two days in Istanbul

Hello everyone! I am planning a trip to India and am thinking of stopping in Istanbul for two days to break up the travel. Where should I stay? What should I do? I will be traveling with a friend, how is the situation in Istanbul? In your experiences is it safe?

Istanbul is safer than most large cities. However, if you don't know what there is to do there, I believe you would probably do better starting with a guidebook rather than with a forum. That will give you a better idea of whether you want to go there.

Here is the first official Istanbul web site,launched a year or so back-
http://howtoistanbul.com/
This will tell you all you need to know about there is to see,do and visit.
With just 2 days I would recommend staying in Sultanahmet/Gülhane area which is the ancient peninsula where such as Topkapı Palace,Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia are located.You would have time to just cover the very basic must see's in 2 days but at least it will give you a taste and perhaps encourage you to visit Turkey for a longer visit :)

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If you're flying to Istanbul direct from the USA don't plan on doing too much in those two days.(jet-lag!)

Yes I would take things slowly-
Van breakfast in Cihangir
Fish supper beside the Golden Horn
Tired or not great opportunity to enjoy an amazing city.
Istanbul Photographer John Wreford

Istanbul is safer than most U.S. cities.

I agree that the Sultanahmet area is the best place for you to stay. I also agree (unfortunately from experience) that jet lag will likely be a nasty problem if you're coming direct from the USA and only intend to stay a couple days. While it might help to adapt to India (2 1/2 or 3 1/2 hours later than Istanbul depending on daylight savings time) it may also make it even worse. I know that the worst for me is "hopping" through time zones without a chance to get adjusted and I've had some fellow travelers tell me that such has made them physically ill. You'll be very close to that magic (real terrible) 12-hour time difference between the USA and India.

Is there any way for you to add 2-3 more days for Istanbul? If so I suspect both you and your body will appreciate the true break in travel.

Thanks for all the responses! I know we will be really jet lagged once we get there! I just want to break up all the flying. I know how exhausted I get when I fly to India. I am thinking of maybe doing like 4 or 5 days in Istanbul and then heading on to Delhi. :)

That's a much better idea. A week would be even better, especially if you spend a few days of it in, eg, Selcuk. It's a lovely peaceful place and would really set yo up for all the vibrancy of India.

Thanks for the tip! I am going to check it out now. I have decided to do a full week in Istanbul on the way to Delhi. Where else do you suggest in that area?

That's grand! Depending on what time you arrive in Istanbul, either take a flight to Izmir on the same day from the same airport (allowing plenty of time between flights in case of delay to your first - maybe with the same airline?) OR stay overnight in Istanbul and, if the flight is cheaper by more than 10-12 euros, take a shuttle to Sabiha Gokcen airport to fly to Istanbul by Pegasus or a budget similar airline, storing most of your luggage at your Istanbul hostel to await your return.
From Izmir airport there's a direct rail link to the centre of Selcuk. 2-3 days there, at your own pace, will be a lovely way to get over your jet-lag. Ephesus is a 3 km (<2 mile) walk away, much of it down a road lined with mulberry trees. (If you see the fruit lying on the grass, do taste some - it's lovely!) .... OR you can take a local bus and save your legs for the site. ...... As well as Ephesus, you can visit the Virgin Mary's house, on top of a mountain. Sadly, no public transport - it's taxi all the way, but they wait for you and bring you back down to the top gate of Ephesus, which is the best way to enter the site. In the town there's a really great museum, with many artefacts from Ephesus and around.
If you do have the energy and want to venture further there are organised trips to three sites, one of which includes a beach - and time to swim. or you can take a bus there by yourself. Kusadasi, over the hill and on the coast, is a small city which is quite pleasant - again, regular buses.
Normally I'd suggest an overnight bus or a daytine bus+ferry back to Istanbul, but you're doing quite enough travelling, so just take a flight from Izmir airport, going there by train same as you arrived. Here is the train timetable - http://seat61.com/Turkey2.htm#Izmir_Ephesus_Pamukkale

WHY am I 'pushing' Selcuk? It's because it's a lovely, peaceful town with lovely people who mostly speak English. It's also a lot cheaper than Istanbul so you won't feel you're wasting money if you're not up to much sightseeing - though there's enough to see if you are. Apart from morning crowds at Ephesus when there's a cruise ship in, there's a really relaxed, laid-back feel to the place. And the food is lovely, too.

Wow. Thank you so much for all that information.That was super helpful.

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