Istanbul Attractions

Don't It Make that Grey Mosque Blue?

Advantages: A simply stunning building overall, it's free
Disadvantages: The "blue" aspect may disappoint you,can be very busy

...century on the orders of Sultan Ahmet I with the intention that it should rival the Hagia Sophia which stands opposite it. The image of these two fantastic buildings square up to each other is one of the most breath-taking sights in Istanbul, a city that's not short on visual magnificence. Both buildings are quite extraordinary but it's the Blue Mosque that wins me over with its six stately minarets and awesome courtyard; I'd go so far as to say ...
...story that claims that the Sultan had demanded that the mosque have minarets made from gold - in Turkish "altin" - but the architect misheard him and built six - in Turkish "alti". While six minarets was something rather special in what we now call Turkey, they caused a stir in the Islamic world in general because the only other mosque to boast six minarets was the one in Mecca, held to be the holiest in the Muslim world; the solution was to add ...

fizzytom 02.08.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Sultan Ahmed Camii (Blue Mosque), Istanbul

The beautiful game Turkish style, with a dash of Brazilian

Advantages: Amazing experience, much safer than expected
Disadvantages: Expensive tickets and have to be careful which stand you buy them for

...home game. FENERBAHÇE Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü (Fenerbahçe Sports Club) is one of three big football clubs in Istanbul playing in the Turkish Süper Lig (Super League), along with Galatasaray and Besiktas. Fenerbahçe is located on the Asia side of the city, near to the port of Kadiköy. Galatasaray and Besiktas on the Europe side, though from what I’ve seen so far each team has fans from all parts of the city. The club was founded in 1907 in secrecy, ...
...shops selling all kinds of Fenerbahçe merchandise, from replica shirts to scarves all the way to slippers and after shave. We went into the one on Baghdad Street and were directed towards a Migros supermarket on Caddebostan, the road near to the sea parallel to Baghdad Street. We couldn’t work it out at first; perhaps we had to buy some milk to invoke a secret code, but we then saw just inside the entrance to the left a little Bilet Ix booth, which ...

larsbaby 01.05.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: exceptional
Review of Fenerbahçe Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, Istanbul

Lounging around, Istanbul International

Advantages: Lots of Shops and access to some great lounges!
Disadvantages: Restrauants are really expensive!

...one transit wait and its been a pleasure. Where you might not come here just because of this review, if you are going to Istanbul or in transit via Istanbul, you'll be going through a nice stop! Its clean, safe and well stocked up and fit for the 21st century! ...

imortal 10.08.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Istanbul Ataturk International Airport

Buyukada - A peaceful Atmosphere

Advantages: very romantic place, nice plant cover, sea, no cars
Disadvantages: the smells of horse feces :)

...That makes the citizens of Istanbul to look for places to relax but I can surely say they don't always see what they have in hand. Buyukada, is one of the best places to visit. In fact not only Buyukada. There are a group of Islands in The Sea Marmara and they are called "Prince Islands". Some of them have witnessed very important historical event for Turkey. Besides the Prince Islands is the best place to get rid of the noisy and stressful life ...
...Buyukada (and others) there are phaetons and bicycles instead of cars and trucks. That creates a very different atmosphere really. Additionally, the plant cover and the trees, old buildings, little streets are creating a very peaceful harmony which would make anyone relaxed. It is also possible to swim. There are beaches nearly most of the Islands but personally I don't recommend going Buyukada or others at weekends in Summer because it gets very ...

alisarialtun 17.01.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Istanbul - Buyukada

A peaceful haven within sight of Istanbul

Advantages: Quiet, no traffic noise or pollution, good food, scenic
Disadvantages: Not huge amounts to do

...is so appealing about the Princess Islands is the legacy of the different cultures that moved out to the islands in the late Ottoman period. The people who have lived on the islands, or owned holiday homes there have always been wealthy Istanbullus and that means a heritage created in particular by the Jewish, Greek and Armenian communities. The islands got their name because princes and princesses who had outlived their roles were exiled to the ...
...century a ferry service to the islands was established and the islands became a popular place for the wealthy merchant classes to have extravagant villas built. Of the nine islands, five are populated. Four of the five populated ones can be visited by ferry; the fifth, Sedef, is privately owned. GETTING TO THE ISLANDS A brilliant part of a trip to the Princes Islands is the ferry ride. On the outward journey we took the car ferry from the "Adalar ...

fizzytom 22.04.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Princess Islands, Istanbul