Monday, July 24, 2017

ISTANBUL EXPLORATION


DOs and DO NOTs



DO

Ride the T1 tram across the Galata Bridge to Beyoglu.

Beyoglu is the “new” city across the Golden Horn.

New as in a tower there is hundreds of years old.

But it’s older than the Old City.
Get off at the Karikoy stop, use the underpass and get on the world’s 2nd oldest subway – a one-stop funicular up the hill.

When you get out, if you walk a tiny bit back down the hill past the souvenir shops you will be in one of the youngest hippest areas – Tunel. 

If head north after exiting the funicular, you are on the pedestrian Istiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue).

It’s about a kilometer long and is the old Parisian style area of the old upper middle class.

It has chain stores, street vendors, pastry shops, great architecture, state run cheap book stores and historic sites all over.

The midpoint of the avenue, where Galatasaray Lycee sits, is a great place to head off on a side alley and walk the back streets of Beyoglu.

It ends at Taksim Square.

DO NOT

Stay in Taksim Square.

Though it is well-located for transit and a public park away from a smattering of chain-flagged hotels, the fringe of Taksim after dark is getting seedy.





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