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 on a Bosphorus cruise
- Visit the battlefields of Gallipoli
- Explore the best of Turkey on a 15-day tour from Istanbul
Last updated: Jan 10, 2013
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Istanbul
Things to do
- All things to do (545)
- Activities (69)
- Entertainment (98)
- Restaurants (115)
- Shopping (90)
- Sights (138)
- Tours (35)
Make it happen
Our Top Picks For Istanbul
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1 Blue Mosque
Istanbul's most famous landmark has minarets and visual pizazz galore
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2 Topkapi Palace
Get a glimpse into the sumptuous lives of sultans at this palace
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3 Kapalı Çarşı (Grand Bazaar)
This famous shopping mall has history and atmosphere galore
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4 Bosphorus Night Cruise
Enjoy the view back to the Old City, the twinkling lights and the fishing boats bobbing on the waves
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5 İstanbul Archaeology Museums
The Alexander sarcophagus is one of the highlights of this must-see museum complex
Fast Facts about Istanbul
- Sultan Mehmed ll Conquered Constantinople at age 21 after a 53 day siege at the head of an army of 100,000 and a fleet of 300 ships. This action in 1453 underlined the end of the Byzantine Empire.
- Average snowfall in Istanbul: 46cm, 18inch
- Literary jewel Istanbul can at least partially claim ownership of the novel Murder on the Orient Express, written by Agatha Christie in her room at the Pera Palas Hotel.
- The neighbours were old A Neolithic grave underneath the heart of modern Istanbul shows a settled lifestyle (housing, farming and fishing) in the city around 6000 years ago.