Hello there,

i searched quite a time here, and now I ask this question again

Tomorrow we (one bikerboy, one bikerlady) plan to drive from Svilengrad (Bulgaria) to Istanbul. Therefore we think about taking a campsite or a Hostel (dormbeds as we want to stay cheap). We dont care if the hostel is a little outside the maincity.

So the question is, is it safe to park in front of the hostels. Or do you know one where we can park more behind the hostel?
Or maybe someone can recommend a campsite with near train- or bus station?
On the Internet we just found three campsites near the town, which ones are hard to find on our navigation-system

And another question: do someone did the same route and can tell how much the toll was? the roadtoll?

If I have overseen good and actual information about that theme please excuse. I would be very thankful for some help

By the way: we do have a little travelblog : tuckr-tuckr.blogspot.com

If you want to stay in the heart of Istanbul it is possible to find safe parking. I letft my bike chained to a window grill for a week in a busy street and it was fine.
Get your sticker (vignette) first before toll coming into Istanbul. I rode through it and nothing happened, I accidently entered motorway en route to Bulgaria and was charged 40Lira I think to get out.
PM me for details
Tom

contact Mehmet and the Instanbul Motorcyclit Klub https://www.facebook.com/mehmet.avar.12?fref=ts

best source of info about biking issues and places in Turkey!

__________________
https://fernsforays.wordpress.com/

Its very hard to recommend someone,some place at my age as long as all is not under your control...I feel as if it is a responsibility when something goes wrong..So some tips first then links recommended by bikers I ve met here...

Most bikers stay at cheap hostels while they have to be close to consulates for visa purposes.(except,tajikistan,turkmenistan and kazakistan--these are around Yeşilköy Atatürk Airport)

Sultanahmet area is touristic İstanbul and very expensive.. Sirkeci,kumkapı,cankurtaran are the parts of real istanbul close to Sultanahmet.
(about 500-700 mt.uphill walking distance)

Traffic always problem inside the city so best way to get there is to take the seaside road (Kennedy Rd)via connections from E-5 before or after the airport and follow aksaray,eminönü road signs and lines and take the sultanahmet turn at Cankurtaran..

Best places for meals (price and quality)are local doner buffets around (not inside) spice bazaar.Ones next to Big Postoffice(Büyük Postane) on the way to spice bazar recommended..

Opposite of St.Sophia, there is a place with metal bars under a tree where you can park and lock your bike..(sure without panniers and valuables on even is most crowded place 24/7)

Next to the hamam on the left corner of the park while walking from St.Sophıa to Blue Mosque,there is a private parking area 24/7 with guards.

In front of Blue mosque, there are many wooden sofas to sit and watch the laser and sound show every night and many tourists spend the night there free..

Ramadan here and some government organisations available at Sultanahmet and Beyazıt squares for dining and amusement..Meals given at 8,45 pm. everyday under huge mayor tents or tabled areas are free.Sure very hard to find a seat in crowded places.

Here are links to 2 of the hostels which are only for foreigners and have also dormitories....They generally find local solutions to parking problems..This week, will be at the city center and will search for the ones with parking availabilities..

Rooms - istanbul Harmony Hostel
istanbul piya hostel, sultanahmet, istanbul cheap and budget hostels, istanbul rental apart rooms

All the best...

__________________
Mehmet Zeki Avar
''Borderlines divide countries,HU friendship finds a way to reunited"
https://www.facebook.com/mehmet.avar.12?ref=tn_tnmn

The hotel advice is very common for Istanbul. There are many hotels in a city of 15 million people.
Problem is, the hotels we use for business do not work for travellers. They start from 80 Euro and average 120 an up easily depending on location per night.

The economy hotels is many of us do not have experience with. The bikers who stay in those hotels actually know the real story.

I would suggest that the travellers who stayed in Istanbul share with us their experience. So we have collective and up to date data about economy hotels and hostels.

About camping.
London camping by E5 highway near to Yesilköy airport is gone. There is shopping mall there now.

There are campings at he European side of town by the blacksea cost. But this very far out of the city. It is near by Blackse beaches though. Last year band of Romanian bikers stayed there.

MISTIK CAMPING - HOME

Regards

Thanks very much guys!!

This is how we made it now: searched on hostelbookers for hostels which offer free car parking. Knowing that maybe its not safe parking but at least an option.

So we booked one of the cheapest hostels (11,90 Euro the night in 8 bed dorm at the istiklal hostel in sultanahmet) and went there at friday.
My god- the traffic is horrible! Really i was near a heartattack (by the way- I am a girl )

When we finally found the hostel we wondered where the heck we can leave our two bikes (Suzuki freewind and Kawasaki KLR). The owner showed us then a place nearby at a safe place. Well we have to pay 30 turkish lira (about 12 Euros for 2 1/2 days for two bikes), but now they are totally safe.

A little to late i got an answer-mail from the eurasia hostel also at sultanahmet, and the replied that they have free AND secury parking. Though i dont know what they mean with safe

Oh, and thanks for your advices what to do here. We arleade saw the blue mosque and wondered what this little blue light in the evening-sky is. So its the lightshow- i think we go there tonight, as we like thinks which are for free

Greetings, Ina