Büyükada, the Biggest of the Princes’ Islands

July 10, 2008

In the past, the island was called Prinkipo after the Greek word for prince, but these days it’s called Büyükada. Logical, because with an area of 5,36 km² it is the biggest (büyük) island (ada) of the nine Princes’ Islands. Life on the island is very laid-back. The elegant, wooden mansions together with the typical […]

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The Princes’ Islands, Istanbul’s Biggest Car-Free Zone

July 8, 2008

The pine-forested and car-free Princes’ Islands (Kızıl Adalar or just Adalar) provide an oasis of peace and quite, making them an excellent destination to escape the hectic city life for a day. Out of the nine islands that lie in front of Istanbul’s coast, only four can be visited: Kınalıada, Burgazada, Heybeliada and Büyükada, the […]

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Dolmabahçe Palace – Video Gallery

July 6, 2008

Taking a guided tour of the extravagant Dolmabahçe Palace (Dolmabahçe Sarayı) in the modern part of Istanbul will undoubtedly leave a big impression. Below you find a video of the guided Selamlık tour. There are two versions available: a YouTube version (smaller in size) and a WVM version (bigger in size). The length of both […]

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Guided Tours in Dolmabahçe Palace

July 2, 2008

In order to visit the Dolmabahçe Palace (Dolmabahçe Sarayı) you must take one or both of the guided tours. The Selamlık tour takes you through the quarters reserved for men, while the Harem tour shows you the apartments of the sultan’s family. Only a limited amount of people are allowed into each section per day, […]

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Dolmabahçe Palace, Turkey’s Biggest Palace

June 29, 2008

Dolmabahçe Palace (Dolmabahçe Sarayı), Turkey’s largest mono-block palace, was commissioned by Sultan Abdül Mecit in 1843. Built to belie the military and financial decline of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul’s first European-style palace was an opulent one, excessive in size and filled with gold and crystal. Dolmabahçe Palace (Dolmabahçe Sarayı) Location Dolmabahçe Caddesi, Beşiktaş (opposite the […]

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Overview of the Istanbul Tourist Information Offices

June 26, 2008

Istanbul has six Tourist Information Offices (Turist Danışma Ofisi), which are all located on the European side. To provide you with an accurate overview, I contacted each and every one of them. As it turned out, the different offices have varying opening hours. Moreover, while most open their doors every day, due to a shortage […]

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Mosque Rules and Etiquette

June 24, 2008

As a tourist, chances are that you’ll be visiting a mosque at one time or another. If not, you will be missing out on several of Istanbul’s most beautiful sightseeing spots, such as the Blue Mosque and the Süleymaniye Mosque. As a non-Muslim, you’re welcome to visit them, as long as you observe a few […]

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The Basilica Cistern, the Coolest Spot in Town

June 15, 2008

There are hundreds of ancient cisterns hidden underneath the streets and houses of Istanbul. Of the two that are open to the public, the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı) is the largest and Istanbul’s most unusual tourist attraction. Contrary to James Bond, who had to row his way through Istanbul underground cistern in From Russia with […]

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The Egyptian or Spice Bazaar – Video Gallery

June 12, 2008

The Egyptian or Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı) in Eminönü in the historical part of Istanbul is without a doubt the nicest place in town to stock up on exotic edibles. Below you’ll find a fair impression of it. There are two versions available: a YouTube version (smaller in size) and a WVM version (bigger in […]

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The Egyptian or Spice Bazaar, the Hottest Spot in Town

June 8, 2008

The Egyptian Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı), otherwise known as the Spice Bazaar, is the place to be to lay in a fresh supply of spices, nuts, honeycomb, Turkish delight, dried figs, caviar and mature hard Turkish cheese. You can even find natural Turkish Viagra or herbal love potions on sale, although I wouldn’t expect miracles from […]

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