Jetrader - Summer 2014 - 57

East Meets West in

Istanbul

Five must-see places in Turkey's transcontinental city

Planning on traveling to Istanbul for ISTAT Europe 2014? If so,
plan to stay an extra day or two and check out these five things
to do in the city that was named the winner of the TripAdvisor
2014 Travelers' Choice award. The travel website award pays homage to the city's breathtaking ancient architecture that coexists
with modern restaurants and nightlife.
1. Historic Areas of Istanbul
Plan at least one day to visit the historic areas of the Old
Istanbul area, which incudes the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia,
TopKapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern.
2. Rahmi M. Koc Museum
The Rahmi M Koç Museum is the first major museum in Turkey
dedicated to the history of transport, industry and communications. Housed in magnificent buildings-themselves prime
examples of industrial archaeology-on the shore of the historic
Golden Horn, the collection contains thousands of items from
gramophone needles to full-size ships and aircraft.
3. Suleymaniye Mosque and Hamam
Famed architect Mimar Sinan built this majestic structure for
one of the greatest rulers of the Ottoman Empire. Although this
mosque is less ornate, there are many similarities between it and
the Hagia Sophia since Sinan was inspired by this design. Close
to the mosque, the Suleymaniye Hamam can be found. This is one
of the few historical mixed Turkish baths in Istanbul (couples and
families only, reservation required). Suleymaniye Hamam was built
in 1557 and offers the traditional Turkish bath experience in a
historical setting.

4. Sultanahmet District
This is the old section of Istanbul where you can find many
attractions including Topkapi Palace (separate entrance fee for
the Harem), the Blue Mosque (ladies, bring a headscarf) and spice
bazaars. By the way, the aircraft traders can show off their skills
in the bazaars, as haggling is expected.
5. Hagia Sophia Museum/Church
This architectural marvel displays 30 million gold tiles throughout its interior, and a wide, flat dome that was a bold engineering
feat at the time it was constructed in the 6th century.
Lesser-known attractions include the Galata Tower with a
beautiful view over the city, as well as the Whirling Dervishes
that perform two or three times every week in the Sirkeci Station,
the former terminal station of the Orient Express.
While taxis are plentiful and cheap, traffic in Istanbul is a
nightmare. In most cases it is quicker to use the very modern and
safe public transport system. Red plastic "jeton" metro tickets
can be bought at most stations, and the system is easy to use.
The brand new metro connects various parts of the city and a
tramway connects many points of interest in the historic district.
In addition, there are a few funicular trains. People in Istanbul
are generally very friendly to visitors, and it is relatively safe for
a city of this size.
A great shopping area is the Istiklal Caddesi. A word of warning, Turkey offers tax-free shopping to foreign tourists, but the
tax-refund procedure at the airport is complicated, and it cannot
be guaranteed that any of the tax officers will be on duty.
Jetrader * Summer 2014 57

Jetrader - Summer 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Jetrader - Summer 2014