Kalkan Turkey Forum - EnjoyKalkan.com
Travel and Accommodation => Flights and Travel => Topic started by: Adidasfish on August 22, 2009, 06:48:27 PM
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We have 5 or 6 hours to kill between flights on 18 September - we're arriving Istanbul at 17:30 and our Dalaman flight doesn't depart until 23:55.
We're hoping that, come the date, we may be able to get on an earlier flight (they're all full at the moment) and get to Kalkan at a reasonable hour.
But if not, can anyone recommend a decent restaurant near to the airport we could visit to kill a bit of time? (It's either that or spending the whole 5 hours drinking overpriced Efes in the 'North Star' pub in the domestic airport) ::).
Any suggestions of how to pass the time between flights will be welcomed!
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Normally as 'in transit' passengers you are not meant to leave the airport. Having said that I have taken the Havas bus into Taksim where there are numerous restaurants.
From memory the journey took 20-30 mins & cost in 10tl one way.
See this link for more details http://www.havas.com.tr/en/otobus_istanbul_ahl.asp
You can also get the metro from the airport http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/Maps/ist_metro_map.html
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At peak rush hour time on the end of Ramazan/start of Seker Bayram holiday weekend, you might be taking a big risk trying to go anywhere too far from the airport area. I've known the non-rush hour 30-40 minute journey turn into 2 hours of interminable traffic jam, so do keep that in mind.
But if you are looking for a really good restaurant near the airport, try Beyti at Orman Caddesi 8, Florya. (http://www.beyti.com.tr/). It's where the Istanbullu choose to go themselves and it's about 10-15 mins from the airport. Well known to taxi drivers and probably about a 10-15 lira ride away. Not cheap, but excellent traditional Istanbul cuisine and frequently written up in travelogues. We've eaten there many times and always had a meal to remember.
Lantana
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Many thanks for the suggestions Mercimek / Lantana.
As Lantana mentions, it's rush hour and the start of Seker Bayram holiday - which is exactly why I didn't fancy our chances trying to get into the centre of Istanbul and back. I am guessing public transport to and from the airport will be very crowded too with a lot of people on the move for the holidays.
Will have a look at the Beyti website - sounds like it could be an excellent start to the holidays! Thanks again.