Nice Old City area hotel where we could walk to the sites easily. The desk-staff was excellent. There are many hotels in the area, but I would chose the Seraglio because of the staff's attention to details. They helped us get to all the places we wanted to see with a very hospitable spirit.

The Topkapi Palace was my first experience seeing where a ruler and harem lived. The palace was over-the-top and I cannot imagine living surrounded with all of the luxury and riches of the ruler's day and I found it important to put it in a historical setting. I am not a big museum buff, but believe this is a must-do for the itinerary. It brings to life Ottoman rulers in a way nothing else on our trip made possible. Make sure and see the harem.

Massive. Full of history. Huge mosaics. Hidden treasures. All of these describe Hagia Sophia in some manner. Just when I thought that I had seen all that it had to offer, something else appeared to surprise me. I had done research to become familiar with the church, but nothing would have compared to having our own guide. Answering questions kept him busy! For those who love history and museums, Hagia Sophia will not disappoint. For the rest, it should be experienced once in your lifetime.

Hagia Irene's outside architecture is incredible. I have listed and recommended it here as it is very close to other sites and it is easy to walk past. I enjoyed seeing a church from this era.

I added Hos Seda to this site for those who might enjoy a little more action in their evenings. There was lots going on in the square so it was loud. It was fun to watch the people in the square while we ate. There are many restaurants there on the square from which to choose.

I enjoyed viewing the Blue Mosque from the outside after dark the best. Entering the Blue Mosque is a "must see" at least once. It was mainly a huge domed room with fantastic architecture.

My husband can't stop talking about the cistern. The cistern was his favorite site in Istanbul. As a carpenter, he marveled at the engineering and use of cast-off columns to make something not only quietly beautiful now but functional for its day. It is the experience of being in an ancient cistern which is important. While there, a person walks on raised platforms above the water, views the fish and columns, and soaks in the time spent. Read about the cistern before you enter and enjoy the moments of solitude.

We had our best dinner in Istanbul here at Tria's. The staff and waiters were exceptional and light-hearted. The table we sat at outside was great for watching people come and go, making us feel like we were part of a fine dining experience, and had a heater hidden underneath to keep us warm and comfortable.

The mosaics at the Chora Church are astounding. I have a new appreciation for the early eastern church. The artists designing and making them were exceptionally talented. My husband and I spent significant time identifying Biblical scenes depicted. Some were quite new to us!

It was wonderful to have an up-scale restaurant close to the Chora Church. Eating at the Asitane made the trip across the city doubly special. It all started with the wonderful bread and continued through scrumptious dessert. My husband and I were early, so we had most of the restaurant to ourselves. The staff and service went beyond excellent.

Spending time in Cagaloglu Hamam was one of my favorite memories of Turkey. Initially I went because it was Turkish and I was in Turkey. It would have been sad to have visited the country without experiencing a traditional hamam. Cagaloglu was a good choice. It was clean and architecturally beautiful inside. I decided that if I was going to have the experience, I would do it to the max and am glad I did. The masseurs were very professional and provided very competent service leading me through the haman process with care and laughter. They put me totally at ease. After I dressed, they invited me to have tea and refreshments with them. Ladies, try to put your modesty aside and enjoy this hamam.

We remember the restaurant as more of an attraction. From the terrace we could people watch and view the resident cat's antics. It liked the warmth too and moved over very reluctantly but hospitably when people entered. Food so-so.

Of all the places we have been in the world, the Sultanahmet District was the easiest to navigate. We stayed in a hotel in the district, of which there are many to choose, then just took off on foot to see the sites. There are places to see, places to eat, and a vacation's worth of shops to keep a person content. We never got lost once! Everyone seemed friendly, safe and hospitable. It was a truly enjoyable experience.

Cruising the Bosphorus Strait was a great way to see both shores of Istanbul and gave an overview of our trip to the city. I enjoyed people watching on the boat trip. Seeing the other vessels on the water was interesting, ranging from small fishing boats to huge cargo carriers. We got the extra surprise of seeing dolphins swimming in the Strait.