Three nights in Istanbul

I used Rick Steves Istanbul, and in almost all areas it was wonderful. Two major exceptions were recommending our first hotel (the Hotel Sarnic - avoid) and calling the long Bosphorus cruise a 3/3 highlight. It was 1/3 or 2/3 at best. The ride up was interesting (if a bit long), but the town at the end has nothing except lunch, and the ride back was quite a snooze. However, we enjoyed our ride to Kadikoy on the Asian side. This is a much shorter ride than the one that goes all the way up the Bosphorus to Anadolu Kavagi, and Kadikoy was a much more interesting, and larger, town. We had 8 nights total in Istanbul (7 real days of sightseeing). With only 2.5 days, I might skip a boat altogether, but if you do want to get on the water, I'd take the much shorter ride to Kadikoy. In addition, it's much cheaper, and an IstanbulKart is accepted. I do recommend getting Rick's book, and then just choosing a few sights from the many possibilities.

I agree with Harold, the RS book Istanbul will be invaluable to you. I enjoyed the boat ride, but if time was at a premium, I'd suggest getting the ferry over to the Asian side, maybe have lunch there and then return. Alternatively, a short boat ride would be nice, The Spice Market is close to where the boats all go from and that whole area is interesting. You wouldn't need a guide for that part. The weather should be pleasnt that time of year, but packing things you can layer is always a good idea. I was there in May and again October; both times I was glad I had a coat with me.
Have a wonderful time!

The weather should still be pretty warm in early September. I don't know that you need a tour for the top sites. They are all close together and there is plenty of literature available on them. Regardless how you decide to go, here are my recommendations for things to see in Istanbul. I included my estimates of the amount of time it will take for a decent unhurried tour of each site. Must sees – these are all in Sultanahmet and will take about a day and a half: Aya Sophia – 2 hours – the top site in Istanbul Topkopi Palace – 6 hours – be sure to take the extra tour of the harem and book it as soon as you arrive Archaeology Museum – 4 hours - the sarcophagi are the highlight of this musem Blue Mosque - <1 hour – a great place if you only have limited time to sightsee the day you arrive or depart Hippodrome area – 1 hour – walk around and look at this area in the early morning or evening when other sites are closed. Bosporus Cruise/Andolu Kavagi – You mentioned wanting to do this. It will take about 6 hours if you take the cheap local ferry boat, eat lunch and tour the castle that overlooks the Black Sea. There are plenty of private operators that will give you a shorter tour of a couple of hours to a half day. Since you have so little time, I would recommend that you go with a short boat ride. It will give you a different view of the city without using up most of a day. You could give it up if you're too crunched on time. Its nice, but certainly not a must see. Shopping recommendations to follow in another post.

You also mentioned wanting to do some shopping. I suggest that you mix up your sightseeing with shopping, perhaps visit tourist sites in the morning and shop in the afternoon? Here are some ideas in the tourist areas: Galata Bridge and adjacent markets - 2 hours - more fun than the Grand Bazaar. Walk across the bridge and through the streets up the hill to Istiklal Street to check out all of the interesting market areas. Add another 2 to 3 hours to walk along the shops on Istiklal Street to Taksim Square. Grand Bazaar - 2 hours or more - a great place to buy trinkets for presents/souvenirs. The book bazaar is nice for miniature artwork. The streets around this have similar shops and some have nicer things. Spice Bazaar - <1 hour - good for a picture in front of mounds of spices Little bazaar to the side of the Blue Mosque - about an hour. I don't remember the name - maybe the Arashta Bazaar. There is also a government carpet shop across from the Aya Sophia in an old hamam. It will give you an idea of prices for carpets. There are rug shops everywhere if you want to buy a carpet. Some other sites to see if you have time or if you decide to do a shopping only day and want a short break. These are all close to the shopping areas above: Rustem Pasa Cami - <1 hour - a mosque worth a quick look near the Galata bridge Basilica Cistern -1 hour - in Sultanahmet, a perfect site to see at night since it's dark in there anyway Suleiman Mosque and Tombs - 1 hour - This isn't too far from the Grand Bazaar. Double check its status before visiting since parts may still be under renovation. Dede Efendi House - <1 hour - A nifty 1700's-era furnished house of a famous composer not too from the Blue Mosque Galata Tower - <1 hour - nice view of the city from the top Have fun!

We actually are in the same situation as you but we are leaving next week. This will be our first trip to Istanbul and we will be there two nights before moving on to Greece. We plan to spend one day touring the major sites in the old city. I've never done this before but we actually decided to hire a private tour guide since time is a premium for us. The cost was only $85/person for a group of four and that includes any entrance fees. They claim they will pick us up and drop us off at our hotel. The remainder of our time will be spent going to the Asian side our maybe touring the city walls.

You've got some great detailed from Rob and all! The market near the Blue Mosque is the Arasta Bazaar. I liked it better than the Grand Bazaar - it was more manageable size-wise. We found a great lamp there! With the time that you have you might do the Bosphorus tour and 2 - 3 other sites (Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia for example.) For the Bosphorus tour - details for the 6-hour trip that Rob mentioned is described in Rick's Istanbul book. We enjoyed that trip but since time is at a premium, you might want to save it for another time. Enjoy Istanbul - you'll wish you had more time!

With such a short time you might want to just get an overview of the city and visit the highlights and see if you want to return. All the major sites are amazing but so is wandering around and just absorbing the ambience and enjoying the Turkish people. Stop for some street food (especially the doner) and some apple tea. We did the shorter Bosphorous tour as we wanted to go to Asia, if only for a short time and my grandson really wanted to add another continent... we also had the amazing yogurt there. There is a wonderful park there is right near all the sights (can't remember the name) but it was a perfect place to rest and spend a little time just enjoying Istanbul.

We were in Istanbul recently(4 days) and saw all the sights on our own. The Bosphorus boat ride was nice but not a highlight of our visit. Visits to the Suleyman Mosque and Grand Bazaar and Spice Market can be combined - a few hours for all. The Suleyman Mosque was our favorite mosque-not crowded at all as the other mosques were. The tomb was closed at the time. There is a foot washing station along an outside wall and not sure if this was a no-no but we used it. The Blue Mosque grounds must be home to many stray cats.

@Susan this why there was a foot washing area outside the mosque. Before Praying Muslims go through a routine washing ritual, cleansing themselves in preparation for prayer. The ritual washing, called Wudu, can be done in any clean place where there is water. There are special rules to allow for situations when water is not available (e.g. in a desert). Before starting Wudu you "make your intention". On entering a mosque Muslims remove their shoes. Before Wudu you make your intention. Then start with washing the hands as far as the wrists. You perform this 3 times. Rinse out the mouth with water using the right hand. You perform this 3 times. Wash the nostrils by sniffing up water and blowing it out. You perform this 3 times. Wash the face 3 times . Wash each arm up to the elbow. You perform this 3 times. Wipe or rub the head with the inside of the fingers. You perform this once. Clean the inside of the ears with the index fingers and the back of the ears with the thumbs. You perform this once. Wipe the back of the neck. You perform this once. Wash the feet up to the ankles. You perform this 3 times. You don't wash with the holy water in Catholic churches do you?

I have a question regarding the taking off of your shoes to enter a mosque. My wife has very bad feet and can't walk without shoes or sneakers. Is there any alternative to taking of your shoes or do we not walk around the mosques?

Can your wife wear those socks that are padded on the bottom? I wore some anklet type socks and noticed others doing the same-very few in bare feet. The only mosque that required a head scarf was Suleymann - it seemed to be optional in the others but all of the mosques provided plastic bags for your shoes. I took a scarf and wore it to each mosque. Enjoy your trip to Istanbul!