Sulthanamet is the oldest and the most historical part of town (but not the fanciest) and is best suited for visiting during the day. It gets dark at approx 18hr30 and shops close around 19hr00. At night it is a good idea to eat and go out in the Ortakoy, Bebek, Taxim and Beyoglu, Kumpapi areas. However there is a great and famous Kebab restaurant in Eminonu called:HAMDI
Hamdi Restaurant.
Very Turkish and try to make a reservation at the top floor as they have a glass roof and you can look over the old city and the bosporus.
Easiest to use taxi's at night. Make sure the taxi driver switches on the taximeter unless you are happy to fix a price and bargain about the price some don't bargain and just say: taximeter. In that case I recommend putting the map of Istanbul on your lap, to pretend you know where your are going. Like this the driver should be less tempted to take you around the block once too many.
On Sunday go to Ortakoy for the Sunday market with lots of silver jewellery, scarves, silks, bags and art.
Uptown you will find the Istiklal Caddesi in Beyoglu and to Taxim square if you want to do some serious shopping. Good for some lovely lunch spots as well. A lot of Embassy's and Consulates are on Istiklal Caddesi (hope you will not need it). Shops in this area stay open until 21hr00. If you can not get enough of the shops, you can go on to the Ak Merkez and MetroCity malls, they stay open until 22hr00.
MUST GO is
İstinye Park Alışveriş Merkezi Istyine Park Shopping mall - Istinye Park shopping mall is a unique urban lifestyle environment situated on a natural topographical “amphitheater” of residential neighborhoods. Above, a grand circular arrival plaza sits between an open-air lifestyle center and a glass-roofed indoor retail area. With 300 shops and constructed at an expense of $250 million. The new shopping mall offers famous brands like Dolce & Gabbana, Dior, Prada, and Fendi to the Turkish consumer domestically for the first time.
Other shopping malls:
METROCITY
Kanyon Levent
Cevahir Alışveriş Merkezi
Akmerkez
To get a good impression of the city is a Bosporus cruise, please refer to
Turkey Travel Planner for all the different possibilities.
If you would like to go to a hammam, you can try
- Çemberlitas Hamami
www.cemberlitashamami.com
Vezirhan Caddesi 8
+90 212 522 7974
open from 6hr00 - 00hr00
€ 15 all in for 1,5 hr
- Tarihi Galatasaray Hamami
Turnacibasi Sokak 24
+90 212 252 4242