Hi

My wife and I are doing some brainstorming to find a destination for a city break in July. I have seen programs on Travel Channel and Istanbul looks like an exciting destination. I would love to hear from people here on the forum about their experience from Istanbul. Will it be unberable when it comes to the heat in July? Is it easy to get around town? How many days should we allow for the visit?

Not yet, but we will go very soon and I have done lots of reading about it.

If I were you, I would pick another destination and save Istanbul and Turkey for another time when there are less crowds and less heat. I planned to be there in May ( but we just go too slow and love to many places too much ) and that is a much better time.

I am even trying to get in and out of there before July as that is probably the worst time to be there. It is such a special place ,that it seems for you ( who has more choice when he travels) it might be wiser to do it when it is ideal.

I am dreading the heat and crowds of much of Europe in July and August that impacts ones experience of great places.


Just my 2 cents, hope it helps!

I've been there in July, August and September. It is HOT. I love Istanbul, it is a city with so many layers that you can really only peel of a few during the first visit.

If I were to go in the month of July again, I would make absolutely sure that I was in an air conditioned hotel. Two reasons -- if you have to open the windows at night, you will get mosquito attacks and it can be loud (Turks like music at night). If you have to close the windows, you will axfixiate.

The Bosphorus is incredible, and you can do all sorts of tours by boat. In the neighborhood of Bacasir (sp), under the Sultan Bridge, the fish restaurants are lined up for the tourists. I prefer to go over to the Asian side and drive up the coast toward the Black Sea -- the fish restaurants are cheaper and better, IMO.

While it is hot out, visit the traditional tourist spots: Topkapi (you have to pay extra to see the Harem, but I think it worth it), the Blue Mosque, the Hajia Sophia, and the Bazaar. In the late afternoon, hang out a local cafe and in the evening, hit the local street bazaars in all of the downtown tourist areas. I have bought lapis, silver, and linens there.

Watch your diets. Turkish food is WONDERFUL, but there is a lot of oil...it is sometimes hard to tell if the oil has been reused or not. I have ended up in the clinic in Istanbul with food poisoning. The private clinics are very good, because there are wealthy Turks and above all Germans which support them.

I would allow four or five days for a first tour to get oriented. Then go back when it is cooler....

cheers

What Diana said...

Enjoy!

Hi

Thanks for the feedback. Our plans change all the time and right now we are leaning towards Florence and Tuscany as it is easier (and cheaper) to get tickets there :-)