A late Ottoman power plant complex transformed into public functions: museum, art galleries and some units of the Bilgi University. A little bit far from the very center of Istanbul, but there are shuttles, so you can check from the website. You can spend some time in the exhibitions and as well you can have a nice lunch or dinner in the Otto Restaurant, which serves delicious food and especially pizza. Need reservation for table if you go there in the evenings. Because sometimes it becomes a lounge or concert place from time to time in the evenings, you should check if there is place. And of course if there is a program you will like or if there is an entrance price. For lunch I do not think that there is a problem. It is a very nice place in an old entrepot building.
In the center, this museum is a transformation of an entrepot building just in the coast. You can just take a look at the place and exhibitions, you can have something to eat in the cafe, its nice. The architects for the transformation of this building is tabanlıoğlu architects, the biggest architectural office Turkey.
If you are interested in industry, cars, locomotives, airplanes, technology history, you can check this museum. Not very near to the city center., but just on a nice coastline, it has great view. Needs more than couple of hours to visit all the units. You should take a taxi directly or I don’t know if you will have a car. The surrounding quarter is not nice and more industrial, so maybe you should not walk outside the museum much.
A popular place, with lots of restaurants, shops, etc.
FOR MARKETS & SIGHTSEEING ETC:
It is quite touristic to go to Grand Bazaar and Spice Market in Istanbul, but it is worth at least to pass through it to see how interesting is that crowd.
However, if you want to see interesting places, you should walk along the Istiklal Street, starting from Taksim Square towards the Tunnel. All along this street there shops and cafes, as well as many interesting historical markets that you can discover. There are also some renovated ones. Check Passage Markiz (no: 360 in ıstiklal Street, and also the nice decorations in the historical pattiserie in the entrance)
By the end of the Istiklal Street there is a tunnel (funicular system that connects this place with Karaköy that is at a very low level than istiklal. It may be interesting to take the funicular towards Karaköy.
Around Istiklal Street, you should discover Asmalımescit Street that is very popular among local people with restaurants. You can try raki and fish or any other Turkish local meze and dishes…(when walking from tunnel towards taksim square on istiklal street, fourth street on your left) Worth to try an evening!
There is also a small nice place where you can have beer & chicken, for a lunch time or something if you are around istiklal, not very traditional but a very nice place, it has been my favorite for a long time you can try: Bi Bucuk (adress Suslu Saksi Sokak nr: 15-16)
In the top of some buildings in Istiklal Street, you can have panoramic views. In a street nearby I like a a cafe & restaurant like 5. Kat
You can also enjoy in a club with 360' view of istanbul
Do not miss the panoramic view from the Galata Tower…
Although it is touristic, worth to go and climb. Restaurant is not very good, I do not suggest.
In addition to that, you can see the historic peninsula of Istanbul with palaces and mosques, these places are very much touristic but I think you should at least see it!
Dolmabahce Palace of Istanbul is very much suggested by everybody, I could not see it yet. Near to Istanbul Modern.
You should take the local boat trips absolutely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Check the bosphorus tours from Eminönü harbour, I am not sure if they are running now and what are the hours but normally, it will take almost full day, it will take you many stops, finally you will have a couple of hours in Anadolu Kavak to see the intersection of Marmara and Black Sea!!! And to have delicious fish and then you will take the ferry back to the first stop.
Check also Prince’s Islands Tours, you can have full one day: the biggest is buyukada but you can make a quick search to decide on which island you will spend your day, there are opportunities to swim in the sea, to make bike tours and horse carriage in some of them. Worth to go.
And for some quarters to see:
Ortakoy (Near the city center, 10-15 minutes by car/taksi from taksim if there is no traffic)
You can see the very calm Ortakoy Mosque, if it is weekend, you will see shopping stands selling bijouterie, something for gifts, clothes etc. You can sit in the cafes that are facing the see.
Bebek (when coming from Ortakoy you continue to the end of Bosphorus)
There are nice cafes, restaurants and it is popular among locals to have fish or waffle here.
SOME RESTAURANTs
asmalımescit (meyhanes: meze + raki + fish places for the evenings)
do not miss this area!!! there are restos like Refik or Sofyalı
in the historical peninsula
famous delicious meatballs (better for lunch because there is alcohol not served)
sultanahmet köftecisi (no credit cards, only cash)
there are a couple of sultanahment koftecisi restaurants around this street, but this one is original!
a former prison now a hotel
you can have a coffee and desert in the calm and green courtyard (not very cheap)
good kebap place, view towards golden horn
another meatball place for quick lunch
baklava
koskeroglu cafe can demonstrate why baklava is turkish and not greek :)
.....
enjoy your stay in istanbul (or istambul, constantinapole - however you call it :)
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