I'm headed to Kyrgyzstan next year for an ibex hunt. I'll likely have a long layover lasting most of a day in Istanbul. How safe is the city? What things are there to do? Would you recommend sightseeing or just sticking to the airport? Thanks.

Brett

Brett,

Istanbul has many historic sites. In a days trip you must see the Dolmabahce palace and Topkapi palace museum. Also the Bosphorus has many great restaurants that you may want to try.

I will suggest that you take a one day guided tour, I did it when going to Tajikistan it is worth it and certainly a lot better than staying at the airport.

Good Hunting,

Thanks Ahmed. That was a most wonderful eland!

Brett

Brett,

We spent two nights in Istanbul on our way to Tajikistan during 2008. We had a great time and there is so much to see.

Definitely visit the "Blue Mosque" when you are there along with Ahmed's suggestion.

Excellent food at the restaurants. Take advantage of your layover and enjoy the city.

...of course the blue mosque...the big bazaar on the europa side...and, if you have a chance, take a boat ride to the asia side and have a car take you to the top of the hill and along the scenic shoreline drive where you can view istanbul from afar in all its splendor...

I second all the recommendations already given. I stayed across the street from the Blue Mosque a few months ago. My only regret was not having more time. As far as safety, I felt perfectly comfortable walking around alone at night. Enjoy!

Mymur,
If you stayed at a hotel, could you give us the name of it? Thanks

Brett, From what my Ukrainian friends say it's safe and there are many great sights to see there as the others have said. It's a major tourist area for folks from the FSU.

We stayed at the Hotel Sultan Hill. It's in the Sultanahmet district 100 yards from the Blue Mosque and a short walk to the other sights. It's small, clean and comfortable. I think it was ~$100/night.

If the chance presents itself try to visit the Istanbul spice market....

And breathe deep

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quote:

Originally posted by Brett Adam Barringer:
I'm headed to Kyrgyzstan next year for an ibex hunt. I'll likely have a long layover lasting most of a day in Istanbul. How safe is the city? What things are there to do? Would you recommend sightseeing or just sticking to the airport? Thanks.

Brett

Fantastic. If you can, buy a rug, Turkish, Persian or otherwise. I passed on one in Kuwait and always regretted that. You are going to one of the premier hunting spots in the world.

Istanbul and Turkey are very popular tourist spots for the English and Europeans these days. Aside from normal crime, I would not worry at all.

Spent some time in Turkey back in the day, when i was doing my world tours.....loved it over there, the food was my favorite!!!....they sell some nice persian rugs and huglu shotguns....go check out Castle by the sea.....I'll tell you more about it when i see you.....

Dear Brett

What I did was get an entry permit at the air port for 24hrs. Entry into Turkey.

Then just before you leave the air port there will be a sales counter you can do a day trip.

There are a few to chose from. The desk will arrange a taxi for you.

Cost me about $100 for the day.

Regards Mark

I mentioned this before on another post, but if you have over 10hrs layover (8 business class) and are flying Turkish Airlines both into and out of Istanbul, the airline will give you a free hotel room and transfer to/from the airport. They don't really advertise this and they don't make it easy to know where to go. Here's what you have to do:

1. Near the passport control, on the left there is a visa window. Stop here and pay your $20 for a 3 month multiple entry visa BEFORE you get in the passport control line. There is no form, just give them your passport and a $20 bill.

2. After passport control continue through baggage claim and the duty free shops until you get to customs control (which doesn't look like much other than a bored guy in a uniform who stops no one).

3. After you pass through customs you go through a wide door and are immediately faced with throngs of people waiting for friends/relatives. Turn right here and keep going. Just after you pass the people waiting there will be an ATM kiosk on the right. You can get some Lira here. Then keep going past the Gloria Jean coffee shop (on your right) until you come to the end of this arrival hall area. There will be a Starbucks dead ahead.

4. As the hall widens at the Starbucks look to your right. The last 2 offices along the side there will be the left luggage room (where you could leave any bags you don't want to carry around--although your luggage should be checked through) and the "Turkish Airlines Hotel Desk" with its very poor signage.

5. At the hotel desk give them your ticket (no passport) and go sit down at Starbucks and wait for them to call you to get on the bus. Sometimes it takes up to 40 minutes, sometimes 5. They also offer a city tour in place of the hotel. I've never done it so don't know what its like but assume it is heavy on "approved" souvenir shops.

If you are traveling with anyone and want separate rooms pretend you don't know each other when you give them your tickets. Otherwise they will usually put you in the same room. The hotels are all different. I've stayed in boutique B&Bs, 5 star hotels, down to 3 star hotels. Some hotels will give you free breakfast, some don't. Most hotels are within walking distance of the tramline that runs from Zeytinburnu to the Spice Bazaar area. Ask the hotel staff how to get to the tram. You can get to the main tourist sites in Sultanhamet for about $1.

When you check in at the hotel they tell you what time you need to be in the lobby for the return shuttle. If you are there on time you will usually have a 20-40 minute wait.

Another tip. If you got your boarding pass for the trip out of Istanbul at your original departure point, you can go straight to passport control when you come back to the airport. If not, you have 2 options. To the left of the visa window is the transit desk. If I don't have my onward boarding pass and the line is short, I go ahead and get my boarding pass here when I arrive in Istanbul, before getting my visa and going through passport control. Then I can go straight to passport control when I come back to the airport. If the line is long, I skip it and get my boarding pass when I come back to the airport. You don't have to wait in line to check in as you don't have any baggage. Just go to the service desk at either end of each check in row.

If you have LESS than 10 hours (8-BC) you can take a metro from the airport to the Zeytinburnu station and transfer to the tramline there and take the tram to Sultanhamet. I've never done this but know people who have.

Duty Free at Ataturk Airport is relatively expensive. Unless you really need something, get it elsewhere.