Hasan Tuncer

Few friends of mine in USA asked me the name of the places and what to do in Istanbul. Here, I am sharing the document that I prepared for them.

Name of the area: SULTANAHMET
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Sights/Sultanahmet/index.html
Sultanahmet district is the heart of historic Old Istanbul. This is where you'll find Topkapı Palace, Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia), the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii), the Byzantine Hippodrome, Yerebatan Saray (Sunken Palace Cistern), the Istanbul Archeological Museums, Great Palace Mosaic Museum. They are very close, so you can walk.
In the links you’ll see the map, address.
1. Topkapı Sarayı (Palace) Museum
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Sights/Sultanahmet/TopkapiSaray.html
2. Ayasofya/Hagia Sophia Mosque, Museum
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Sights/Sultanahmet/Ayasofya.html
3. Blue Mosque
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Sights/Sultanahmet/BlueMosque.html
4. Sunken Palace Cistern (Yerebatan Sarayi)
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Sights/Sultanahmet/Yerebatan.html
5. Istanbul Archeological Museums
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Sights/Sultanahmet/ArcheologicalMuseums.html
6. Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum
http://www.istanbultourist.com/articles.php?what=show_article&tablename=Museums&aid=15&pid1=7&pid2=3
7. Great Palace Mosaic Museum
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Sights/Sultanahmet/mosaic_muze.html
8. Byzantine Hippodrome
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Sights/Sultanahmet/Hippodrome.html

9. Kariye Museum
http://www.choramuseum.com/

TURKISH BATH – HAMAM
The location are in Sultanahmet
1- http://www.cemberlitashamami.com.tr/html/en
2- http://www.cagalogluhamami.com.tr/
What is Turkish bath, hamam? Answer is here
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/special/hamam/index.html
What to eat:
1- SultanAhmet Koftecisi – a restaurant on the Sultanahmet square. It’s very famous and historical restaurant. Its famous with its meatballs (in Turkish: kofte)
Address: Divanyolu Caddesi (Avenue) No:12
34122 Sultanahmet Istanbul
Phone: (90) 212 513 74 54
picture:
http://www.sultanahmetkoftesi.com/images/restoranlar/sltn_2b.jpg
http://www.sultanahmetkoftesi.com/images/restoranlar/sltn_4b.jpg

2- PIDE
http://www.karadenizpide.net/home.html
Adress: Divanyolu St. Haci Tahsinbey St. Sultanahmet, Istanbul
Phone: (90) 212 522 91 91




Name of the area: EMINONU
10. Grand Bazaar
Turkey's largest covered market where you can find Turkish carpets, glazed tiles and pottery, copper and brassware, apparel made of leather, cotton and wool, meerschaum pipes, alabaster bookends and ashtrays, and all sorts of other things.
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Sights/Beyazit/GrandBazaar.html
11. Egyptian Market- Spice market
Spices, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, lokum (Turkish Delight) and other edibles fill most of the shops, though jewelry and other high-margin goods have begun to move in.
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Sights/GoldenHorn/EgyptianMarket.html
Golden Horn (sight seeing)
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Sights/GoldenHorn/
12. Galata Tower (There is a restaurant inside—good view of bosphorus and golden horn)
http://www.galatatower.net/english/

BOSPHORUS BOAT TOUR:
I’d suggest you to have a tour that starts from Eminoune and goes to at least Rumeli Fortress. Halfday tour would be good. The tickets can be bought from Eminou. Please consult with the hotel that you’ll stay.
informative websites:
http://www.goreme.com/bosporus-cruise.php
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Sights/Bosphorus/BosphorusCruise.html

What to eat in Eminonu: Fish sandwich (Balik ekmek)
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/details/Food/balik_ekmek.html



13 Istanbul Modern Art Museum – little bit far.. go with taxi
http://www.istanbulmodern.org/en/f_index.html
If you look at the map, modern art museum and tophane nargile cafes and coffee world are close to each other.

BAKLAVA:
Most famous Turkish dessert
13. Name of the place: GULLUOGLU BAKLAVA
Address: Mısır Çarşısı 88, Eminönü, Eminönü, Istanbul, Turkey‎ -0212 528 51 81‎

14. Name of the place: Karakoy Gulluoglu Baklava Shop
Address: Mumhane Caddesi 171, Istanbul, Turkey
http://www.travbuddy.com/Karakoy-Gulluoglu-Baklava-Shop-v5839

Nargile
The nargile (NAHR-gee-leh), or Turkish water pipe, is an old way of smoking Turkish tobacco. There are 5-10 cafes at the same location. Go overthere with Taxi. It’s close to Emin onu. The name of the place: Tophane Nargile Café.
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/details/Tobacco/nargile.html
Name of one Café and its address:
Rihtim Nargile Café:
Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa Mh. Kemankeş Cd. 34425 Beyoğlu İstanbul 34425
Turkey
0212 244 29 32

Coffee World (Kahve Dünyası)
One of the good places test turkish coffee

Address : Meclis-i Mebusan Cad. Tütün Han. No:167 Kabataş / İstanbul
Phone : 0212 293 12 06-07-08 - (212) 293 12 09-10
http://www.kahvedunyasi.com/Default.aspx

Name of the area: MINIATURK
The mini Turkey park called Miniaturk and have mini models of old ottoman architectural works in Turkey. On miniaturk Turkey's rich historical and cultural heritage is being displayed with their maquettes
Address:
Miniaturk
İmrahor Caddesi
Sütlüce, İstanbul, Turkey
0212 222 28 82
www.miniaturk.com.tr
Name of the area: ISTIKLAL, TAKSIM, BEYOGLU
Starting from Taksim Square, I suggest you to walk through Istiklal Street. The street will be full of people. There you’ll see lots of places to eat and shop. At the end of the street. The location called Tunel…. Specifically Galipdede street is the place of the music stores.
Some of the places:
15. Cicek pasaji:
You can have a good dinner with alcoholic drinks and with Turkish classical music (FASIL). I suggest you to try raki that is turkish traditional alcoholic drink-- (clear grape brandy flavored with anise and diluted with water)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Çiçek_Pasajı
picture: http://www.mekanist.net/mekanlar/cicek-pasaji/resimler/1

16. Saray Muhallebicisi: (for traditional deserts)
http://www.saraymuhallebicisi.com/english/
suggestion: tavuk gogsu, muhallebi, kazandibi,kesgul, baklava
Istiklal Street (Caddesi - in Turkish) No: 173 Beyoglu Istanbul
Phone 0212 292 34 34
17. leb-I Derya very good restaurant, bar… very good view of istanbul
http://www.lebiderya.com/richmond/eng/2_2_gallery.html
18. 360 Istanbul--- restaurant, bar, club.. great view.
Address: 360
Istiklal Caddesi (Istiklal Street) Misir Apartment Kat: 8 No:311
Beyoğlu, İstanbul
http://www.360istanbul.com/flash.html

Harbiye- Army and Culture Museum
Address: Askerî Müze ve Kültür Sitesi Komutanlığı Harbiye- Şişli / İSTANBUL Phone: 0 212 2332720
http://www.tsk.tr/muze_internet/askeri_muze.htm

Name of the area: BESIKTAS
19. Dolmabahce Palace -second biggest palace in Istanbul where Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic ,died. This palace was also the home of the Ottoman sultans during 18th century.
http://www.dolmabahcepalace.com/
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Sights/Bosphorus/DolmabahcePalace.html
NEY instrument
http://www.neyzen.com/ney_adres.htm
Ihlamurdere Cad. Mısırlıbahçe Sok. No:18/A Beşiktaş İSTANBUL TÜRKİYE
Tel: (+90 212) 260 22 22 Cep: (+90 532) 252 62 72

20. Maiden’s Tower – Kiz kulesi
http://www.kizkulesi.com.tr/en/Default2.asp









THE FOOD
Anthony Bourdain’s tv show will help you.
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations in Istanbul

part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz223HRovno
part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGBBq3jKjO8&feature=related
part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5_4OxTjpC4&feature=related
part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nHORVlEO4s&feature=related
part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmvByCf4w-4&feature=related

I suggest you to try the following foods in any restaurant that you go:
Meat: Kebap,Doner, Kofte (meatball), lahmacun
Drink: Turkish coffee, Raki (alcoholic), efes (beer brand name), ayran (yogurt mixed with spring water—tastes like buttermilk), salgam suyu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Şalgam), boza (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boza), salep (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahlep hot)
Desert: turkish delights, baklava, muhallebi, kazandibi
Maras Ice cream
Snacks, side dishes and street foods include gözleme (fresh-baked flat bread folded over savory ingredients—a sort of Turkish crêpe—and börek, pastry filled with cheese and vegetables or meat. Simit, Turkish bagel




Google MAPS
SULTANAHMET

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117393893098223337899.00047fbf939ee33548fd8&ll=41.013325,28.982277&spn=0.035879,0.077162&z=14

ISTANBUL

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=41.019607,28.987598&spn=0.035876,0.077162&z=14&msid=105593202723141372172.00047fe5ea99d5933ac65

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