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LITTLE HAGIA SOPHIA APARTMENTS

WWW.LITTLEHAGIASOPHIAAPARTMENTS.COM

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About Us 3

The Apartments 4 - 6

Local Area 7 - 9

Transport 10 - 13

Transport from the Airport 14 - 16

Private Transfer 17

Museums & Mosques 18 - 19

We Recommend 20 - 23

Useful Apps 24

Extras 25

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As a family, we run a small apartment business located in the heart of Sultanahmet. Our

apartments are an ideal location for first time visitors with local attractions both historical

and modern in the surrounding area. The building has been in the family for over 70 years

and still is our much loved home. In 2013 we renovated the house to accommodate three

additional separate apartments for family guests and people wishing to explore Istanbul.

We still love meeting new guests and showing them what Istanbul has to offer.

To introduce you to our family, Sinan & Selma are originally from Istanbul and can offer a

lot of experience in guiding guests around the city. Laura is originally from the UK and with

an objective eye can tell you the places you must visit.

Whether you are looking for a quiet get away or a city break to explore Turkey’s

history - you will find something to suit you in the local area. There are many traditional

shops with a nice mixture of old and new. In the neighbourhood you will find a stone oven

bakery where the infamous Turkish Simit is produced, and our local Kebab restaurant

where homemade Turkish food is cooked on the traditional Turkish mangal. If you are

looking for a relaxing evening – especially in Summer – there are a number of local Café’s

serving freshly ground coffee, with a seasonal, locally sourced, food menu.

As hosts we enjoy sharing what Istanbul has to offer. There will be a few places of

recommendation in this guide book - however as with any big city - we are always

discovering more great places. If there is a new place which we discover we also share this

with you on our social media pages.

Feel free to take a look and click on the links below;

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Firstly, thank you for making a booking to stay at our apartments. We hope you will

enjoy your stay with us. We are not a hotel with a 24 hour reception, however we

are available if you wish to contact us. You can reach us on the following

emergency contact information;

Email: littlehagiasophiaapart@gmail.com

Sinan: + 90 (534) 014 91 78 (Turkish & English Speaker)

Selma: + 90 (537) 659 16 99 (Turkish & Elementary English Speaker)

Laura : + 90 (551) 447 48 81 (English Speaker)

WHERE ARE WE?

Our address is; Küçükayasofya Mahallesi Ödev Sokak No:10, Sultanahmet

Istanbul.

The apartments are located in Kadirga, Sultanahmet. On the same street as the Best

Western (Antea Palace) Hotel.

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THE ROOM We provide towels, bed sheets and toilet paper - if you need extra just let us know.

You will also find a fridge, kettle and hairdryer inside the apartment. We provide

some plates, drinking glasses and cutlery - again feel free to ask if you need more;

it’s not a problem.

The air-conditioning remote you will find on your bedside table. This works for all

the units in the apartment. It has a standard functionality but if you aren’t sure how

to use it, we can show you.

When leaving the apartment please make sure that the air-conditioning and

television is turned off. Every little helps!

CLEANING

You have exclusive use of your apartment, we will not enter your room without your

permission (unless this is to carry out essential maintenance). Unless requested;

your apartment will not be cleaned. If you require your apartment to be cleaned

simply let us know with 24 hours notice and we will organise this for you (except on

Sundays - sorry!). Cleaning fees are included in the rental price of the apartment.

WI-FI WI-FI information is provided on the notice board inside the apartments. Each

apartment has it’s own WIFI connection to make sure your internet speed is not

disturbed. If you are having trouble connecting please make sure you are using the

correct formatting when entering the password.

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THE KEYS

If you are staying in a larger apartment you may want an extra set of keys. Just let us

know when we check you in and we can give you an extra set.

When checking out, we will be available to get the keys from you. In the rare case

that we can’t be, please leave the keys on the table in your apartment, leave the

apartment door open, and please close the front door and garden gate.

Please, don’t leave the keys inside the lock and close the door. We will need to call

a locksmith to get back into the apartment!

SECURITY

Please make sure that all doors are closed and securely locked when leaving the

apartment. We ask that you do not leave personal items in the hallways or garden -

we cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage of your belongings.

There could some very curious cats that want to come inside the building - so we ask

to please keep the front door closed.

NOISE

We always ask that you consider other guests in the apartment and keep noise

levels down to a minimum. Also to note that we have an apartment on the ground

floor, as this is the case, as a rule we ask guests not make excess noise in the garden

past 10.00pm. Thank you for your co-operation.

FAQs

Can I drink the tap water? Yes, you can drink the tap water. However it may give you

an upset stomach if you are not used to it.

Why can’t we flush toilet paper? This is the “old city”, and the underground pipes

are older and smaller than usual, so it often causes blockages. You will see these

signs a lot throughout Istanbul!

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Around the apartment in (2 minute walk)

there is a shop called “Yavuz Selim Çerçeve”

it is filled with original Turkish artwork and

most importantly at a very good price.

This is a father & son framers who make

their frames in-house in the basement of

the shop. They also sell Turkish tiles, soaps,

and handmade jewellery. Artwork can be

brought framed or unframed if you need to

take it back in your luggage.

If you need help with translation just let us

know!

The Arch Bistro is a new renovation in

Sultanahmet. The building dates back to 361

-363 AD. They have restored the building

exposing the original brickwork and is now

the perfect place to enjoy a freshly ground

coffee. Breakfast is also served here, the

food menu is seasonal and is one of the few

places in Sultanahmet offering vegetarian

and vegan alternatives on the menu.

They also have a library of travel guide-

books so if you are still planning your trip

stop by and plan with free WIFI & a coffee.

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The local Simit bakery is down a small street

just after ‘Bim’ the supermarket. You will see

the street sellers offering Simit throughout

the day. But the best time to catch a fresh

Simit straight from the oven is early

morning.

You will get a chance to see it being

prepared and cooked in the original stone

oven and it’s also cheaper than buying it

from the normal distributors!

Pick up some cream cheese, or Nutella from

Bim and you are good to go!

Arasta Bazaar is a lesser known local market

adjacent to the Blue Mosque.

The prices, are generally more reasonable

than the Grand Bazaar, and it is a lot less

crowded.

There is a mixture of souvenirs, Turkish art,

local crafts and more. It is welcome to

bargain for a better price, if you are bulk

buying items, again feel free to ask for a

discount. Turkish lira will mostly be

accepted, some shops may accept dollars or

euros here.

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Delighturka, you will see their shop as your

walk to the Blue Mosque or the tram

station. Their Turkish delight is delicious and

fresh.

There are so many Turkish delight shops and

it can be difficult to know what is good and

what is bad. Don’t buy the delights from the

pre-packed boxes you can probably buy

these at home! You should try the fresh

ones, you can ask to try a little bit before

you buy it and you can create your own box

with a mixture of flavours you like.

The Reggae Café. You can’t miss it! We

highly recommend this place it’s 1 minute

away and their cocktails and shisha are great

- especially for the price!

Zeina, their local dog, is very friendly and is

even known to walk you home at the end of

the night.

They have seasonal offers, and have 2-for-1

cocktails most of the year. Food is served,

but it is not typical Turkish food, simply bar

food and snacks. Forewarning, credit cards

aren’t accepted here. You need to pay cash!

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TAXI

As you may already know, yellow taxi’s in Istanbul have quite a bad reputation.

Why? They often drive fast to try and combat Istanbul’s traffic, it is common to

overcharge their customers, they often don’t know their way around Istanbul

or take you a longer way to justify charging more.

Is it true? Unfortunately, yes. Not all taxi drivers; but it is a common problem.

One way to avoid being overcharged is you can ask for a receipt. You can also

try to agree a price before entering the taxi (however generally if the meter is

more or there is a lot of traffic they will charge the higher price). Please check

the meter in the taxi which shows you the cost of the journey, a common way

of overcharging is by changing the tariff and minimum cost of the journey, the

tariff should be ‘1’ (during the day time), and average minimum cost should be

no more than 3.50TL when entering in the taxi.

Each district will have it’s own taxi rank. The closest taxi rank to the apartments

is just behind Kadirga Park. Unfortunately - you cannot pre-book taxi’s in our

local area as there are numerous shuttles and private transfers available.

A guide to know how much an average taxi journey should cost is here; http://

www.numbeo.com/. You can enter your departure/destination and it will give

you an average guide price.

In the “extras” section in this guidebook there is also a similar website to give

you a second opinion if you aren’t sure.

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Tram Station Directions

Just remember left, right, left.

Exit the apartment turning left, then right onto Kaleci Sk. At the end of the street turn

left from Delighturka. As you are walking up the hill you will see Blue Mosque in front of

you.

Just walk across Sultanahmet square and you will see the tram line and station ahead.

TRAM & TRAIN LINES

The apartments are connected to the T1 tram line. You can interchange for

connections to the Airport, bus station and the F1 line into Taksim. The closest

stations to the apartments are Sultanahmet and Çemberlitaş. The tram line is about a

5-10 minute walk away (simplified map below). You can use an Istanbul Kart or

purchase yellow tokens to use the tram line from Sultanahmet these are 4TL per

token. One token can be used per use on the tram line. If you need to change lines

you will be charged twice and need two tokens.

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BUS

You cannot pay by cash on the bus routes, you need to use your IstanbulKart or Fare

Card. The buses tend to get quite crowded and tend to get stuck in Istanbul’s traffic;

especially in the morning and rush hour! The Big Bus Tour is not the best (and it is a

little expensive) - but if you are here for 2 days a 48 hour ticket maybe helpful as it

directly takes you to the attractions and Sultanahmet is the drop off/pick up point.

You can see the Big Bus Tour route here.

BUS ROUTES OUTSIDE OF ISTANBUL

For bus routes outside of Istanbul the main bus terminal (Büyük Otogar) this is in

Bayrampaşa/Esenler. (M1a train line). Here you can travel to Edirne, Ephesus,

Gallipoli or Cappadocia. Turkey's bus system has many companies and departures

daily that it's usually not necessary to buy your ticket too far in advance. For larger

cities and popular tourist destinations, it's often possible to just go to the bus

terminal on the day you want to travel, buy a ticket, and board the next bus. The

exception to this is during national and Islamic holidays, and special events, so we

would advise checking before you travel.

If you purchase a bus ticket in advance you can then go to the bus terminal in

advance and pick up your ticket. This way, you'll have a better chance of getting a

good seat for the long journey ahead. (Note that Istanbul has two other important

bus terminals: the Harem Otogar on the Asian side, and the Emniyet Garajı.)

FERRYBOAT

You can get ferryboats from Eminönü, Kabataş and Yenikapı Docks. Boats from

Kabatas will take you to the Asian continent and also the Princes Islands. Boats from

Eminönü generally operate the Istanbul Bosphorus tours. There are also some alter-

native timed connections to the Asian side.

Yenikapı Feribot Terminalı is a transport link for İDO car fast ferryboats to Yalova (for

İznik/Nicaea and Bursa), Bursa (Güzelyalı), and Bandırma.

Passenger-only İDO ferries serve other docks in Istanbul, for Bandırma, use Yenikapı.

Passenger-only İDO ferries to Bursa (Güzelyalı) please use Kabataş.)

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ISTANBUL KART

If you are staying in Istanbul for more than a couple of days we would advise you to

get an Istanbul Kart. The easiest way to get the Istanbul Kart is at major transit stops

such as the airport, Taksim, and Eminönü. You will need to pay a non-refundable

deposit and an initial top-up amount to buy the card. This card will give you a

discount on each trip making an average short journey 2.15TL and if used again

within the hour for short journeys you are only charged 1TL. You can use the Istanbul

Kart on the tram, train, bus and ferryboat connections. So it is a useful card to have!

To reload the card, you can either go to newsstands and small shops (look for the

phrase Akbil Dolum Noktası) which offer this service, use self-service special

purpose machines at major transit stations. The machines accept notes of 5, 10, 20,

and 50 TL and have instructions in multiple languages. You can use one Istanbulkart

to pay for several passengers. Place the card on the sensor, allow a passenger to go

through the turnstile, place the card on the sensor again, person goes through, etc.

Children 6 years and older must pay a travel fare.

You can also buy a Biletmatik Fare Card (Elektronikkart). This is a disposable travel

card which you can choose the number of journeys you may plan to take. But these

only have a very small saving of up to 0.50-1TL per trip. The names of these cards

are BIRGeç (1 trip), iKİGeç (2 trip), ÜÇGeç (3 trip), BEŞGeç, (5 trip), ONGeç (10 trip).

You can buy disposable fare cards from Biletmatik machines in the larger tram

stations.

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ATATURK AIRPORT

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

When coming from Ataturk Airport you can get public transport to the apartments

very easily. From the airport you can get the M1a line to Aksaray, then here you

change for the T1 tram line to Sultanahmet. (8TL per person with travel tokens).

TAXI

Ataturk Airport: 50-90TL depending on traffic. For advice on how to avoid taxi drivers

overcharging your journey; please check page 10.

COMMON SHUTTLE

The common shuttle services are a mini-bus which will take 15-20 people to/from

the airport. Average prices for Ataturk/Sultanahmet is €5-10 per person.

Depending if you are travelling in peak season this price could increase.

Please note: some people do not like this option as it can have no clear departure/

arrival time. Generally it leaves the airport when it is full of customers and it arrives

when it can depending on traffic. The bus may also have numerous stops along the

way to drop off/pick up other passengers so please allow enough travel time.

Booking common shuttles on your departure is much easier and more reliable than

on arrival.

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SABIHA GOKCEN AIRPORT

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Sabia Gokcen airport is more difficult to reach us as there is no direct route. You will

need to get a bus called “Havatas” first which will take you into Taksim (more

information and timetable here; http://www.havatas.com) this costs 14TL.

From Taksim you need to get the F1 line to Kabatas, and change there for the T1

tram line to Sultanahmet. (22TL per person with travel tokens and Havatas ticket).

There are two bus destinations, make sure you choose “Taksim” and wait for the last

stop.

TAXI

Sabiha Gokcen Airport: 140-180TL depending on traffic. For advice on how to avoid

taxi drivers overcharging your journey; please check page 10.

COMMON SHUTTLE

The common shuttle services are a mini-bus which will take 15-20 people to/from

the airport. Average prices for Sabiha Gokcen/Sultanahmet €10-15 per person.

Depending if you are travelling in peak season this price could increase.

Please note: some people do not like this option as it can have no clear departure/

arrival time. Generally it leaves the airport when it is full of customers and it arrives

when it can depending on traffic. The bus may also have numerous stops along the

way to drop off/pick up other passengers so please allow enough travel time.

If you are 1-2 passengers, it us unlikely for you to get a common shuttle from

Sabiha Gokcen airport they generally ask for a larger group or you will need to wait

quite a while for there to be other passengers wanting to go to Sultanahmet. There

is a shuttle information desk as you exit customs if you want to enquire on arrival.

Booking common shuttles on your departure is much easier and more reliable than

on arrival.

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COMMON SHUTTLE DEPARTURE TRANSFERS

The company we use for our private transfers does also offer a common shuttle

service to Sabiha Gokcen airport. We can help to book common shuttles for

your departure only.

Their departure timetable is a set timetable so may not suit everyone’s flight

time. We are one of the first pick up locations so your pick up time maybe 5-10

minutes before the stated departure time below.

Average travel time when using the shuttle service, (as advised by the shuttle

company) is; 2 hours for Sabiha Gokcen airport. Early morning transfers may

have a shorter travel time of 1 hour 40 minutes on average.

The shuttle will collect you directly from the apartment.

Price is per person (one-way): €12

Sabiha Gokcen Common Shuttle Departure Times (From Sultanahmet)

03:15am 05:45am 07:15am

08:45am 10:15am 12:15pm

15:15pm 19:45pm 22:15pm

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We use a local company who can arrange private airport transfers for our

guests. If you would like to book a private airport transfer or if you have any

questions please contact us. Prices for transfers are detailed below;

ARRIVAL TRANSFERS (ONE WAY)

ADDITIONAL DEPARTURE TRANSFERS (ONE WAY)

You must give us 48 hours notice if you would like to book an airport transfer as

we need to inform the company to check they have a driver available.

Please note: Any missed transfers are still charged in full by the company.

Please check carefully when at the airport and call us if you can’t find your

name before leaving the airport.

Number of Passengers Ataturk Airport Sabiha Gokcen Airport

1-2 €35 €60

3-4 €40 €70

5-6 €50 €80

Number of Passengers Ataturk Airport Sabiha Gokcen Airport

1-2 €30 €60

3-4 €35 €70

5-6 €45 €80

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MUSEUM CARD

A 5 day museum pass costs 85TL, and is valid for 120 hours (5 days) from the first museum visit.

The museum pass gives access to:

Hagia Sophia Museum

Topkapi Palace Museum and Harem Apartments

Istanbul Archaeological Museums

The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts

Museum for the History of Science and Technology in Islam

Istanbul Mosaic Museum

Hagia Irene Museum

Chora Museum

Rumeli Hisar Museum

Yildiz Palace Museum

Galata Mevlevi House Museum

Istanbul Fethiye Museum (Pammakaristos)

You can purchase the Museum Pass from the ticket gates at Topkapi Palace

Museum, Hagia Sophia Museum, Chora Museum, Istanbul Archaeological

Museums, http://www.muze.gov.tr and ticket machines across Istanbul. You can

find many in Sultanahmet Square.

There are other Museum Passes available for different locations throughout

Turkey. Visit the above website for more information.

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MOSQUE ETIQUETTE

Visiting a mosque should be on your Istanbul sightseeing list. Here is an

overview of general mosque etiquette.

1. Try not to enter during prayer time. Some mosques may deny entry to

tourists during prayer times. For a list of the local prayer times click here. Some

people might be praying outside the obligatory prayer times during your visit. It

is polite not to stare at, stand close or to walk in front of them.

2. Take off your shoes.

Some mosques provide plastic bags free of charge to prevent shoe mix-ups. You

put your shoes in the bag, carry them along and wear them again as you leave.

Not all the mosques have this service, so you might want to take some bags

with you if you feel uncomfortable leaving your shoes outside the mosque.

3. Cover bare body parts.

For tourist the rules are less strict, but when you plan a trip to a mosque try to

dress modestly. The hair of women as well as the shoulders and knees of both

genders should be covered. If this is not the case, some mosques provide

scarves and attires free of charge. But not all mosques have such a service, so

you may want to carry yours along to be on the safe side.

4. Try to keep quiet, and don’t forget to switch off your mobile phone.

5. You can take photos or videos inside the mosque. But be respectful - not all

visitors or people wishing to pray may want their photograph taken.

6. The entrance to mosques is free, donations are welcomed.

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Image above - “What is that?” you might

ask. We often get asked to recommend

traditional; if not obscure Turkish dishes.

This dish is called Şirdan, it is stuffed sheep

or cow innards. It might not sound or look

appetising but it is actually very delicious.

Inside is a mixture of rice, meat and

spices usually served topped with cumin and

chili pepper. If you would like to try, you can

find this in Taksim (only from street sellers)

and it is generally served after 10pm into

the early hours of the morning.

Sahi is a Turkish Delight Deli and café in

Karaköy. It makes hand made, Turkish

delights which can be custom made to your

preferred tastes.

Admittedly the delights are a little

expensive around 20TL for 250g but it is

worth it for a one off indulgence or

present for someone special.

The delights are made in front of you and

are hand rolled. We would recommend

cranberry, orange and cream.

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Not only in Summer, but all throughout the

year, the Princes’ Islands are great place to

explore.

Mostly people go here to swim, and admire

Istanbul’s beautiful landscape. You can get

the ferry from Kabatas to the islands, it

takes around 1 hour by boat.

There are no cars allowed on the islands so

horse and cart, or renting a bike is a popular

form of transport with visitors. Bikes can be

rented by the hour and it’s not too

expensive.

Istanbul is best viewed from its rooftops.

This one doesn’t disappoint. 360 East, is as

the name suggests a 360 rooftop restaurant

and bar.

It’s great for special occasions, and is located

in Kadikoy in the Asian continent.

If you plan to come here there is a dress

code, and you may need to book in advance

for evening dinner plans.

There is a great view, and it gives you an

excuse to explore the Asian side!

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Are you a fan of the TV series Breaking Bad?

Or are you just a fan of amazing Burgers?

Heisenberg in Karakoy is a Breaking Bad

themed burger bar which serves, one of the

most delicious burgers you will ever eat.

Their coffee is great, their food is great - we

can’t fault them!

The classic Heisenberg Burger is a huge

burger to say the least but when on holiday

and indulging, why not? Bon Appetite!

The spice market or Egyptian Bazaar, is one

that tends to get overlooked. You spend all

day walking around the Grand Bazaar and

then why bother with the spice market?

It has a lot to offer with lots of fresh, locally

sourced produce. Not just spices and herbs,

but different cheeses, fish, olives, fresh fruit

and vegetables, nuts and lots more.

Take a look and try something new. Pick up

something for breakfast to eat with the local

Simit.

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A little out of your way early in the morning,

but Limos Cafe in Besiktas is one of our

favourite breakfast spots.

Sharing is caring, and the Big Breakfast is

plenty for 3-4 people. You can always order

a few sides if you are still hungry.

You will find this place quite busy, especially

at the weekend, so you may need to wait a

little while for a table to be free.

It is worth it - don’t worry!

Fish restaurants located on the coast from

our apartments are quite expensive and

may not be the best quality if you don’t

know which restaurants to eat at!

We would advise visiting the fish

market at Galata Bridge (especially at night

when it’s all lit up), just stick to the menu

and don’t buy the fish from the trolley -

they are usually very expensive and are

charged per kilo which the waiters don’t

always make very clear!

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Issuu (Free)

This is a digital publishing platform. We use

this so guests can view our welcome guide.

If you download the app, you can save this

welcome guide to your ‘offline readlist’ and

you have access when you are around town

without internet. You never know when you

may need our telephone number or you

may need reminding what was the name of

that restaurant?

Click here for the App Store Link.

Transportist (Free)

This is a public transport app which is great

for helping you get around by bus or if you

aren’t sure about the train/tram lines.

There is a free version available which gives

you one travel route as apposed to the full

paid version which will show you all the

possible alternative routes. It works great,

its quite accurate in travel time estimations

too. Click here for the App Store Link.

Yandex (Free)

This is a navigation app. But the best thing

and the most important thing about this app

is it also tells you what the traffic is like.

If you have rented a car this is mostly an app

for you. But even if you are simply heading

in a taxi back to the airport - it will give you

an idea of your estimated time of arrival.

Istanbul’s traffic can be a nightmare at

times!

Click here for the App Store Link.

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USEFUL WEBSITES

Any mentioned websites are hyperlinked throughout this guidebook. A few

more you may use are;

Average Taxi Fare Calculator - http://taksiyle.com

IDO Ferry - http://www.ido.com.tr

Timeout Istanbul - http://www.timeoutistanbul.com

The Guide Istanbul - http://www.theguideistanbul.com

Weather Forecast - http://www.accuweather.com

USEFUL PHRASES

Hello - Merhaba (mehr hah bah)

Goodbye - Güle güle (guele guile)

Thank you - Teşekkür ederim (teh-sheh-kewr-lehr)

Yes - Evet (eh-vet)

No - hayır (hah-yuhr)

Too expensive - çok pahalı (chok pahali)

I don’t understand - Anlamadim (An la ma duhm)

I’m a vegetarian - Ben vejeteryanım

I only eat kosher food - Yalnızca Koşer yemek yerim

I don’t eat beef - Sığır eti yemem

May I have a glass of water? - Bir bardak su alabilir miyim?

Do you accept credit cards? - Kredi Kartı geçerli mi?

The bill/check please - Hesap Lütfen

Where can I exchange money? - Dövizimi nerede bozdurabilirim?

What is the exchange rate? - Döviz kuru nedir?

Where is….? - nerede

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