First Time to Istanbul

Nothing is convenient to the airport. You want convenient to siteseeing ... the Sultanahmet zone.

Istanbul does hotels well. Lots to choose from. I've stayed at the Adamar, Sura Design and Sura Hagia Sophia and would do any of them again.

Look for hotels with roof top bars / views. Beautiful at night.

Mr. E nailed it. Locate where you will have convenient access to the places you want to explore. Getting to and from the airport will become it's own challenge as will getting around in general. Istanbul traffic can be really challenging. Traffic during some parts of the day can become nightmarish, not quite Bangkok bad, but nearly on par.
Take that into consideration for your departure. Personally, I would probably choose to hire a driver if I was not able to get a local friend to help out. My opinion FWIW.

So how do you get to the airport? Is there a shuttle service? public. transportation?

How about getting from the cruise port to Sultanahmet?

I am one of those "crazy" people who spends the night at the airport before flying out the next day.

You will love Istanbul - it is one of my favorite cities and Turkey is one of my favorite countries! I absolutely loved my trip there and one of these days I want to go back. When I was there, I stayed in Sultanahmet and found it convenient as it was near many of the sights. One caveat - I was there in 2007, so it's been a while.

Regardless, the hotel I stayed at is still there (Hanedan Hotel), and I found it very sufficient for my needs. I would suggest you check reviews to make sure it's still a good hotel. The price was more than reasonable back then, and there was a lovely terrace where breakfast was served that looked out over the Sea of Marmara. They also arranged a pick up at the airport for an extra €12. I loved my stay there. I wrote a journal back then of my trip to Turkey, which eventually I posted online so I could add in photos. You're welcome to look at it - again, keeping in mind it is from 2007. It's in reverse chronological order so take that into account, but it's not that hard to figure out. :) https://mardeeinturkey.wordpress.com/

Check with the hotel you book. Many provide a shuttle to the airport for an additional fee.

I haven't been yet (going in September) but just noting that my selected accommodation (Agora Guesthouse) quoted a cost of $45 each way for an airport shuttle. Booking offers a pre-arranged shuttle for $32, though there was a recent report that a shuttle arrangement made through Booking did not work out. Others on this site have recommended Welcome Pickups which is currently quoting $43 each way. I haven't yet decided on how I will get to my hotel from the airport.

My RS tour is staying at Galata's Hotel which is near the cruise port I believe. Other RS tours have stayed at the Haze which is in same neighborhood.

If you want to spend the night prior to your flight at the airport, look at tge airport Yotel Hotel. I've stayed a few times. Clean and interesting.

Thank you all for your help

I have been searching hotels through booking.com and am actually "shocked" by the number of very good hotels which offer everything that I want and are reasonably priced. How does one decide when there are so many?

And since my trip is not until October 2024, will there be more available hotels as I get closer to that date?

Had no idea that Istanbul was so fascinating.

I guess my favorite for location, quality and the roof was the Sura Design. They have airport transfer. But thats a mess. But worth it.

Yotel has two hotels in the airport, one before and one after security. I've only stayed in the one inside security. Nice and convenient.

Mister E

I like the idea of Yotel Airport for the night before I fly out. I do not like the stress of getting to the airport especially when persons are telling me that getting to the airport in Istanbul is a nightmare and a half.

Why is is so difficult to get to Istanbul Airport?

I hear that Turkish Air is excellent. That is what I have read. I am going to fly multi city: Austin to Tel Aviv and Istanbul to Austin. I can probably fly rewards Austin to Boston or NYC and then on to Tel Aviv and Istanbul to Boston or NYC and then use rewards home to Austin.

You said something about transport to the airport from Sura Design was a mess but worth it? How was it a mess yet still worth it?

It's not hard, just a long drive, and you need a boarding pass and to go thru security just to enter. Once in, it's a fantastic airport.

Leaving the airport where the transfer vehicles meet you is just a mad house, but I don't know a better solution.

The Yotel rooms are so small that the beds have backs that rise up, then the bed moves to the wall to make space to walk past at the end ... all electric. But big TV, decent food and drinks, spotless, new looking and nice. I actually stated in a Yotel in D C. the past few nights ... the same.

I've had some long layovers at IST and have used it to get some sleep between flights then arrive fresh in Europe. The one in the secure area is near the gates so it's hard to beat.

Hi CL

yes, the Galeta Hotel is. close to the cruise port. It looks like a really nice hotel. It is not yet accepting reservations for October 2024 but I might consider it as time goes on.

I think that it is close to Taksim Square and the would be another area to consider. staying in. In my research on this forum, some members have recommended the Taksim Square area.

Istanbul has a state of the art cruise port as well as an airport. It is a city that isn setting trends

I checked out The Haze also, another very nice hotel. It is in Karaköy’s centre. I am beginning to learn about the different districts and neighborhoods of Istanbul.

Hi Mardee,

Hanedan Hotel still has reasonable prices. 50 Euros a night with breakfast. Looks to be a beautiful place.

I clicked on your blog and will go back to its another time. Although it is many years old, the landmarks are still there.

Thank you

Thanks to all who have responded.

I see many good reviews for one of the shuttle services, Welcome Pickups is well recommended.

I worry about shuttle services as I am afraid they will not show up or be very late in getting to the airport. Ditto taxis.

Although my trip is not until October 2024, I will probably spend the night before I fly home at The Yotel as Mr E suggested.

I am beginning to learn about the districts and neighborhoods of Istanbul by checking out recommendations and tips.

Probably far too late for this discussion, but I have been doing some research in getting from the "New" airport (IST) into the city. If all goes to plan, the metro link, M11 should be fully connected in the next month or two. This means you should be able to get to the Gayrettepe station, from where you can change to the M2 to Taksim.

The transit buses from the airport go to multiple sites around the city - but it looks like the app and website are only in Turkish, although you can get tickets from an office at the airport.

TimW

It is never too late. I check R S about twice a day and my trip is not until October 2024., Thanks for joining the discussion.

I will be arriving Istanbul by cruise ship. My cruise ends in Istanbul so I will be arriving the brand new cruise port but I will be flying home from the in progress very interesting and incredible airport.

Have not yet decided what district or neighborhood I will be staying in yet, maybe Taksim or Sultanahmet.

bostonphil,
Istanbul is the most fascinating city I've ever visited.
One thing to note is that the public transport systems are , in general, excellent as well as being inexpensive.
The reloadable Istanbulkart makes things very simple, and is very good at recognising transfers etc (so, for example, cacth a tram from Sultanahmet to Eminonu, and catch a ferry to Kadakoy, then it automatically recognises the latter as a transfer and charges a reduced rate).

I did enjoy my first trip to the city where we did stay in Sultanahmet as it was close to the "main sights". One of the people from the hotel advised us early on that if we wanted decent food, we should go further afield, and that proved to be true.

I did enjoy my first trip to the city where we did stay in Sultanahmet as it was close to the "main sights". One of the people from the hotel advised us early on that if we wanted decent food, we should go further afield, and that proved to be true.

I will second that suggestion. I stayed in Sultanahmet and loved it there, but did not eat any meals in the area. Most of them are very touristy and just not that great. You will find much better food in the areas outside of Sultanahmet.

Thank you Mardee and TimW

Will there be staff in the train stations to assist?

It looks like there are many reasonably priced hotels with high ratings in Sultanahmet .... I have been researching hotels

one new question for Istanbul. What about public toilets? Are they easy to find and will I need a coin?

What about public toilets? Are they easy to find and will I need a coin?

I many of the main tourist areas, they are easy to find, spotlessly clean, and will, as far as I remember, take coins. Even better, they can take the same Istanbulkart that is used for public transport (I seem to remember a comment on another site that the price had just risen to about 3TL (so about $0.14).

TimW

It seems like Istanbul is way ahead of other cities with the new cruise port, the new airport, a great public transportation system, reasonable prices , available hotel rooms, great food, etc etc.

Any recommendations for a hotel in Sultanahmet? There are so many available on booking.com that is in my budget and gets great reviews and offers me everything that I want that I can not decide. And this is 15 months before I go.

I can't really help with a hotel, I seldom stay in one.

We are just wrapping up a repeat visit to Istanbul. Some changes we found as compared to our previous visits (6 mo ago and approx 5 years ago). Prices for food in the Sultanahmet area has jumped to about 2-4X what you can find in the new town (across the Golden Horn) or Asia side. Petty crime appears to be way, way up. We had an attempted purse snatching and an unfortunately successful pick-pocket incident (despite very deep front pockets and being vigilant). Advice: Go over to the new town or Asia side for larger meals. Take extra precautions with purses, wallets, etc (zipper pockets, buttons, velcro, perhaps even chains). We stayed at the Adamar Hotel and found it to be clean and comfortable.

We'll be making our first trip there in May on our way to Kenya. I plan to book Hotel Amira. A fellow poster on this thread messaged me that it was just wonderful and the reviews are wonderful, as well as I watched a YouTube video of the hotel! Many of you are right, there are lots of nice hotels in Istanbul, so it can be exhausting and confusing to continue to search and search. Hotel Amira is in the Sultanahmet neighborhood. check it out and reduce stress!

I would only stay in Sultanahmet because that's where most of the sights are. Most of those that aren't walking distance are easy to get to using the tram. Last time I stayed there my hotel gave me a card for the tram (lent actually, I had to give it back at the end of my stay - for the next tourist to use), then I just had to refill it as needed at the tram stations. It's pretty easy and much faster than taxis. Beware of taxi drivers, sadly too many aren't very honest. Ask your hotel for a reputable company to call.

The airport is new, only been open for 3-4 years. It's far out of the center because a very large tract of land was needed. As someone already noted, the plan included light rail to the city center and is being built. (The old IST was linked to the center by tram.)

The RS Guide has good self-guided walks and tours of the top sights. If you are indeed slow to slower, try to get in shape before you go. While much of the tourist area is level and you can save walking by using the tram, there are parts that require uphill walks - the ones that come to mind are the Süleymaniye Mosque, the Chora Church and up Istiklal to Taksim Square.

Lastly, get a list of prayer times for the dates you'll be there. All mosques close to tourists 15-30 minutes beforehand and reopen after prayers (they aren't very long). You don't want to get to a sight only to find yourself shooed out half an hour later. Wear shoes that are easy to take off and put on. Best to have a plastic bag with you to carry them while you're inside. And no shorts. Sunday is the worst day to go to the Spice Market because the Grand Bazaar and other places are closed, it's packed to the gills. If you want to buy things to take home (Turkish delight, spices, dried fruit, tea, coffee, etc) prices are significantly lower at the stalls lining the outside of the market.

Hi Chani,

Actually I will be in Istanbul because I am taking a cruise from Haifa to Istanbul. I will be in Tel Aviv before I sail.

I will be continuing to post on this site about both Tel aviv and Istanbul and my cruise needing a lot of advise.

While I have begun, a lot more will be coming.

Thanks for jumping in

Kathy W

Will check out Hotel Amira. My trip is not until October 2024. I will be interested in your reviews after your trip.

wlykkehoy

sorry to hear about what you are reporting like theft and pickpocketing.

Maybe Sultanahmet has become too popular with visitors.

I am not going until October 2024 so I will be doing a lot more posting as time goes on.

Will check out. the hotel that you recommended. How and why did you pick it?

Ive stayed at the Sura Design Hotel a few times. The last we danced on the roof until well past closing. Beautiful, stunning ... the view too.

Tell us more about the cruise.

people like dancing on roofs. Are roofs very important in Istanbul. Seems like a lot of members have mentioned roofs when it comes to their hotels in Istanbul. I have never heard so much talk about roofs on hotels before.

I hope to spend three or four nights in Tel Aviv before heading to Haifa to sail. My ship will not sail until 11 pm which is unusually late so I will spend a few hour in Haifa playing tourist.

My first port is Ashood (sp?) Israel and I will be taking an excursion to Jerusalem.

Then through the Suez Canal to Alexandria. I am hoping to be able to take an excursion to Cairo and the Pyramids which is not yet offered through Norwegian.

I do not remember all the details but I will be going to Crete, two Greek islands as well as Athens.

Then on to Kudasadi (sp?) before Istanbul.

I hope to spend about four nights in Istanbul before flying home.

Too early to book air. Actually have a hotel in Tel Aviv near Jerusalem Beach but am going to have to change dates.

Problem with Istanbul is there are so many great hotels with great reviews that offer everything I want that I can not make a choice but better too many great hotels than none at all.

Air is going to be complicated for me. I am probably going to book to Boston or New York using my rewards. Then fly direct from either city to Tel Avis. Coming home, I will probably again fly direct from Istanbul to New York or Boston and again use my rewards to get home to Austin.

I will be dealing with air after my cruise this October.

Delta and El Al are partnering to make travel to Israel more convenient for Americans. Hopefully more affordable. I do have an American Express credit card that is partnered with Delta so I will either be earning rewards or using rewards.

I remember that once upon a time, El Al flew between Houston and Tel Aviv. There was even talk about. El Al flying from Austin to Tel Aviv which never happened. The latter never happened and I do not know what happened with the former.

One complication. We are sailing October 9, 2024. it is a Wednesday in between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, a very busy and hectic time in Tel Aviv.

Also, it is going to make my flying to Tel Aviv more complicated because I want to arrive either Saturday or Sunday before sailing meaning I will be flying and possibly arriving on the Sabbath. I will have fewer air options from NYC or Boston.

I have found a hotel that allows checking in on the Sabbath.

I am thinking of changing this cruise to May 2025. it will then sail from Istanbul to Tel Aviv stopping at the same ports. I have never traveled in the Spring and I would like to. I believe that both Passover and Easter will have already been celebrated so I will not have to deal with holy day crowds.

So, I will mostly need information about Tel Aviv and Istanbul from this thread,

I found Mardee's blog really interesting, just as I've enjoyed Rick's programmes on the City.
I've never been to Istanbul. so have no advice to offer. I've not been further east than Budapest (on the old Orient Express daily service train from Paris) . I just never got around to extending the train journey on from Budapest either to Athens or to Istanbul (for Syria- on the then through sleeping car from Istanbul to Damascus- before the line beyond Bucharest closed for years of reconstruction, and then the Syrian Civil War came.
In many ways it's sad that both of Istanbul's historic main line stations are now closed, with the opening of the new Marmaray rail tunnel linking Europe to Asia, with it's attendant new stations.
One time I was booked on the Budapest to Athens train but the ferry company cancelled the ferry back to Italy from Greece, so that fell through- the ferry was chartered to the Italy to Spain route instead.
I saw a video recently where the traveller was the only passenger on the TCDD modern sleeper car from Bucharest to Istanbul!

Thanks, Stuart! I hope you can get there someday - it really is incredible. I have not been to Bucharest, though, and that is a place that is high on my list right now.

isn31c

I think that I would feel uncomfortably weird being the only passenger on an y transport.

I knew very little about Istanbul until I booked my cruise ending at Istanbul. Soi I did some research and was shocked to find out how interesting, amazing and beautiful Istanbul is.

I have been missing so much on my way to old age.

tourism 2021

I have only so much time and money. Need to make choices.

I can only stay in Istanbul about four days before flying home. Not enough time.

Thank you for your input

Mardee.

I went to your post and looked at your blog and pictures. Amazing and wonderful.

I did not realize that we could post pictures of ourself and our trips until seeing your blog.

Until recently, I did not realize that we could even post a lot of personal information. I thought that we were supposed to do a.one sentence. I have been adding more information about myself.

isn31c

R S has a sale on one week in Istanbul, I believe this coming September. if you are available and if you are interested.

@bostonphil7- a very nice thought, but I am not remotely a tours kind of person.
Yes I did try tours in the immediate post COVID period, it's fair to say they were a mixed success- not in any way down to the tours but down to my style of travel.
Apart from that, I know that while nominally RS tours are open to anyone, they are tailored to a North American market.
I also have specific commitments now, in the middle of September, with the visit to the UK of a member of this forum.

Rosh HaShana begins Wed evening (3/10) in 2024 so most everything will be shut down from early Wed until Saturday night. The airport will probably be mobbed on Wednesday morning to early afternoon, but from sundown through Saturday afternoon it will be pretty empty. You'll need to take a taxi to your hotel but that would be the best way whenever you arrive. Make sure that the hotel allows daytime check-in on Saturday. Many Israeli hotels do not provide housekeeping service on Saturday

Chani

I do not understand why Norwegian. is offering a cruise from Haifa Israel in between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It seem like very poor planning on the part of Norwegian.

I am thinking of changing this cruise to May 2025. We would be leaving from Istanbul and arriving Tel Aviv. It would be all the same ports but in reverse.

I also have never taken a cruise in the Spring. Is Tel Aviv hot in May?

I already have. a hotel in Tel Aviv that allows check in on the Sabbath but I may not arrive until Sunday. It is too early to book air.

I am looking for a hotel in Istanbul. There are so many that I am not yet ready to choose.

I have noticed that a lot of people mention roofs when talking about their hotel in Istanbul . Roofs seem to be very important to Istanbul hotels and to travelers. . Are you aware of this?