Ekrem adlı kişinin rehberi

Try to stay away from touristic places such as Cesme Bazlama Evi. So much waste of food

If you are a coffee person, blend some fresh Turkish Coffee at Kuru Kahveci Mehmet Efendi’s main store at Eminönü, that would be a good gift. Local new wave brands: Petra Roasting, Kronotrop (stay away from Gloria Jeans in general, Kahve Dünyası – kinda local Starbucks but coffees are not good, you can grab a quick lunch & dessert to go / cheaper than indie coffee spots)

Try street food anywhere you see it: mussels with rice.

In this section you will find the museums in the old town. for these you will need a museum card which makes the trip cheaper and faster, check it out. Spare at the least one day for old town and then, move on with the actual Istanbul. You can walk between these places above, so, as a suggestion – you can do Galata Tower in Beyoglu, then keep going through Karakoy, pass the historic Galat Bridge and enter the old town. You can start with Mısır Çarşısı (Spice Bazaar) and continue. Drink coffee in Grand Bazaar, they cook it in the sand. Suggestions: Şark Kahvesi, Ethem Tezçakar Kahvesi You can grab a beer & fries at 7 Hills. Great view for old town. Do not eat or drink anything else, their kitchen is meh. For quick lunch: Sultanahmet Köftecisi – find the historic one in Search site – just across the Blue Mosque. Turkish meatballs, simply, quick, cheap but delicious. General tip: Do not let them charge you in EUR, if this is convenient for you, always check the TRY equal. Always bargain, start with suggesting at the least half of the price they initially say.