Thread: Traveling to Turkey - Advice?

Hi everyone,
I'm traveling to Turkey for 3 weeks in Sept to visit my boyfriend (who speaks Turkish and is studying there). We're going to be based in Istanbul and go on a few little side trips. I know it will be Ramadan, but he assures me that that shouldn't interfere with our fun.

Have any of you traveled to Istanbul? Do you have advice on places to go to see dancers? What about to buy costumes? I want to get at least 2 new costumes. I don't feel very strongly about getting a designer label, so if you know of any smaller labels that do good work please give me a heads up.

Any other travel plans, tips, advice will be greatly appreciated! I am so excited! ~Nadira

See Meissoun's site for costume shopping info. Gulsuren at the Covered Bazaar has nice costumes that cost significantly less than Sim Moda Evi or Bella. I have a couple of Gulsuren's costumes - you can see them on my web site at this page: Shira's Belly Dance Costume Photo Gallery Part 1: The Turkish Collection

The Gulsuren ones are the red one and the green one. In both cases, the skirts that came with them were too skimpy, so I made matching harem pants. (The georgette fabric that was used for the skirts is easy to find here in the U.S.)

Hey Nadira!

I hope you have tons of fun over there! Princess Madiha told us you were going last night, and we were all excited for you. Bring us back LOTS of photos!

Must-sees: The big mosques, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Cisterns, Dolmahbace Palace. I liked the Sadberk Hanim Museum up the Bosphorus a ways. The Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar.

Try to get out of Istanbul, too. Anatolia is wonderful.

Cappadoccia (sp?) (the "fairy chimneys" and caves), Ankara (for the museum alone, although many find it an uninteresting modern city since it was rebuilt after the earthquake...I think the Ataturk memorial is near there, too), Aprodisias, Ephesus (one of the seven ancient wonders of the world). Pergamum and Troy are interesting, too, although they carted off a lot of the artifacts to Berlin long ago. Konya still has that Mevlevi spirit, if that interests you.

If you feel like a splurge, check out the Spa Hotel Colossae Thermal in Pammukkale. Pampering, incredible travertine cliffs and the ancient ruins of Hierapolis. It's been years since I stayed there, but the pools and baths were plush.

Hi Nadira, not sure if you remember me. Although we've never met, you influenced me to start dancing. Grazie Mille for introducing me to the best thing that ever happened to me.

Anyway, I went to Turkey with my boyfriend in April and it was great. I wrote a blog. If you have time to read through it, it has suggestions about travel guides, restaurants, points-of interest, and lots of tips. Have fun, be safe and watch out for the vulture salespeople. They'll get ya!

Istanbul: Not quite Europe, not quite Asia

to add to all sightseeing mentioned above - I really enjoyed the Bosporus boat trip... the city is so beautiful!

and get ready to put on a couple of pounds:) - the food is just amazingly tasty! all of it. everywhere.

WOW...I am so happy you are going to my home country...yes all of the above suggestions are wonderful...I miss old Istanbul, since your bfriend is Turkish, definetely have him take you to Spice Bazaar in Eminonu to smell the wonderful mixtures of spices...window shopping some Ottoman style jeweleries, Ottoman food in Topkapi Palace restaurant, tons of Nice costumes in Grand Bazaar as well, go to museums in Sultanahmet, feed the pigeons in Eminonu by the mosque, go to fish restaurants by the Boshporus, definitely go to the Islands…yes we have small islands sooo pretty, you can take the special ferry boat and visit few islands in one day/or two….try wonderful Turkish Cuisine..

After just coming back from Istanbul (yesterday!), I would recommend a restaurant called NeoClassic in Taksim Square. It has an amazing balcony, great food, and is classy without emptying your wallet...

It's the best city I've seen in the whole Middle East!!! Have a great trip!

wow I am so happy to hear that...I cannot wait to go back home next year.