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Istanbul Turkey

INTRODUCTION

"There, God and human, nature and art are together, they have created such a perfect place that it is valuable to see."

Lamartine's famous poetic line reveals his love for Istanbul as he describes the embracing of two continents, one arm reaching out to Asia and the other to Europe. Istanbul, once known as the "capital of capital cities", has many unique features. It is the only city in the world to straddle two continents and the only one to have been a capital during two consecutive empires - Christian and Islamic. Once the capital of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul still remains the commercial, historical, and cultural pulse of Turkey, and its beauty lies in its ability to embrace its contradictions. As a gateway between East and West, this is evident in the atmosphere of this beautiful city in a fusion of cultures.

HISTORY

The Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires have all claimed Istanbul, leaving a city of multiple religions and cultures, which to this day exist side by side surprisingly harmoniously. The Roman viaducts, built to carry water from the city's outskirts to the palace, remain intact, jostling for space alongside glittering Mosques and the Grand Bazaar complex, almost a city in its own right.

Turning 360 degrees at any one point in this city will uncover treasures which traverse centuries, continents, and empires like no where else on earth.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Istanbul has a mild climate. Highest rainfall is from November to February and lowest humidity from July through September. Spring (around mid-late April) and autumn are the best times to visit.

ATTRACTIONS

Kiz Kulesi?

Taksim

Bosphorus

Princes Islands?

Topkapi Palace

Blue Mosque (Mosque of Sultan Ahmet)

Hagia Sophia

Grand Bazaar

Basilica Cistern

Dolmabahce Palace

RESTAURANTS

Çiya - Offering a range of unusual regional dishes, what's offered at Çiya changes daily, which means that there is no actual menu. Instead, you order by walking up to a chef who watches over more than a dozen bubbling pots and pointing to what looks interesting.

Karaköy Güllüoğlu - Baklava is not just a dessert, but an event in itself. In Istanbul, Karaköy Güllüoğlu is one of the best places for that kind of pure baklava experience. Located a stone's throw away from the Bosphorus, this baklava emporium has been catering to Istanbul's sweet tooths since 1949.

Ismael Kebapcısı - This bustling little eatery is a favorite lunchtime spot for locals. It specializes in spicy flatbread called lahmacun (pronounced lah-ma-joon).

Van Kahvaltı Evi - The people running this friendly place – a crew of hip, young Kurds who seem to be members of the slow food movement without even realizing it – serve a mean Van breakfast, bringing in most of their ingredients, some of them organic, from back east.

Abracadabra - The four floors of Abracadabra, housed in an imposing Ottoman-era mansion located right on the Bosphorus, each have a very different vibe, from bar-like to intimate. The Turkish fusion cuisine is delicious, visually stunning and ever changing.

Smyrna - A staunch locale for neighborhood authors, artists and other showbiz gentry, Smyrna features eclectic antique living-room decor and friendly service.

LODGINGS

Ajia Hotel - This romantic boutique hotel is perched on the shores of the Bosphorus. There is a 50% discount on wedding anniversaries and birthdays on presentation of ID.

Sumahan Hotel - Every room of the Sumahan Hotel, a former raki distillery on the Asian shores of the Bosphorus, looks out on the water, making it the ideal respite from the heat of the city - especially if you use the hotel's new hammam.

Ibrahim Pasha - Converted from a 19th-century four-story townhouse, the Ibrahim Pasha Hotel offers sophisticated and modern accommodation, a rarity in the Sultanahmet area, and is an ideal place to stay for first-time visitors wanting to explore Istanbul's historic monuments. The rooms are well-equipped and comfortable, and all are decorated in the ubiquitous contemporary with a twist of Ottoman style.

Empress Zoë - One of the more inventively laid out hotels in Sultanahmet, the Empress Zoë literally backs up to ancient Byzantine walls and the remains of a 15th-century hammam. Its Anatolian-styled rooms, replete with traditional kilim rugs, run from small and basic to suite-sized, some even with their own terraces, courtyards and hammams. Splurge on the penthouse suite for a first-class view of the Blue Mosque.

Büyük Londra - Take a trip back in time to the Roaring Twenties and the heyday of old Pera, the neighborhood that was home away from home to the darlings of the Orient Express. The lobby bar is a popular destination for a late-night tipple, and the rooms are done up in finest tweed from the early days of the Empire.

Lush Hotel - Literally crawling distance from the bars and clubs of Taksim, this quirky hotel is at the heart of Istanbul's modern centre that circles the giant Taksim Square.

Vardar Palace Hotel - Walking distance from Taksim Square, the Vardar Palace boasts a rooftop with a view of the city and breakfast in the hotel every morning. Built in 1901 and restored in 1991, the hotel has 40 rooms and is a rare historical hotel.

Amiral Palace Hotel- Located in the "old city", the Amiral Hotel is walking distance from the Basilica Cistern, the Topkapi Palace and the archeology museum, which is on the grounds of the Topkapi Palace. Rooms have two single beds and there is breakfast each morning on the terrace.