Useful Tips
Some local advice from those in the know
My City: ÇAĞLAR GÖKGÜN - Superstar guide, Istanbul
Where are you from? I was born in Iznik which is in the Marmara region of Turkey, but I live in Istanbul.
Where would you take your mother for a special birthday lunch? 360 Restaurant on Istiklal Street. It’s not exactly local and a bit pricey, but it’s a special day, hey? :)
Where is your fave spot in Istanbul? My favourite spot to relax is around the Ortakoy-Bebek seaside neighbourhood.
Where’s the best place for a first date? I would go to Galatasaray Island to have dinner there – its location in the Sea of Marmara is both secluded and stunning.
What is your favourite pastime? Going to Turk Telekom Arena to watch the football (not soccer)! Go Galatasaray!
What is your favourite local snack and where can you get it from? My top 3 local snacks are: Stuffed mussels from the Taksim region, rice with chicken in Unkapani and intestines in bread from our local fast food favourite - Bambi (in Taksim)
Down the Local - The hot spot in Istanbul where our local crew hang out:
Cafe Marmara:
Çayıroğlu Sok. No:46 Küçükayasofya
Mah Eminönü Sultanahmet, İstanbul
Telefon: (212) 516-90-13.
We love Café Marmara as it’s full of Sultanahmet locals. You can play backgammon, gossip, find out what's going on and enjoy some pretty fabulous nargile (Turkish Water Pipe). It's a place where everyone knows our faces and we know theirs... even our son has a preferred drink that the staff remember!
24 Hours in Istanbul
To get maximum value out of your Urban Adventure we recommend you book your tour for early in your stay. This way you can get a good grounding in a new city and ask questions about places you can explore later on at your own pace. Here are some ways to spend time on your second day in Istanbul:
7am - 10am: Enjoy breakfast on a hotel terrace (the AND Hotel has incredible views) then hit the sites like the Blue Mosque (try visiting between the first and second prayer). Stroll past Topkapi and through the oasis of Gulhane Park to Eminonu to catch the Turyol Tourist ferry for spectacular views from the water.
10am - 1pm: From Galata follow the tram tracks across the bridge. For a true local lunch go left at the end of the bridge into the fish market and choose the fish that you want cooked for you. Otherwise head through the old Jewish neighbourhood (now featuring grand French schools) until you hit the Modern Museum. Here you’ll find contemporary art and a secret café with sweeping views, delicious pasta and mouth-watering cheesecake. Next, check out Dolmabahce Palace for the ultimate in opulence - a true Sultan's palace.
1pm - 6pm: Stop for a nargile at a beanbag café in Tophane or continue past the end of the Tramvay to the local's favourite of Ortakoy. People watching and looking through the crafty markets are highlights here. Jump a dolmus to Taksim to witness Istanbul's modern face. Head to the Arasta Bazaar and check out Jennifer's Hamman shop for good-quality woven towels.
6pm - late: By night, ride a ferry to the cosmopolitan neighbourhood of Kadikoy. Grab dinner at CIYA where you can find authentic Turkish cuisine made from recipes that are hundreds of years old. Afterwards, head back to Taksim and step into Arif Bar for live rocking gypsy music with a modern twist. Enjoy an Efes beer or a glass or two of Raki!
A bunch of things to keep in mind when you visit Istanbul:
- Best time of the year to travel is April-May or September-October. The climate will be perfect in Istanbul, and the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts and will be cool in Centeral Anatolia.
- Keep healthy. Especially in hot Summer, drink a lot of water (preferably bottled water).
- Respect local customs, especially in the mosques. Women might want to bring a scarf or buy one here in a bazaar. Men need to wear long pants rather then shorts.
- Support the local economy by using local transportation and by shopping in less touristic places like the local bazaars.
- If you are staying in Istanbul for more than a day or so, you should consider getting an Akbil, a computerised debit fare tag which will save you time and money when hopping on and off trams, trains, ferries and buses all around the city.
- To check out the nightlife head to Taksim, Istiklal street.
- Watch a sema performance which is performed by whirling dervishes. The ceremony is quite religious and will give an idea about Islamic and Sufi lifestyle.
- Get into the Grand Bazaar and try the best Turkish Delights.
- Brush up on your negotiating skills. Bargaining at the markets is a part of life. Keep a smile on your face though and bring plenty of low denomination notes.
- Try the kebab in its homeland.
Hos geldiniz! Welcome to Istanbul Urban Adventures! Our team of bilingual Turkish professional guides are waiting to share their passion for this fascinating city and all that it has to offer.
Istanbul Urban Adventures team
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Wherever we go in the world, we take a responsible attitude with us. That means travelling in a way which both respects and benefits local people, their culture, their economy, and their environment. Please read on for more information on our Responsible Travel policy and how you can be a responsible traveller for your entire journey.
Top 12 Responsible Travel Tips
The following tips are for your overall travel plans, not just for your time spent on an Urban Adventures tour.
- Before leaving home, learn as much as possible about the countries you are visiting - the religion and culture, the local rules and values.
- Learn some of the local language and don't be afraid to use it - simple pleasantries will help break the ice. Keep practicing.
- Learn what's appropriate behaviour and body language. Like the concept of "saving face" in Asia or giving the thumbs up in western or central Europe.
- Support locally owned businesses, hotels, restaurants, and other services. Eat local food and drink local brands and brews. Use public transport, hire a bike or walk where convenient - you'll meet local people and get to know the place. Use our local travel practices as a guideline.
- Think first. It's best not to eat in restaurants, shop in stores or visit local shows, markets or zoos that promote cruelty or exploitation of endangered species.
- Shop from traditional artisans and for locally made products, helping keep traditional crafts alive and favour local products over imported items. Bargain if that is a local practice, but bear in mind that a small amount to you could be extremely important to the seller.
- Dress respectfully with an awareness of local standards. Dress modestly at religious sites and check what swim wear is suitable for pools and the beach.
- Always ask first before photographing or videoing people. Send them back copies of photos to help make it a two-way exchange.
- Be wary of giving gifts or money to beggars, children and people you have just met. Supporting the community through a local school, clinic, or development project may be more constructive.
- Leave only footprints...take care of the environment as you would your own home. Take out all you take in, to areas away from the cities. Use alternatives to plastic and say 'no' to plastic bags. For cigarette butts, an empty film container makes a perfect portable container.
- After returning home think how you can support programmes and organisations that are working to protect the welfare, culture and environment of where you've been lucky to visit.
- Smile - The traveller who wishes to have a happy and successful trip should keep as calm, cheerful and friendly as humanly possible. And have fun!
Responsible Travel Code of Conduct
The following are Urban Adventures's key principles for operating responsible tours.
We aim to:
- Use locally owned infrastructure on our tours where possible.
- Spread the financial benefits amongst local people and operators.
- Provide employment and leadership opportunities for local people.
- Respect local customs and culture.
- Provide safe tours for Urban Adventure partners, staff, and travellers.
- Educate travellers and our partners about how and why we choose to travel this way.
- Limit the negative impacts to daily lifestyles of local people not involved with Urban Adventures groups.
- Limit the physical impact of trips in all destination communities-particularly sensitive natural and cultural environments.
- Provide support to organisations and local communities visited by Urban Adventures groups.
- Provide fun enjoyable trips to Urban Adventures travellers.
- Provide opportunities for travellers to interact with local people.
- Actively ban partners, staff and passenger participation in or endorsement of commercial sexual activities or illegal drug use on Urban Adventures tours.
- Actively discourage the participation of Urban Adventures groups in activities which exploit animals - wild or domestic.
- Use local partners that adhere to Urban Adventures' Responsible Travel and Local Travel principles and provide the best possible service to Urban Adventures travellers and staff.
- Work to prevent the exploitation of children in tourism.
- Support and encourage fair employment practices.
- Give our travellers the best possible value.
For more information on how to be a responsible traveller, region-specific guidelines, and voluntourism, check out what our friends at Intrepid have to say.
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