Say 'marhaba' to Turkey!

Turkiye

ISTANBUL

MUST go to!! -" its one of those cities which you can keep going back to" .Personally,  I really do like this city, but I dont think I could keep going back to it.

Busy Streets of Istanbul

Though ofcourse it has everything - Food, Shopping, Clubbing, Sea, Beaches, Partying, Hookah and a lot of history, and very beautifullllll so a definite go-go!

Hotel - Marmara Pera

Clubs 

Club Reina - over rated

Sortie, Suada - they looked very upscale and really fab - but didnt have the time to go there

Isticlal Street - full of restaurants, clubs, bars and free drinks for ladies. There is this shot bar called 'tektekci' and 'Shots Shots' (yummy shots and yummy deals). So, you can literally go club hopping from one bar to the another.

Marmara Pera- Rooftop Bar - Beautiful view

360 degree - posh rooftop bar

Tektekci- Shots Shots Shots with the colourful gems and crunchy snacks

The Blue Mosque (Sultanahmahet)

Most historical touristic place are in the Sultanahmet Region. Be sure to see Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya), Blue Mosque ( Sultanahmet Cami), Basilica Cistern ( Yerebatan Sarnıcı), Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Hippodrome and Topkapı Place. If you visit Topkapı Palace during lunch time there is a nice restaurant in the garden with a very nice view. It serves traditional Turkish food and the taste is not bad. Just a bit expensive.

See Dolmabahçe Palace as well. It is in the Orkatoy Region.

Bosphurus Cruise - It is a very boring cruise but interesting enough to cover all the touristic sites.

Taksim is a touristic region , the main street is usually packed with people. Nowadays Taksim square is under construction . If you visit Taksim ask your tour guide to take you to French street as well. It is a small street with some nice cafes around. If you are vising alone be careful of the small streets around Taksim. 

Ortaköy is a touristic place near the Bosporus. If you visit Ortaköy be sure to make a boat tour around Bosporus. Try kumpir ( potatoes stuffed with anyting you choose). If you take a walk around try Mado Cafe’s ice cream.

Beautiful place to sit around. There is a restaurant at the far end with a beautiful sea facing view

Nışantaşı region is not so touristic but an elegant place in İstanbul. If you have time, take a tour around. Nice cafes and restaurants as well as high end shops. There is a small shopping mall in Nışantaşı as well named City’s. On the upper floors there are many restaurants too. 

CAPPADOCIA

Cappadocia is like visiting a fairy land, it is also a must see place in Turkey. Hot Air Balloon Ride - highly recommend to do it there. 

Stay in the Gerome Area. You can go cycling, or take atv bikes and move around or better still put on your hiking shoes.

Stay in a original cave hotel. Do the underground city tour.

Buy spices and dry fruits from a Spice Store at Urgup. Urgup is again a very small town. 

Things to see:
Gerome Open Air Museum
Dervent Valley
Pasabag Valley
Kaymakli Underground City tour
Uchisar Castle
Avcilar
Pidgeon Valley

Pidgeon Valley

Hotel - Garimasu Cave Hotel - Very far from the city. Please stay at a hotel at Gerome.

BODRUM

Bodrum is a very popular summer destination even among Turkish locals. It has a very lively center and a very good night life. Very good place to enjoy beaches and sea.

Things to see:

St. Peters Castle

Breathtaking view from St. Peters Castle

Mausoleum

The Amphitheatre

Hotel - Marmara

Recommended Clubs:
Bordrum Bar Street
Halikarnas Club
Victoria Club
Bitez Beach
Xuma Beach club
Ebow Cafe and Bar
Ox Wine n Burger
La Passion
Street Party - Its massively crowded and is something what you should look forward to.

KUSADASI

Stay at a good hotel. Visit the Bar Street. Kusadasi and Irish clubs are good clubs there. Good Shopping. 

My favorite place in Turkey.

Fab Hotel Fab stay at Kusadasi - Charisma De Luxe Hotel

Visit historical place named Ephesus. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus is considered one of the seven wonders of ancient world. It is an interesting place in my opinion.

Ancient Ruins of Epheseus

Do visit the church of virgin mary and there is a wishing wall. Write a wish and wish it true :)

PAMMUKALE
Bollywood Fans, Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif music video was shot here from the movie Ajab Ghazab Ki Prem Kahaani. (Kaise bataye kyun tujhko chahe)

You have to go here. It is a basin of hot water springs. Not hot really, but beautiful landscape of blue springs in the midst of white calcium sands. 

Water Springs amidst White Calcium Salts - It is not snow!

There is a cleopatras turkish bath too.

Do trek it up to the amphitheatre at Pammakule- It is worth it.

 Hotel : Ayapam Boutique Hotel. We just stayed there for a night. It is not a 5 star but a pretty decent hotel for a night.

ANTALYA

Antalya has very nice natural beauty especially many waterfalls. Antalya is mostly famous for its very luxurious hotels. They are usually away from the city centre so if you are staying outside the city centre there is not much to do if you want to go outside of the hotel. Yet again very picturesque location to enjoy the beaches and sea. Preferably stay in the old city area if you want to enjoy the night life.

Waterfall at Antalya

Spotted a white fluff duckling enjoying the waterfall

Hotel -Marmara - Revolving Hotel - really liked this hotel.

Internal Travel Route
Istanbul to Bodrum via Flight
Bodrum to Kusadasi via road
Kusadasi to Pammaukale via road
Pammukale to Antalya via road
Antalya to Cappadocia via flight
Cappadocia to Istanbul via flight.

Food

It is not difficult to find vegetarian food in Turkey. However wherever you go just check for traditional home cooking restaurants, they will have vegetables cooked with olive oil. and usually they are served cold. If you see vegetable dishes that is hot and does not have meat be sure to ask whether they are cooked with meat sauce or not. There is a traditional turkish dish called 'pide'. It is thin bread with some toppings. You can ask it with just cheese, just spinach.If you can have cheese there is another turkish food called 'börek' and it is layers of thin bread and you can ask it just to have cheese in it. Again in some places there are jack potatoes called 'kumpir' and you can fill them with vegatables as well. Another dish is called 'gözleme' again it is thin bread with some stuff in it and you can ask it to have just spinach ,just cheese or just potatoes. All of these dishes can also be made without meat so ask them to put what you want.

SHOPPING

In İstanbul If the tour guide wants to take you to outlet malls as an extra service my advice is dont go because outlet malls are far from the city center.you would just waste your valuable time . Nowadays most of the the brands started to go on sale so sale prices on stores are now at reasonable levels.

If you are looking for a shopping mall where you can find almost every brand from high end to reasonable ones at İstinye Park at Istanbul. Shopping malls in İstanbul are open from 10 am to 10 pm.

I mostly enjoyed shopping at isticlal street. Almost all brands are there.

Istiklal Street - Yeah, thats what Im talking about- crazy crowded

Local Turkish Brands-

LCW: Very cheap and not bad quality clothing. they have stores almost everywhere
Other good quality Turkish brands

Batic -Love it!!

De Facto - For Mens Wear , pretty good stuff at reasonable rate

Collezione - Departmental Store

Penti - lingerie , swimwear

Taksim Mix - Clothes

AMBAR

Miss Poem

Grand Bazaar at Istanbul

Istanbul forum Mall

Aquaflorya Mall


So, I hope you are going to be saying 'marhaba' to turkey soon ! :)