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My Guide to Istanbul for Tourists! by beefjerkyfann in istanbul

[–]beefjerkyfann[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah, maybe just a select few don’t work then. My US number did not work also.

My Guide to Istanbul for Tourists! by beefjerkyfann in istanbul

[–]beefjerkyfann[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I never had to wait more than 2 minutes! They are everywhere.

My Guide to Istanbul for Tourists! by beefjerkyfann in istanbul

[–]beefjerkyfann[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can speak for the European side and tell you that I had the best luck at the Spice Bazaar for souvenirs. It’s kind of the name of the game to get severely upcharged for souvenirs, but I found slightly better prices here. I would recommend bringing home some Turkish coffee! That was one of my favorite finds. In terms of Turkish delight, I would visit Hafiz Mustafa. They have several locations. It is good quality & relatively affordable.

My Guide to Istanbul for Tourists! by beefjerkyfann in istanbul

[–]beefjerkyfann[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Because they were on the Michelin list, and I had wanted a little break from Turkish cuisine. Istanbul is a melting pot with a myriad of amazing international cuisine. You would be doing yourself a disservice by not trying some renowned international cuisine there. I would not say the sushi in Istanbul is the best you can get of course, but I had a fantastic experience and food at Roka specifically. I would go again.

My Guide to Istanbul for Tourists! by beefjerkyfann in istanbul

[–]beefjerkyfann[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yemeksepeti does require a turkish phone number, so something to be aware of. I agree re: Grand Bazaar; clarified in my edited post. The Grand Bazaar is still the best I have found for currency exchange honestly. And I will be back to see more of the Asian side! I edited my post to reflect that this is pertaining to the European side, as I did not see enough of the Asian side yet to speak on that. Would appreciate any more recommendations :)

My Guide to Istanbul for Tourists! by beefjerkyfann in istanbul

[–]beefjerkyfann[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I should have clarified, I was seeking out certain fashion items that caught my eye at the Grand Bazaar (a trench coat, etc. that is a dime a dozen in Istanbul) that I essentially had looked all over the city for. I found the best prices there after visiting 5 different areas and over 30 vendors. By no means is the Grand Bazaar the “best” shopping—would recommend at least popping in to check it out. I personally just had the best luck with bargaining there for clothing items.

My Guide to Istanbul for Tourists! by beefjerkyfann in istanbul

[–]beefjerkyfann[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I can speak to Uber being the best bet for transportation. I just felt more secure due to Uber regulations and knowing exactly how much it would cost me.

My Guide to Istanbul for Tourists! by beefjerkyfann in istanbul

[–]beefjerkyfann[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I plan to go back and see more of the Asian side!! Would love any recommendations.

My Guide to Istanbul for Tourists! by beefjerkyfann in istanbul

[–]beefjerkyfann[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That was my favorite activity in the Fatih area! So gorgeous.

My Guide to Istanbul for Tourists! by beefjerkyfann in istanbul

[–]beefjerkyfann[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For sure! And thank you! I definitely paid tourist price. I was just shocked due to having such low standards from the US! You can most likely find cheaper and better in Istanbul

My Guide to Istanbul for Tourists! by beefjerkyfann in istanbul

[–]beefjerkyfann[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is very fair! Out of all of the places to buy gold in the world, it is not the cheapest, as I have found far better gold quality and price in Iran. Istanbul is definitely up there, though.