Dublin Tips

My suggestions for Dublin are:
Temple Bar area for bars and restaurants
Guineas brewery. I know it sounds a bit tacky but the bar on the roof gives a great view of the city.
Trinity College and the book of Kells
National Museum next to the paliament (Díal Eíreann) and the library if there is an exhibition.
Jamesons Distillery

Istanbul Tips

There are basically three main central areas to Istanbul. Probably no need to go out of your way to see the mosques as you will come across one every 20 metres or so. Remember to wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off and dress modestly for going into anywhere religious.

Some research beforehand on the history of Istanbul would be very useful as it will help you understand the various purposes that a lot of the sites you will visit have had over the millennia, especially the move from Christianity to Islam.

1. Beyoglu
The more modern and shopping area of Istanbul. There are lots of places to eat all around here as well as bars and places to go out.

Things to see
• Galata Tower
• Istiklal Caddesi (The main shopping street)
• Dolmabahce Palace (I thought this was one of the best sites we visited.)
• Istanbul Modern (Contemporary Art Museum)

2. Sultanahmet
This is the Old city and is on the South Side of the Golden Horn. It is the centre of the historical area. There are lots of decent hotels and tourist eating places especially in the streets behind the Blue Mosque.

Things to see
• Haggia Sofia
• Blue Mosque
• Hippodrome
• Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
• Topkapi Palace (Several of the interesting exhibits are closed, but the religious artifacts and the Treasury are worth seeing, as is the Harem which requires a separate ticket.)
• Archaeological Museum
• Basilica Cistern
• Old Bazaar

3. Bazaar Quarter
As it says on the box, this is the area with all of the markets and local style shops

Things to See
• Grand Bazaar (Great to see as it is the biggest in the world but to actually buy things I suggest the Old Bazaar.)
• Suleymaniye Mosque (The interior is currently closed but it is nice to walk around it)
• Constantines Column
• Spice Bazaar
• Catch a ferry from Eminonu to Uskudur or Kadikoy on the Asian Side. Its on 1.50 TYL each way and takes 20 minutes.

General Tips
Use the trams around town or the metro. Buy tokens (jeton) at vending machine near the station for 1.50 TYL. You can catch a tram from outside the Grand Bazaar down to Sultanahmet then down the hill to Eminonu. Across the Galata Bridge and along the water to Kabatas. The Dolmabahce Palace is here and back at Kabatas you catch the furnicular back up the hill to Beyoglu. Walk down the hill again to the Galata Tower.

Try some of the snack food that is for sale from vendors and small shops. The various things can be very tasty and cheap. We had a hamburger that was on a steamed bun from the top of Istiklal Cd, lots of kebabs around the place and a tasty Chilli Chicken Sandwich in Galata.

Buy either of the DK guides- Top 10 Istanbul or Istanbul. They were both invaluable to us.

Iceland Tips

Of course Reykjavik has a great night life, but it does start late.

Suggestions of sites outside of the city for you to do are:
-The three must sees known as the Golden Triangle- Gullfoss, Geysir and Þingvellir. It will take a couple of hours and you'll need to book a tour or hire a car. Check it out on the web and perhaps organise before you go.
-The Blue Lagoon, which I am sure you have heard of. It is between Keflavik airport and Reykjavik, so depending on how long you are there for you may want to stop in there a couple of hours before you need to head to the airport.

In town:
-Cafe Paris is a nice stop to have a drink or a snack and check out the Icelandic city life. Austurstraeti 14
-Reykjavik Art Museum (Listasafn Reykjavikur) and National Gallery of Iceland (Listasafn Islands)
-Go to the market by the water. Try a few of the food things they have for sale there and perhaps the putrefied shark if you dare, but even the smell is know to make some people sick.


I would strongly suggest dropping into Hotel Borg (Austurvöllur Square, Reykjavík) for afternoon tea. Very stylish and very old fashioned and for many decades this was "the" place to be seen in Iceland. Even just go in for a nosey, it's worth it. I have many friends in and around Reykjavík so if you need/want a local guide just let me know! A hint though - if you are tempted to buy an Icelandic jumper, dont go for one of the tourist shops in the centre. Instead go to the Icelandic Womens Handknitting Cooperative on Skólavörðustígur (the street leading up to Hallgrimskirka).

Foodwise - you must try skyr (thick and uniquely Icelandic yoghurt). Minke whale, puffin etc are all good too but Icelandic lamb is fab. Most Reykjavíkúrs head out to the off license on Bankastræti and get tanked up before hitting the clubs. Sightseeing - you must do the Golden Circle as suggested by Mark - Þingvellír, Geysír and Gullfoss. Pre-booking on a tour is the easiest but if you hire a car, take road 435 past the geothermal power stations to Þingvellír. You will see a line of steam puffing out off the ground - this is the where Europe and N America are, thankfully, moving apart. Þingvellír itself sits right on the rift and, for mostly aesthetic reasons, this is where the Víkings chose to have their annual assembly - the world's first parliament. The Icelandic government still meet here on special occasions.