Always impressed with how traveled people on CP are. Anyone spent time in Istanbul?

[|Zach|]

Meant “well traveled” in the title…

Targeting next fall to visit Turkey for a few weeks and explore Istanbul. Surprised at the affordability of flights to get out there through Delta.

Any recommendations?

[jerryaldini]

Hang out with the Sufis and learn to dance

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Peter Gibbons

I spent a week there a while ago for business. Crossed from Europe to Asia and then back daily although I never realized it. I expected the big black line to be more noticeable when you are that close to it.

I would have expected the suits of armor to be different on each side. And maybe the swords and crossbows, too. But I haven't been there so that's just based on my perception of the place from movies.

[GloucesterChief]

Originally Posted by DaFace

It's still a year away, so we haven't done much planning aside from buying a flight. We'll be there maybe 10ish days, so if you have recommendations, I'd love to hear them. In general, I'm thinking we'll spend a few days in Tokyo and then get out for a bit, but it's all flexible.

For Tokyo:

Senso-ji and the market outside it is my favorite part of Tokyo. The temple is beautiful and the market surrounding it is full of traditional Japanese street food and snack stalls. The Sumida river is very close if you need some down time.

Shopping in Tokyo depends on what you are looking for. Shibuya is the general shopping district with Tower Records being a highlight for me. Ginza is the high class shopping district. Akihabara is nerd central with anime, maid cafes, and video game stores surrounding being the majority of shopping. Harajuku is the fashion capital and changes constantly. Takeshita street is perhaps the most touristy part of Tokyo though.

The Tokyo National Museum is fairly big and gives a pretty good overview of Japanese history in its main building. One ticket gets you access to everything but the rotating special exhibition. The Tokyo-Edo museum focuses more on the city itself but is also large with a whole recreated Kabuki theater in it with performances I believe. Near it is the Hokusai museum if you like ukiyo-e, it contains a lot of original prints.

Nightlife is scattered throughout Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro with Kabukicho being the seedy part, it also has Godzilla st leading up to Toho Theater though. Golden Gai is historic district of small dive bars but I found it overpriced and touristy.

Outside of Tokyo some of my favorite places are Dontonbori and Shin Sai Bashi Suji in Osaka, Nijo-jo and The Philosopher's Path in Kyoto, and Himeji Castle in Himeji.

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

I have not actually seen a game at Azteca but have toured the stadium no games were happening when I was in Mexico City.

I did however go and see Sporting Kansas City play in CONCACAF Champions League in Toluca a Liga MX side about an hour and a half to the east. Was a real unique stadium.

There was the standard security it was a funny scene there were like...I dunno 4 Kansas City fans for a game that far away but a whole crew of security guards. lol

Best live sporting event I have been too was Fiorentina v Empoli in Florence, crazy stuff

[bdj23]

Originally Posted by Monticore

Best live sporting event I have been too was Fiorentina v Empoli in Florence, crazy stuff

Wife and i almost went to a WC qualifier in Zagreb, Croatia vs Kosovo. But it was like a 5 hour bus ride from where we were staying and it ended up canceled due to lightning.

[Al Czervik]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

Meant “well traveled” in the title…

Targeting next fall to visit Turkey for a few weeks and explore Istanbul. Surprised at the affordability of flights to get out there through Delta.

Any recommendations?

via GIPHY

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by Monticore

Best live sporting event I have been too was Fiorentina v Empoli in Florence, crazy stuff

I really enjoyed the Bundesliga match I saw in Dortmund. Seeing those teams would be great. I am going to catch one hopefully two of the big three clubs while in Istanbul.

[L.A. Chieffan]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

Budapest kicks ass

Confirmed

[Stewie]

I always look for deals regarding travel. This KC to Istanbul trip can be done on the cheap if traveling in September. You can book $939 round trip. That flight is a hassle. For $200 more you can fly to Istanbul (weekday) with one stop at JFK with a short layover there and back. That's a hell of a deal.

[Chieftain]

Istanbul is a nice city but the food there sucks. Turks don't know how to cook.

[Donger]

Went to Constantinople back in the day.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by Stewie

I always look for deals regarding travel. This KC to Istanbul trip can be done on the cheap if traveling in September. You can book $939 round trip. That flight is a hassle. For $200 more you can fly to Istanbul (weekday) with one stop at JFK with a short layover there and back. That's a hell of a deal.

I had October in mind but September is on the table as well I would like to do it in the fall. I was a lil backwards in how I was searching just assuming my preferred airline Delta did not have a great path to get to IST I was focused on getting to ATL or ORD and then getting a Turkish Airlines flight direct only to realize Delta does have a pretty nice path from MCI to IST and at a great price compared to other stuff. I will keep monitoring the prices though you never know how that shit will change.

[|Zach|]

Originally Posted by Al Czervik

via GIPHY

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by GloucesterChief

For Tokyo:

Senso-ji and the market outside it is my favorite part of Tokyo. The temple is beautiful and the market surrounding it is full of traditional Japanese street food and snack stalls. The Sumida river is very close if you need some down time.

Shopping in Tokyo depends on what you are looking for. Shibuya is the general shopping district with Tower Records being a highlight for me. Ginza is the high class shopping district. Akihabara is nerd central with anime, maid cafes, and video game stores surrounding being the majority of shopping. Harajuku is the fashion capital and changes constantly. Takeshita street is perhaps the most touristy part of Tokyo though.

The Tokyo National Museum is fairly big and gives a pretty good overview of Japanese history in its main building. One ticket gets you access to everything but the rotating special exhibition. The Tokyo-Edo museum focuses more on the city itself but is also large with a whole recreated Kabuki theater in it with performances I believe. Near it is the Hokusai museum if you like ukiyo-e, it contains a lot of original prints.

Nightlife is scattered throughout Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro with Kabukicho being the seedy part, it also has Godzilla st leading up to Toho Theater though. Golden Gai is historic district of small dive bars but I found it overpriced and touristy.

Outside of Tokyo some of my favorite places are Dontonbori and Shin Sai Bashi Suji in Osaka, Nijo-jo and The Philosopher's Path in Kyoto, and Himeji Castle in Himeji.

Nice, thanks! I appreciate the suggestions!

[Monticore]

Originally Posted by |Zach|

I really enjoyed the Bundesliga match I saw in Dortmund. Seeing those teams would be great. I am going to catch one hopefully two of the big three clubs while in Istanbul.

I’m in Munich early Oct just miss out on Bayern homes games .