Lesser Known Sites of Istanbul

(with Asiatic Istanbul option:

Portions of this tour below can be excluded to include an excursion to Asiatic Istanbul to explore
a. the main street of Kuzguncuk 3 century old trees, century old houses . a tranquil
sneighborhood b. Photo stop at Maiden's tower c.Sakirin Mosque, d. Walk Through Kadikoy
marketplace and sample Turkish marzepan (ezme) from Hacibekir, and dine at an Asiatic Istanbul
Restaurant like Develi of Kuzguncuk Marina , or for modest smaller a little busier Ciya of Kadikoy,
Kanaat of Uskudar, Mabeyn of Altunizade, or Canak of Acibadem. e. Take car ferry on the way back
to European Istanbul. )

ukurcuma, Cihangir : Bohemian face of Istanbul

Brief driving and walking combination tour

Art and antique stores, Museum of Innocence ( from Outside only) Toy and cartoon
shop of Zihni Sinir, the vintage shop the provider to the museum of innocence

Along Walls of Constantinople and the banks of the Golden Horn :

Drive along walls of Constantinople stop by the Boukoleon Palace and Golden gate &
moads of the walls/ cable car ride to rustic Pierre Loti Caf
Drive along the Golden Horn/
Courtyard of The New Mosque and its features superior to the more famous mosques /
3 century old structure housing century old ancient herbal & spice shop ( Ottoman
herbal remedies and sampling inc mastic, nigella, the bitter sweat chestnut honey, and
more) / Off spice market highlights : Walk the busy streets - try possibly the best
baklava of your life- see one of the mother of Sultan hans, stop by the former Deutche
Orientbank Building /

Lunch Hamdi Restaurant ( the superior kebap with pistachio + baklava ) or Pandelli
( Ataturk's favourite) .

In the Old Town Sultanahmet

Nakilbent cistern - 6th c AD/
Lounge of 18th c. Cagaloglu bath /
meet up with the Istanbul Armenian designer Nick, of the famous " Missionary leaves
in a former Byzantine stable in the Grand Bazaar" ; also the works of a famous
designer with a rare work of art : Ottoman fabric necklace "gdklk" /
3 century old caf in a former Ottoman Medrese atrium to see this 2.5 century old tree
rising from inside an Ottoman tomb.

UKURCUMA
We will begin our day with a stroll at Cihangir and Cukurcuma, the Bohemian face of
Istanbul, with art, antique galleries, studios, cafes, century old architecture. Down
the hill in one of the houses, a love story took place, immortalized by the Nobel
literature prize winner Orhan Pamuk, in his novel, "Museum of Innocence" . Yet, one
of the houses of the lower part of the same hill is opened up as "The Museum of
Innocence" with all the setting to the novel and the period items, lovable collectibles
from 1970's Istanbul.

BUKOLEON PALACE , GATES AND MOADS OF WALLS OF CONSTANTINOPLE

Scenic waterfront JFK Street driving experience along the walls of Constantinople
during which we will point out major land marks along the route including Prince
Islands, Scutari Barracks where Florence Nightingale was a nurse during Crimean
War, Boukaleon Palace, which is a very rare part of the Byzantine Palace still
standing. Built by Theophilos (829-842) originally, this formed the main living
quarters of the palace also used by the Latin Emperors.

GOLDEN HORN PIERRE LOT HILL

After introducing (drive by and photo stop only) the ancient gates and moad of the
walls of Constantinople, we will be along the Golden Horn, shortly after which we
will take a cable ride to rustic cafe of Pierre Loti; with great scenery of Golden Horn,

and the old town. Pointing out the visible highlights of Istanbul, your guide Oguz
will also share the story of an Ottoman structure, belonging to Mihrimah Sultan ,
with a very rare story.
OFF SPICE MARKET TOURS

Courtyard of the 17th c. New Mosque is among the most impressive. A still active
ablution fountain, incredible harmony of proportions the domes, tiles at the right
dose.

Century old spice shop run by 81 year old owner in a 3 century old building. An
Ottoman style spice and herb experience, with mastic, chestnut honey, nigella and
liquorice sampling and matching recipies.

Dine at Pandelli - Ataturk's favourite, or Hamdi for the best pistachio kebap and
sobiyet ever.

In and Around Grand bazaar

Cagaloglu bath - Lounge 18th c.

One of the sites of the book called 1000 Places to see

before you die.

Inside Grand Bazaar

Meet up with the Istanbul Armenian designer Nick, of the famous " Missionary
leaves in a former Byzantine stable in the Grand Bazaar"

3 century old Medrese charming courtyard as a historical caf

NAKILBENT CISTERN
The cistern on Nakilbent street is hardly ever mentioned anywhere, except a
documentary tv program of History Channnel. We are likely to be the only visitors
there. The dancer photo below is from a private photo shoot out in this cistern by
your guide Oguz, who is a former photo-journalist of Turkey's first parental
magazine.
This cistern is a city heritage, but yet, it is not a museum. The building above it is
some famous craft stores of heritage ; where you may come back on another day
in your spare time. They have some of the upper leage makes of their field, like
the tile store with the works of the tile master Mehmet Grsoy, declared by
Unesco a living world heritage, or famous Iznik Foundation tiles.

Asiatic Istanbul Options

Kuzguncuk District

A quaint historical neighborhood; with century old architecture, a former Jewish

and Armenian residential district. The area still has got active Armenian Church and
Synagoue. Frequently visited by soup opera filming companies and popular for
wedding couples phoho shoot out.
akirin Mosque

The first mosque of the world designed by a female architect, and yet, considered to
be among the mosques with truly successful modern archtitecture.