To & From Istanbul:
Turkish Airlines run a number of direct flights from Dublin to the new airport ( IST ), September is a great month as fares soften back. Only option from IST to downtown is bus or taxi, the latter probably most convenient taking approx. 50 minutes and costing € 30. Flight times are convenient so options to avoid the early morning departures/arrivals. Istanbul is two hours ahead of GMT.
There is one fabulous hotel in Sultanahmet, the Four Seasons, not cheap but ultimate luxury sandwiched between the greatest mosques and palaces. The building and grounds have been transformed from a dour fortress to an intimate oasis of calm and splendour.
- Woke Tip: Mid- week is overall better value and less busy, Istanbul can be hectic, so fewer crowds make the trip much more memorable and enjoyable.
- Awake Tip: Rarely you will ever get the chance to stay in a luxury hotel oozing so much character, whilst concealing such a grim past for the inmates of 1917. Make sure you watch Oscar awarded film Midnight Express, directed by Alan Parker in 1978, starring John Hurt.
Figure 1 Four Seasons Hotel Sultanahmet
Exploring Istanbul – Day 1:
The advantage of a midday flight is an arrival in time to explore. The other is Sultanahmet is in the centre of Old Town with all main palaces and attractions within easy walking distance, so no better place to start the trip with a visit to Hagia Sophia, originally built as a church in the 6th Century and converted to a mosque in the 15th.
Follow link 1. for more information
Figure 2 Hagia Sophia
Figure 3 Inside Hagia Sophia
Opposite Hagia Sophia is the Sultan Ahmed or more commonly referred to Blue Mosque, due to the blue tiles used to decorate the interior. The two towering architectural masterpieces face each other across Sultanahmet square. No admittance during prayers and you will need to leave your shoes behind to enter, and observe some other basic dress codes, which you would expect.
- Awake Tip : Don’t arrive at prayer time as the mosque closes for the 90 minutes, don’t worry if the queue looks long it moves quickly, and ensure you have something to cover your hair if female, and dress conservatively
- Woke Tip : Ignore the carpet and rug salesmen they pester and offer all sorts of advice that isn’t of much use—unless you are looking for a magic carpet !
Follow link 2 for more information
Figure 4 Blue Mosque Across Sultanahmet Square
After the two visits opt for an aperitif, back at the Four Seasons on the outside roof terrace, great vantage point to watch the sun set over the Blue Mosque.
For dinner on the first night Rami is a great option, again easily reached on foot from the hotel, Rami is an old white painted house, serving traditional Turkish food.
Exploring Istanbul – Day 2:
Seraglio Point is a hilly wooded promontory that marks the meeting point of the Golden Horn, the Sea of Marmara, and the Bosphorus. Just behind Hagia Sophia, a short stroll from the Four Seasons Hotel this area is dominated by the grandiose complex of buildings forming Topkapi Palace. The palace was the residence of the Ottoman sultans and the women of the harem for 400 years. Part of the grounds have now been turned into a public park, but the palace is now open to the public as a rambling museum.
- Awake Tip : This is a very popular attraction so arrive early to enjoy fully—closed on Tuesdays.
See link 3 under useful links
In the afternoon head across Sultanahmet square to Basilica Cistern, a vast underground water cistern one of the more unusual tourist attractions
See link 4 under useful links .
Later as the sun sets -head out towards the rear of the Blue mosque towards the Sea of Marmara, the area is alive with markets, pubs, and restaurants at very affordable prices.
Exploring Istanbul – Day 3:
Time to explore the Bazaar Quarter area, to the southern end the New Mosque is one of the most prominent in the City, for something a little less grand and one of the oldest mosques in the city visit Atik Ali Pasa Mosque, nestled behind walls south of the Grand Bazaar enter through a deep stone porch. The spice bizarre is smaller and more manageable than its larger more manic neighbour, the narrow streets around the spice bazaar encapsulate the spirit of Old Istanbul, and the sound of ships whistles cut through the street noise to remind that a short ferry ride across the Bosphorus lies Asian Istanbul.
The Grand Bazaar is a labyrinth of streets covered by painted vaults lined with thousands of stalls and market traders. Often, they have multiple units, so do not worry if you are followed by the same owner from one unit to another. They may have other private rooms full of stock if you show an interest in an item, they are resourceful, but friendly enough if you engage.
Shopped out time to go back to the calm and tranquillity of the Four Seasons —
Figure 5 On the way to the Grand Bazaar
Figure 6 Grand Bazaar
Shopped out time to go back to the calm and tranquillity of the Four Seasons –and look forward to a wonderful dining experience in the courtyard restaurant, and on the way through the gleaming marble corridors of the hotel, reflect on what it used to be for some less fortunate in 1935
Figure 7 Marble Column with prisoners’ comments – Four Seasons Hotel,former prison!
Figure 8 Turkish Meze Meal
We hope you have enjoyed our look back at Istanbul & to keep up with our travels you can follow us on
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