Day 6: Started the day late after a tiring day the day before, with lunch at a cool burger place on Bagdat Caddesi called Burger House. The most succulent burgers, excellent cheese sticks and the yummiest crispiest fries. After lunch, we have coffee and laze around at Starbucks, after which we drive to Ortakoy, a fun open air space by the Bosphorus on the European side. It has a carnival like atmosphere, dotted with small kiosks and stalls selling souveniers and jewellery and crafts etc., some lovely cafes, sheesha places, bars and live music. It has a lovely view of the Bosphorus and the Bosphorus bridge. It was late in the evening when we went, the sun starting to set so the weather was much cooler, quite nippy later at night. We sat at a cosy little sheesha place covered in the blankets that they provided (very clean - freshly laundered) called Destan and had sheesha and sipped some lovely hot tea. Also played some Balloon shooting games with balloons tied up some distance in the sea and we had to stand by the edge on the shore and shoot. So a lovely place, ridiculously quaint - A must see when in Istanbul!
Day 7: The Rumaili hisari fortress that was built by the order of Sultan Mehmat the Conquerer is on the European side on a hill by the Bosphorus. A visit to the Rumaili hisari museum is highly recommended. It is a huge, beautifully built fortress. You can visit the museum and walk the grounds around it, you can climb up to one of the gardens or take a book and just relax at the great open air theatre. From Kabatas you can take the bus to Rumeli hisari Museum.
Note: Take your camera but do not take any food because it is not allowed inside.
You can eat at the numerous restaurants next to the Rumaili Hisari, overlooking the Bosphorus. We ate at a sweet restaurant terrace two restaurants down from the museum.
We then drove to Nisantasi, a very posh district on the European side, one of the more popular shopping and residential areas in Istanbul. Walking along the narrow roads of Nisantasi, outlined by shops and buildings reminiscent of a very affluent Ottoman era, it is just breathtaking the beauty of this neighbourhood; so much character in these architectural wonders. The shopping on Nisantasi is very high end, Gucci, Armani, Cavalli and the likes, there's a Zara too. If you're hungry or tired from all the walking and the shopping, go take a break at the Armani Cafe. We walked to the back lanes and found the sweetest little roadside cafes serving all kinds of food and sheesha (ofcourse - I'm sure by now you realize how fond I am of sheesha). For similar small roadside cafes, serving good food and those that stay open till later at night than most, head to the lanes of Kadicoy, further down from the Iskelesi. Very happening place and very nice food. Both these places are mostly frequented by locals so its an excellent place to go to mingle with the Turkish.
Note: For more affordable shopping head to Istaklal on the European side or Bagdat Caddesi on the Asian side.
Words to know:
Pardo'n - Excuse me.
Tushukkular - Thank you.
Day 7: The Rumaili hisari fortress that was built by the order of Sultan Mehmat the Conquerer is on the European side on a hill by the Bosphorus. A visit to the Rumaili hisari museum is highly recommended. It is a huge, beautifully built fortress. You can visit the museum and walk the grounds around it, you can climb up to one of the gardens or take a book and just relax at the great open air theatre. From Kabatas you can take the bus to Rumeli hisari Museum.
Note: Take your camera but do not take any food because it is not allowed inside.
You can eat at the numerous restaurants next to the Rumaili Hisari, overlooking the Bosphorus. We ate at a sweet restaurant terrace two restaurants down from the museum.
We then drove to Nisantasi, a very posh district on the European side, one of the more popular shopping and residential areas in Istanbul. Walking along the narrow roads of Nisantasi, outlined by shops and buildings reminiscent of a very affluent Ottoman era, it is just breathtaking the beauty of this neighbourhood; so much character in these architectural wonders. The shopping on Nisantasi is very high end, Gucci, Armani, Cavalli and the likes, there's a Zara too. If you're hungry or tired from all the walking and the shopping, go take a break at the Armani Cafe. We walked to the back lanes and found the sweetest little roadside cafes serving all kinds of food and sheesha (ofcourse - I'm sure by now you realize how fond I am of sheesha). For similar small roadside cafes, serving good food and those that stay open till later at night than most, head to the lanes of Kadicoy, further down from the Iskelesi. Very happening place and very nice food. Both these places are mostly frequented by locals so its an excellent place to go to mingle with the Turkish.
Note: For more affordable shopping head to Istaklal on the European side or Bagdat Caddesi on the Asian side.
Words to know:
Pardo'n - Excuse me.
Tushukkular - Thank you.
Nisantasi
Ortakoy
Other must see places:
Miniaturk
Sulaymaniyah Mosque
The whirling dervishes are a must see - You go into a trance when the dervishes do their thing.. Arrange to see that.. Some dinner cruises have the whirling dervishes but check with your concierge for the best option.
#Travel #TNI #TravelTuesday #RTW #LP #FriFotos #BootsnAll
#Travel #TNI #TravelTuesday #RTW #LP #FriFotos #BootsnAll
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