| Istanbul Holiday Apartments Exceptional Furnished Rentals in the Center of the City for Discerning Travellers |
CITY GUIDE |
Istanbul is a very large city but the areas you will want to explore are all quite close together, centered in the area from Taksim Square to the Covered Bazaar. The suggestions here are the outcome of 30 years of living here. Istanbul is constantly evolving, making it a very dynamic and exciting place to visit and to live. You can see the main sights in 2-3 days but to really get a sense of the city, plan for 4-5 full days. The following pages present the best to what to see and do, where to eat, what wine to drink, what to buy and where to take a Turkish bath. For a look at the most recent travel articles on Istanbul, check out the links opposite. For a reliable guidebook, we recommend Rick Steves Istanbul Guide for its very detailed walks. Check out his itinerary for the city here. Good online sources are: ISTANBUL THE GUIDE, a monthly magazine TURKEY TRAVEL PLANNER, a well-informed guide to Istanbul and the rest of Turkey |
Lonely Planet’s top 10 unmissable experiences in Istanbul We’ve all heard the descriptions of Istanbul being a bridge between Europe and Asia, a place where East meets West and where cultures have happily coexisted for centuries. But not everyone is aware of its endlessly fascinating contradictions. Here are the top ten ways to see how the different cultures of Istanbul unify. Monumental: Istanbul’s Dazzling Architecture Istanbul makes all the latest travel hot lists, for good reason. Domed mosques, topped with fairy-tale minarets, anchor scores of neighborhood squares where prayer calls echo down cobbled lanes. Some landmarks have been compromised, but the city’s astonishing architectural endowment remains unrivaled in depth and diversity. A Travel Guide to Istanbul's Galleries, Shops, and Sights These days, Beyoglu is again the cosmopolitan heart of the city, just as it was 100 years ago. The cutting edge of Istanbul style is most visible in a handful of Beyoglu’s neighborhoods— Karaköy, Tophane, Galata, Tophane, Çukurcuma, and Cihangir— that rise from the shores of the Golden Horn and then along either side of Istiklal Caddesi, the bustling pedestrian avenue that runs from Galata up to Taksim Square. Tracking Turkey’s First Starchitect An architectural pilgrimage the the work of the 16th-century architect and engineer named Sinan (circa 1490-1588), the chief architect and civil engineer of the Ottoman Empire, working when the empire was at its apogee; his employers, Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent and his heirs, were the most powerful men on earth. Is This the Next Paris? Over the past decade, Istanbul—the mesmerizing ancient capital that straddles two continents—has boomed, restoring itself to the global stage as a portal to Asia and the new Middle East. Alan Richman wanders the streets, bazaars, and waterways, and discovers a city and a dining scene poised to conquer the world. 10 of the best high-end restaurants in Istanbul Rooftop restaurants with superb views across the Bosphorus and modern cuisine that fuses east and west are among the highlights at the top of Istanbul's food chain. Turkish Wine Country Given that Turkey is under going a rebirth in its wine industry. it's exciting to check out Turkey’s wine regions. Turkish delight: A sweet tour of Istanbul Grandeur defines Istanbul: From architectural icons such as Hagia Sophia to the city's indomitable traffic, Istanbul pulsates with intensity and splendor. Including sweet splendor. Istanbul's passion for pastries and its history of inventing some of the world's most delightful desserts tempts visitors and residents. High-End Hamam Opens in Historic Istanbul Location The structure built in 1556 by the famed architect Sinan to house the baths of Roxelana, was the slave who became the powerful wife of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent,undergoes a $10 million restoration. UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE CENTER With its strategic location on the Bosphorus peninsula between the Balkans and Anatolia, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, Istanbul has been associated with major political, religious and artistic events for more than 2,000 years. Its masterpieces include the ancient Hippodrome of Constantine, the 6th-century Hagia Sophia and the 16th-century Süleymaniye Mosque, all now under threat from population pressure, industrial pollution and uncontrolled urbanization. |
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