A private boat, provided by the venue, leaves from Bostanci Harbour to the island each day at 550 pm. Don’t miss it! You cannot reach the island by public ferry. If you do miss it, call us!
Google Maps works quite well.
There is a network of subways, buses and ferries that make getting around quite easy.
Getting in and out of public transport requires a transit pass, you can find them at stations. They are called Istanbulkart
Taxis work but can get stuck in crazy traffic. Bitaksi is a taxi app that works well.
Istanbul is split across two continents by the Bosphorus Strait. The European side and the Anatolian (Asian) side. The Anatolian side has a reputation for being more liberal and less touristy (and is where Yuva grew up).
Half the wedding weekend will be on the European side, the wedding itself will be on the Anatolian side.
There are many more hotels & airbnbs on the European side, but some accommodations may feel both more touristy and more conservative. David stayed on both sides and enjoyed them both.
(To David) The magic of staying in Moda (on the Anatolian side) is that you are in an ancient neighborhood, vibrating with life, and overlooking the beauty of historic imperial Istanbul on the other side. Also, it will be easier to get home from the wedding.
The European side is more convenient to many of the (truly worthwhile!) sights in Istanbul, like Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, and the Ottoman palaces - The Topkapi Palace and Dolmabahçe Palace.
Staying on the European side is fine - be prepared on the wedding day to leave two hours before the ferry to make sure you don’t miss the boat!
Going back and forth between the two sides can be done by ferry (magical), subway (new and shiny), or taxi (ugh)!
If you stay on the European side, be prepared on the night of the wedding to take a late night taxi home. The app Bitaksi is your friend.
Wyndham Grand Istanbul Kalamis Marina Hotel
Hotel Suadiye is on the Anatolian side, closer to Bostancı harbor, and right on the coastline—within walking distance to Bağdat Caddesi (Cadde) a vibrant shopping, restaurant scene I love to spend time. If you’re looking for a stay in this area, they are offering a special rate for our guests.
📌 Reservation Details: info@hotelsuadiye.com
💰 Special Rate: Kara (City) View Room: €150 (Single or Double) – includes breakfast & VAT
If you’re interested, you can reach out to them directly via email to book, giving our names.
We will try to get some group rates for these hotels in the coming days:
We generally recommend this area of the European side as lively, tourist-friendly but not too touristy, convenient, clean, etc. Other hotels and airbnbs around here should be good too.
Take a look at the Food and Tourism page for recommendations.