Istanbul Tips

 

Visiting Istanbul for the first time can be a slightly nerve-wracking experience! It’s such a big city and there are so many people that it can all be a bit overwhelming, but don’t let this put you off as there’s so much more to Istanbul than just traffic and people!

 

When you’re deciding on which Istanbul hotel to book for your stay here you need to first decide exactly where you want to stay. Because Istanbul is so large you don’t want to find you’re staying in completely the wrong area as you’ll have to spend precious time travelling from your Istanbul hotel to everywhere.

Work out where you would like, or need to go, then find the Istanbul hotels within that area. You will probably need to travel around the city to a certain extent, so here are some tips to help you…

 

Getting Around

Once you’ve booked your Istanbul hotel you’ll want to know how to get around the city. Public transport is very good in Istanbul and fares are extremely reasonable. There are frequent buses as well as a good metro (underground system) and tram system too. Taxis are everywhere and are all canary yellow coloured, and although more expensive than buses, rates are still quite reasonable. They can be picked up from anywhere and staff at your Istanbul hotel will be happy to stop one for you.

If you know which one to get on you can also use a dolmuş. These are minibuses which carry about 8 passengers, and, as their name means ‘full up’ they don’t leave until they’re full!

These are a comfortable way of getting around, and travel along a set route, though the driver will stop wherever you ask him, so you could be dropped right outside your Istanbul hotel if it’s on one of the routes. They’re cheaper than taxis, though more expensive than a bus.

 

Istanbul Traffic

The main downside with Istanbul is the amount of traffic. If you’re using transport other than the metro to get from your Istanbul hotel to the airport, you will need to allow yourself plenty of time because the journey time can vary hugely. Also if you’re crossing the Bosphorus to stay in a different Istanbul hotel, you’re better advised to use a ferry than a taxi because invariably the taxi will get stuck in traffic and you have to pay the bridge toll on top of your fare!