Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Istanbul

Kiva Han

xanthippe — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:48:18 -0800

Where is the first coffee house in the world? I'm told it's a place called Kiva Han in the suburbs of Istanbul. Has anyone visited, seen, or discovered any details on the history or location of this place?

Help me go everywhere but Babylon

foodmapper — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:57:53 -0800

Middle East Travel Advice: I'm flying to Istanbul next Sunday, and then have about 3 weeks to travel overland between Istanbul and Cairo. Where should I go? What should I see? I need some advice, and first-person experience and anecdotes are especially welcome. I've been reading through the thorntree forums and previous threads and the travel guides, but at this point I'm saturated with information. There are so many awesome-sounding places that I'm having a hard time figuring out where I should go, what I HAVE to see, and things I really shouldn't miss out on. What made your jaw drop and your hair stand on end? My rough itinerary is this:

5 days in Istanbul
2 days in Aleppo
2 days in Beirut
2 days in Baalbec
3 days in Damascus
2 days in Palmyra
3 days in Petra and Wadi Rum
2 days to get from the Sinai Peninsula to Cairo

I fly into Istanbul Monday June 22, and need to be in Cairo on Sunday, July 12th. I'd like to see as much as possible between those two places. I'm a mid-20's American female, traveling alone, with only a few Moroccan Arabic phrases. I'm hoping to Couchsurf all or a goodly portion of this. I'm planning to fly from Istanbul to probably Gaziantep on Pegasus airlines, though I may take the train, and then do the rest of this portion on buses and trains, except for a ferry from Jordan to Egypt.

I'd love to hear any suggestions you have for Istanbul, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. Places to see, things to eat, walks to go on, etc. I'm the 'wander-around-a-city getting lost and finding neat things' type of traveler. I've traveled around Southern Africa (South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia) via minibus and hostels - I'm used to roughing it. I've been to a Muslim country (Morocco), but this is my first time to the Middle East. I'm not really a shopper, especially as I'm traveling light and overland, and I'm not really a nightlife/party person.

I'm hesitant to travel via Israel, as I want to go back to the region and my passport doesn't expire for a few more years - but if there's something AMAZING I need to see in the southern desert regions, let me know. I won't be traveling to Jerusalem for the above-mentioned passport issue. I already have my visa for Syria and am waiting on the visa for Egypt, so that shouldn't be an issue.

Suggestions for the Sinai Peninsula and the rest of Egypt are also welcome - I'm meeting up with my parents in Cairo on the 12th, and we'll all be travelling to meet up with my sister in Alexandria on the 17th of July. Thanks!

Nine Hours in Istanbul

slowcat — Fri, 01 May 2009 06:42:42 -0800

I'm arriving at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul nine hours before my connecting flight. I was wondering what recommendations people had for how to spend this time? I can't do anything too involved as I need to be back at the airport a few hours before my flight, but I would like to see something of the city! Thank you!

Does beer exist in Istanbul?

jeffburdges — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 07:10:42 -0800

Does good beer or wine exist in Turkey? I'm staying in Istanbul for a few months. I've found the local food quite nice, but the beer & wine suck mightily. How do I find imported Belgian or German beer, or good French or Spanish wine. I hear Georgian wine is basically the best Eastern European wine. How might one find it? What about Greek options? Does anyone in Istanbul sell Chimay, Leffe, Franziskaner, Paulaner, etc.? I've found one little brewhouse near Taksim that makes their own beer, which seems alright, well better then Efes. Are there any good smaller brewers around Istanbul?

I'm pretty specific & unreasonable about wine, strongly preferring Savagnin based wines from Jura, but I'm happy to try other stuff, especially Georgian or Greek. I also like the Spanish Muscatel, although definitely not the French Muscat. Maybe I'd like some Eastern European variations on Muscat? I'll need to visit Poland at some point actually.

Calling all Bucureşteni and Istanbullus

mammary16 — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:29:01 -0800

I'm planning on "work-traveling" through Europe and Asia, and am looking for advice on where to live in Bucharest and Istanbul. I love my life in Minneapolis, but I'm decided to put my freelance career on the road and "work travel" for a bit. Last year I worked from Puerto Rico for two months and I would like to do this, in a broader fashion, in Europe and Asia, maintaining my freelance career while living in apartments with reliable internet connections.

My plan for the moment is to stay with a friend in Warsaw for a month, then spend a month in Bucharest, a month in Istanbul, four months in St. Petersburg and a final month with a friend in New Delhi (making it home just in time for Christmas).

I've got a good sense of Warsaw, St. Petersburg, and New Delhi, but I'm afraid I don't know anyone in Bucharest or Istanbul. So I'm turning to the Metafilter community.

Anybody have any recommendations on interesting neighborhoods in those two cities? I'm looking for a location close to great cafes, beautiful scenery (maybe near a river? the Golden Horn?) - possibly, as well, a good student neighborhood close to a university. Ideally I would not be in a touristy part of town.

If you happen to know a good online resource for finding accommodation, it would be appreciated. I don't speak Romanian or Turkish.

I'm hoping to pay under $700 a month, which I realize may not be very realistic, especially since I require a stable high-speed internet connection. Other than that, I don't need anything fancy.

Additionally, are there any legal / visa issues I need to be concerned about, particular w/r/t to me working (for my clients in the U.S.) while in the country?

Thanks!

Istanbul Travel Tips

mary8nne — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 04:19:35 -0800

TravelWiki: Tips, Suggestions or Advice on Things to do in Istanbul. Off to Istanbul for 5 days (4ppl -2 Couples). What must we do? We are all in Late 20s to early 30s and travel preferences probably range from:

Local restaurants / delicasies you just _must_ eat when there
Good bars to drink in
Historical/ Monument type stuff that is good to see.
Markets / Cultural Experiences.
Short Day Trips out of Istanbul

And Google map links or addresses / references are appreciated. (We are making a monster Google Map of things to do before we go).

Should I cancel my travel to Istanbul?

Manouk — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:11:15 -0800

I'm jewish (non israeli) and in 3 weeks I'll be travelling from israel to Istanbul for 3 days. Should I reconsider for security reasons in view of Gaza's events?

Istanbul on New Year's Eve?

rsk — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:23:13 -0800

What should I do in Istanbul on New Year's Eve? I will be traveling in Turkey over the holidays with my girlfriend and a few other friends. Cappadocia over Christmas and Istanbul for New Year's. I imagine Christmas will be pretty quiet so we're focusing on finding something fun to do for New Year's. I've heard Taksim Square is the place to be in Istanbul. Has anyone done this? Any other suggestions on what to do?

Coming Clean in Istanbul?

scrute — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:05:09 -0800

I'm looking for a tourist-friendly, woman-friendly but authentic Turkish Bath in Istanbul - anyone have any 'can't miss' suggestions? I'm travelling around Turkey for a couple of weeks, but am not going to have time to enjoy a Turkish Bath until my last few days in Istanbul. I've tried a few Turkish baths in Jordan, so I've had the basic experience, but I'm looking for the real deal while here in Turkey.

I'm a fairly adventurous woman travelling alone, and am looking for a place that is authentic but comfortable - a mix of locals and tourists would be nice, but not necessary.

Any suggestions? Any other tips on hamam etiquette would also be welcome.

What city should I visit in Europe?

jeather — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 06:30:23 -0800

I am going to Europe for about 12 days at the end of August. I am spending a few days in each of Prague and Vienna, and looking for a third city to go to. Which one should I choose? I'm not against Budapest, but people with whom I share travel sensibilities say I should go elsewhere. I need it to be easy to travel between this city and the other ones I am going to, either by bus or by those inexpensive airlines. I'd love it if it used the Euro, but this is not necessary. I'd like to spend about 3 days wherever it is.

People have, with no real level of detail, recommended Athens, Istanbul and Croatia. (Also Poland, but I do not want to go to Poland.) I'm not tied to these options, nor am I against any of them (except Poland).

Things I like: cities, museums, beaches (but not so much lakes).
Things I don't like: clubbing and associated items.
I am not hugely social.

I will be alone, I'm a 30 year old woman, I speak English and French and can get by in Spanish, so mostly I'm going to be working off guidebooks and dictionaries. Hostel or inexpensive hotel recommendations would be lovely. (I know hostels are full of people who will be out all night, but I am a sound sleeper.) I'm happy to hear recommendations for what to do or where to stay in Prague and Vienna as well.

Please do not recommend I spend longer in Prague and/or Vienna. This is not, for various reasons, an option.

Why are there so many cats in Istanbul?

SilentSalamander — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:53:35 -0800

My wife and I are honeymooning in Istanbul. Why are there so many (apparently) stray cats wandering the city?

Turkey, Bulls and Frank Gehry

RandlePatrickMcMurphy — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:55:28 -0800

Travel three-fer: Istanbul, Pamplona, Bilbao... Part one: I've got about 3-4 days free in between some work travel in Istanbul next. I love Istanbul and Turkey and have been before so feel like I've covered most of the tourist basics in and around Istanbul (and noted previous ask posts), but any recommendations for really interesting places or activities, ideally ones that requires some physical exercise like kayaking, hiking, yoga, swimming?

Part two: Then -- and recognizing in advance that its a tacky drunk-fest and apologizing for the fact that its needlessly cruel to the bulls and admitting that I'm at least 15 years too old to be doing this anyway -- Pamplona for the running of the bulls for 2-3 days. Suggestions for how to get there, where to stay, if and how to run, what to do if gored, how to recover, etc. would be appreciated.

And part three: Bilbao. To reintroduce some culture and refinement to my life, the Guggenheim art museum. Any suggestions, can't-miss spots or ideas for other places to visit in the region or along the way? Or is it worth it to hike the Santiago trail?

Tesekkür ederim, muchas gracias and eskerrik asko.

turkey no clue

beckish — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:42:47 -0800

I'm considering re-locating to Istanbul and need recommendations on how I would go about finding an American company(or anyone actually!) to hire me. I have experience in packaging design, graphics, art direction and news design and have been searching extensively online job boards(craigslist, monster, etc) without much luck.
I guess I'm looking for:
- a list of American companies located in Istanbul(which seemed like it would be easy to find but I'm not having luck,)
- any experience with working in above fields in Istanbul, do these jobs exist?
- general suggestions relating to anything about this! all welcome

NOT constantinople

outsider — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:56:42 -0800

Vacation in Turkey + love of folk music and instruments. What to do? I am going to istanbul for a week in march... I love crazy musical instruments and hearing traditional music being played.

Where should I go to get some turkish folk instruments to play with when I get home? Such as...

http://www.allaboutturkey.com/muzikalet.htm

I like woodwinds, so I definately want to pick up a Zurna, maybe a Saz, I dont know!!!

I am hoping there is some sort of district / market that specializes in instruments but that might be naive.

Also, where can I go to hear some real turkish music?

Even outside of istanbul is fine, we are taking some day trips!

Gay couple visiting Istanbul?

soulbarn — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 21:03:04 -0800

My friends are an openly lesbian couple. They want to know if it is advisable/safe to visit Istanbul, and what they should expect if they do?

europe bike trek questions

pamccf — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 09:18:59 -0800

We're planning on biking across Europe. We're planning on doing it a year from now. What are we forgetting? What did you encounter in a similar trip that we might be unprepared for? Any general advice? The executive summary: We are two, living in the US. We currently bike to work (5-10 miles daily). We also make a longer trip (10+ miles) at least once a week, sometimes twice. Currently, this is a bit of a stretch. We are attempting to increase that upper limit gradually to where we can comfortably do 50 miles in a day by the time we leave. (We think we have time to do this without much strain.) We are experienced in hostel-travelling in Europe (moving inter-city by car, rail, and bus). (We have French, German and Russian.)

Our planned route goes from Amsterdam to Istanbul in a rough L-shape, the hinge being Warsaw. (Some details are fuzzy here - can you help?) Our bikes are these (should we ditch them?); we have no panniers yet, but we're looking at these (are there better?).

We are not bringing tents or camping gear. Should we worry about finding places to stay? We don't have maps of our route. Should we plan on getting these in-country? In Amsterdam?

We might take the plane. Have you turned your bike into a folding bike/have you gone for an extended ride with a foldie? We might take a boat. Have you taken a freighter cruise/are there other ocean alternatives?

Bonus question: We are planning to stay in Istanbul for an indeterminate time. Should we plan on being able to get around town by bike? Something tells me no. Can you tell me yes?

Istanbul boutique hotels

Mossy — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 22:20:50 -0800

I'm popping over for five days to Istanbul at the end of this month with the missus - any hotelage recommendations? Price isn't too much of an issue (less the better of course!). Would like to be near the pretty mosques/bazars and have a room with a view/nice bathroom. Non-chain hotels preferred (ie quirky).

Turkey in June

lalalana — Mon, 15 May 2006 10:50:01 -0800

We're going to Istanbul for about a week and a half in early June. Any suggestions?

How can I find the book 'Histoire des Juifs de Rhodes, Chio, Cos, etc.'?

Asparagirl — Wed, 19 Jan 2005 22:39:14 -0800

RareBookFilter - Have tried using amazon.com, amazon.fr, amazon.co.uk, bn.com, alibris.com, powells.com, abebooks.com, bibliofind.com, and a saved search on eBay.com, all to track down a certain out-of-print book. No luck. Even the LA and NYC public libraries got nuthin'. Fabled MeFite librarian posse, how the hell can I get my grubby paws on a copy of "Histoire des Juifs de Rhodes, Chio, Cos, etc." by Professor Abraham Galanté (1873 - 1961), published in Istanbul in 1935?

Istanbul Must Sees

lazywhinerkid — Thu, 25 Nov 2004 00:26:40 -0800

So I decided to be extremely corny and bring my American sister to Turkey for Thanksgiving (har har). We leave for Istanbul tonight and stay for about 3 days in Sultanahmet near the Blue Mosque. Any fantastic suggestions or must-sees? Thanks!