Introducing Istanbul
Istanbul is hot. And we’re not talking about the weather. These days, there are more happening restaurants, bars, galleries and clubs around town than there are exquisite Ottoman mosques (and that’s a lot). The international fashion and design press have been talking up İstanbul ad nauseam, but the most significant thing about the accolade ‘World’s Hippest City’ is that İstanbullus themselves have come believe it. The creeping sense of decrepitude that had fallen like a pall over their once-all-powerful home town has vanished, replaced by a sense of energy and innovation not seen since the days of Süleyman the Magnificent.
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The city’s over-abundance of important historic buildings and exciting new art galleries and museums provides visitors with more than enough to see during the day, but it’s at night that the place swings into high-velocity, mega-stylish action. Locals are flocking to see and be seen at an ever-growing array of bars, clubs and restaurants, bringing with them an infectious sense of joie de vivre and a discerning ability to judge these places on their standard of service, drinks, music and food as well as their position in the what’s-hot-and-what’s-not stakes.
That’s not to say that the locals are turning their backs on much-loved city institutions such as the rakı-soaked meyhane (tavern) or tranquil çay bahçesi (tea garden), because they wouldn’t dream of doing anything so foolish. They know, after all, that such institutions are one of the reasons that their home is – and always has been – rightfully dubbed the ‘City of the World’s Desire’.
Ready to go?
These tours & activities make it easy:
- See the best of Istanbul in a day
- Get ready for superb views during a Bosphorus cruise
- Set sail on a captivating tour of Turkey and Greece
Last updated: Feb 13, 2012
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Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: Trains out of Istanbul
by ChristineAtSea 27 May 2012
I always prefer to take the bus in Turkey. Much better mode of transportation and you get to see so much of the country.
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RE: 10 hours in Istanbul
by ChristineAtSea 27 May 2012
You can also go and enjoy the area around Taxsim. Istklal Cadd is a fun street to walk down and when you get near the end of it you can…
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RE: Hotel in Istanbul for June 2012
by lorenzo622 27 May 2012
In recent years (2008 and 2010) I have stayed twice at the Turkoman Hotel in Sultanahmet, and I can strongly recommend it. It's a small,…








