THE MOST CORRECT REVIEW PLUS PRICES FOR EVERYTHING
When going to Istanbul, and as we think, Istanbul is exactly Istanbul (and not Turkey - this is Turkey and all the resorts are approximately "Turkish"), we suggest that everyone first of all decide on the direction of rest, namely: the purpose of the trip is merchandising (i. e. shopping) or rest for the soul, well, or for the body.
Personally, by the way, as usual, we decided to cram everything into a three-day vacation - that's why we offer you to get acquainted with the variety of vacation options in Istanbul that we managed to experience, and we are sure that this is far from a complete list...
When choosing a hotel, we had two conditions: the first condition is the location on the side of the "Old City" of Istanbul and that everything is within walking distance, including the Embankment, and the second condition is, of course, the price…
Therefore, the Hotel we chose, namely: May hotel-3, Istambul , at a price of $30 per room (2 people) for breakfast, may not suit everyone, especially given that our friends in the next street settled down for $90 per room (2 adults and 2 children), but without breakfast, and with them (with breakfast) another plus 4 EURO per person.
At the same time, our Hotel: May hotel-3, Istambul has, of course, Disadvantages, but there are much more Pros, namely:
TIP number one: when looking at a city map, ask Google to calculate a walking route, because it turned out that, despite the fact that there are many quarters on the map, in fact, these quarters are miniature and from one attractions to another almost always 10-15 minutes on foot, while there is a Tram and Metro (in the Central part of the city) and Buses (along the Embankment) and if you make the route correctly, then these 10 minutes on foot will be generally invisible: on the fourth day we drove that those rabid turtles did not even use public transport to drive 2-3 stops, as it was at the beginning.
So, it all starts with Odessa Airport - a direct flight!
They don’t feed, which is sad, there are no nouveau riches and football fans - it’s boring, it takes about an hour to fly, and you can go there with luggage (20kg) - it’s included in the ticket price, and back, if you want, you can buy extra luggage for $ 30. Somehow it’s all illogical, because you bring souvenirs and impressions from there to here, and not vice versa! Anyway….
Getting from Ataturk International Airport (Ataturk Havalimani) to the Hotel is very simple: walk inside the Airport to the Metro station - only one line (red M1A), take 16 or 17 stops to the end station called Yenikapi (Yenikapi Istasyonu). Don't go out ANYWHERE and don't change seats ANYWHERE, as they say: "from bell to bell".
Leaving the Metro there are two options: on foot (up to 20 minutes maximum) or by Bus - one stop (get off at the stop Kumkapi).
Of course, you can go directly from the Airport to the hotel by taxi for 20 EURO, then to stand in traffic jams for 40 minutes and wait another 50 minutes until the taxi driver finds the right street ....
Therefore, we offer everyone the following option: Home (Odessa) - plane - Istanbul Airport - Metro - on foot to the Hotel - this is TIP number two.
There are exchange offices at the Airport - one will be before passport control (the exchange rate, of course, will be a little lower than the existing one) and the second - immediately after the control (on the left side), not far from the toilets on the central aisle of the Airport. It’s already easier here - almost without cheating, you can safely change.
As for travel in Istanbul, you need (if you do NOT want to overpay) to buy a Istambulcart card right at the Airport (right in front of the Metro entrance). Sold in Biletmatic self-service vending machines, there are such machines everywhere in the city - at Tram stops and Metro stations. This card costs 6 lira and replenish it immediately for the number of trips you need.
Then this card can also be topped up through the same Biletmatic self-service machines. The screen menu can be selected from Chinese to English - everything is very simple. What is the beauty of the card: if you simply buy, for example, a tram ticket, it will cost 4 lira, and in this case it will cost about 2.5 lira, and so on for all types of municipal transport.
IMPORTANT: when you ride around the city, especially on the Metro, then when you move from one station to another, you MUST pay in a new way each time.
FOR MORE, when you leave home, there are 2 (TWO) entrances at the Yenikapı Istasyonu Metro station: the first one is, as it were, a little closer to the City Center, the second one is a little further, we, of course, entered where we left upon arrival, and there: it turns out that we need to go to another - our Metro line to the Airport and we paid TWO TIMES! BE CAREFUL!
And another TIP - take a FREE Metro map of the city and Metro stations - it can be very useful.
While you are going to the Metro - the road takes about an hour, do not be sad, think about the good, why not be sad, because throughout the trip you will pass through the sleeping areas of the city, which are not remarkable in any way, but only cause frustration with their sloppy looking…
So, when you reach the FINAL stop, exit the Metro, you need to go as if in the direction of the train to Turkeli Cd street (it's 500 meters from the Metro station towards the City Center) and you need to go to it across a wide street with incomprehensible crazy traffic of locals, cars, tourists, buses, you and everyone ...
By the way, reading other people's reviews, we often noted that in Istanbul there is a completely different rhythm of life, even somewhere with signs of chaos, which you get used to a little later and even start to manage a little - we had just that! Only on the third attempt did we cross the road and get to the right street Turkeli Cd.
Then go ANYWHERE without turning along Turkeli Cd street to Bali Pasa Yks street (or as Kumkapi street is also called, because below (closer to the Embankment) is Kumkapi Square with hundreds of restaurants and further, of course, bus stop with the same name Kumkapi).
As a result, we went along Turkeli Cd street to Bali Pasa Yks street, turned left (that is, as if from the Embankment up) and walk 50 meters and it will be on the left side May hotel-3, Istambul.
In front of the Hotel there are two boutiques with fruit, on a parallel street there is a small supermarket, if you go down from the Hotel towards the Embankment - Kumkapi Square with restaurants, if you go up the parallel street from the Hotel - there will be the Grand Bazaar (Capali Carsi) and if you go further on is the Egyptian Bazaar (Misir Carsisi) and much more, but about all of them a little later.
MAY HOTEL-3, ISTAMBUL, advantages:
- located close to the main historical sights of Istanbul
- there is an opinion that 3 (three) stars, one can argue, but given that breakfast is included in the price of accommodation, one can agree
- a clean bed and cleaning every day, maybe it's true, because we left a dollar every day, we don't know ...
- on the last floor of the Hotel there is an open veranda overlooking the Bosphorus
- there is hot and cold water, as well as a working air conditioner
- food (breakfast) is tasty and satisfying
- there is an elevator, it works
- at the reception of the Hotel there is a card for 10 liras, everywhere, by the way, for 8-9 liras, so that the price for ten is tolerable, although who needs it (the card) in the era of technology, but as a souvenir, it could be and buy
What I didn't like very much is the size of the Room, even if measured in square centimeters, it's not enough somehow ...
What immediately it was for us added advantages to the Hotel is that there were mini shops nearby and strawberries were already sold, for example, for 6 lire, which at that time was much cheaper than Houses.
Strawberries ate just 120 liras, probably ...And there were also very inexpensive natural juices and juices and fresh sweet melons and so on, and water is not at a speculative price, like on excursions or near attractions ...
It is also a plus of the Hotel that there are streets of shoe factories and wholesale stores around it, that is, only wholesale and you can’t buy one pair, BUT in the evenings, these wholesale stores arrange sales and you can buy sneakers for 20 lire or flip flops for 10 lira.
NOTE - it seemed to us that for the locals, the Hotel in the thick of the streets, on which only wholesale shoe stores are located, definitely draws 3 (three) stars and everything is OK, but for tourists after the resorts of Turkey, for example, the same Kemer, this Hotel does not seem to be up to the stated number of stars. At the same time, who wants what from a Hotel for $30 for a double room with breakfast in the City Center?
OVERALL RATING OF THE HOTEL: a solid 3 (NORMAL).
ROOM - we got it on the top floor, which, with the condition of having a working elevator and an open veranda, despite the size of the Room itself, we really liked it. The bed is clean, not squishy, there is almost no sound insulation in the Room, if someone spoke loudly from the next room, we could hear it.
SHOWER - if we had not lost weight before the rest, we probably would not have fit in this Shower, but there is hot water and towels and accessories (soap and shampoo) were changed every day.
OVERALL SHOWER RATING: 4- (NEARLY GOOD).
SAFE, DRESSING ROOM (CABINET), REFRIGERATOR, AIR CONDITIONER, TV and VIEW FROM THE WINDOW - at first, of course, it's all some kind of horror, but it's all there, and the view from the window even then was amusing, like, it's good that it's not like that at home...
OVERALL SCORE OF THE SPECIFIED: a solid 3 (NORMAL).
VERANDA ABOVE THE ROOM - immediately a TIP: when we were there, there were very shabby chairs and a lot of dust, but we allocated towels from the Room for the purpose of using it as bedspreads on these armchairs, and everything became generally wonderful.
OVERALL VERANDA RATING: 5 (EXCELLENT).
BREAKFASTS - the food is normal, there were boiled eggs and soup and coffee - natural, there were olives and fresh vegetables, as well as sausage (it is impossible to eat) and cheeses, by the way, very nothing, but they didn’t drink juices and kefir, in available, haven't tried it either.
OVERALL RATE OF BREAKFAST: solid 4 (GOOD).
ATTENTION - in Istanbul they eat / feed everywhere and always and whatever you want, so let's pay a little more attention to the POSITIVE feature of the Hotel, namely the location on the street that turns into Kumkapi Square towards the Embankment.
By the way, it is strange that there are so many reviews about the Hotel and no one told about such a good location of the Hotel not far from the restaurant square!
With that in mind, it's generally strange that the Hotel provides food. There are several dozen restaurants on the square, some of which have a second floor. Prices bite a little, but it's like someone's attitude to money and who came to Istanbul for what.
So TIP number three is " treat the Turkish lira like a hryvnia"!
That is: when we were there, the rate was about 3.95 - 3.99 - 4.
00 lira for one US dollar, that is, very roughly about 7 (seven) hryvnia for one lira, however, if you take your dear 100 bucks and change them for about 400 Turkish lira, therefore, looking at prices in Istanbul in lira, as in hryvnia, consider that you just have a budget of 400 lira (that is, 400 hryvnia). Such a price adjustment can be applied to other national currencies, for example, Russian rubles, which will make it easier to treat price tags!
The most interesting restaurant is the last along the street towards the Embankment (on the right side). The name is Hunkar (full name of Kumkapi Hunkar Restoran).
Why this restaurant is the most interesting, but because it is the only one on the third floor that has a veranda overlooking the Bosphorus!!!
They cook very tasty, if you don’t squander and don’t lean on alcohol (a little expensive), then fresh fish, soups and coffee or juices - there will be a sea of u200bu200bimpressions, that is, a whole strait, namely: the Bosphorus! Also, the senior manager of the restaurant - well done, tries very hard, very polite.
By the way, we were offered free tea while our table was being prepared on the verandah, and then there was also a free gift from the restaurant - a fruit plate!
Therefore, if you have the opportunity (time) to visit Kumkapi Square, be sure to go to the Kumkapi Hunkar Restoran and ask immediately for a veranda overlooking the strait! YOU WILL NOT REGRET!! !
OVERALL RATING OF THE RESTAURANT: 5 (EXCELLENT).
What we wanted to see a lot and it seemed that we saw little is that, as they say, “Istanbul is a city of contrasts”, although, probably, it’s always like leaving a vacation, so always just a few days and impressions, like come on and so on.
Immediately an ADVICE or not even advice, but an INSTRUCTION from tourists to tourists: times, and it is in the alleys and between the houses you can see the old fountain and so on: look for and you will find, but with Turkish fleece and we do not always know how to decorate a house beautifully. ".
So, for example, right in front of the Hotel there is a very charming tea room for its own - low stools and a table.
And the alleys around the Hotel are exactly what they were looking for - they don’t look like anything, except for Istanbul
In the evening, just from the cars there is trade, for example, they sell dates even on branches.
There are a lot of impressions, that is, sorry, the whole Bosphorus Strait - we are still in Istanbul, but first things first:
I repeat, who goes to Istanbul for what! We, given the limited number of days and the presence of children with friends, as well as an early departure from Odessa and the availability of weekends in the bazaars of Istanbul and the fact that almost everything there closes after 19-00 (this is not Egypt for you, baby, where only after 21.00 everything opens), chose the following route:
1) check-in at May hotel-3 Hotel, Istanbul
2) shopping for strawberries (in front of the Hotel)
3) eating strawberries on the open veranda of the Hotel overlooking the Bosphorus
4) then walk to the Grand Bazaar (Capali Carsi)
5) then back to the Hotel (drop shopping) and down towards the Embankment through Kumkapi Square
6) eat at Kumkapi Hunkar Restoran on the open veranda also overlooking the Bosphorus
7) then to the Embankment across the pedestrian bridge to the other side and work up an appetite on foot towards the ferry pier (Hazarfen Ahmet Celebi Iskelesi)
8) then back by bus (there is an Istambulcard, we know the name of the Kumkapi Bus Stop) and to the Hotel through Kumkapi Square, where there are many, many restaurants
9) the second day, left a dollar for cleaning, then (after breakfast) from the Hotel towards the Grand Bazaar (Capali Carsi) to the tram tracks and to the right along the Gazi Atik Ali Pasha Mosque (Atic Ali-Pasa Camil)
10) buying roasted chestnuts and checking out shoe, clothing and jewelry stores along the way
11) Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnici)
12) Sultan Ahmet Arkeolojik Park
13) Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camil)
14) light snack
15) the streets of Istanbul (the city of contrasts) towards the Hotel
16) fried fish and soups
17) Hotel
18) embankment in the evening (by bus to the ferry pier (Hazarfen Ahmet Celebi Iskelesi))
19) light snack (fishburger: half a loaf and mackerel on the grill)
20) and back by bus to the Hotel via Kumkapi Square
21) the third day, left a dollar for cleaning, then (after breakfast) from the Hotel towards the Grand Bazaar (Capali Carsi) to the tram tracks and to the right
22) Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Muzesi)
23) Topkapi (Topkapi Sarayi Muzesi)
24) Gulhane Parki
25) Old Railway Station (Istanbul Railways Museum)
26) ferry pier (Hazarfen Ahmet Celebi Iskelesi)
27) ferry ride on the Bosphorus
28) Egyptian Bazaar (Misir Carsisi)
29) Grand Bazaar (Capali Carsi)
30) fried fish and soups
31) strawberries, melons
32) Hotel
33) embankment in the evening (by bus to the ferry pier (Hazarfen Ahmet Celebi Iskelesi)
34) bridge / across the bridge / ferry terminal Karakoy
35) coffee on the opposite side of the Bosphorus
36) and back by bus to the Hotel via Kumkapi Square
37) finish curve (after breakfast) from the Hotel to the Embankment and by bus to the ferry pier (Hazarfen Ahmet Celebi Iskelesi)
38) ferry ride on the Bosphorus
39) Egyptian Bazaar (Misir Carsisi)
40) shopping
41) Grand Bazaar (Capali Carsi)
42) shopping
43) whining where is my 100 bucks more
44) fried fish and soups
45) strawberries, melons
46) Hotel
47) Hotel veranda overlooking the Bosphorus
48) Hotel - Oceanarium (we went by car) - Hotel
49) walk along Turkeli Cd street to Yenikapı Metro station (Yenikapi Istasyonu)
50) Payment for 2 (two) entrances to the Metro
51) Ataturk Airport (Ataturk Havalimani)
52) search for coffee and places to smoke
53) plane - Odessa - I will not give the taxi driver 260 hryvnia (expensive) - House
54) I am writing a Review about the trip ...
IMPORTANT or NOT IMPORTANT, but still: We lived exactly in the Kumkapi district of Istanbul, then from the hotel terrace we should have seen not the Bosphorus, but the Sea of Marmara, and the embankment along which we walked, of course , also ideas along the Sea of Marmara, and the Bridge at the end of the embankment is the so-called Galata Bridge, but not across the Bosphorus, but through the Golden Horn, but do such subtleties have such a strong meaning ....
So, let's dwell on the specified in more detail, namely:
EMBANKMENT - beautiful, clean, walking far from start to finish. The embankment goes along the highway and to the ferry pier (Hazarfen Ahmet Celebi Iskelesi). IMPORTANT - cross only at designated places - very heavy traffic. If you walk during the day, you can slowly walk to the very end, in total the journey will take about an hour.
In the direction of travel, you will always have a magnificent century, that is, a magnificent view, on the right - the strait, on the left - the old fortress walls, somewhere better preserved, somewhere worse. For example, opposite the Lighthouse, you can take beautiful photos of the bay and the fortress wall.
The Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camil) will be visible almost all the time, and then the Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Muzesi) and Topkapi (Topkapi Sarayi Muzesi).
The most unforgettable impressions.
What is interesting is that, despite the general noise and passing trucks, buses and the like, we saw a lot of locals resting on the grass (in the evening they cooked something on the coals), we rested in general, but how to relax in such noise - it is not clear, although after going to the Egyptian Bazaar (Misir Carsisi), we can say that it is not so loud here and there are no people at all.
At the end of the Embankment there will be a ferry pier (Hazarfen Ahmet Celebi Iskelesi), which is divided roughly in two by a bridge across the strait. There are many cafes under the bridge, cars and fishermen on the bridge, who are trying to catch something in muddy waters ...
If you go through the pedestrian underpass under the bridge (along the Embankment), you will see interesting cafes in the form of boats from which they sell only 2-3 types of sandwiches and spices for them.
At first we thought it was a dessert, but it turned out to be pickled cabbage and cucumbers.
By the way, for some reason, they don’t have any sauces for sandwiches at all and almost nowhere they offer french fries, but with these spices - pickles, boutiques somehow get inside.
For fish sandwiches, the local name is Balik Ekmek. We ate with white bread and fried mackerel. Locals say that there are as many varieties of Balik Ekmek as there are residents of Istanbul. Of those that we managed to try in Istanbul, it was here that the most delicious Balik Ekmek seemed to us. It costs 6-7 lire and more.
By the way, another TIP why you can and sometimes need to buy Istambulcart is because public toilets in Istanbul are paid, it costs 1 lira and the devices at the entrance accept only iron coins, and they (coins) at the most inopportune moment it may not be with you, and here Istambulcart comes to the rescue, namely: it can also pay for such a savory service ...
Yes, and one more thing, 1 lira coins can come in handy to look from the Embankment or the bridge with binoculars.
On the opposite side of the bridge is the old ferry pier Karakoy and there is a small embankment with 3-4 benches (the rest of the embankment is now closed and under restoration when we were here - May 2018) - great view and near the shore, fish rush in schools, the very ones that the fishermen are trying to catch from the bridge ...
If you walk a little further (50 meters from the bridge) on the right side of the street there will be a very good cafe Muhallebicisi - tastier than coffee and cookies, during the time that we were in Istanbul, we did not find any tastier.
And how they serve it, the entourage, the colors, and the smell...We recommend it, in general.
By the way, it will not be cheap, coffee is at least 10 lira, cookies are also not cheap, but tasty and beautiful.
There is also a Metro stop here - you can return to the City Center.
We return on foot, to our side of the strait: also at the end of the Embankment is the final bus stop and opposite is the same Egyptian bazaar (Misir Carsisi).
EGYPTIAN BAZAAR (MISIR CARSISI) - historical reference: « Egyptian Bazaar, he is the Egyptian market, he is the Spice Market, he is Mysyr-charshysy market, located in the old part of Istanbul, in the Eminonu district, by the way, this is the second Stmbula's largest market after the Grand Bazaar. On the territory of the Egyptian market there are about 100 shops and there is everything or almost everything or almost everything. The market was built back in 1660 by Sultana Hatice Turhan (formerly a Ukrainian Nadezhda), who was the concubine of Sultan Ibrahim I and the mother of the future Sultan Mehmed IV, and initially the market was part of the New Mosque complex. ".
It's worth noting right away that approaching the Egyptian Bazaar from the side of the Embankment, you still need to walk to it, passing through a million shops, shops and just sellers who sell goods not always worse than in the market itself, but definitely cheaper.
GRAND BAZAAR (CAPALI CARASI) - historical background: « Grand Bazaar, aka Covered Bazaar, aka Covered Market, aka Kapali Carshi is one of the largest covered markets in the world, which is located in the Old part of Istanbul and covers an area of more than 30 thousand square meters and more than 4 thousand shops are located on 66 streets of the bazaar. More than half a million people visit it every day. ".
Travel note (gag): Very conveniently located from our Hotel, at least go every day. Also at the main entrance on the right there is an exchange office with one of the highest exchange rates and on the left there are several restaurants and stands for preparing juices from pomegranate, orange, watermelon and so on for 10 lire per glass. ".
The Grand Bazaar sells / offers, we don’t know how it sells there at these prices, but still, an extraordinary large number of goods: from jewelry and ornaments, antiques, leather goods, textiles, carpets to small and inexpensive tourist souvenirs .
As you know, until the middle of the 19th century, Kapali-charshi (Grand Bazaar) was the center of the slave trade, therefore, given the presence today of such a phenomenon / concept as "shopaholic", the situation has not changed dramatically ...
The construction of the Grand Bazaar began under Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror, immediately after the capture of Constantinople in 1453. After the earthquake of 1894, its large-scale reconstruction was carried out. The oldest buildings of the market are the old (Sahaflarbedesteni) and sandalwood (Sandalbedesteni) bedestans located in the center of the complex, with vaulted and domed ceilings.
The building of the bazaar has 18 gates, among which the most notable are the central Nuruosmaniye gate located next to Chamberlitash Square, on which there is an inscription “God has mercy on the one who devotes himself to trade” and the gate located next to Beyazit Square “ Beyazit. The streets of the market have retained their old names - Kolpachnikov Street (Kalpaklar Caddesi), Kalyanshchikov Street (Nargileci Caddesi), Samovar Street (Semaver Sokak), etc.
The first impression from being inside is how beautiful the architecture is and how much attention and love was paid by the merchants of Istanbul to decorate their workplace, that is, with what respect the Turks treat such a craft as trade, including the representation of the country, from which should always be a pleasure to bring something to remember.
The number of stores is really amazing, and given how little space each one takes up, one wonders how they still manage to place a water source and a restaurant among such a shortage of space.
Inside, we especially liked the gallery of small columns, which, in our opinion, most clearly conveys the spirit of the era of creation / construction of the building and at the same time, at the same time, there is evidence that everything was done right away so correctly that already not altered for centuries.
What we personally paid attention to at the Grand Bazaar is ceramics, ceramic souvenirs, ceramic lamps, copies of clothes and shoes of famous brands (almost indistinguishable) and leather jewelry (bracelets and pendants, and so on, handmade) as well as handmade carpets.
It is said that about 90 million tourists visit the Grand Bazaar every year, thus making it one of the most crowded places in the world, so let's not spoil the statistics - EVERYONE goes to the Grand Bazaar.
BOSPHORO - as you know, the strait also known as the Istanbul strait - is the strait between Europe and Asia Minor, which connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara, and together with the Dardanelles connects the Black Sea with the Aegean, which is part of the Mediterranean and is located on both sides of the strait Istanbul.
How many we walked around Istanbul and talked about the strait with anyone, each time we were told about the same strait each time new historical and theological information, which basically has nothing to do with either one or the other, but on the other On the other hand, it is pleasant to watch how the locals love their city and attribute to it beautiful stories that are rooted in Greek or Roman mythology, for example, how the entire Bosphorus is given the name of the narrow, curved Golden Horn, which flows into the Bosphorus at its junction with the Sea of Marmara, and further associate this name with the love story of the Greek god Zeus for the priestess Hera, the daughter of King Inach, but then we realized the simple truth that the people of Istanbul, they are like Odessans - they never lie, but only fantasize a little.
In many reviews, we read how wonderful it is to enjoy the views of the strait, and it doesn’t matter day or night - every time the strait sparkles with a special unique beauty, illuminated either by the warm rays of the sun or the gentle light of the moon, however, the first impressions of trying to enjoy the said almost immediately go astray at the moment when you approach the queue for the ferry ...
In order to maintain / strengthen the expectation of the beautiful, we give some simple, in our opinion, effective recommendations, namely:
Firstly, before going on the ferry, it is advisable to eat and take some water or juice or cookies or yogurt with you, and so on, because they ride for about an hour or more, so we personally, somewhere from the middle of the trip, wanted to to eat, and while they waited for the steward, they almost salivated, and then they also ran for tea, because they didn’t buy it right away.
The price (average) on the ferry is 4 lira and for tea (50 grams) and 4 lira for a sandwich (small thin) and 4 lira for juice (such as yupi).
Secondly, according to all the information that we found, it seems that you can pay for the trip with Istambulcard and there should be a 25% discount, but we didn’t see something like that, so either you buy a ticket for 25 lira for a standard a huge ferry or pass under the bridge along the pedestrian crossing and almost near the final bus stop and buy a smaller ferry ticket for 12 liras and everything is the same, but twice cheaper.
Another inconvenience is that several hundred people try to ride large ferries from the main entrance at the ferry crossing at once - the queues are huge, so again we go past the queues under the bridge, we pass 50 meters without a queue and are half the price We ride calmly just like them, but without stress.
And yet, when we were outside on the deck, it was cold, but inside we sat not near the window and it was not very convenient to take pictures, and when we moved and only once went on deck, our seats were taken once, so TIP - you need to be more careful when choosing places and not leave them unattended.
Well, the journey along the strait itself is one of the most peaceful excursions, especially when you already know everything for the second time, you have sandwiches with you in reserve and a place, or rather four places, staked out inside and two on the deck.
There will be very nice buildings along the coast, including the Topkapi Palace and a beautiful castle similar to the Galaki Tower, and above you there will be a bridge that connects Europe and Asia Minor, around you will be 90% local and 2-3 more tourists, and you will also listen to the audio guide in Turkish, however, evil tongues say that if you buy a ticket more expensive from local barkers, then the audio guide will start speaking in Russian - we don’t know, it was the way it was with us.
Total, our opinion is that you definitely need to take a tour of the Bosporus, firstly, not every time you can go along the waves of the Strait of Europe, but return along the waves of Asia Minor and vice versa, and secondly, there will be a beautiful view of that part Istanbul, where its two beautiful pearls are located: the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, as well as look at the Topkapi Palace from the strait.
GAZI ATIK ALI PASHA MOSQUE (ATIK ALI PASI CAMIL) and NURUSMANIYE CAMIL MOSQUE
As you know, the city of Istanbul is also called the city of mosques. Not far from the Central part there are two mosques, for example, GAZI ATIK ALI PASHA MOSQUE (ATIK ALI PASI CAMIL) is located directly in the direction of the Tram towards the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camil)
and NURUSMANIYE CAMIL MOSQUE is located a little further, towards the Sultan Ahmet Arkeolojik Park.
The reference point will be the so-called Column of Constantine.
Historical note: « The Column of Constantine (emberlita Stunu, which means "belted column") is a Roman triumphal column located on Chamberlitash Square, was installed in 328 at the Forum of Constantine and was inaugurated on the day of the founding of Constantinople in 330, its height is 34.8 m, the material is porphyry. ".
BLUE MOSQUE or SULTANAHMET MOSQUE (Sultanahmet Camii) is considered one of the first mosques in Istanbul. The mosque has six minarets: four, as usual, on the sides, and two slightly less high - on the outer corners. It is considered an outstanding example of Islamic and world architecture. The mosque is located on the shores of the Sea of Marmara, in the historical center of Istanbul in the Sultanahmet district, opposite the Ayasofya Museum. The mosque is one of the symbols of the city.
When we were there, there was an announcement in the courtyard that repairs would be carried out until the end of May, and therefore they were not allowed inside the mosque.
Immediately near the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camil) is Sultan Ahmet Arkeolojik Park, where you can see the historical monuments Obelisk of Theodosius (Theodosius Dikilitasi), Twisted Column (Serpent Colomn), also known as the Serpent Column (Ylanl Stun), and Obelisk of Constantine (Orme Dikilitas).
Historical note: « The Theodosius Obelisk (Egyptian obelisk) (Dikilita) is an ancient Egyptian obelisk of Pharaoh Thutmose III (XVIII Dynasty), erected on the dividing barrier of the Constantinople hippodrome (today known as At Meydan or Sultanahmet Meydan). Erected by the emperor of the Roman Empire Theodosius the Great in 390 AD. e. This is one of the best preserved obelisks brought to Constantinople and the only one brought directly from Egypt, the second surviving obelisk, made of Egyptian porphyry, badly damaged, is located in the courtyard of the Istanbul Archaeological Museum. ".
Historical note: « The Serpent Column (Ylanl Stun) is an antique bronze column, which is the surviving part of the sacrificial tripod, created from the weapons of the Persians who died at the Battle of Plataea (479 BC) during the Greco -Persian wars.
Initially located in Delphi, later transported by Constantine to the new capital of the Roman Empire, Constantinople (now Istanbul). Initially, the 8-meter column was crowned with 3 snake heads. In 1700 it was partially destroyed. One of the snake heads is in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum. ".
If you face the obelisks and the serpentine column, then from the side of the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camil) there will be a small souvenir shop and an alley with a good Turkish restaurant and a very interesting installation of houses with miniature entrance doors, windows and small fences around the house - it just causes such tenderness that it’s simply impossible to pass by, we couldn’t resist and knocked on one of the doors, but what if someone opens such a cute whole, but no one dug up for us: “nobody home" and we left...
HAGIA SOPHIA - THE WISDOM OF GOD, HOLY SOPHIA OF CONSTANTINOPLE, HAGIA SOPHIA.
In the past, the Patriarchal Orthodox Cathedral, later - a mosque, now - a museum; the world-famous monument of Byzantine architecture, a symbol of the "golden age" of Byzantium. The official name of the monument today is Hagia Sophia Museum (Ayasofya Mzesi).
For more than a thousand years, St. Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople remained the largest church in the Christian world until the construction of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. The height of the St. Sophia Cathedral is 55.6 meters, the diameter of the dome is 31 meters.
In front of the entrance to the cathedral, on the left, there is an installation (like a moat), but this is not a moat, but archaeologists studied the so-called cultural layers and came to the conclusion that the temple was built above the previous one, and the level of the ground (floor) was raised by the builders to 5 meters.
The splendor of the cathedral is amazing.
As the Byzantine writer Procopius of Caesarea said; secretary to the general Belisarius, On Buildings (Book 5: I: 27): “This temple presented a wonderful sight - for those who looked at it, it seemed exceptional, for those who heard about it - absolutely incredible. In height, it rises as if to the sky, and, like a ship on the high waves of the sea, it stands out among other buildings, as if leaning over the rest of the city, decorating it as an integral part of it, it itself is decorated with it, since, being a part of it and entering into its composition, it stands out above it so much that from it you can see the whole city, as in the palm of your hand.
According to legend, the emperor Justinian, entering the built cathedral, said: Solomon, I have surpassed you! ”, apparently referring to the legendary Jerusalem Temple.
From the mosaics in the interior, one can study the evolution of Byzantine art over several centuries.
The image of the Mother of God sitting on the throne in the apse is striking in its humanity and spirituality. Above the entrance to the temple, Jesus Christ blessing the pilgrims is laid out, and in front of him is the kneeling emperor.
In the center of the hall, almost under the main lamp of the cathedral, circles are carved on the floor of colored marble - this is the place of the coronation of the Emperors of Byzantium and this place is also called "Navel of the World" or Omphalos.
You can stay inside the cathedral indefinitely, you can also climb to the upper level, from where the people below look quite miniature, which only proves the monumentality of the cathedral building.
To the left of the main entrance of the cathedral there is a column and it is said that an accidental touch on it cured Emperor Justinian of a continuous headache.
It is believed that if you lean your forehead against a stone, think of a wish, insert your finger into the hole and turn it clockwise, then the wish will certainly come true.
Now the Hagia Sophia is the Hagia Sophia Museum.
Therefore, the entrance is paid, not that expensive - 40 lira, there is another problem here - a huge queue!
Upon approaching the Hagia Sophia, we doubted to the last and believed that there would be no queue, but if there was, then only a couple of people with us, but it wasn’t there ...
TIP - you need to go early, to the opening (09:00), in the morning the queue will be a little smaller.
And immediately find, like us, a guide who walks along the line and offers his services for 30 liras, and now, we are already the first at the entrance.
Also, the guide will not only take you past a huge queue, there is another plus - he has already bought tickets and you will not have to wait in another queue, but not at the entrance, but at the box office.
Leaving the cathedral, can you eat at the nearest cafe if you look at the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camil)? then this cafe is located on the left hand - the prices are tolerable, they treat you deliciously. Right there, and everywhere in the city, they also sell roasted chestnuts (7-10 lire per serving), boiled or fried corn and buns, as they say:
" He is crispy, he is ruddy,
He is sprinkled with sesame seeds!
Bitter, gently spicy, -
Happy lunchtime! ...".
If you bypass Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Muzesi) on the right side (or exit through the side entrance), then after about 100 meters you will reach Topkapi Palace (Topkapi Sarayi Muzesi).
Again, I draw your attention to the fact that on the map of the city it seems that between the Hagia Sophia and the Topkapi Palace, well, if not huge, then a sufficient distance, but in fact, they are almost nearby.
Excursion to the Topkapi Palace (Topkapi Sarayi Muzesi) consists of two parts (maybe), namely: the palace complex itself and ...of course the harem of the palace.
So, TOPKAPI PALACE (TOPKAPI SARAYI MUZESI) - we knew for sure that when we were in Istanbul, in addition to hoping to see many sights, we would have hope to visit the Sultan's palace and the harem where the famous Roksolana lived - fate / life which cannot be uninteresting, like a woman who left her mark in history next to great men.
In our case, our desire to visit Topkapi Palace was partly influenced by the Magnificent Age series, yes, yes, the same Turkish series that conquered the whole world with a story about a life full of drama at the court of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent .
However, not despite the fact that the palace in the series is just a copy of the real palace, but the history of the series is a screen version of some of the historical events that took place here.
In fact, the real Topkapi Palace is a small town of the Sultan, inside a large city, was built in the 15th century, and until the 19th century it was the main residence of the Turkish padishahs. Compared to other famous residences, such as the Hermitage, the Louvre, Peterhof, the Istanbul Palace has a more than modest appearance. Maybe there was luxury - after all, it was still a magnificent century, but little was left of it.
Topkapı Palace is a seven hundred thousand square meter palace complex consisting of four separate courtyards stretching for five kilometers.
There was a divan (Turkish government), a treasury, an armory, a cathedral, a bakery, stables, a garden with fountains and a harem. All this was surrounded by a wall and closed on a huge gate, well known to the audience of the series.
To the right of the entrance, there are various expositions, for example, the kitchen, where you can find unique utensils and one of the largest collections of white porcelain items in the world.
On the one hand, one would like to say: "Poor, but clean", and on the other hand, one would not like to hear in response: "Don't say ..." .
There is also a separate exhibition in the so-called hall of jewels, where among gold, silver and pearls you can see the Spoon diamond (86 carats) and such relics as the tooth of the Prophet Muhammad, the staff of Moses and the hand of St. John the Baptist.
It seemed to us that for many tourists, and especially for fans of the Magnificent Age series, Topkapi Palace can make a gloomy impression, especially in general, subdued lighting in the rooms, bars on the windows, high walls ...You can’t easily escape ...< /p>
You can also buy an entrance ticket to the harem SEPARATELY on the territory of the Topkapi Palace.
And, of course, you can visit the well-recognized sofa (the building of the Turkish government), above the room of which, according to legend, the sultan himself was located in order to control the decisions made.
We did not take a guide, but walked around and watched everything, but since the territory of both the palace and the harem is quite large, we recommend that if you do not take a live guide, then at least take an audio guide for 20 lire - it will be much more interesting.
In our opinion, the most important TIP for the tour of Topkapi Palace (Topkapi Sarayi Muzesi) is NOT to stand in line for tickets, but immediately overpay 10 lira and go past this entire queue, namely:
After you pass the Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Muzesi) you come to the checkpoint - it's just a security check and there are no privileges here - everyone costs the same and goes through the metal detectors (there are two queues, but this is just to make it faster ). There will be only 150 people in front of you in this queue.
After passing the control, you find yourself in the courtyard of the Topkapi Palace (Topkapi Sarayi Muzesi) and immediately run into a queue at the cashier, here there is already a queue in front of you, so the queue is 4 (four) hours, no less.
In order not to stand in this queue, that we have nothing more to do with you, how to waste precious time in queues, you take a queue and go forward, and there, near the ticket office, find local comrades from whom you can buy an excursion or just buy a ticket, overpaid only 10 lira.
After Topkapi Palace (Topkapi Sarayi Muzesi), to strengthen the peace of the inner world, you can walk towards the Embankment in Gulhane Park (Gulhane Parki) and then walk through the Old Railway Station (Istanbul Railways Museum).
GULHANE PARKI - the name comes from the Persian: "house of roses" is a historical city park in the Eminonu district, located next to the Topkapi Palace in the adjacent territory. The southern entrance to the park is one of the largest gates of the palace. This is the oldest and one of the largest parks in Istanbul.
In 1880, the park was first opened to visitors. In 1926, a statue of Ataturk was installed in it.
In 2003, it was reopened to the public after a lengthy restoration from a fire.
Here you can just take a walk: silence and quiet, it may be important to get a little distracted from the rhythm of life in Istanbul and the constant noise (a high wall separates the park from the city).
Shady alleys, babbling fountains, soft drinks will bring you to your senses after a tour of Topkapi.
At the end of the park rises the Gothic Column. This is a unique Byzantine monument of the 3rd c. n. e, dedicated to the victory over the Gothic tribes.
At the same time, if you go to the Park through the streets of Istanbul, you can enjoy the original structure of the city, overcome the differences in street levels.
And you can also go for a bite to eat in one of the million cafes: some are more expensive, some are cheaper, but for us, the main thing is the entourage!
And also leaving Gulhane Parki and going towards the Embankment, you can go through the Old Railway Station (Istambul Railways Museum).
Then you can take a break in a small park in front of the Station and go to the Embankment, from which you can make another trip by ferry along the Bosphorus, and returning back again go to the already expensive one, not in terms of price, but to the dear heart of the traveler Egyptian Bazaar (Misir Carsisi).
OCEANARIUM - this is the Oceanarium. How to get there and what it costs, see the web page:
https://istanbulakvaryum. com/en
IMPORTANT - when buying tickets for a group (parent plus children) - they give discounts, but see the conditions that apply at the time of purchase.
Our assessment - it's worth going.
And, finally, the SHOPPING tour - shopping, I tell you in Istanbul - this is something special. First, everything is expensive. Therefore, as stated above, we will apply the RULE (see TIP number three) - "treat the Turkish lira like a hryvnia".
So, near our May hotel-3 Hotel, Istanbul, there are only wholesale shoe stores on all streets. You can’t buy one pair, but there may be sales in the evenings and we bought sneakers, such as ADIDAS for 20 liras (against the standard price of 45-55 liras in the city) or leather slippers for 10 liras (against 90 liras in stores).
Silver - the choice is better at the Grand Bazaar (Capali Carsi), but the prices are much more expensive, for example, a bracelet for a hand is 400-500 lira, but it is better to go for silver at the Egyptian Bazaar (Misir Carsisi), for example, we bought a silver ring according to the “ligature” type (as if woven from material) for only 45 lire and there were similar bracelets for 60 lire (against exactly the same ones at the Grand Bazaar (Capali Carsi) for 120 lire). Also throughout the city there are a fairly large number of jewelry stores, so the choice is sufficient.
We can recommend one shop, if you exit our May hotel-3 Hotel, Istanbul and go up (in the opposite direction from the Embankment), walk to the tram tracks, turn right towards the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camil), then on the next block with on the right side in the direction of travel there will be a very small shop with silver (between shops with shoes and things). Here you can also buy products with sultanite.
Shopaholic reference: Sultanite has an alexandrite effect - that is, the ability of the crystal to change color depending on the nature of the lighting - an integral property of the Sultanite stone. Red, in bright natural light, in the light of incandescent lamps, the tones of Sultanite change to green. ".
The sultanite stone is rare and very expensive, which is why they learned how to synthesize sultanite. The first began to synthesize it in Turkey.
Synthetic or hydrothermal (g/t) sultanite is not inferior to natural stone in terms of its chemical and optical properties.
Sultanite h/t is easier to process, and most of the processed stones end up in jewelry inserts.
The price tag for natural sultanite is out of reach, and g/t sultanite is quite acceptable for purchase.
Pay attention to the jewelry tag, which is a certificate for the product. If the inserts say “Sultanite g / t”, then this stone received its life with the participation of a person. If there are no clarifications in the name of the stone, then you have a natural stone sultanite. Now pay attention to the price. The price of natural sultanite exceeds the price of diamonds. The price of sultanite g / t is quite affordable, it can be compared with the prices of topaz, garnet, citrine, etc.
A sales consultant will help you understand the origin of stones in jewelry.
It provides you with clear and reliable information about products and inserts.
Now the acceptable price in Istanbul for a silver item with sultanite is 25 lira per gram, that is, this is not the price of ONLY a stone and an ENTIRE product with a stone, for example, earrings for about 120 lira, a men's ring - 200 lira, a children's ring - 36 lira .
What is the advantage of this jewelry store - it has an English-speaking manager (this is a big plus) and two craftsmen who, before selling, once again check the jewelry, stone setting, locks, and so on, and only after that they will sell it, and not how everywhere: gave/received money and that's it, get out of here...
Near this jewelry store there is a very good shoe store (1st floor), prices from 120 lire for leather shoes - very high quality and comfortable, we bought on the first day, left, on the second day we returned and bought for mothers and children friends.
Also, a store with very good shoes is located in front of the entrance to the Grand Bazaar (Capali Carsi), if you walk from the side of our May hotel-3 Hotel, Istanbul, prices are from 90 liras for women's shoes and from 100 liras for men's.
Also, near the indicated jewelry store and shoe store (on the 2nd floor) there is a very good women's clothing store, but a bit expensive, everything is about 90-100 lira.
A little further, right there (on the same side of the street), if you go towards the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camil) there is a shopping center with men's clothing - very high quality products and there are good copies for brands, prices are higher than expected, but there are sales.
Also, at the Egyptian Bazaar (Misir Carsisi) at the end of the right wing on the left side (the penultimate store, the last is a jewelry store) there is a very good store with beach accessories, bedspreads, capes (from 90 lire), towels (30 lira ), soap (12-20 liras) and goat wool washcloths (25 liras).
Clothes (for the children of friends and all of us) were mostly seen in the LC Wikiki store near the Egyptian Bazaar (Misir Carsisi).
It is also worth noting handmade carpets from 400 liras at the Grand Bazaar (Capali Carsi) and there are very good copies of shoes of famous brands, prices from 320 liras and more, as well as leather women's bags and men's berets for 400-500 lire
As for women's bags for 45-50 liras, this is only around the Egyptian Bazaar (Misir Carsisi) as well as sneakers of famous world brands, mainly Reebok, for 45-55 liras.
We pay special attention to sweets - we mainly took them to the Grand Bazaar (Capali Carsi), because we liked the choice more, and as for the price, we bargained and were inferior to us up to 20% of the declared value.
And, of course, ceramics! Dust collectors for home or as a gift - you definitely need to buy something, we didn’t take it, but everyone else definitely needs it, probably ...
3 lira - 1.5 liter bottle of water in the shop
4 lira - fried corn
4 lira - tea (almost everywhere)
4 lira - juice (like yupi)
4 lira - travel by public transport (if there is no Istambulcard)
4 lira - cleaning in the Hotel Room
5 lire - 112 grams of coffee
5 lira (minimum) - a small souvenir made of ceramics (like a ball)
5 lira (minimum) - a small bar of natural soap
5-6 lire - a pack of juice in the store
6 lira – Istambulcard (the cost of the card only, it needs to be topped up for travel)
6 lira - a sandwich on the street (it's not expensive)
6 lire - 1 kg of strawberries
6 lira - 1 kg of melon
6 lira - soup in a cafe on the street (more expensive in restaurants)
7 lira - 100 grams of roasted chestnuts
7-10 lira - natural soap in a can package
9-10 lire - freshly squeezed juice
10 lira - city card
10 lira - dolat for the entrance to the museum, so as not to stand in line
10 lira - fried mackerel + half a loaf of bread in a cafe on the street (more expensive in restaurants)
8-9-10 lira - a cup of coffee in a cafe
10 lira - a sandwich on the Embankment near the bridge
10 lira - overpayment for the entrance to the museum, so as not to stand in line
10 lira and above - ceramics
10-20 lira - stone bracelet on hand
20 lira (minimum) - overnight car parking
10 - women's flip-flops (like flip flops) only on sale
20-30 - sneakers like Reebok or Adidas only on sale
20 lira - children's things around the Egyptian Bazaar (Misir Carsisi)
20 lira (minimum) - women's scarves (cashmere)
25 lire - goat wool washcloth
25 lira - the cost of breakfast in someone else's hotel
25 lira (minimum) - 1 gram of silver jewelry with sultanite
30 lira - guide services on excursions
30 (minimum) - a leather bracelet on the arm
30 lira - a good beach towel
30 lira - beer 0.5 liters
30-40 lire - women's scarves (click)
30-40 lira - inexpensive dinner / lunch in a restaurant (without alcohol)
30-40 lira - cotton women's blouse (for example, LC Wikiki store)
40-50 lire - bijouterie (steel)
45-55 lire - sneakers like Reebok or Adidas around the Egyptian Bazaar (Misir Carsisi)
40-50 lira - women's cotton trousers (for example, LC Wikiki shop)
40-60 lira (average price 45 lira) - women's bag (fake of famous brands) around the Egyptian Bazaar (Misir Carsisi)
50 lire (minimum) - silver ring
90 lire and above - cotton beach cape
80-100 lira - the price of a taxi from the Airport to the Hotel and vice versa
90 lire - women's slippers (flip flops) leather
120 lire - women's moccasins, leather shoes
120 lira and above - men's leather shoes or sneakers
200 lira and more - original sunglasses of famous brands - stock shops
400 lira (minimum) - replica watches
400 lire and more - a small handmade carpet at the Grand Bazaar (Capali Carsi)
400-500 lira - a good leather men's beret / small backpack (fake of famous brands) at the Grand Bazaar (Capali Carsi)
400-600 lira - a good leather women's bag (fake of famous brands) at the Grand Bazaar (Capali Carsi)
And, as we usually write in our reviews, remember one more RULE:
A tourist who has not been deceived is not a tourist!
So, that's about it!
TOTAL REST RATE - DIRECTLY DEPENDS ON REVIEW RATINGS!
THANKS!
