Istanbul: Chart-toppers

Taste for the tongue,
1. Rice pudding (best eaten cold)
2. Apple tea
3. Baklava (very, very sweet type of dessert toppled with crispy bread at the top, honey and nuts at the bottom)
4. Lemon juice
5. Lokum (sweet marshmallow-shaped Turkish delight)
6. Kadayif (moderately-sweet, but sometimes tend to be sweeter than the baklava)
7. Kebabs
8. Fish sandwiches along Galata Bridge/the Golden Horn

Buildings
1. Sultanahmet Camii (the Blue Mosque)
2. Hagia Sophia
3. Topkapi Palace
4. buildings around Taksim Square and Istiklal Caddesi
5. Yeni Camii (the New Mosque)
6. Beyazit Camii
7. Grand Bazaar
8. Suleymaniye Camii
9. buildings around Sultanahmet and Old Istanbul

Shopping
1. the Grand Bazaar
2. the Spice Bazaar
3. Istiklal Caddesi

Price range
Light Coke YTL 0.95 to YTL 4
Rice Pudding YTL 3 to 4.50
Lokum from YTL 8 per kilo
Baklava from YTL 10 per kilo
Lemon juice from YTL 1
Building model souvenirs can be as low as YTL 6 for the minimum size
Entry to Hagia Sophia YTL 10
Entry to Topkapi Palace YTL 10
Entry to the Palace Harem YTL 10
Tram YTL 1.30
Taxi to/from Airport YTL 30 minimum.
Scarves can go as low as YTL 5.
Kebabs can go from YTL 1.50
McDonald's sundae ice-cream YTL 1

Essentials
1. Hagia Sophia
2. Blue Mosque
3. Topkapi Palace
4. Grand Bazaar
5. Istiklal Caddesi

Buy
1. clothing/fabric/silk
2. tea/spice/fruits
3. Turkish Delight
4. ceramic/glassware/antiques
5. jewellery/leather

there is no use of bringing tripods if you're visiting Hagia Sophia and Topkapi because visitors aren't allowed to do so. however, Turkish people love their picture to be taken, but you know the rules, just don't over do it. One of the best things to do in Istanbul during the summer months is people-watching, sit at any square and you'll see many, many, many faces - very unique and beautiful ones and if you have a pretty good lens, you'll never tired of clicking. :)