Over all beach is nice, very pretty, but I'm writing this review Bc of one extremely rude Turkish…read moregirl who's working in restaurant upstairs. Never heard someone be so sarcastic and not nice. You all should fire her or teach a lesson how to speak with customers and tourists

This is the Mecca of Istanbul visitors! Hard to miss if you plan to check out the Blue Mosque…read moreor/and Hagia Sophia since this plaza is right in between them. It was April when we visited, so the trees where in bloom which is nice! The end of the tulips season well. The fountain is pretty, check out the mosaic fresca-s and details that decorate it! Plenty of benches around, ideal to grab a snack near by and sit here and enjoy it. Not an easy task because the area is crowded with lots of locals, tourists, even huge groups. Lots of photo ops here, everywhere you turn is a nice sight! A few restaurants around, as well as street vendors if you want to grab a simit, roasted chestnuts, corn or fresh squeezed juices for a snack break. Prices are higher than in other areas since it's such a touristy area, but oh well... when in Sultanahmet Square... you should expect it! Our hotel wasn't far, so we would the plaza to get around town since it leads you to the tram, shops and restaurants also! Try to visit in the evening, it gets way quieter and the buildings are beautiful lit up! Hard to miss, good area to check out, stroll, take a break in the action. This is the center of historic Istanbul, expect crowds, but try to enjoy the sights as well!

This large plaza is located between the Topaki Palace and the Blue Mosque…read more It quite litterally contains many of the top attractions in the Faith / Sultanament DIstrict. There are also a few parks, plus the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cisterna, The Hippodrome of Constantinople, et al. It is usually packed with people during the day but clears out at night. The fountain near the Hagia Sofia is not exactly the fountains at Bellagio but the color changes with the Mosques in the background are fun to watch. There also is a multitude of restarants, vendors, shops, ATM's and tram station nearby

Spring Green and a lovely walk. As of May 2017, the entrance can cost 15 Turkish Lira on the…read moreweekends. A steep price for some locals. It is cheaper and less crowded during the weekdays. It is a lovely spot. Some wedding couples come and take a lot of photos near the entrance. However, you can walk further into the park and avoid the crowds. There are quiet spots where there is only you and the trees. I recommend coming early in the day to explore. The best way to get there is to take the the M2 to the end of the line at Haciosman Metro stop. Then, take one of the local buses as close as you can to the Arboretum. It is a little walk to entrance from there. Keep in mind that most Instanbulis drive there, which is a nightmare on the weekends. The nearby town of Bahçeköy has some decent small cafes for a little meal. You can also rent bicycles and explore Belgrad Forest, which is a little over a 20 minute walk from the Arboretum.

Ok don't get me wrong I really enjoyed my time in this botanical garden. It has a beautiful tiny…read morelake with swans and some very nice trees and plants. It is all very tidy and if you are looking for some nature to get out of the city you will have a good time there. The educational aspects were at least for an Englisch speaking person pretty poor but I wasn't looking for that anyways. There were some school classes and even just married couples who took pictures there. It was a nice day trip but I won't go there again and I will not recommend any person who stays here just for a few time to go there. I prefer the macka park or the yildiz forrest. Entrance is 2TL and you are not allowed to take food inside. I took the metro from Taksim to the end (Hacıosman), after that 15 minutes by bus and another 5-10 minutes walk.

The entrance is meh, you've got to go deeper to get beyond the crowds. Be prepared for traffic…read morecoming into the forest. Especially on weekends. I only explored the entrance of the forest, which seemed to be overflowing with picnickers barbecuing their kebabs. I will go back and try to go deeper into the forest where there is less meat grilling. Also, I'll visit the dam and little lake / big pond a few kilometers in. If you bring a car and are not daunted by the traffic (which isn't so bad, I just don't like traffic) take the road to the left when it splits at the entrance of the park. Another option is to visit the Ataturk Aboretum. The is a small fee to enter, but no meat grilling and smoke