info for istanbul

[burnley1955]

+we are going to istanbul shortly any info re restaurants sight seeing etc?

[jno]

sightseeing: grand bazaar, Topkapi place, Santa Sophia, Blue Mosque (there are other mosques if you're architecturally inclined), cisterns as used in From Russia with Love, cruise up the Bosphorus. Turkish cuisine is marvellous but I don't have any recent restaurant recommendations.

[JoolsTwo]

Haci Abdullah
Aga Camii Yani
Sakagaci Cad
No. 17 Beyoglu Tel No. (0212) 293 85 61

www.haciabdullah.com.tr

One of the oldest restaurants - it has Ottoman cuisine

We were taken there by our son's in-laws who are Turkish and live in Istanbul. There are lots of other lovely restaurants in Istanbul. Unfortunately this is the only one I have any info on.

I hope you enjoy your trip it's a wonderful city.

[JK2]

There is a street behind Haghia Sophia called Sogukcesme Street. It is delightful, cobbled and full of restored Ottoman Houses. Well worth seeing and on that street is a restaurant called Sarnic. The building is more than 1000 years old and was originally a water cistern. It has been preserved and turned into a restaurant - very cool in summer & with an open fire when it is cold out.

Also a pretty restored Ottoman house with antiques & small dining roooms called Rami on Utangac Sok - near the Blue Mosque.

Off Istiklal Cad- the shopping street in Glatasaray - is a quaint passage called Cicek Passaji (I think it mean Flower Passage) which has book shops. fish, vegetable & spice market stalls and small fish restaurants. Really interesting atmosphere.

Must see - in addition to jno's list - is Yerebatan Saray (the Basilica cistern). It is like an underground cathedral very spectacular. Also a trip down the Bospherous is a must do - it is so beautiful and you see some wonderful wooden yali's - restored Ottoman mansions along the waters edge.

I could go on for ever but don't know how long you are there for. It's my favourite city in the world & I've been going there for 30 years.

The Grand Bazaar is amazing, the Suleymaniye Mosque, the Harem in Topkapi etc etc. Get yourself a good guide book - like Eyewitness for example.

Enjoy
Jean

[Lil O'lady]

"Ah my friend, you are English! Which city are you from? You support Manchester United as well? Let me show you the sites around here.....my brother has a carpet shop"
You must become immune to the constant carpet sellers. My personal record was stopping at a pedestrian crossing and someone tried to flog me a carpet.
Less manic than Topkapi Palace is the national museum, set in tranquil gardens - entrance is to left of main palace drag. A sea of peace, and no capet sellers, and very good value snacks.
The remains of Justinian's palace mosaics are on view in a little display between Blue Mosque and Ayiasofia - blows your mind to think this is just a fraction of what existed.
Less good value, the restaurants on the bridge, and the big red tour bus (?citybus?)- latter is very unreliable and will only run if a certain number of people show up.
It is a fantastic city and I think you will greatly enjoy the Sultanahmet area round the Blue Mosque. You might even buy carpet.....

[Dee Sa]

dont forget to visit the Turkish baths there, its really good and not expensive if you use a local one.