From delicious restaurants across the city to breathtaking cultural attractions
Istanbul is a fascinating city where old meets new, religion meets hedonism, grandeur meets decay, and the finest things to do in Istanbul are a reflection of the colorful, clamorous culture clash where East meets West in a city where old meets modern. Even in the food, there is a vibrant blending of flavors, from new waterfront eateries to antique spice shops. Follow your nose and meandering up and down its stairs and side streets to see what you may find and who you might meet is one of Istanbul's joys. But set aside some time for a couple of these unforgettable activities as well, so you can truly get to know Istanbul and appreciate everything that it has to offer.
1. Get heated up
Sweat it out at emberlitaş Hamam for the ultimate genuine hammam experience. Bathers are positioned on a round marble slab beneath a dome with glass stars placed into it, which allows light to shine through the steam. After that, staff members scour, push, and beat you until you beg for forgiveness. Additionally, they provide services like clay face masks and head massages. The Six Senses Kocataş Mansions' new spa, located in a renovated stone mansion next to the Bosphorus, provides a variety of hammam treatments. This version is more exclusive and opulent.
Addresses include Six Senses Kocatas Mansions, Merkez Mahallesi Meserburnu Caddesi, No. 5 Sawyer, Istanbul, 34450, and "emberlitaş Hamam," Mollafenari, Vezirhan Cd. No. 8, all in Fatih, Istanbul.
Websites: sixsenses.com and cemberlitashamami.com
2. Mosques you must see.
Even those who find religious sites uninteresting are prone to travel to Istanbul to see its magnificent mosques. The largest of them all is the multi-domed Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also referred to as The Blue Mosque because of the hand-painted blue tiles that cover its magnificent interior and the blue paint that surrounds its domes. Next to it is the Hagia Sophia, which is glowing and golden inside and has light streaming through its tall windows as if it were coming directly from Jallah.
Address: Hagia Sophia, Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya Meydan No:1, 34122 Fatih/Turkey; The Blue Mosque, Binbirdirek, At Meydan Cd No:10
Websites: ayasofyacamii.gov.tr and sultanahmetcamii.org
3. Modernization
Istanbul's modern art scene is now thriving. Visit Dolapdere, the city's rapidly developing creative neighborhood, for an art tour. A pioneer in the field, Dirimart, and Pilevneli, created in 2017 by a prominent figure in the art world Murat Pilevneli, are two prominent galleries that present dynamic exhibits, expansive installations, and sculptures by well-known and up-and-coming Turkish and international artists. In the distinctive white, hand-glazed structure designed by Grimshaw Architects, the contemporary art museum Arter, which opened in 2019, holds Turkey's first permanent collection of modern and contemporary art as well as workshops, performances, a library and bookshop, and a cafe.
Addresses include Dirimart, Hac Ahmet Mahallesi Irmak Caddesi DLP 1-9, 34440 Beyolu, Pilevneli, Yenişehir, Irmak Cd. No. 25, and Arter, Yenişehir, Irmak Cd. No. 13, both of which are in 34435 Beyolu/Turkey.
Websites: pilevneli.com, arter.org.tr, and dirimart.com
4. Set sail at sunset or sunrise
When the sun sets in Istanbul, the sky turns fiery red the water turns to gold. The city's mornings begin with silvery sunshine dancing on the Bosphorus. Watching the show from the river, with a clear view of the skyline and landmarks lit up, is one of the most gorgeous things to do in Istanbul. Join a cruise, charter a private boat (hotels may make all kinds of arrangements), or simply board one of the many public boats that travel the Bosphorus.
5. How bizarre
Istanbul is a place where shopping can be considered a cultural experience. Like early malls, the city's ancient bazaars offer a colorful, sensory window into the way of life. The Spice Bazaar is aromatic with spices, herbs, teas, and candies, while the Grand Bazaar is the ultimate Aladdin's Cave. Among its 3,600 stores, find dusty old lamps, precious stones, silver and gold, stained-glass chandeliers blinking in the darkness, hand-knotted carpets and kilims in every colorway, and handcrafted ceramics you never knew you wanted. Although haggling is a part of the experience, do some homework in advance to determine what you should be paying so you can get to the point quickly. And make sure your suitcase has plenty of room so you can bring your findings home.
Address: Msr Arşs, Rüstem Paşa, Erzak Ambar Sok. No:92, 34116 Fatih/Türkiye; Kapali Arsi, Beyazt, Kalpakçlar Cd. No:22, 34126 Fatih/Türkiye; (The Grand Bazaar)
Websites: kapalicarsi.com.tr and misircarsisi.org.tr
6. Enjoy the freshest seafood.
Even though Turkish cuisine excels at seafood, it strangely still has a reputation for kebabs. Buttery slices of freshly caught sea bass would make you swoon; fat prawns cut thinly and eaten raw; the plumpest coils of octopus tentacle, chargrilled to sweetness. Here, fishing is still a way of life. The Bosphorus strait and four abundant seas also offer abundant catches. Visit the Beyolu Fish Market (balk pazar), where quiet restaurants coexist with fish stands, to see what the boats bring in, or head next door to the eateries in the Art Nouveau arcade Cicek Pasaji. Go to Galata Port and reserve a seat at Sait for a classier coastal setting. Sait provides some of the best seafood in the city in addition to zingy fresh salads.
Addresses include Sait, Klçali Paşa Mahallesi, Meclis-i Mebusan Sok. O1 Blok No:8 D:102 Galataport, 34433 Beyolu/Istanbul, and Karakoy Fish House, Azapkap, Fermeneciler Cd. No:35, 34421 Beyolu/Istanbul.
Online at sait.com.tr
7. On Trotsky's island residence, you may swim and cycle.
Rich Istanbulites have traditionally traveled to the outlying Princes' Islands to swim, fish, and take refuge from the heat in their opulent summer homes. Trotsky did the same thing when Stalin sent him into exile in the 1920s. He lived in Büyükada, the largest of the islands. It still has no cars, so you should hire a bike to explore the forested interior and find one of its half-dozen beaches, some of which have beach clubs for summer parties. If you can't, there are horse-drawn taxis, but please think of the overworked horses. Stay at the striking white and crimson Splendid Palace Hotel.
Address: Büyükada-nizam, Yirmiüç Nisan Cd. No. 39, 34970 Adalar/Istanbul, Splendid Palace Hotel
8. Move to Dervish music
Tourists attend Whirling Dervish performances like the one at Galata Tower, but if you want to dance with the locals, go to Lucca in the affluent seaside neighborhood of Bebek. A cafe and cocktail bar by day, it transforms into the sexiest party spot in the city for sophisticated Istanbulites at night, complete with DJs spinning records every night and a packed house on the weekends.
Website: luccastyle.com Address: Lucca, Bebek, Cevdet Paşa Cd. 51/A, 34342 Saryer/stanbul
9. Spend the night in an Ottoman palace
Ottoman sultans ordered the most extravagantly luxurious homes, which were enormous, marbled, gilded, and lavishly decorated both inside and out. The most spectacular is the 19th-century Ciragan Palace, a seaside wedding cake of a palace in creamy marble, finely carved. Many of them are now museums (Topkap Palace and Dolmabahçe are highlights), while others have been converted into hotels. Kempinski now manages it, and its five stars hardly do it fairly. One of the most opulent and, at €50,000 per night, one of the priciest suites in the world is the Sultan Suite, which features two bedrooms, a dining room with seating for 12, full-length windows with views of the Bosphorus, and canopied beds.
Address: Ciragan Palace Kempinski, Yldz, Raan Cd. No:32, 34349 Beşiktaş/Istanbul
Take up residence in a two-bedroom restored Ottoman Mansion with colorful furnishings from the mid-century period inside its raw-plastered walls for a more intimate (and reasonably priced) flavor of the empire.
10. Rooting on Sunday
A Sunday antique market opens up in Sisli's Feriköy neighborhood. There are genuine deals to be found in addition to uncommon and surprising gems. You won't see many visitors here. You won't see many visitors here. These lost and found items, which include Ottoman-era detritus, antique paintings and musical instruments, aristocratic jewels, ancient carpets from the East, and gold tea sets from Europe, also reveal the city's diverse population.
Address: Feriköy Antika Pazar, Cumhuriyet, Semt Pazar No. 8, 34380 Istanbul/Işli
Internet address: ferikoyantikapazari.com