Guide to Istanbul
In writing this guide to istanbul, we were always looking for the catch; the “what’s in it for them”. Eventually we realized, there is no catch. The people of Istanbul are truly helpful, polite and caring! Istanbul is a wonderful city!
Kadiköy – Istanbul
Istanbul, Turkey’s Kadıköy neighborhood is a labyrinth of lively cobbled streets and small buildings with cafes, restaurants, book stores, antique shops or simply stalls selling the freshest produce we saw.
It very easy to get to Kadıköy by ferry; so do it soon after you arrive !
Hagia Sophia – Istanbul
Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia is the most important Byzantine structure and one of the world’s great monuments. This incredible structure has been a church for 916 years, a mosque for 482 years and now a museum for for over 82 years!
Dolmabahçe Palace – Istanbul
Fourteen tonnes of gold leaf building in the ceilings and the largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers – including world’s largest Bohemian crystal chandelier in the Ceremonial Hall (Muayede Salonu); a gift from Queen Victoria, this chandelier holds 750 lamps originally powered with city gas converted to electricity in 1912 and weighs 4.5 tonnes – Dolmabahçe Sarayi (meaning filled garden) was ordered by Sultan Abdülmecid (1839-61) to compete with the grandness of European capitals.
