We had a wonderful time exploring Istanbul by bike with our family! The guides were super helpful and knowledgeable. We saw and learned a lot!! We were worried about the hills and busy streets but the guides were cautious and confident in leading us through the sites. We felt very safe. We had a great time and would definitely recommend this tour guide company!!

I loved the Balat neighborhood, it is absolutely stunning. We had an amazing tour with our guide who has wide knowledge about the history of the area. Worth to experience this side of Istanbul with its local people.

My wife and I were extremely pleased with our tour from Cem Balsun at Discover Istanbul... He showed us many sights that we would never have found as typical wandering tourists. After we had a traditional Turkish breakfast with Cem, we did visited the Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sofia, Topkapi Palace, and many other sights. Most importantly, he tailored the experience to meet our needs and he provided us with an excellent (local) perspective of life in Istanbul (including a stop in a small mosque to help us better understand the Muslim faith). We would highly recommend this tour from Cem for anyone that is interested in really understanding the culture of Istanbul / Turkey.

Istanbul is a great place to visit. Some tips: If you fly in see if you can find a friend who has been and who has a 1 lira coin which you can use at the airport to get a trolley - a Euro also works but as you'll almost certainly abandon the trolley costs three times as much. There is somewhere to get change but check out your friends. The exchange rate in Istanbul is better than in UK travel agents. Our hotel (The House Hotel on the Bosphorus ) gave the same rate of exchange as the Bureau de Change in the centre. Worth noting we got an even better rate of exchange when paying the hotel in £s cash. Don't rely on the fact that your hotel has called the taxi that you will be dropped where you want to go, not knowing Istanbul we were dropped off apparently close to Topkapi Palace only to find, after much searching, that we were a 20 minute walk from a tram stop and then two stops on the tram away. Check carefully the you are where you want to be. The good taxi drivers don't expect a tip, but are grateful if you give them one. The others solicit one. Apparently there are rogue taxis, also yellow, with €s or $s on the meter where they try to get you to pay €s/$s. This is illegal, you can refuse to pay and get out the taxi threatening the police. The trams are a great way to get around, just 3 lira a trip in air conditioned coaches. There are machines which will take notes and dispense tickets. If you use one there is button on the top left which will give instructions in English, the picture shows you which way to put the note, and you can buy multiple tickets (assuming the note will cover it). Use good clean notes without folds or creases for it to work best. For preference stay near a tram line for ease of getting about. At Ataturk Airport the vending machines dispense small bottles of water for 2 lira which I thought was a good price in comparison e.g. with UK airports The Donner and Kindersley guide to Istanbul is very good with an excellent map, the Rough Guide Pocket Istanbul is also useful.

Most comfortable-quick 2 way transfer to hotel is a booked transfer by taxi (48E). Then choose a nice 4 star hotel at least, located in the very historical center Fatih, Sultanahmed areas- if priority is a visit to the main historical objectives (bazaars included) and Bosphorus, or in Taksim, Lalely, Isticklal areas if interest is placed on mixt visits to both shops, restaurants, parks, cafeterias etc. Regular price of 1/2 l of water = 1.5E. One of the best Turkish coffee Mehmet Effendi, at 1.70E - Medusa Restaurant (with terrace and cats), nearby Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. A good, clean, cozy, nice decorated with a friendly personnel is Celal Sultan (4 stars) in Yerebatan - nearby Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. So, to say you know at least a basic piece of Istanbul, the center of Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, and if you spend min. 3 days there, please take into account the following compulsory objectives to visit: a) stroll on the streets nearby Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia - 1500 ys of existence as Christian cathedral (over 900 ys) and Mosque (approx. 600 ys), Blue Mosque, Hurem Sultan Hammam and visit these grand objectives, enter the nice cafeterias and restaurants, join at late evening the Dervish dancers at a terrace near Hurem Sultan Hammam, see also at night the show of colloured lights at the fountains in that square, have a dinner at the roof-top restaurants with a wide panorama of Istanbul; b) book a 1/2 day or a full day van tour to visit: Top Kappi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace (impressive), Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia (10 E), Basilica Cistern, the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar, Suleymanie Mosque (nearby the tombs of Suleyman the Magnificent and his wife Hurem), Rustem Pasa Mosque, Galata Tower, Beylerbay Palace. c) In Fatih and Laley you can find nice textile and garment shops, fur and leather shops. Also in the shops of Isticklal street (commerce street) d) a nice cruise (half/full day) on Bosphorus, from Eminonou port area, seeing the Anatolyan and Europe side of Bosphorus Streat, the magnificent 2 bridges between the continents, the Rumeli Fortress and Maiden Island (dinner on the sea), Princess Islands; e) cable car and Pierre Loti quarter; Byzantium and Ottoman walls of the city; f) a specific Turkish night with folkloric and belly dances; g) a cruise visit to Buyukada Island (one of the Princess Islands, where local people live in the conditions of the 19th century - ex.no cars- incl a horse carriage tour of the island full of holiday small villas with a all-round view to the sea; there you can have a tasty fresh fish lunch. h) jewellery shops = everywhere (negociate the price); I) if you want you can have breakfast-coffees-lunch-dinner in a lot of small/bigger nice restaurants placed everywhere in the streets of Istanbul, with a good local cuisine, pleasant environment for a short rest between the touristic visits. There are a lot more attractions about which you may read in the touristic brochures - only to have time. Concluding, stroll on the streets, visit shops and historical objectives, sit on a bench in the park, enjoy specific local food and a Turkish coffee, book a cruise on Bosphorus-Marmara-Black Sea, and even if you consider to be tired you'll see you've got a splendid experience in the interesting capital of two great Empires and also a good feeling inside you about the colors, pulse, traditions, food, and people of this wonderful place in the entire world. I'll do it for the 4th time as a gift for the day of 1st of March. VISIT AND ENJOY IT! MariaAna - Editor from Bucharest

Fatih gave my friend and I a fantastic tour of Istanbul's attractions. He was informative, funny, and helpful. Do contact him if you want to have a better understanding of Istanbul's sites and Turkish culture.

This amazing city has a vast netwrok of safe, affordable and reliable public transporation starting from Bus, Train, Trolley and underground. The taxi can be tricky because although most of the taxi drivers are good people, there are few that will take advantage of tourists which puts them on just about the same level as Newyork cabbies. There are two [Public transport]different ways to get to the city[old and new]. The city bus called HAVATAS or the train. From my personal experience, the bus is easier and quicker. It stops at the Old city[SULTANAMET] and the new city[TAKSIM SQUARE] which is the last stop. The fare is very reasonable too.

Istanbul is a lovely and beautiful city. Combining old and new, visit the spice market, a joy to visit with the sight and smell of all those lovely spices. The colours are amazing and the smell is incredible but not overpowering. Just go for a walk around lots of rug shops and some amazing new clothes designers (well worth having a look in their shops) Amazing gold and jewellery shops. Visit the great mosque, it will blow you away. It is so beautiful with its amazing colours inside and out. Lots to see and do, take a day trip or just wander about, you won't be disappointed.

I just love lstanbul. A vibrant, exciting, interesting and historic city this is the place to visit. Culture and modern living all in one hit. Amazing and I'll be back

Simple as the title say, it is a must see place. I have visited Istanbul twice before and was OK. now it is totally different and so nice to be in. I went there during the Easter and the weather was perfect, nice in the morning, little cold at night. Again, if you have not visited there, please do.

I was on way to Zurich, from Delhi and had to change planes at Istanbul. The aircraft zoomed over the Sea of Mermara/Straits of Bosphurous. A beautiful view, was possible because of clear blue sky and no clouds. Fantastic view. Got a birds view of the city, which looked attractive, with buildings and construction activities appearing to be full swing. Ships visible from aircraft were indeed very attractive/romantic. Whatever you may say. The Airport was also nice. Small, busy and homely. Plenty of locations to eat and spend time. Only language problems, a bit. You have to talk with sign language, interspersed. Perhaps, a stay and visiting the city is calledfor in future.

Day 1 Arrive at the Istanbul Ataturk Airport and transver to the Hotel, Plan to see Belly Dance show in Taksim area Day 2 Take a City Hop on Hop Off Tour, It starts at 1000 and takes about 1 Hour 30 minutes. Get down at Near FESHANE and take a taxi for Miniaturk, after visiting Miniaurak Hop on for Dolmabahce Place and visit the place and Dolmabahce Mosque, Hop On again to take the complete route of the city tour. Entry Fee for City Hop on Hop Off, Miniaturk and Dolmabahce palace and charged in Turkish Lira only. You're not allowed to take any photos or film inside the palace buildings. The visit is based on a guided tour usually every 10-15 minutes. During your visit, you can relax in one of the several cafes on the grounds of the museum. Relax in the evening and go through Arasta Bazaar and will be able to see Surf Whriling Dance. In my opinion, One does not have to take a formal show of the Surf Whriling Day 3 Visit Ancient Byzantine Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Church, Topkapı Palace, Basilica Cistern. They are within walking distance and if you stay in old city than even from your place of stay. Entry Fee for Topkapı Palace , Basilica Cistern and Hagia Sophia Church . There is no entry fee for Blue Mosque and Ancient Byzantine Hippodrome. Evening free for Turkish bath. It is novel/ different experience but massage is better in our country. Day 4 Take a half day tour of Bosphorus Strait, Golden Horn,. If you have the time you also might to relax at Camlica Hill Evening see Spice Bazaar, Grand Bazaar and Sirkeci Station Day 5 Shopping at Grand Bazaar and back to the airport

I am a frequent visitor to this amazing city, have toured the main sites, prayed in the Blue Mosque (and that's something when you're a Jewess!), wandered around Topkapi Palace grounds and park, done the Old City touristy parts in Sultanahmet and many others as well. I have no particular favourite venue or attraction that I wanted to review, but the city as a whole is just too good to miss. Geographically it is totally confusing, split between the Asian and European sides and both have parts of great merit for visitors. It is not a city you can understand or get to grips with in a single visit - it takes at least 2 or more as there is simply so much to see, smell, enjoy, eat, and explore. For dedicated shoppers who like a touch of familiarity then Taksim must be the street to window shop and more. Everything fashionable you can think of is there, but it is expensive in Turkish terms. If you want a bargain and are not easily discomforted then the market that runs from behind the Spice market on the dock all the way up to the Grand Bazaar is the place. Ladies wear something modest, cover your hair if you are seriously blonde as otherwise you will be a target for the curious Istanbulites. They are not being rude - but if you are different they want to know you! The buses and trams, ferries and rail service are all excellent. Just make sure you buy a carnet, and get on the right one for your destination. if you are not sure check - almost everyone has a little english and are always delighted to help. Try walking around in Kadikoy, Uskadar, Emoninu and other central places. Each has a very villagey feel and all are quite unique. The bridges are good to use as crossings if you don't like the ferries by the way. What more can I say except go, visit, and I know you will want to go again!

Istanbul is a fascinating city. There is so much history and seeing Muslim women was a wonderful experience. There really isn't a difference between North America and Turkey. It gi vea us a firs thand knowledge of life. I would return to Istanbuil in a second.. -

It has been very long time since I've been in a Turkish Bath (Hammam). We decided to go to Hammam together with our friends and enjoyed the warm, humid, bubble massage very much. We liked it very much. It was so relaxing. As soon as I got back home, I slept long hours. "Sarıyer Hamamı" is very local and small one. First we perspired much and were rubbed by a woman massager, then washed gently. We were all in bubbles. We all liked it very much and now decided to experience another Hammam in Cagaloglu on 12th of February. This one is a historical and touristical and let you know when I experience it next month.