Advantages: Loads of things to see and do in the city.
Disadvantages: may not be much to do for children

...Istanbul is the only city in the world which is on 2 different continents, Europe and Asia. The city is divided by a narrow channel which links the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. The city centre is in the European side of the town, and is a very lively area, with some great markets and shops, but an area called Taksim Square may always be remembered for the murder of two English football fans last April. However, my personal experience showed the Turks to be very friendly people, and you should not be put off going to Istanbul, although avoid being in the city centre on the nights of football matches. The Turks are also very proud of their culture, but if you respect this, they are generally very friendly people. The historic area is on the Stanbul peninsular, and features the most beautiful buildings in the city, from the Byzantine... Read review

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Advantages: Delicious food, lots of culture, friendly people
Disadvantages: Too many places to see

...Istanbul is a fusion of the east and west, meaning its very cosmopolitan and westernised but has not lost its culture or traditions. Definitely a positive experience for any traveller from the West. Turkish people are famous for their hospitality, everyone's very warm and friendly. The food is delicious, pure pleasure for your tastebuds...And, of course, the prices are all fair. If you want to stay in Istanbul, I recommend at least a weak, preferrable 10 days. Trust me, you'll need it. Typical places to see are mosques such as the famous Suleymaniye and the Blue Mosque (everyone always goes to see the Blue Mosque but the Suleymaniye is much more amazing, the architecture and the scenery both), the Hagia Sophia (amazing piece of history, you can see both Byzantine and Ottoman art here), the Grand Bazaar (my advice to you... Read review

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Advantages: As cheap as you like
Disadvantages: Not well advertised

...Istanbul is a city break to be done. It is a place where there is lots of sightseeing, shopping, eating, exploring and discovering. I love Istanbul and find that everytime I go I learn something new about the old city. With so much to do I promise myself each time that my next stay will for a longer period but I have yet to stay long enough to satisfy my hunger for this city. I have stayed in two very different types of accomodation in Istanbul, on my first visit I stayed at the Pera Palace, once visited my Agatha Christie and Ataturk himself. An extraordinary hotel with all the original features in place, the hotel has a certain mysterious air to it. The rooms are like the rest of the hotel, quite charming. The Pera Place is situated in Beyoglu which is the British version of Soho or Leicester Square with lots of life... Read review

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Advantages: A great city
Disadvantages: Nothing really

...Istanbul is a definate must to the travelling person. The historical background in this city is absolutely amazing!! When i went there we went on the bosphuros is which a must do because it is the chanel that separates the asian continent from the European one. With this you can then travel to the Bazaars and I strongly recommend that you go to the Spice bazaar and the grand bazaar. You can buy many things including fine turkish leather and some very sweet tasting apple tea. You must buy some of this because it will blow your taste buds away. I enjoyed going around all of the religious faciltiies and there are some very nice buildings that you can visit. I enjoyed my visit to Istanvul even though it was very short. One interesting fact is that the island of galacatasary is were the team has all of it's pitches and places... Read review

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Advantages: Great food and wares
Disadvantages: Crowded

...The Grand Bazaar is a must for any tourist visiting Istanbul, but it's not a peaceful experience! The only aisle we didn't get harrassed to buy goods was in the Gold section - we obviously didn't look rich enough! The Grand Bazaar attracts more tourists than any other market in Turkey - the store holders are very persistent and the goods will definitely be priced at tourist prices! We visited the Spice Bazaar which is very close to the Grand Bazaar and really enjoyed the experience. It is a lot quieter, goods were cheaper and samples of yummy turkish delight and nuts were offered with no pressure to buy. It feels more authentic than the Grand Bazaar - more locals obviously shop there. Both markets are fun but watch your wallet!... Read review

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

...Istanbuls Ataturk International Airport is Brand new and has all you'd expect from a modern international gateway. Its easily accessible via the metro straight to the city, and well connected with all parts of the world! Disabled travellers are well looked after, most routes are ramped, have flat travelators and lifts and there are modern disabled toilets. If you need access to GPRS or Wi-Fi technologies, the airport has reception all over and at high speeds. The are tons of shops and perfumes seem to be pretty reasonable(Paco for approx. £9.00). Theres all the standard type of shops and some super designer boutiques for those high rollers! If you've forgotten to get some Turkish delight there is a "god send" shop which allows you to by what i refer to as "touristy" Turkish delight, jelly like in sugar powder and no other varieties (a... Read review

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Advantages:
Disadvantages:

...I have just got back from the game in instanbul. And i have got to say what a wonderful place. People has said its hell but really if you show respect to them them will show respect back. We found this out. The fans there are one in a million they show much more passion for the game than any scottish or english team, like how many of out team turn out in the pouring rain 2 hours before a match?? Rangers are a very good team and i think they tryed too much to make the defence perfect that they forgot about the attack. as for ronald de bore what a poor game he had if i was manager he would be taking off early in the second half for a much more attacking player like marco negri. this decision didnt fool me to take marco to istanbul i knew he wouldnt play as this was just mind games from dick advocatt.... Read review

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

...I was born and have been living in Istanbul. If you are a citizen of this city, you must be very resistant againist noise, traffic, air pollution and more. 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 of the city for a short time at least. In 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... Read review

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Advantages: Competitive price, punctuality, comfort.
Disadvantages: Indifferent crew

...London/Bangkok return via Istanbul economy class. . I booked with Turkish airlines because they had the cheapest fare over the new year bank holiday period. This was around 440 pounds including taxes. I was slightly worried after booking as I read several negative comments on various consumer reviews. . Checking-in was quick and simple at Heathrow and baggage was checked through to Bangkok. Transfer at Istanbul was quick and easy. Istanbul is a bright and modern airport, ideal for short transit stop. Flights on all segments were on time. Seating was spacious with 33-34 inch seat pitch, which is a big plus nowadays. There was no individual inflight entertainment and the sound system was faulty on both segments. . I found the meals to be reasonably good and appetizing with complimentary wine and soft drinks. Unfortunately... Read review

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Advantages: Istanbul is a very diverse city with endless cultural sights and beautiful landscapes. Food and nightlife are excellent and very different to the rest of Europe.
Disadvantages: Traffic is an absolute mess. It can be hard to find a park or green spot downtown. The souvenir dealers and "guides" in the touristic areas can be very annoying.

...2nd UPDATE 21.07.2001: I have added a few more insider tips for this latest update and streamlined the rest of the review. 1st UPDATE 24.05.2001: The sections on Sultanahmet, Galata and Beyoglu Districts have been rewritten, and the Bosphorus suburbs added. ISTANBUL. What else can I say but that I have fallen in love with this city and its people. Istanbul is so many things in one: a meeting place of cultures eastern and western, a historic battleground of Greek, Roman, Persian, Byzantine and Turkish empires, and a thriving metropolis with modern lifestyle and chaotic traffic. Istanbul is the unofficial capital of Turkey, and the only city that can claim to be part of two continents, Europe and Asia. At already over fifteen million inhabitants, it still keeps... Read review

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