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        <title>Been there | Tips</title>
        
        <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/</link>
        
        <description>
            Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love,
            live in or have just visited - are what make this guide.
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                <title>The Grand Bazaar</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32820</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Dating back to 1461, the Grand Bazaar in Beyazit, Istanbul is the world's oldest shopping mall. Enter via one of the impressive stone archways and you are whisked back in time to a bustling street lined with sparkling gold and jewels. The choice is flabbergasting, whatever you desire you will find. Dive into one of the narrower alleys to search for scarves, cotton or wool? silk or cashmere? Ceramics, hand painted tiles and bowls from Iznik,  leather goods; bags to die for and jackets that can sometimes raise a smile with their Eastern appeal. Amber, coral or turquoise; necklaces or bracelets? Clothing; modern, or why not buy a fez and a belly dancing costume? Then there are the carpets! Hand knotted silk carpets at prices that once would have bought a starter home, woollen kilims of all sizes and designs. Watches, towels, embroidered items, beads, soap, sweets, toys, games, the shopping list is endless.<br>Let the traders entertain you with their banter. Barter to try and get the price down. Feeling weary? Try one of the cafes in the heart of the bazaar, for a snack or a perfect Turkish coffee. It is impossible to visit and not be stunned by the history, the colours and the life force of the Grand Bazaar ... and to leave without buying something perfect for you.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Basilica Cistern</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32433</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[My favourite subterranean attraction is not actually a cave, or a mine, but the Basilica Cistern, or Yerebatan Sarnici, which is the largest of the myriad of cisterns beneath the streets of Istanbul. This 6th century Byzantine underground chamber can hold 80,000 cubic metres of water, although nowadays visitors walk on a raised platform above the shallow water, and watch carp swimming languidly below. The ceiling is supported by hundreds of soaring marble columns nine metres high, two of which have huge Roman blocks with the carved head of Medusa at their base. Eerie and magical, the cistern feels like an underground cathedral.  <br>A great place to visit to escape the midday heat, and there's also a small cafe.]]></description>
                
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                <title>VIP Airport Transfers</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32114</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[I've used the service of this company for my transportation in Istanbul and all was arranged in a perfect way. <br><br><a target="_new" href="http://www.vipserairporttransfers.com/">www.vipserairporttransfers.com/</a>]]></description>
                
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                <title>Istanbul Transfer Tour Agency</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32008</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[I strongly recommend this firm.I traveled with them on last thursday and everything was as they promised.]]></description>
                
                <guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/32008</guid>
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                <title>Akbil</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31435</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Akbil is a prepaid travel token for use on buses, trams and ferries within Istanbul. An excellent idea if you plan to travel around the city. You can buy the Akbil at many places round the city and recharge it as necessary. It saves you having to keep on buying tickets or individual tokens to travel, and travel costs are slightly lower.<br>The best thing about Akbil is you can use one for the whole family/group. All you need do is bleep each person through the turnstile, or onto the bus.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Küçüksu Kasrı and Anadolu Hisarı</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31434</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[A hunting lodge built by Sultan AbdulMecid in the middle of the 19th century on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus close to the second bridge (Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge) and to the village of Anadolu Hisarı. It is Dolmabahce Palace in miniature. The guided tour is only in Turkish but there is often someone around who will translate for you. Open daily except Monday and Thursday, entrance is only 4TL. After your visit, turn left and walk the five mintues to see the ruined castle at Anadolu Hisari. There you can find several cafes on Kucuksu stream where you can have a meal and enjoy watching the fishermen and pleasure boaters pottering around.]]></description>
                
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                <title>SHORT Bosphorus cruise</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31433</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[If you don't have time for the full day Bosphorus cruise then IDO (Istanbul Deniz Otobus) also offer a two hour trips along one of the world's greatest waterways without the lengthy (nearly three hour) stop at the north end of the Bosphorus. It is also kinder on the pocket costing 10 TL instead of 25TL for the full day tour. See the beauty of the city for less money and less time!]]></description>
                
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                <title>Kadıköy</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31431</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Kadıköy is a bustling district on the Asian side of the city. There is a market and lots of small speciality shops, such as cheese, honey, herbal, gold, antiques and second hand books. This is the place to see the Istanbul of Istanbullus. After browsing for an hour or so sit down at one of the many small restaurants for some meze or fish. Try the "midye dolma", battered mussels. Çıya is a favourite restaurant of locals and visitors if you want to try unusual Turkish food. Keep an eye open for the fortune telling rabbits.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Sauda</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31422</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Sauda is a floating swimming pool in the middle of the Bosphorus lined with huge beds and including a host of bars and restaurants that provide essential sustenance to guests. It's unmissable for its unique location and innate sense of calm.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Çigdem Pastanesi</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31387</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Quite simply the best patisserie in the heart of old Istanbul. Eat your honey sweet Baklava while listening to the Blue Mosque's call to prayer. Or ask Çigdem's staff to wrap up your pastries so you can take them home for your friends.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Istanbul Airport Express</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31170</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[This is a great transfer service between Ataturk Airport and Istanbul city. You pay per journey. It is only 20 euros (or 45 TL) each journey- not per person. It is a private transfer in a comfortable people carrier and you pay the driver. This company can also arrange tours for you. I took the afternoon Bosphorus Tour for 30 euros and it was great. The mini bus collects you and returns you to your hotel. Again, no money up front- just pay the driver in cash or with credit card on the day.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Zoe Yacht cruise on the Bosphorus</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31114</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[We hired a wonderful boat called Zoe Yacht in Istanbul for a romantic cruise up the Bosphorus celebrating our wedding anniversary and are very thankful for finding it. While crowded mass tourist boats rushed by far from the shore, we enjoyed a really relaxing cruise right by the sites with the whole boat to ourselves with a great drinks service. We could have spent the whole day on Zoe! It was easy to organize and included pick up right at our place. The views of the Bosphorus are spectacular and you can also dine on board if you choose their dinner cruise. If you're looking for something special in Istanbul then this yacht is it. We hope to do it again with some friends soon.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Akdeniz Hatay Sofrasi</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30864</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[If you re looking for delicious and amazing cuisine, you ll be delighted to stop by here. Think about a whole chicken stuffed with rice, covered by salt and roasted in wood-fired oven for two hours, or baked hummus with excellent diced lamb. They have a wide range of menu, including great mezes, special kebabs(which are really hard to find anywhere else), so it is really hard to choose but I do loved all the things I ordered. I recommend you to try it if you ever visit Istanbul.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Ciya Sofrasi</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30642</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[This is a great restaurant on the Asia side of Istanbul. The servers are nice and the food is moderately priced. Hands down the best food I had in Turkey. When you've had too many donners go here for dinner. There is a nice market down the street too.]]></description>
                
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                <title>vipser airport transfers</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30034</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[It is a company that provides transportation between the airport and any hotel in Istanbul. I recommend it, because their service is very useful and highly professional. It can really help you enjoy your vacation more or focus on your business without thinking about transport.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Sultanahmet Fish House</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29646</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Me and my hubby went to this restaurant as recommended by our hotel staff. The food was excellent! We ordered fish soup, squid, and the oven-baked salt-covered fish. All of them tasted so delicious! The waiter also knew his food, and advised us on the menu. Transfer from hotel to the restaurant was also arranged for us. We got complementary rice pudding for our dessert and Turkish coffee too. We strongly recommend this place as a must visit seafood restaurant in Istanbul. Two thumbs up.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Egyptian Spice Bazaar</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29558</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Turkey has many beautiful historical sights and bazaars. The Egyptian Spice Bazaar is a colourful array of outlets which offer a variety of Turkish delights, Turkish tea, spices, scarves and much more. <br>It is really worth visiting this bazaar if you are looking for Turkish specialities and they even offer 'free taste before you buy' so you can eat an array of Turkish delights before you choose one you like. <br>The Egyptian bazaar is not as big as the grand bazaar which is also located nearby and has everything you can imagine. However the Egyptian spice bazaar really gives you a flavour of Turkey at its best.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Titanic City Hotel</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29557</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Titanic City is an excellent four-star rated hotel located in the centre of Istanbul in the popular city location of Taksim square. <br>The hotel is in an excellent location next to the array of shopping areas and in close vicinity to the historical sights of Istanbul.<br>The staff are friendly and hospitable and put us in touch with relevant sightseeing tours which allowed us to visit all the sights of Istanbul in only five days! It was well worth the money and we really enjoyed our stay.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Istanbul Modern</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29173</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[A short walk from the trendy neighbourhood of Cihangir and housed in a converted warehouse is the Istanbul Modern Art Museum. Maybe because of its manageable size or the fact it provides a welcome contrast to the city’s tourist-packed historical sites, the gallery is an engaging and enjoyable space filled with exhibits featuring both established and emerging Turkish artists. When you need a break from looking at art, try the view from the gallery café where you can sip apple tea and stare out onto the Bosphorous watching the boats and ferries glide by. Entry is free on Thursdays.]]></description>
                
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                <title>Istanbul Modern</title>
                
                <link>http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29156</link>
                
                <description><![CDATA[Istanbul’s equivalent to the Tate Modern is a stylish conversion of a warehouse right on the Bosphorus with stunning views across to the Old City and the Galata Bridge. The Gallery houses a vibrant permanent exhibition tracing the development of modern Turkish Art and also temporary exhibitions. Go early on a Thursday, when admission is free and check there are no cruise liners parked alongside, otherwise the view from the superb café-restaurant is completely ruined, unless you are in love with cruise liners!]]></description>
                
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