It’s fun to think of special ways to really connect with Back Door destinations we recommend in Europe. If you’re heading for these favorites, here are a few tips to do it right.
Istanbul — My favorite city in Europe for an extended visit (along with London, Paris, and Rome)
Every rush hour, the Bosphorus Strait is churning with more than a million Istanbul commuters riding the colorful and ramshackle ferries between Asia and Europe. Join them just to be part of the scene (and say you took an intercontinental cruise).
For a vivid slice-of-life experience, take a taxi to the Chora Church (and see its exquisite frescos). Then explore the Lonca, Balat, and Fener neighborhoods between there and the Golden Horn.
Stroll the length of Istiklal Caddesi to feel the pulse and energy of the city. At the fish market, sample every local’s favorite treat: kokorec (chopped-up sheep intestines, grilled and served with tomatoes, green peppers, and fresh herbs).
Bring a plastic baggie of show-and-tell items from your life from home (photos of your family, work, school, whatever). Share these with new friends in a neighborhood teahouse.
Prague — The best-preserved Baroque city in Central Europe
As you stroll across the Charles Bridge with all its lively crowds and entertainers, remember that it’s one of the most popular places in Europe for pickpockets.
To escape all the tourists, join romantics in a leisurely paddleboat ride among the swans in the Vltava River. Boats rent cheaply by the hour; look for them on the river island near the National Theater.
The Via Musica Box Office (under Tyn Church on the Old Town Square) is a handy place to get tickets to concerts. A clear schedule of all the events is posted on the wall next to photos of each plush venue.
A typical mug of Czech beer is 17 ounces and lands on your table like water in the US. When you’re done, another seems to appear until you say stop. Czechs don’t go from bar to bar like many other Europeans. They say, “In one night you must stay loyal to one woman and to one beer.”
Rome — The Eternal City can be both eternally challenging and eternally rewarding
Roman taxis are regulated. They can charge only the fixed €40 rate from the airport into the town center. But non-Roman cabs can charge €60. Upon arrival at the airport, be careful to hop into a city cab (look for “SPQR” on the door).
The little “Elettrico #116” bus winds silently through the narrow lanes of Rome’s medieval core from Campo de’ Fiori to the Pantheon and up to the Villa Borghese Gardens. While designed for local seniors who don’t walk well, they are great for simply joyriding.
To enjoy Rome with the help of Rick Steves’ Audio Tours, download the file to your iPod (or other MP3 player).
I love Istanbul. Some other second tier activities (Topkapi & Blue Mosque are clearly tops): ferry to the Princes’ Islands, hamam (I really liked http://www.cemberlitashamami.com.tr/html/en ) and the Archaeological Museum – I was blown away by the Alexander Sarcophagus on my last trip. Turkish Airlines is useful for getting to places further east (I flew to Batumi last time) and the JFK-IST flight had edible food and free alcohol.
Istanbul has been on my bucket list (before I knew it was a bucket list) since I was child and the city was known as Constantinople. The Bosporus has always been fascinating.
I like the Czech philosophy of one beer and one woman per night. Guess that means you can have a different beer and a different woman every 24 hours.
I didn’t care for Charles Bridge in Prague, too many people and venders. St. Vitus Cathedral is the best place to visit.
Istanbul is incredible; truly a global city. A week well spent. On the Bosporus cruise, I became aqaintanced with people from all over the globe. We ran into each other the next night on Istiklal Caddesi, and one of us amongst us, a New Zealander, had a friend from America living in Istanbul. We got with him, and he took us to taverns and dance clubs we couldn’t have ever discovered on our own. It was such an amazing night (and lots of stairs-climbing–apparently most clubs in Istanbul are on the top floor of buildings). The best places were the no-frills, unpretentious folk taverns (like Aran), shimmying against Bulgarian ladies to rustic Turkish music…
I was in Istanbul in October, it is amazing, and I would love to return. I’ll second Kathy on the recommendation for Cemberlitas. My friend and I met a local who told us that is the best hammam. It was great, but not for someone who is a prude. Rick is right about the Chora, if you miss it you will regret it. One thing to keep in mind about Istanbul is that there are virtually no street signs. I had to rely on my sense of direction and a good map to figure out where we were and where we needed to go. The good thing is that wherever you need to go you will likely find it eventually, and getting lost in Istanbul is fascinating as you will see a lot of interesting things. My friend and I took the tram to the closest stop near the Chora and walked along the Roman walls a bit, we then walked from the Chora to St. Stephen of the Bulgars, getting lost many times in the Fener neighborhood, where we had a great lunch and saw no tourists. Rome is another city where it’s fun to just walk to see where the streets lead. That’s my favorite part of travelling!