Istanbul and Warsaw travel advice?

Okay, so next week will be a whirlwind for me... speaking at two Word of Mouth Marketing conferences -- one in Istanbul, and one in Warsaw.  Anyone got travel advice for either place?

I'll be in Istanbul 3 days, and Warsaw 3 days, so not a lot of time, but... would love to hear anyone's advice on things to see, things not to miss, etc.

Oh, and since this post wouldn't really be a proper DK post without some political content... I'm going to be there from May 3rd to May 9th.  I'm excited about it, of course, but slightly bummed that I will be overseas... when Hillary drops out on May 8th.

•  Tips...

  by Hlinko on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 07:09:32 PM PDT

  •  And tip yourself, for answering the question...

    "What about Poland?!?"

    by Hlinko on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 07:10:04 PM PDT

  •  there is a boat tour of the bosphorus (Sp?)

    It is really beautiful and you can see the old and the new buildings and how the city has changed over time.  I would recommend reading "Istanbul" by Orhan Pamuk before you go, it is an interesting look at the city.

    Taksim is a great place for eating, shopping etc.  Then of course their are the tour guide favorites, the Haggia Sophia, the Blue Mosque.  I really enjoyed Topkopi palace.  The grand bazaar is fun but very overpriced.  Make sure you try gozleme, and Lahmajun.  Actually, all the food is delicious.  

    There is so much to do, you really can't go wrong.  I have found Turks to be very helpful and very warm.

    by possodent on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 07:22:14 PM PDT

  •  Recommended

    for all the great comments in this diary.  Enjoy your trip!

    by hazey on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 09:44:07 PM PDT

•  All I know about Istanbul...

  is that it was Constantinople, but no longer is.

  by Trix on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 07:11:44 PM PDT

  •  Why did Constantinople get the works?

    That's nobody's business but the Turks.

    by Hlinko on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 07:12:34 PM PDT

    •  Can you tell me what Turkish delight is?

      This bodega I used to shop in sold something called "Turkish Delight", which described itself on the wrapper as "Chocolate covered Turkish Delight".

      by Trix on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 07:14:29 PM PDT

      •  Turkish Delight is

        not very good.  It's sort of a jellied candy.  I can't imagine it with chocolage.

        by Inland on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 07:17:40 PM PDT

        •  I like turkish delight

          but only when I get it in Turkey and chocolate is NOT supposed to be in there.  The stuff they sell in boxes here in the US is yucky.

          by possodent on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 07:23:44 PM PDT

          •  oh yeah, real Turkish delight

            is soft and wonderful.  I like the kind with cream and pistachios.  The best thing is to get it where they make it.  There is a spice bazaar down the hill next to the Golden Horn, down by the train station.  They roll it up with the cream right in front of you.  

            And if you can, hear the last evening call to prayer standing in front of Haghia Sophia (one one side) and the Blue Mosque (on the other).  The muezzin in the Blue Mosque is the best one I have ever heard -- a stunning voice.  And being there in the evening, after dark, when most of the tourists and touts have gone away, is absolutely magical.  The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art (which is in a Pasha's palace next to the Blue Mosque) has the most incredible carpets -- huge and stunning.  And an amazing collection of pottery and tiles as well.  If you had longer I would strongly recommend the beautiful Church of Christ in Chora, from which it is an easy walk to where the walls were breached in May of 1453 by the attacking Ottomans.  The best Iznik-style tiles and pottery are on sale just opposite the church.  But you have to go to Haghia Sophia, which is stunning, and the Blue Mosque and if you can do it, the Suleimaniye, the mosque complex built by Sinan (the architectural genius who was a contemporary of Michelangelo) for Suleiman the Magnificent.  I like Topkapi, but it seems the great buildings of Haghia Sophia and the two great mosques would be higher on the list.  For me, anyway.  

            by annetteboardman on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 07:41:15 PM PDT

        •  Turkish delight

          Never eat the ersatz Turkish delight made in Britain; it's awful. But the original stuff, especially rosewater-flavored with pistachios and dusted with powdered sugar is fine, at least in small doses.

          by LanceBoyle on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 07:25:28 PM PDT

  •  Hmm... maybe I'll say I'm going to "Byzantium"

    That would get a reaction.

    by Hlinko on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 07:13:11 PM PDT

•  NYT Travel does Istanbul features all the time

  I don't know why, but the NYT travel is huge on Istanbul, and the features really make me want to go someday. Go to www.nytimes.com, go to travel and search for Istanbul.

  by Inland on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 07:16:38 PM PDT

  •  Because

    Because it is an amazing place, or at least it was when I was there 20 years ago. The contrasts, the atmosphere, the food, the Palace, the mosques. Ended up staying in a dormitory with a window that looked across a small alley to the Hagia Sophia. Fantastic, though the diesel fumes could be a bit much.

    by taonow on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 07:52:15 PM PDT

•  Visit the Blue Mosque in Istanbul

  The trains are slow in Warsaw. You can take a bus or rent a car and go to  Auschwitz (m/p).

  by TNforkerry on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 07:21:18 PM PDT

•  In Warsaw,

  the restored Old Town; the bookshops; the Museum of Military History (an especially interesting one, given that just about everyone has overrun Poland); the monument to the Warsaw Uprising. But because Warsaw was totally destroyed during the War there's much less to see there than in Cracow, which is a terrific destination.

  There's an incredible amount to see in Istanbul: the Topkapi, of course; the palaces along the old Hippodrome; the ruined Byzantine wall; the underground Byzantine reservoir (scene of a shootout in the James Bond movie <From Russia with Love>); Topkapi (lovely, besides historically fascinating); the janissary band parade on the grounds of Topkapi; Hagia Sophia and the other great mosques; the seafood restaurants along the Horn; the wooden yali palaces along the Horn; and of course the fabulous shopping in the Grand Bazaar. There's history all around you, fabulous food and shopping, and friendly Turks (or at least they were friendly when I visited just before the Iraq War).

  by LanceBoyle on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 07:22:47 PM PDT

  •  I would agree with all that...

    and add the markets in Turkey. Don't remember what they are called. The Hagia Sofia which I believe is near the blue mosque.

    In Warsaw, I would add Auschwitz which isn't far from there.

    And be grateful that neither are Euro currency countries.

    by fcvaguy on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 07:26:20 PM PDT

•  Warsaw

  Is actually very pretty.  I was only there for a day once, but we went to the remnants of the Warsaw Ghetto and that's definitely worth seeing.

  by GoldnI on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 07:23:16 PM PDT

•  I'm sure you won't miss the

  Hagia Sophia, but I'm having fond memories...Istanbul is wonderful.

  by mrchumchum on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 07:25:04 PM PDT

•  In Warsaw go to the Palace of Culture and in

  Istanbul go to Sultanamet and tour Haigha Sophia and the Blue Mosque as well as the Orthodox Patriarchate in the Phener - and go to a Turkish bath and get your back cracked!

  by Shane Hensinger on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 07:25:13 PM PDT

•  Turkey

  I've been all over the world, and Turkey was one of my very fsvorite destinations! Fascinating country with lots to see. Great food! Take a day tour of Istanbul to get oriented and knock off the big sites like the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Then you can just explore the central historic area (Sultanhamet) and markets on foot. I think you could go to Ephesus as a day trip if you are interested in ancient Greek ruins. Plan another trip after you've sampled Istanbul, and go to Cappadocia and spend some time in the coastal towns along the Aegean. You'll have a great time.

  by blueisland on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 07:50:45 PM PDT

•  website and book recommendation

  Here's a website we found very valuable: http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/

  The owner of the website, Tom Brosnahan, wrote the original Frommer's Guide to Turkey after serving there as part of the Peace Corps in the 1970's. He also wrote several of the Lonely Planet guides to Turkey. He wrote a book about his Peace Corp expereince called Bright Sun that my husband and I both read while we were traveling there, and thoroughly enjoyed.

  by blueisland on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 07:57:11 PM PDT

•  Istanbul is the city I grew up.

  So, may be I can suggest a quick tour. A lot of the touristic places to visit are in an area called Sultanahmet. You can walk from one place to another. The main palace (Topkapi), which includes the famous Harem is worth seeing. For almost 500 years that was the heart of the Ottoman Empire. Hagia Sophia is breathtaking. When I first entered the building I was simply shocked by its size. It is right across from Blue Mosque. I would highly suggest that you take a guided tour who can tell you all the interesting historical stories. Close by is the
  Yerebatan Cistern and the Archeological Museum. On the other side of the Golden Horn is the Galata Tower. There used to be a restaurant on the top floor. I am not sure if it is still there. They used to serve classic Turkish dinner with Turkish style entertainment. Up the hill is Beyoglu district(Pera) with turn of the century architecture, older mosques, churches and synagogues, countless restaurants, bars, art galleries and many other interesting stores. Fried mussels are a specialty that I like very much but you can also find many other fish restaurants, good beer or the Turkish drink Raki in Cicek Pasaji. The street leads to Taksim which is considered by many as the center of Istanbul. Going down to the seaside through Gumussuyu you'll reach one of the main arteries. The Dolmabahce Palace is very close towards north. It may be best to take a taxi from Taksim to the Palace. An interesting point about Istanbul is that it spans two continents. You can cross from Asia to Europe and back.
  This should be more than enough to visit within couple of days. There are many more areas to see and things to do but you will probably need several more weeks.
  Enjoy your stay!

  by uzay on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 08:38:38 PM PDT

•  Stay in the ugliest hotel in Warsaw

  That way, when you look out the window, you won't have to see the ugliest hotel in Warsaw.

  You're welcome!

  by MrJayTee on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 08:41:44 PM PDT

•  Also worth seeing in Warsaw:

  Lazienki, the palace and park of Poland's last king-- small but quite lovely.
  And the Chopin Park, where they hold open-air concerts in the summer.
  Belveder, the palace of King Jan Sobieski, is also worth a visit.

  by LanceBoyle on Wed Apr 30, 2008 at 06:48:36 AM PDT