just returned from a one month vacation in Europe. I wish I had taken a Rick Steves tour. Here's the best advice I can give anyone: 1) Don't ever trust anyone else to plan your trip, especially your mom's aunt. 2) Make sure YOU book a tour IN ENGLISH -- my crazy psychotic aunt booked a 7 day tour of Turkey where everyone spoke GERMAN. I could not understand a single word!!!! 3) Make sure you travel with normal human beings, NOT an escapee from a mental institution (my psychotic aunt in Germany). I will never ever allow anyone else to make travel arrangements for me.
Jennifer
Los Angeles, CA  USA   04/06/2010

Turkey traveler
This is to say thank you very much for all your support during our trip Gallipoli- Troy and Ephesus. We spent a wonderful time in your country, and we were able to know a lot about your people, culture, places and ways of life. I think we can recommend your ( http://www.allistanbultours.com ) to our friends. Our best regards Waterman and family.
Marla G
New York, USA   03/17/2010

All that male attention!
I ADORE TURKEY....ESPECIALLY ISTANBUL!!!! My tips are to the women planning to go to TUrkey...

I traveled solo (28 year old female) and I had the time of my life! I felt safe and happy the whole time. Yes, its true, the men were VERY attentive...I had more offers for dates, marriage and romance in one walk past the Blue Mosque than I have had my entire life ;) The most common intro was "Can I ask you just one question?...." To which I would smile and shake my head "no." Honestly, it was a blast! Lots of women talk about this attention like its a bad and scary or even "harassment" kind of thing. Thats SO not what it is! Its just a fun and different cultural thing. I just smiled or laughed and walked on. Its all in your attitude. With a smile and no thanks, they left me alone. And the fun part is, some of these guys are drop dead gorgeous...models.....the kind of guys that you would never think would approach you back home :) Single, married, whatever - it can be flattering if you chose to let it be....and both funny and fun at the same time. My tip is to just enjoy it for what it is...don't feel stressed about it.... and then you'll be able to truly enjoy the amazing cultural and historical beauty in this fabulous country!
Rebecca
claremont, ca  USA   03/15/2010

Turkey Trip
I loved the our Turkey trip, have never done a group tour before and really enjoyed the group atmosphere! We have been in istanbul, gallipoli, ephesus, cappadocia, pamukkale and troy. Our tour operator was new deal travel agency in istanbul and I booked on their web www.newdealtravel.net We enjoyed every went of our stay, and we will definitly go back.
Stephen
Sydney, AUST   02/17/2010

Christmas in Constantinople
I have always wanted to visit Constantinople and could manage to go there during Xmas holiday .What can I say,,amazing place..I was expecting snow but it was sunny for almost all the time I was there.Since I had just two days I used a guide to do sightseeing and I am impressed with the knowledge of that young fella.So I want to recommend him to anyone going to Constantinople.His name is Oskan and his web address is constantinopleguide.com thanks again Oskan
John Merkel
New York, NY  Turkey   01/19/2010

Turkey tourist Guides
We very much enjoyed our visit to Istanbul. Hotel was good and tour pick ups were all right on time. Thank you for your great attention to detail which made for a very enjoyable and stress free trip. Would recommend http://www.turkeytouristguides.com and especially mr.can for anyone thinking about a trip to Turkey..

Thanks again Anne
Anne
New Jersey, NJ  USA   01/06/2010