If you are a lover of markets, a lover of beautiful interiors, or if you’re in search of carpets, traditional Turkish wares, unique and hard to find spices — then the area of Eminönü is just your cup of tea. There’s no place quite like it, and even if you aren’t a shopper, a stroll around the Grand or Spice Bazaar is an experience in and of itself. The Grand Bazaar with its 4,000 shops lined up along more ..
read more
Getting off the beaten path is not hard to do amongst Istanbul’s labyrinth streets, but some places are better suited to getting lost than others. The Balat neighborhood is a favorite of ours, where washing strung across narrow cobbled streets make great photograph opportunities and there are still plenty of beautiful historic churches and mosques to discover, without the hoards of tourists to distract you. Once ..
read more
With its bursting population Istanbul can get overwhelming. For a daytime reprieve, take the ferry from Kabataş to the islands. Cars aren’t permitted on the islands, and this is a welcome change from the traffic and noise of Istanbul proper. Take some time away, rent a bike, and enjoy the peace and beauty of Istanbul on the islands. The brightly decorated faytons (horse drawn carriages serving as taxis) are an ..
read more
The Bosphorus is the pulse of Istanbul. Without it, Istanbul would not be Istanbul. Embrace the sea, like so many have done and do, and get on a boat. Take a ferry to the Asian side (Kadıköy) and enjoy the less-hilly and more relaxed vibes of Moda. Or take the ferry to the Princes’ Islands, and hop off at Burgazada for a meyhane dinner by the sea in a more peaceful part of the city (in Burgazada there are no cars and ..
read more
Having a çay, (tea), in Istanbul is as culturally grounded and socially engrained as a meyhane dinner. Go to Bebek for a çay at least once. Bebek means ‘baby’ in Turkish, so you can imagine the sweet beauty within the area if its namesake portrays anything about what locals have thought of the area for centuries. It was named this because of its positioning on the Bosphorus, with sweeping views from its little bay, ..
read more
Though not as populated with go-to sights as the old city, where you’ll find sights like Topkapı Palace and Hagia Sophia, Beyoğlu is the modern epicenter of Istanbul. In Karaköy you’ll find a mass of the some of the city’s best galleries, like Mana Galeri and Elipsis Gallery. Check out some art and then grab some balık ekmek for lunch just along the seaside; (balik ekmek is a classic and delicious street food ..
read more