Tekemistä paikassa Istanbul

Mahtava lauttamatka. En odottanut tällaista mahtavuutta pelkältä venematkalta. Niille, jotka haluavat kokea sekä Euroopan että Aasian puolen, tämä matka on juuri teille. Mutta ottakaa takki mukaan, sillä tuuli voi olla erittäin kova. Kaiken kaikkiaan, MAHTAVAA!

Saimme nauttia kauniista Bosporinsalmen maisemista upeassa paikassa auringonlaskuun asti. Dolmabahçen palatsi, Rumeli Hisar ja Neitsyttorni näkyivät kauniisti mereltä käsin, kun ohitimme sillan. Kokki Ahmet valmisti meille lämmintä teetä ja jakoi vilttejä. Hedelmä- ja keksilajitelma sekä tilaamamme ranskalaiset perunat ja paahtoleipä olivat myös erittäin herkullisia. Juomapalvelu sisältyi hintaan, ja tämä retki on erittäin kustannustehokas ja suositeltava. Tilatkaa ihmeessä juomia ja lisäruokia! Kiitos myös ihanasta magneettilahjasta! Tämä oli kolmas kerta Turkissa, mutta tällä risteilyllä pystyimme nauttimaan rauhallisesti musiikkia kuunnellen, mikä oli parasta. Kiitos erinomaisesta palvelusta, kokki Ahmet!

Yksi upeimmista auringonlaskuista, mitä olen koskaan nähnyt. Jos tulet Istanbuliin, tämä on pakollinen kokemus. Suosittelen tätä retkeä lämpimästi, koska: (1) Palvelu: työntekijät ja opas ovat nuoria ja erittäin innostuneita. Pidän heistä ja olen kiitollinen heidän palvelustaan. (2) Palvelut/Retki: hinnan arvoinen, melkein kaikilla on tilaa ulkona nauttia näkymistä tai ottaa kuvia. Risteily kulkee kaikkien kuuluisien ja ikonisten paikkojen ohi sekä Euroopan että Aasian puolella. (3) Kokeilin tätä retkeä toukokuun puolivälissä, satoi vähän, mutta vain noin 30 minuuttia. Sen jälkeen auringonlasku oli kirkas ja näet sekä Aasian että Euroopan auringonlaskussa. Kun retki oli päättymässä, näimme jopa paljon delfiinejä, lintuja kuten lokkeja… Näkymä oli niin upea ja rauhallinen 🌅💛

A must try tour in Istanbul. Easy to use. Just present and use the qr code and your done. Note that it is also recommended to buy separate ticket for Hagia Sophia museum to “complete” the tour experience.

🇹🇷 Field Test! On my only free day during a business trip, I actually became a king in an underground Turkish palace?! During this business trip to Turkey, I finally managed to squeeze out one free day. Time is precious, so I absolutely couldn't risk a bad experience! Before departing, I booked this “world's largest underground water palace” tour directly on Klook. I have to say, the “skip-the-line voucher” is truly a lifesaver for travelers on a tight schedule! Seeing the endless queue of people at the entrance, I simply walked right in with my phone, smooth as silk. The satisfaction of saving that time instantly earned it 100 points! Stepping inside, only one word can describe it: “awe-inspiring.” This incredible ancient Roman underground hydraulic engineering marvel—I initially thought it was just a regular reservoir a few dozen meters long. But after checking on-site, I discovered its actual size is a staggering 138 x 65 meters (more than double the 70x40 meters I had in mind, truly a gigantic underground palace)! The magical lighting on the colossal stone columns, which have been dormant for thousands of years, and the perfect reflections on the water's surface make the entire space feel infinitely vast. Walking along the pathways, it felt like I was instantly transported into a scene from “The Da Vinci Code,” making me completely forget my business trip fatigue. The inverted Medusa head deep inside is an absolute must-see mysterious highlight! If you're like me, with limited time in Istanbul, don't want to waste time waiting in lines, and still want to see the most essential wonders, this place is definitely worth every penny! Review: Five stars aren't enough; highly recommended for business travelers and independent tourists alike! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

In Istanbul, the only places where I truly felt satisfied with what I paid were Topkapi Palace and Dolmabahçe Palace. I would highly recommend taking your time to explore these two sites, as they are well worth it. For other attractions, although I paid relatively high entrance fees, I personally felt that the experience did not quite match the cost. While I understand the importance of preserving history and culture, many places left me a bit underwhelmed in terms of value. Also, possibly due to overtourism, most sites were very crowded, making it difficult to relax and fully enjoy the experience.

Since it was peak season and I was traveling with my mother, I booked a fast-track ticket for convenience. I usually explore museums and palaces thoroughly with audio guides even when traveling alone, so I booked the fast-track option (including an audio guide). However, I later found out it didn't include the Harem section. To add the Harem, it would cost an additional 1040 lira, which is about 35,000 won, purchased at the internal ticket office. In hindsight, it would have been better to buy a ticket that included a guided tour from the start. The palace is so vast and has so much to see that it took us three hours just to look around on our own, and we visited on a Sunday, so there were long lines at each section. I thought it would have been more efficient if a guide had pointed out the key locations and must-see items. Also, the audio guide included with this ticket is not the official palace commentary but a much more concise version. While the official version might be better for those with a strong academic interest exploring alone, on a day like ours, when we were simply enjoying the beautiful and rare artifacts, we didn't really listen to the commentary anyway. So, it wasn't an issue. The tickets are exchanged inside the meeting point (Bistro), and at the designated time, a host personally escorts you into the palace. It was nice to arrive a little early, have a drink, and wait comfortably. The host spoke English clearly and distinctly, which made me think it would have been even better to have an English guided tour. In conclusion, even a simple guided tour is better than none, and I recommend a tour that includes the Harem section if you're going anyway. However, I have no regrets about exploring freely, and I was truly happy because Topkapi Palace was so magnificent. With its panoramic views, architecture, and the artifacts and jewels inside, it's a must-visit attraction that I highly recommend, despite the expensive admission fee!

It's very convenient; you can enter the attraction immediately without waiting in line, saving time and hassle. You receive your e-ticket right after booking, and there's even a mobile audio guide that you can continue listening to at home within the validity period. The complimentary sightseeing boat tour is also fantastic; you get to see many classic buildings along the river. I chose the 5 PM slot, which was perfect for watching the sunset—absolutely beautiful! ❤️

Visiting Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern was truly surreal. The architecture, history, and atmosphere in both places were absolutely breathtaking. I purchased the express tickets, and it was 100% worth it. The lines were quite long, so skipping the queue saved us so much time and energy, especially with the crowd. Everything was smooth and well organized. Hagia Sophia felt grand and powerful, while the Basilica Cistern had this mysterious, almost magical underground vibe. Seeing both in one day really made the Istanbul experience unforgettable. Highly recommend getting the express pass if you’re short on time! and BONUS POINTS for the CATS! 🐈‍⬛ loitering