The city is huge – even the city centre is quite big and the architecture is quite grand making a city beautiful to look at. It has impressive constructions but it is not tourist friendly at all. Almost no signs in English or any other language. People are extremely unfriendly and nobody speaks in English even on touristic attractions. Be very well prepared to lead your own way.
Sight Seeing: there are a few places to go visit. I didn't have a chance to go in in most of them but I can give you an idea.

• Red Square: obviously a must. Very nice to sit at Bosco Cafe for a drink and people watching.
• Pokrovsky Cathedral: beautiful and unusual

• Gum: very fancy and beautiful shopping mall. Worth going for a stroll and an ice cream

• Tretyakov Gallery: supposed to be the best one if you are going to choose one to visit. It is mainly paintings of Russian artists. Here you will see the very famous painting of the forrest with bears by Shishkin.



• Bolshoi Theatre: you can't visit unless you have a ticket for a performance. Impressive building from the outside.



• Kremlin: worth having a look. Very impressive from the outside and it is supposed to be good inside. Make sure you know what you going to visit inside or get the audio guide.

Where to eat:

• Cafe Pushkin: super famous and busy. Needs a reservation. Very beautiful place with good food but quite expensive – £70 per person w no wine.
• Bosco Cafe: quite nice stroganoff and great setting on Red Square

Transport: very easy to get to town from airports. All have Aeroexpress trains. Metro is quite wide but all in Russian.

Returnability: zero. Not coming back. Gone, seen, done.

• Location: Istanbul is located on top of the Bosphoros which is the channel that connects the Europen side of Turkey and the Asian side. The historic city and the airport are both in the European side. To cross from one side to the other the best way is to use the boats in Eminonou station. The bridges are a nightmare
• Where to stay : I would say to stay in the historic city. There is a very easy tram system to take you around anywhere. We stayed at the Eresin Crown that was nice. Old style but with a lovely roof terrace.

• What to visit: There are a few tourist places that people can't miss such as Agia Sofia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazar and Spice Bazar. The last two are the typical Arabic Bazar but don't go expecting a Damascus. It is much smaller and with much less impressive things. I didn't have a chance but apparently the Palace is really nice as well.
• Agia Sophia

• Blue Mosque

• Where to eat:there are loads of lovely places around the historic centre. I recommend a couple of very fancy restaurants that were incredible because of the food and atmosphere. On the expensive side but really nice.
1. Reina: it is by the Bosphoros and it has different restaurants around a dance floor/ bar. The Turkish restaurant is very nice. Stay for a drink if you can.
2. Leby Deria: it is in Taksim which is a supposedly good area to visit but to me it was just a busy shopping street. Restaurant had amazing food and an incredible view.
• Highlight:I would say the historic centre.
• Good for: one weekend when you want a sight seeing city break with a lot of chaos
• Return ability:10%