Istambul

Considered the heart of Turkey, with a population of 14 million people, the ancient Byzantium and later Constantinople lives between the continents of Europe and Asia. Located in the famous Golden Horn, Istanbul is one of the most populated cities in Europe. Muslim religion is predominating in Istambul, but we can see in every corner of the city an increasing European influence (for example European stores like Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren...). It is impossible to see the whole Istambul in a day, even in a week! Therefore I recommend to choose this port of call if you spend one whole day there.

Istambul and the Bosphorus

No matter how many times you've been here, Istanbul is one of those ports of calls where you have to go out of the ship. The Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace or Santa Sophia are just a small sample of what such a city has to offer. The official currency is the Turkish lira. The most shops will accept US dollars and Euros, but you will get the change in their own currency. It is recommended not to give the money away until you've been given the change, because if not, you can see the seller turn around and "fly away"

OFFICIAL EXCURSIONS: If you are in Istanbul for the first time is highly recommended to take an excursion offered by the company for many reasons: the monuments are scattered, they are not close to the cruise terminal, you will not have to queue at the monuments to enter... They usually include a carpet demonstration. Such visits where lots of people are trying to sell you something are typical in Istanbul, Izmir or Kusadasi. You have a chance to avoid it without missing the group, because the store is usually near the Grand Bazaar and this stop is usually done before visiting the Bazaar.

THE BLUE MOSQUE

CLOTHING: For some places you should go with the shoulders covered and skirts / pants below the knee. It is also recommended to go with socks and a bag to carry your shoes while visiting some monuments (some companies give some bags to the passengers)

ALTERNATIVES: The exit of the port will be filled with taxis that can make you a guided tour of the city, or even guide you in the Grand Bazaar. You have to negotiate the price and pay after finishing the excursion. Driving in such cities is a bit chaotic and taxi drivers are crazy. If you have already visited Istanbul you can can replace the visit to the Grand Bazaar with a visit to the Spices Bazaar or take a boat and sail the Bosphorus.

SHOPPING: The Grand Bazaar is huge. The covered part is closed on Sunday but the exterior will be open. The merchants are friendly and experts in selling almost everything. They speak virtually every language and it is normal to bargain with them. They'll always say that you are the first  customer of the day, and therefore they are lowering prices. You have to remember the door where you entered the Bazaar, and not to going too away from the main Bazaar street. The little streets of the Bazaar look very similar, and the Bazaar itself has many exit doors. You can use the visit to the Grand Bazaar to eat a Kebab (very spicy) or a lamb with rice.

GRAND BAZAAR