"Cultural crossroads
Vibrant Istanbul's three main areas embrace the ancient and the new.
The Blue Mosque, so called due to the color of the tiles that line the interior, and Hagia Sophia, a domed Byzantine church, are shown at sunset. -- Photo provided by Ministry of Culture & Tourism
If you go to Istanbul
Getting there: Turkish Airlines has a one-stop, roundtrip flight from Indianapolis to Istanbul for $716. Delta has a flight for $726.
Getting around: Once on the ground, stop at one of the ATM machines to get Turkish lira and hop in a taxi. Their metered rates are low by U.S. standards.
Where to stay: Virtually every major chain has a hotel in Istanbul, but the hotel with one of the best locations is the new Four Seasons. Located in a former prison with just 65 rooms, it's in the Sultanahmet district within easy walking distance of the must-see sites. Log on to www.fourseasons.com/istanbul/ for lodging information. Most of the city's luxury hotels, including the famous Pera Palace, are located in the Taksim district.
Turkish specialities -- A Turkish bath (hamam) is on the itinerary of most visitors to Istanbul. Turkish baths are open to men and women at different hours of the day, ranging from 5 a.m. to midnight (shorter hours for women). Cost for a bath and massage ranges from $15 to $25. A bath only is about $10. Each week there is a whirling dervish ceremony in Istanbul. The move includes rotating on the left foot by crossing over it with the right, so that the dervish reaches a spinning intensity.
Guides: The easiest way to see the sights is with an English-speaking guide. Try Credo Tours (www.credotours.com) or log on to www.plantours.com.for other choices.
Hours: Museums are generally open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 or 5:3"
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