Suggestions for Istanbul
Replies: 7 - Last Post: Oct 26, 2012 3:11 AM Last Post By: sarikanarya
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Suggestions for Istanbul
We have about eight days to kill in Istanbul. We've visited the city a number of times before and have seen most/all of the "standard" sites at least once.I'd appreciate suggestions for off-beat or unusual things to see. Nearly impossible for me to give specific interests as they are so varied although religious sites unless especially noteworthy for art/architecture are not our favorites. I'm reasonably familiar with public transport in the city and can find almost anything with just a reasonable address, "beside such-and-such", etc.
Also any suggestions for a day trip via public transport or organized group to somewhere in European Turkey?
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Did you visit the Rahmi Koç Transport Museum yet?Really remarkable place to visit.http://www.rmk-museum.org.tr/en/index.htm
You could take the ferry to Sarıyer and then the bus from there up to Kilyos.It may be a bit blustery there but it would blow the city smog out of your lungs.
Also up that way take the ferry or bus to Sarıyer and change there for the bus to Ataturk Arboretum at Bahceköy on the edge of Belgrade Forest.From Sarıyer it is bus no.153.
http://www.mydestination.com/istanbul/attractions/115250/ataturk-arboretum
I'd like to see it myself right now actually,it must surely be in a blaze of autumn colour!
What else?....
The Haliç ferry route had now restarted so you can take a ferry up the Golden Horn to Eyup.I know you've probably been there before but it is such a nice ride it is worth doing it again :)
Take a ferry over to Üskudar and mooch around the little streets and maybe go up to Camlica or Kanlica or even the little villages north of Beykoz too.Just jump on any passing bus heading north and jump off at any point that looks interesting.
Also over that side you could organise a visit to Florence Nightingale Museum in Selimiye Barracks,close to Harem otogar.This needs to be booked 2 days in advance though for security as it is still a working military zone.
From Kadıköy jump on the newly opened metro line and go to Pendik.This is a regular residential neighbourhood with a very pleasant sea front to stroll around and some decent shops to browse.
Talking of Kadıköy did you walk around Moda neighbourhood before?
Did you go pay homage at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium?LOL!
What about joining a mornings ebru class to learn a bit about this old,traditional paper marbling craft?Take home a unique souvenir-your own ebru picture.
After all the time you've spent in Turkey I'm guessing you know about Turkish cooking but you could do a mornings cooking course.....
Did you roam around the old antique and curio shops of Çukurcuma district?
Did you visit Yıldız park and the palace there?
Did you visit the cast iron St.Stephen of the Bulgars church on the water side at Balat?
Did you visit the excellent Sakıp Sabancı Museum?
http://muze.sabanciuniv.edu/homepage
Or Istanbul Modern?
http://www.istanbulmodern.org/en
Hopefully there are a few new idea's here for you.
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GREAT IDEAS! Certainly more than enough to do as we've only visited a few of the places you mentioned. The only things I found with some other searching that sounded especially interesting are the Doğançay Museum and the Central İstanbul Energy Museum.Thank you very much for your normally excellent advice!
No need for a Turkish cooking class as I've watched plenty in action (especially on chartered gulets) and have even prepared a few meals for Turkish friends. The problem at home in the U.S. is getting the proper ingredients--especially the wonderful, fresh and flavorful vegetables. We have taken home some Turkish vegetable seeds to grow in the garden but our weather is so changeable that only a few items do well and rarely two years in a row... I became a touch less honest after telling customs that I was bringing home seeds from Spain a few years ago. Of course they were confiscated. A few months later, I watched as the queen of Spain gave the very same seeds to Michelle Obama to use in her "White House Garden".
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What?Are you coming back again?Good,another one bitten by the Turkey bug :)7
Oops,beg pardon m'lud :) I lose track of who's here,who's to come and who's gone!Well those idea's will still be good for you,the only odd one being maybe the Arboretum which will probably be past it's best by then,although if you get a bright mild day then it would still be a nice trip out of the city.Here are some events and stuff going on in Istanbul from October through to January,maybe there is something here to interest you-
http://www.mydestination.com/istanbul/events/73
I notice the Monet exhibition at the Sabancı Museum so I think I'll be off to that one!
