Swissotel Istanbul Review

Mosque in Istanbul
Istanbul Mosque

Swissotel The Bosphorus in Istanbul Review
Address: Bayildim Cad. No.2 Macka, 34357, Besiktas, Istanbul, Turkey
Phone: +90 212 326 1100
Web: http://www.swissotel.com

The Swissotel is one of the best five-star luxury hotels in Istanbul. Situated on a hill in the middle of the chic Besiktas district, its location is perfect for boutique shopping and offers amazing views of the city.

The 497 guest rooms at the Swissotel Istanbul are spacious and feature luxury amenities. The hotel’s lower floors offer a range of restaurants, bars, conference rooms, and the award-winning Amrita Spa and Wellness center. There is also a pool and extensive gardens on the premises.

Rates at the Swissotel in Istanbul start at 135 euros per night if you book online in advance. Deals and offers are available from time to time, so make sure to check for them before making a reservation.

9 Istanbul Taxi Tips

Taking a taxi in Istanbul is a bit of an adventure. Aggressive drivers, untrustworthy meters, and language barriers are all part of the experience. If you end up in a taxi at any point during your visit, these 9 Istanbul taxi tips can help save you time, money, and frustration.

1. Official Istanbul taxis are bright yellow and have a “Taksi” sign on top. Don’t use any other kind of taxi when you are visiting Istanbul.

2. All Istanbul taxis have meters. Ask the driver to turn the meter on before you get in the taxi and definitely before they start driving. Otherwise they might not use it and will charge you whatever they want to when you arrive at your destination.

3. Don’t try to agree on a price up front instead of using a meter. No “deal” they will offer you will be better than the price from the meter. This is partly because Istanbul taxi drivers will often lie to you about the distance from one place to another in order to get more money from you.

4. Taxi fares are the same during the day and night. This didn’t used to be the case, and some drivers will try to convince you that there are still higher rates in the evening. Don’t let them.

5. Watch the meter for the entire duration of the taxi ride, as some drivers will try to tamper with it when you’re not paying attention.

6. If you cross the bridges while in an Instanbul taxi, you will have to pay the toll. This is true even if you cross a bridge in the no-toll direction.

7. Try to follow your route on a map. Some drivers will take you on a very circuitous route in order to run up the fare on the meter.

8. Make sure to count your change and look at it carefully to verify that it is the correct currency. Some drivers will try to pass off old lira on inattentive passengers.

9. The last Istanbul taxi tip is to wear your seatbelt at all times while in the taxi. Drivers are often aggressive and minor accidents are common.

Top 10 Things to Do in Istanbul

Istanbul
Istanbul

Istanbul is alive with history, art, shopping, food, and all kinds of cultural attractions. To help you decide what to see while you are there, below is my list of the top 10 things to do in Istanbul.

1. Experience Istanbul’s Nightlife – With great bars, clubs, and lounges that stay open late, Istanbul’s nightlife scene is something that must be experienced on any visit to the city.

2. Basilica Cisterns – Underground and with eerie music playing throughout your visit, the Basilica Cisterns are a great way to escape the heat and see an amazing feat of historic engineering. The visit takes around 30 minutes.

3. Visit a Hammam – Turkish baths are known throughout the world, so why not experience a hammam when you’re in their birthplace? The city has a wide variety, from basic baths to luxury hammams.

4. Sultanahmet Camii (aka the Blue Mosque) – The Sultanahmet Camii is a stunning mosque across the plaza from the Aya Sofia. The visit takes around 30 minutes.

5. Explore Besiktas – Besiktas is one of the city’s trendiest neighborhoods. If you like fashion, cafes, fine dining, or just walking around and admiring historic architecture, make sure to spend an afternoon there.

6. Dolmabahce Sarayi (Dolmabahce Palace) – The Dolmabahce Sarayi is a neo-modern palace that the emperor lived in. The palace is situated right on the Bosphorus, and the visit takes around an hour.

7. Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi) – The Grand Bazaar is one of Istanbul’s most famous attractions. An old style bazaar, it used to house horse stables during the empire, and is now home to countless shops. Make sure to bargain when making a purchase!

8. Istanbul Modern Art Museum – The Istanbul Modern Art Museum is a great contemporary museum right on the Bosphorus. Featuring works from Istanbul’s prominent artists as well as others from around the world, the museum is well worth a trip. The visit takes 1 to 2 hours, and there is a great cafe if you need a rest.

9. Aya Sofya (Hagia Sophia) – The Aya Sofya is a historic Byzantine church dating back over 1500 years. After the fall of the Byzantine empire, the Aya Sofya was converted into a mosque. The church has weathered fires and earthquakes and still retains many of the original mosaics and murals. The visit takes around an hour.

10. Topkapi Palace – The Topkapi Palace is the former Ottoman Palace where the emperor lived. The building complex is historic and has several small museums within its walls. The visit takes 2 to 3 hours.