Finding perfect reading solace in Sultanahmet Istanbul
In Sultanahmet, one can find several locations including shops and cafes storing a very good collection of English books. Not just shops, one can also enjoy reading even in numerous hotels and hostels as they too, maintain at least one small shelf for catering to their reading milieu.
Book Shops or (turkish Sahaflar)
No wonder, it is quite normal to see many tourists in Sultanahmet enjoy reading their favorite books while sipping hot coffee or tea in those leisure moments. The variety of books available for reading is not the usual tourist guides for the new visitors to this city of Turkey. In fact, the books are available in different fields of study, be it literature, history and so on. The list seems to be endless and certainly mind blowing.
Another good thing about the books available in Sultanahmet is that a large number of books are in English language. That’s something interesting and inviting for the visitors from English speaking countries. Istanbul has many bookshops and bookstores selling English-language books, with many of them being about culture, art and history. The covers of the books are elegant and glossy likely to catch the fancy of any passerby potential buyer. And many of these books demand long hours of serious reading. The books, whether non-fiction or fiction, are all priced at quite affordable rates. So, none of the British or even the American tourists will miss to grab a copy or two for them.
The city of Istanbul has also several of the popular literary and classic works on sale and also with Turkish translations. So, it is quite common to find many Turks holding Tolstoy in their hand or even the mysteries of the mysterious Agatha Christie.
Several hostels and hotels prefer to keep a shelf booked for the books of various varieties, probably those enjoying a wide readership among the hotel guests from various corners of the world. Among the books in the hotels include the ones left by the tourists most of which are often gothic thrillers or romances. These books are good enough to provide entertainment to any causal reader relaxing on a hotel terrace or even during a long journey on a plane back home.
Sahaflar Carsisi- The Old Book Bazaar-----
As you walk along the west side of the main street of the famous Grand Bazaar, you will come across a series of stalls and shops selling new as well as old books in different languages. Many of them have books in English language and can be bought after a bit of bargaining with the shopkeepers.
Sahhaf (Book Shop) ---
While talking about some of the good shops for getting books, there is one named Sahhaf. It is just about a block away from the famous Divanyolu Cad, just next to DoRemi, a store selling musical instruments. Here, one can find several English books in the shops apart from the books in other languages including French, Spanish, German and Arabic to cater to a wide variety of tourists from the world over.
Konya Pension Bookstore---
This bookstore is located at Akbiyik Cad., Terbiyik Sok., No. 15. As you walk down the stairs from the famous Konya Pension on the noisy backpacker’s street, you will be amazed and delighted by the huge variety of volumes of English-language books, about 4,000 in numbers. To help the visitors decide about which books suit their pocket, a list mentioning the price of various books is displayed on the wall. The books are arranged according to different categories. For example, you can find travel books, best sellers, novels, fiction, non-fiction aptly displayed in different sections for the convenience of the visitors. And the novels have been displayed in shelves in an alphabetical order by the author. You can reach here either through the gift shop upstairs or through the outdoor stairs.
Java Studio---
Java Studio is one of the best known places for browsing books of splendid variety. Located at Cankurtaran Mah., Dalbasti Sok., No. 13. Near the Arasta Bazaar and the Blue Mosque, just across the small street from the Hotel Blue House. This bookstore, in its tastefully furnished lounge, stores and displays exquisitely wide variety of used books and even some books offered at a bargain of two for one. Sounds interesting, isn’t it?
Book exchange in Istanbul---
In Istanbul, the Istanbul Book Exchange has been established only recently by a small group of expats having interest in literature. It involves a monthly meeting of people having keen interest in literature or reading. As compared to a book club where a member has to devote his time in studying a specified book or books on a chosen subject so as to discuss related aspects with the members in the meeting, the book exchange’s sole aim is to talk and do business of books. It does not involve any fees or charges nor is there any pre-established rule for exchange. So, whether you have many books or even no book at all, with book exchange, you can always take at least one book or even two books. However, it is good if you bring something (of course, a book) along with you.
The meeting of Istanbul Book Exchange is held on the third Sunday of every month at the fixed time of 1’o clock. The venue of this meet is fixed to be the FPPP (Kucuk Aya Sofya Cad., No. 39A, just two blocks towards south of the famous Arasta Bazaar, Sultanahmet). The café usually remains closed on the afternoons of Sundays; however, the chef does offer a small menu for those members of this book exchange who want to have lunch. If you, too, want to share your interests and ideas with the like minded literary minds of this book exchange, you are welcome to join this group. Just email your details at the address--- expatturk@gmail.com.
How can one forget to mention a quotation by a renowned writer, Emily Dickenson, who once said that books are a convenient way to take us back to our homes even though for a matter of few hours only.
What makes Sultanahmet a favorite place for Tourists
Istanbul’s most ancient houses, famous sights and cheap accommodation are located in close vicinity in the Sultanahmet district. The best thing about Sultanahmet is that it can be visited and explored by any visitor without any need of hiring a public transport or taxi.
Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia in Sultanahmet Istanbul Turkey
Its location makes it quite easy to reach. Being located on the European side along the Sea of Marmara on the South, it has all the necessary features of being the most sought-after place. Some of these features include affordable hotels and famous historical monuments located in its map. Moreover, it is also the beginning point for all the boat excursions.
As you enter the main street of Sultanahmet, namely Divan Yolu, you will be greeted by the majestic beauty of huge six minarets of the Blue Mosque. And just on the opposite side is the rival monument of the Blue Mosque. You guessed it right; it is the famous Hagia Sophia. Walk another mile and you will be left spellbound by the enchanting picturesque beauty of the Topkapi Palace.
After enjoying the nature at its best, you now come face to face with some of the most ancient wooden houses of Istanbul which are being reconstructed and restored for making hotels and big restaurants.
After walking for another 15 minutes or so, you will reach the main street that leads to the Grand Bazaar. The good thing about Sultanahmet is that even if you are first time visitor, you won’t have any difficulty in reaching any of the famous places here because the landmarks are displayed in a perfect manner so that any one can follow these without getting lost.
Talking about where to stay while in Sultanahmet and where to eat, we would like to inform you that there are a number of affordable and quality hotels, cafes and restaurants along the Divan Yolu and around. From very costly hotels to affordable ones, you can choose according to your budget. Once you select any place, you will be happy with the excellent service and quality food apart from the views from your hotel room.
In Divan Yolu, you will notice a famous bookshop named ‘Bookshop’. It has some of the best and widest collection of books in several languages on subjects from literature, cookery, art to travel guides and what not.
Walk a few steps and you will come across another shop that sells reproduced miniatures, maps as well as illustrations of books.
A factor which makes Sultanahmet a favored destination of many visitors is that almost all the places can be easily reached on foot. However, one may hire trolley cars or taxis to for sightseeing. Moreover, you may hire boats on rent at Kenedy Caddesi to explore far away places including Beyoglu and Besiktas.
So, there is no denying the fact that easy accessibility, affordable stay, numerous historical monuments and Turkish delights make Sultanahmet a best place to be visited and stayed by any visitor.
Sultanahmet – The Ultimate Tourist Destination
Sultanahmet is regarded as a favorite tourist destination in the world. This famous district of Istanbul has renowned sight-seeing places, cheap accommodation and ancient houses in its vicinity. Istanbul is, no doubt, quite a big city, and a favorite place which any visitor cannot afford to miss is Sultanahmet because one can go on sight seeing without any need of any means of transportation, whatsoever.
One of its prominent and distinguishing features that make it the favorite destination is its location which makes it quite easily accessible from the airport. Moreover, apart from its easy accessibility, some of the other factors that increase its credibility as a most sought after place are its historical places and monuments and affordable accommodation with all the facilities. Moreover, it’s the beginning point for various boat excursions.
There are a number of attractions for a first time visitor to Sultanahmet. So, he feels confused where to begin from. On one side is the magnificent Hagia Sophia that invites every visitor to stop by while on the other side, there is the Blue Mosque that looks dazzling with its six minarets. Walk just a mile or so and you will find the museum of the Topkapi Palace among several other buildings asking you to have a look into what lies inside.
Walking towards the sea, you will come across some of the most ancient wooden houses of Istanbul while you may still be feeling mesmerized by the uniqueness of ancient Hagia Sophia. You will witness some of the old houses being restructured into big hotels and eating places.
The best thing about Sultanahmet is that it is very easy to locate any particular place or site because there are clearly visible landmarks at various places. Moreover, the road signs are also displayed on the rails of the streetcars in Sultanahmet.
The district of Sultanahmet houses a plethora of cafes, hotels and restaurants that can be found along the Divan Yolu and many of the side streets. The variety of mouth watering dishes is simply amazing and inviting to resist. The accommodation in the hotels is quite affordable and the hotels offer best views from their rooms.
A great attraction of Divan Yolu is a shop that sells books and is aptly named “Bookshop”. The shop has some of the greatest selection of various books on Turkey ranging from cookery, history, art to travel guides. There is another shop that sells various miniatures as well as book illustrations.
One can go on sight seeing walking. However, transportation in Sultanahmet is also available easily like taxis and the trolley cars. You can also take a trolley car for going to Cihangir or you can enjoy a boat ride at Kenedy Caddesi and have a gala time.
So, now you have various reasons for visiting and staying in Sultanahmet where you can enjoy sumptuous good food, enjoy various sights and relax in the comfort of cozy and affordable hotels. That’s why it’s a favorite destination of many tourists.
Hagia Sophia in Sultanahmet
