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The best hotels in Istanbul

The best hotels in Istanbul

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The best shopping in Istanbul

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19 Best Things to Do in Istanbul, Turkey

The world's only city that sits on the two continents of Europe and Asia, separated by the Bosphorus strait, Istanbul possesses so many layers that make it absolutely unique. A megacity that has seen the rise and fall of two empires, the former

  • All Things To Do

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Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii) Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii) free

Sultan Ahmed I was determined to build a mosque that rivaled the nearby Hagia Sophia , and most would agree that he accomplished this task or, at least, came close. Since the early 1600s, the Blue Mosque has been quite the sight to behold, with an array of domes, semidomes and minarets (or narrow towers). It's also one of the biggest tourist draws in Istanbul.

Visitors say this mosque offers stunning architecture inside and out. It can, however, get busy, so consider arriving early. And remember, the Blue Mosque is an active religious site, so dress conservatively. Women should wear headscarves, as is custom. If you forgot to bring one, you can borrow one from the mosque.

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Hagia Sophia Mosque (Ayasofya Cami) Hagia Sophia Mosque (Ayasofya Cami) free

Tourists flock en masse to the Hagia Sophia for its stunning architecture, glorious interior views and historical significance. Built between 532 and 537, the building was a church for nearly a thousand years. It then served as a mosque from 1453 until 1935, before becoming a secular museum. In 2020, the building once again became a working mosque. 

Once the biggest cathedral in the world, the Hagia Sophia is considered the magnum opus of Byzantine architecture. Visitors say it is a must-see when in Istanbul and recommend taking a guided tour for more information about the history of the site. 

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Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnici) Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnici)

The Basilica Cistern is Istanbul's largest surviving Byzantine cistern and one of its most unique historic sites. Constructed in 532 for Justinian I, this sprawling underground water reservoir –which is roughly the size of two football fields – once supplied water to the Great Palace of Constantinople, a large palace that served as the main residence for local emperors for centuries. Though the palace no longer exists, the cistern was renovated in 1985 to welcome visitors. In 2022, it reopened to the public after a five-year restoration effort. Its most noteworthy feature is a pair of Medusa heads that sit upside down at the base of two columns.

According to past travelers, the Basilica Cistern is easy to miss but worth checking out, despite its lack of interior attractions. Many said the site is beautifully preserved, but queues to buy tickets and enter can get quite long, so several recommended visiting with a tour group. Multiple half- and full-day tours that include stops at the cistern are offered on Viator ; tour prices range from $39 to $686 per person.

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Grand Bazaar (Kapaliçarsi) Grand Bazaar (Kapaliçarsi) free

Located within walking distance of must-visit sights like the Blue Mosque , the Basilica Cistern  and Süleymaniye Mosque , the Grand Bazaar is one of the biggest and oldest covered shopping markets in the world. It regularly overwhelms visitors with its more than 60 streets of 3,000-plus shops, each accompanied by an overzealous vendor. Products range from hand-loomed carpets to antiques, traditional textiles to copper and silver artisan objects, artisan jewelry and ceramics to clothing and much more.

Despite the size and chaos of this bazaar, shoppers say you'll find yourself strangely at ease with the rhythm of the market, thanks in part to the friendliness of the vendors, who are far from pushy. Remember, though, that Westerners are often quoted higher rates for items here, so come prepared to bargain. Most merchants will drop their rates by as much as 50% when a customer refuses to pay full price. What's more, additional discounts are often given to those who pay with cash, although most vendors do accept credit cards.

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Spice Bazaar (Misir Çarsisi) Spice Bazaar (Misir Çarsisi)

U.S. News Insider Tip: Take a lunch break at Pandeli Restaurant  inside the bazaar, which has been around since the 1950s serving classic Turkish dishes in a refined ambiance. Make reservations in advance and don't miss the stairs that lead up to the restaurant on the left side of the bazaar's Eminönü entrance. – Feride Yalav-Heckeroth

Built in the 17th century from the revenue of the Ottoman administrative district in Egypt (and therefore also known as the Egyptian Bazaar) this historic bazaar is the second most famous covered market in Istanbul. A must-visit for gourmets who love to shop for traditional ingredients, the more than 80 shops inside the market have a wide and fragrant spectrum of spices, nuts, dried fruits, Turkish coffee and traditional sweets.

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Süleymaniye Mosque (Süleymaniye Camii) Süleymaniye Mosque (Süleymaniye Camii) free

Nestled within Istanbul's historic Fatih district by the Golden Horn, Istanbul University and the Grand Bazaar , Süleymaniye Mosque is considered one of the city's most impressive Ottoman mosques. Built between 1550 and 1557 after being commissioned by its namesake, Süleyman I, this grand structure features multiple gardens and a large dome, plus high-end finishes like mother-of-pearl window shutters, painted corbels, traditional ceramic tiles and stained-glass windows.

Recent travelers described their time at this mosque as "amazing" and "peaceful," adding that it is just as stunning as the Blue Mosque and cannot be missed. What's more, this attraction is not as central and popular as others like the Hagia Sophia , meaning you won't have to rub elbows with lots of tourists while visiting. But remember, like other religious sites in the area, Süleymaniye Mosque hosts six prayer services every day, so expect occasional closures and dress conservatively. If you forget to wear long pants or pack a scarf to cover your head, the mosque offers loaner coverings at its entrance.

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Rüstem Pasha Mosque (Rüstem Pasa Camii) Rüstem Pasha Mosque (Rüstem Pasa Camii)

One of Sultanahmet's lesser-known mosques is also one of its most beautiful. Designed by the famous Ottoman imperial architect Mimar Sinan (who also designed the Süleymaniye Mosque ) and completed in 1563, the structure was dedicated to the Grand Vizier Rüstem Pasha. The mosque's most important trait are the large quantities of Iznik tiles that decorate its interior in a wide variety of floral and geometric patterns. It's a definite deviation from Mimar Sinan's usual style, which favored the structure rather than its internal decoration.

Previous travelers commented that this more hidden sight is a definite stop for anyone interested in Islamic art and Ottoman architecture. They add the design impresses deeply with its hand-painted tilework as well as its majestic dome. Travelers have also commented that the mosque is a welcome respite from Istanbul's busy streets.

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Topkapi Palace Museum (Topkapi Sarayi Müzesi) Topkapi Palace Museum (Topkapi Sarayi Müzesi)

Topkapi Palace served as the home of the Ottoman Sultans from 1478 to 1856 and is one of Istanbul's most popular attractions. It officially became a museum in 1924, shortly after the end of the Ottoman era, and features brilliant architecture, manicured courtyards and extensive weaponry, porcelain, cutlery, art and fabric collections.

Previous visitors loved admiring the palace's architecture and perusing its exhibits, saying you'll need several hours to take in everything there is to see. Popular exhibits include the kitchens, the calligraphy area and the armaments room. Many also recommend strolling through the property's gardens and refueling at the on-site coffee shop, where picturesque views of the Golden Horn await you.

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Istanbul Archaeological Museums (Istanbul Arkeoloji Müzeleri) Istanbul Archaeological Museums (Istanbul Arkeoloji Müzeleri)

At the Istanbul Archaeological Museums, which opened near the Topkapi Palace Museum  in 1869, you'll find more than a million antiquities displayed throughout three buildings: the Archaeological Museum, the Ancient Orient Museum and the Tiled Kiosk Museum. Exhibitions offer a wealth of artifacts from the Assyrian, Hittite, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman civilizations.

Travelers have commented on the beauty of the museum structures themselves and appreciated the vast collection at this underrated museum. Others recommended seeing the Sarcophagus of Alexander, a highlight in the collection.

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The Beyoglu Neighborhood The Beyoglu Neighborhood

The heart of Istanbul's local life, Beyoglu, once known as Pera, was the center of European aristocratic settlement during the Ottoman era. The neoclassical architecture of its structures all speak of this past. Starting with the new Ataturk Cultural Center  in the famous Taksim Square, the equally famous Istiklal Avenue stretches all the way to Tünel Square, where the historic Tünel funicular station is located as one of the world's oldest subterranean urban railways.

When walking down Istiklal, make sure to stop and explore the many historic shopping arcades, restaurants, art galleries and churches hidden in the side streets. Standouts include the Church of St. Anthony of Padua, the city's largest Catholic Church; the Istanbul Cinema Museum , exhibiting the history of Turkish cinema inside a stunning former mansion from the 19th century; and the art gallery Casa Botter inside a renovated and repurposed art nouveau apartment building from the 1900s.

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Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi) Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi)

Certainly one of Istanbul's most iconic structures, the Galata Tower was first built during the Byzantine era, rebuilt by the Genoese, who gave it the stone mesh exterior it still possesses today, and later used as a prison during the Ottoman period. Today, the tower welcomes visitors who can climb to the top to enjoy a gorgeous 360-degree view of Istanbul.

Travelers have remarked that the tower is located in the city's "coolest" neighborhood and noted that the view from the top is especially amazing at night. Others commented that the tower itself is beautiful, though they felt the steep entry fee wasn't worth the experience.

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Dolmabahce Palace Dolmabahce Palace

Sitting along the Bosphorus near the Kabatas tram stop and the Besiktas  ferry port, Dolmabahçe Palace's jaw-dropping beauty and historical importance impresses visitors. Built in the 19th century, the palace was used by the final Ottoman sultans as their primary residence and administrative seat. The interior and exterior architecture showcase a mix of European and Ottoman designs that can only be found at this global crossroad. Make sure to also visit the National Painting Museum next door (included in the ticket), which showcases around 200 paintings from the palace's collection that spans Turkish and international artists from the 19th century.

Past travelers were wowed by the palace's extravagant interior, although some wished photography was permitted and felt tours were rushed and lacked information. Several visitors also reported long ticket lines, and the property's website  cautions that the ticket office closes early once all passes have been distributed for the day, so plan on arriving early.

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The Besiktas Neighborhood The Besiktas Neighborhood

After exploring the Dolmabahçe Palace , a stroll in the Besiktas neighborhood at large is a great way to delve into local life, away from the tourist highlights. Walk up Süleyman Seba Avenue to reach Akaretler, the 19th-century row houses originally built for those who worked at Dolmabahçe Palace. They're now filled with modern shops, art galleries, cafes and restaurants. Stroll down Çiragan Avenue to reach Yildiz Park, one of the city's largest public parks with two Ottoman-era pavilions that now serve as cafes and enjoy some time away from the crowds. Right across the park, gaze at one of Istanbul's most iconic hotels with its ornate gates, the Çiragan Palace Kempinski, inside a former Ottoman palace. If you still have the energy, continue on Çiragan Avenue to Ortaköy Square to enjoy a waterfront view of the famous Bosphorus Bridge with the Ortaköy Mosque built in the 1850s right before it.

The best way to reach Besiktas is via bus, however, the neighborhood also has its own ferry port with transfers available from Eminönü (Old City).

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The Nisantasi Neighborhood The Nisantasi Neighborhood

U.S. News Insider Tip: Make sure to visit Kalyon Kültür , an art and culture space inside a beautifully renovated Ottoman mansion built in 1889. – Feride Yalav-Heckeroth

It's in this neighborhood that you'll find the city's residents shopping for the latest collections from Turkish and international designers. Apart from Beymen , Turkey's most exclusive department store, you'll also find brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Chanel plus the atelier and showrooms of some of Istanbul's most important fashion designers. The neighborhood is, however, also home to brands such as Gap, Massimo Dutti, Zara and Marks & Spencer, pleasing shopping crowds of all budgets in one go.

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Galataport Galataport

Much more than the world's first underground cruise ship terminal, Galataport is filled with restaurants, cafes, shops and a wide boardwalk that all face the Bosphorus. Apart from Istanbul Modern , Galataport's other cultural offering is the Istanbul Museum of Painting and Sculpture , designed by the famed Turkish architect Emre Arolat's firm. It has a vast collection that presents Turkish art from the late 19th-century Ottoman period to the end of the 20th century. The port is also home to the luxurious Peninsula Hotel; three of its four buildings are renovated heritage structures overlooking the Old City.

Travelers have remarked that the port is modern and has lots of branded storefronts and restaurants and that the views are incredible. They add that the modern design of Galataport and the historic architecture of nearby structures gives visitors the best of both worlds.

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Istanbul Modern Istanbul Modern

Inside a stunning waterfront structure by the Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Istanbul Modern is the city's most important hub for contemporary art with its permanent and temporary exhibitions. The collection focuses mainly on pioneering Turkish artists and also includes a photography collection. Make sure to visit the museum's rooftop that faces the Bosphorus and the Old City and features shallow pools that reflect the horizon.

Previous visitors have commended the large variety of artworks, including all types of art, media, sculpture and interactive exhibits. Other guests recommended the rooftop and its fantastic view of the historic city center.

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The Kadiköy Neighborhood The Kadiköy Neighborhood

U.S. News Insider Tip: Heading to Kadiköy Market? Start your journey on Günesli Bahçe Street and then get lost among the offerings, especially the many little eateries selling street food. – Feride Yalav-Heckeroth

Istanbul's Asian side (or Anatolian side as the locals like to say) is often completely overlooked by tourists, but it's the perfect locale for those who want to have a genuine local experience. Kadiköy is very down-to-earth and still very Turkish, largely untouched by the cosmopolitan air that is prevalent on the European side. After arriving at the Kadiköy ferry station, the first stop should be the vast Kadiköy Market, a network of interconnected streets that are filled with vendors selling everything from fresh fish to produce, cheeses to pickled vegetables, coffee to nuts, offal to honey and so much more.

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Beylerybeyi Palace Beylerybeyi Palace

Another hidden gem Istanbul's Anatolian (Asian) side, the breathtakingly ornate Beylerbeyi Palace was built between 1863 and 1865 under the order of Ottoman Sultan Abdülaziz. It served as a summer residence and state guesthouse. The waterfront palace was designed by Sarkis Balyan, who, along with other members of the Armenian Balyan family, designed such other icons as the Dolmabahçe  and Çiragan Palaces. A confluence of Western and Eastern architectural styles, the interior of the lavish palace is filled with Turkish Hereke carpets; French Baccarat crystal chandeliers; and Chinese, Japanese, French and German ceramics, to name a few.

Previous travelers were astounded by the beauty and design of the palace, which exhibited wonderful craftsmanship. The palace's coffee shop was also recommended due to the stunning Bosphorus view.

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Büyükada Büyükada

U.S. News Insider Tip: This island is very popular on the weekends, so if you'd rather avoid the crowds, visit on a weekday. – Feride Yalav-Heckeroth

The largest of Istanbul's Princes' Islands is certainly its most popular and is the best way to really take a break from the city's endearingly chaotic energy. Büyükada (which literally translates to 'large island') was a popular getaway for Istanbul's prosperous Greeks, Jews and Armenians who had lavish summer mansions built to accommodate their vacationing needs. Nowadays, these Ottoman-era mansions are some of the most important attractions on the island, and locals and visitors alike arrive in droves to stroll along the streets to gaze up at the historic architecture. Some of the most notable houses are located on Çankaya Avenue.

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Returning to Istanbul, a Place of Competing Identities

When Aatish Taseer first traveled to the Turkish city, he was closeted and just beginning his writing career. This time, he explores revolutions personal and political.

A view of Istanbul’s Golden Horn Metro Bridge. Credit... Joakim Eskildsen

Supported by

By Aatish Taseer

Photographs by Joakim Eskildsen

  • May 12, 2022

AT 9:05 A.M. on the 10th of November, a hush fell over the leaden turbulence of the Bosporus. All activity on the strait ceased. Coast Guard ships, ferries and caiques, like the younger members of a tribe of large marine mammals, drew close in a circle. Behind them, a Turkish destroyer kept vigil, the blue of its gunmetal merging with the strait’s frigid waters. A red-bottomed freighter marked with the words “Iraqi line” hulked in the background. That cityscape of sea-blackened buildings, broad panes glazed silver in the daytime darkness, was no ordinary Left Bank, no mere farther shore. The silhouette of low domes and pencil-thin minarets piercing a nimbus of pale sky above was the continent of Asia. The wonder of looking at it, with my feet still planted on the shores of Europe, was not lost on me. I had been in Istanbul for less than 72 hours. The air grew heavy with anticipation and then, low and deep and melancholy as whale song, came the first moan of a ship’s horn.

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T’s Summer Travel Issue

Three writers retake trips they made when they were different people — and experience a place other than the one they thought they knew..

- Switzerland : Maaza Mengiste revisits Mount Pilatus after a life-changing first trip there.

- The Grand Canyon : Thomas Page McBee returns to the landmark with his mother’s ashes and reflects on what he’s forgotten — and remembers.

- Istanbul : In trying to understand the complexities of the city, Aatish Taseer examines both his past and present selves.

Everyone froze. The uniformed figure of an old sea captain snapped to salute. A stout woman in a long black coat with a blue head scarf drew her toddler near. Even the sea gulls, whose cawing and mewling were so much a part of the commotion of the Bosporus, fell in line with this solemn tableau. The air was soon resounding with ship horns and sirens. The moment of remembrance stretched out. Its object, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk , founder of the Turkish Republic, stared out at me from the backs of two young Turks, where his youthful likeness was emblazoned on the red ground of the Turkish flags the pair wore as superhero capes around their necks. The Father of Turks, blue-eyed and visionary, with a touch of the derring-do of the old Omar Sharif about him, had died 82 years ago at exactly 9:05 a.m. in Dolmabahçe Palace behind me — an overcooked 19th-century confection of pilasters and sleeping columns. We stood on its manicured grounds, speckled with magnolia and spruce, remembering the fierce secularist who in the 1920s had fought off European incursions on all sides and founded a modern republic from the wreckage of the Ottoman Empire.

It was 2020 and I was engaged in a remembrance of my own. As 9:06 rolled around and people stirred again, I awoke to the fact that I had seen all this before. Fifteen years earlier, I had stood at the edge of this very same waterway, witnessing this very same scene. Practically all my adult life lay between the time when I had come to this city, as an aspiring writer of 25, ready to travel seriously through the Muslim world for a book I had yet to write — from Istanbul to Mecca, and from Mecca to Lahore — and now, when, a few weeks away from 40, I had returned to Istanbul.

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Why? Was it to look again at what had become of the world I had traveled through in 2005? Was it to look again at what had become of me? Was it to use the idea of returning to a place one has known intimately as the means to travel not merely through space but also through time — to revisit a former self, perhaps even to confront him? I couldn’t say. What I knew, walking back through plane-lined boulevards draped with Turkish flags, Atatürk’s speeches blaring out of rows of free-standing speakers on the pavement, was what I felt: paralysis.

“YOU CAN GO back many times to the same place,” says a character in V.S. Naipaul’s 1979 novel, “A Bend in the River,” “and something strange happens if you go back often enough. You stop grieving for the past. You see that the past is something in your mind alone, that it doesn’t exist in real life. You trample on the past, you crush it. In the beginning it is like trampling on a garden. In the end you are just walking on ground.”

Istanbul was not flat ground for me. It was still very much a garden, the perfectly preserved repository of the hopes, ambitions and confusions of my 25-year-old self. That first morning, I was so nervous about disturbing the overlay of memory that I entertained fantasies of not venturing out into the city at all. I imagined spending whole days in the sanitized security of my room at the Swissôtel, where I had paid $45 extra per night for a view of the Bosporus, gazing out at the sunlit splendor of the most beautiful body of water in the world. I would live on room service, swim 50 lengths a day in the hotel’s indoor pool and return a week later to New York City with my memories of Istanbul intact. The anxiety I was experiencing was akin to what one feels after a big snow when one fears nothing so much as the sight of those first tracks on its surface, knowing they will ensure the destruction of what until that moment had been pristine.

The city I had returned to was bathed in rare November sunshine. The Bosporus, which, by way of the Dardanelles, connects the Black Sea with the empyrean blue of the Aegean, with what the travel writer Jan Morris has called “waters of Homeric myth and yearning,” was in a bright, inviting mood. I used to think it was the geography of Istanbul that was special, that extraordinary location of old Byzantium — the Greek colony that would form the nucleus of the future city — peering out at the confluence of three waterways: the Bosporus, the Sea of Marmara and the estuary that is the Golden Horn. Antiquity had regarded those who built their city on the eastern side of the strait — the poor inhabitants of Chalcedon, the town on the facing shore — as blind for failing to see the superiority of the site for Byzantium. Now, of course, it was all Istanbul, a seething megalopolis of 15 million set over hills of dark, furrowed pine.

As far as I know, only three cities through history — Rome, Istanbul and New York — have been referred to as “the city.” The word “Istanbul” itself is a contraction of the Greek phrase “eis ten polin”: “into the city.” One imagines it as the superior reply to a question from someone in the outer boroughs. “Where are you going?” “I’m going into the city, of course!”

Grand as it was, even this city of cities paled before the glory of the Bosporus. As the 16th-century French topographer Pierre Gilles observed, the Bosporus “is the first creator of Byzantium, greater and more important than Byzas,” the founder of Byzantium. There is nothing on earth quite like it. Imagine the splendor of the Grand Canal in Venice married to the international shipping glamour of the Suez or Panama Canals. Then, as if being one of the world’s busiest maritime passages were not enough — over 40,000 vessels pass through the strait annually, about two and three times the traffic, respectively, of Suez and Panama — imagine a single body of water, scarcely half a mile wide at its narrowest, on whose two shores the grand, seemingly incompatible binaries of Islam and Christendom, Asia and Europe, East and West, are casually flung together. The strait itself remains as neutral as the sky, ever-changing, ever-unreliable, like some people-pleasing friend aware of the pressures of having to be everything to everyone.

On my first morning, it was decidedly Greek. With the sun exposing deep veins of aquamarine and boats of every size tracing foamy zigzags over its surface, it seemed to flow inexorably south. To look at Istanbul then was to feel oneself on the edge of a maritime culture of fresh fish and shrub-covered islands, where goats with metal bells pick their way around whitewashed churches. The hulking mass of the Hagia Sophia , the sixth-century church that became the enduring symbol of Christendom, seemed like a basilica to me again, surrounded by a copse of slim, tapered minarets. But scarcely two days later, the clouds were racing and the water had darkened. Now the Bosporus seemed to flow north to that cold lakelike sea of villages of blackened wood, sloping muddy streets and red-bearded men with bright blue eyes. All of a sudden, Istanbul had become a Balkan city of lowering skies.

The Bosporus dramatized dualities. It did not resolve them. Here, one lived in a state of cultural whiplash. The perturbation one felt in Istanbul came from having to carry the city’s myriad selves in mind at once. Protean city! It could change on a dime, and one had to be ready to change with it, as the city itself had so many times through history — from Constantine’s New Rome of A.D. 330 to the premier city of Islam after its capture by the Ottomans in 1453 — or be left nursing a sense of betrayal.

THE JAGGED, UNRESOLVED character of Istanbul fit the mood of my arrival in 2005. I was living then with what felt like irreconcilable differences: I was Indian but three years before had met my Pakistani father for the first time, a man whose absence had overwhelmed my younger years. I was gay but dating a woman. I was living in London but was on my way home to India, by land, via Syria, Iran and Pakistan. I wanted to be a writer but had just quit my job as a reporter at Time magazine. The journey I was to make, which was a reckoning with my father’s absence in my life — but also with Islam and the legacy of India and Pakistan’s 1947 Partition — was to provide me with the material for a first book, “ Stranger to History ,” which would be published in 2009.

I can say all this now in easy declarative sentences, but it has taken me half a lifetime to work through the tangled mass in which these competing identities existed in me at the age of 25. Then, I was full of rage. I was drinking a lot. I was ready to reckon with one side of myself, the political and historical, but I was running from the other: the sexual. “A man whose desire is to be something separate from himself … invariably succeeds in being what he wants to be,” writes Oscar Wilde in “De Profundis” (1905). “That is his punishment. Those who want a mask have to wear it.”

I certainly was wearing a mask when I arrived then, but I did not want to be separate from myself. The eight months of travel that lay ahead, in stripping away the edifice of habit, into which all enduring lies insinuate themselves, would bring me to a truer self. But only after much pain — mine, of course, but also that of those around me.

At the time, my girlfriend and I were having an extraordinary journey. We had dropped south from Venice through the ghost lands of the old Ottoman Empire. My girlfriend was of a grand family; her parents were minor English royals. In Bulgaria, at a hunting lodge outside Sofia called Vrana, we stayed with her cousin. He was a tall, elegant figure in his late 60s, and he had been both the king and the prime minister of Bulgaria. Arriving late by overnight train from Budapest, we were greeted by him at the door of his palace, which was all dark wood and deep eaves. It had been taken over by the Communists for half a century, he explained, but when he returned to it in 1996 after the fall of Communism, he found it exactly as he had left it as a child. “They stole the silver,” he joked, but every other piece of furniture, which had been put into a vault, was meticulously restored. Sitting under a Klimt light, eating lamb chops that he had prepared, we listened to stories of the great figures of the 20th century: Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII, the Shah of Iran and Lillibet, his name for the queen. In my notebook I wrote: “One of the funniest stories he told us the other night was of Lillibet welcoming the president of Portugal after Salazar. They were watching a display of the queen’s horses and a couple of them farted loudly. After this happened several times, Lillibet whispered to the Portuguese president, ‘I’m sorry.’ To this, the president of Portugal replied, ‘Oh, I thought it was the horse!’”

It was exciting to travel like this. There was an air of the innocence of prewar Europe about the journey. It reminded me of the opening stanza of T.S. Eliot’s “ The Waste Land ” (1922): “And when we were children, staying at the arch-duke’s, / My cousin’s, he took me out on a sled, / And I was frightened.” In Istanbul, thanks again to my girlfriend’s connections, we were put up in a hotel, owned by one of Turkey’s richest families, on Taksim Square.

I am standing in that square now. I am with Eyüp Özer. In 2005, this young Marxist student, whom I had met by chance at a book launch, had acted as my guide and translator. This is the first time we have set eyes on each other since I left Istanbul 15 years ago. Eyüp, too, is almost 40 now, with much less hair, the lines of his rugged features more deeply etched. Still a Marxist, he is employed by a metalworkers’ union. It is strangely moving to be reunited with him. Through Eyüp, I had seen firsthand the rising wave of Islamism sweeping Turkey. In 2005, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had been recently elected and seemed like the bright new hope of liberal Islamist democracy. He had aspirations of Turkey joining the European Union. But 15 years on, dealing in a combustible mixture of historical nostalgia and nationalism that had swept the world from New Delhi to Washington, Erdoğan had turned nakedly authoritarian. Under him, Turkey consistently set global records for jailing journalists. “Our country has become much more conservative,” Eyüp said, “but young people are much more skeptical.”

Eyüp and I had had almost no contact in all these years and — walking through an Istanbul of gentrifying neighborhoods, now all cafes, vintage shops, wine bars and design studios, where there had once been crumbling oriel windows and weed-encrusted corbels — we tried to close the gap between past and present, alternating between the political and the personal, occasionally touching on those rare events that were a mixture of both.

He told me that he had read of my father’s assassination in 2011. The man who had been the focus of my book had gone on, just before its publication in 2009, to become governor of the province of Punjab. My father belonged to a westernized elite in Lahore that was very similar to the Kemalist elite — the avowedly secular followers of Atatürk, at whose remembrance I had only just been — whose members, for the most part, ruled Turkey for 80 of its 100-odd years as a modern republic. In office, my father had sought clemency for a poor Christian woman accused of blasphemy. This action alone released a firestorm of religious anger against him. Then, on a dismal winter day in January 2011, he was gunned down by his own bodyguard. His killer became a religious hero in Pakistan and my book was used, writes the journalist Declan Walsh in “ The Nine Lives of Pakistan ” (2020), “to portray Taseer as a fallen Muslim,” adding that “in Islamabad, devotees still flocked to the glittering tomb where Taseer’s assassin lay buried.”

Eyüp and I spoke of Pakistan, aware that a similar revolution, of class garbed in faith, had taken place in Turkey, too. He reminded me about the religious students we had spoken to at an Islamic cultural center on the Asian side. “We have a platonic love for the state,” they had said. “We love the state, but it doesn’t love us back.”

“Now,” Eyüp added with a bitter chuckle, “they have the state.”

Turkey’s secularism had been extreme. Head scarves were banned in public buildings; the state selected the country’s clergy, or ulema, and closely monitored their sermons for the slightest expression of religiosity; prayer beads or facial hair were viewed with suspicion. Many whom we spoke to then had seen Turkish secularism as the means by which an entitled Kemalist oligarchy preserved its power.

On Taksim Square, now cut through with tunnels and underpasses, Eyüp pointed out the scene of a violent confrontation in 2013 between Erdoğan’s regime and its critics, many of whom were university students. Every inch of this city had been fought over. In Gezi Park, protests against its development were put down with brute force and, three years later, in 2016, when sections of Turkey’s military, traditionally the protector of its secular state culture, attempted a coup against the regime and failed, Erdoğan was handed the perfect opportunity to purge every aspect of public life, from the army to academia, of his political opponents.

Even as we spoke of politics, Eyüp and I were circling around changes nearer to home. At a coffee shop on İstiklal, a major pedestrian thoroughfare, which had lost its wonderful air of political foment and beer-drinking students in side alleys — it now possessed a McDonald’s, a Starbucks and a Sunglass Hut — Eyüp said, “Personal things have changed a lot, too. You never stay as you are when you’re 23.”

Here was an opening to confront the elephant that had accompanied us on our walk through Istanbul. In 2005, I had a girlfriend. Today, as Eyüp knew from my Instagram, I was married to a tall white man from Tennessee. I felt I needed to catch Eyüp up on that tiny cataclysm in my personal life, but I had a built-in reluctance to speak of my sexuality outside the safety of cities like New York. I was habitually discreet about it when traveling, but my hesitations around Eyüp had more to do with what a mess I had been, sexually speaking, at the age of 25. Sex with men, even then, had always been part of my life, forming an unbroken arc from preadolescence into adulthood. But at that age, I lacked the means to connect desire with love, and I had never been with anyone who identified as gay.

In Istanbul, when I had last encountered Eyüp, I had found a gay life that was much closer to what I had grown up with in India. Though still deeply closeted, on that visit I was a regular at the Firuzağa hammam, set among the winding cobblestone streets of the Çukurcuma neighborhood. It was nice to come in from the cold, stash one’s clothes in a locker and wander through the squalid warren of marble-floored rooms, the domes pierced with tiny oculi, which allowed in a frosted, ethereal light. In the main room, scalloped with marble basins, there was a semblance of decorum, but in the side rooms, the men were young and frisky. We touched each other freely under our peshtemal , the small Turkish towels we were given. If things got too hot, we peeled off in twos and threes to more private alcoves. I remember a lot of laughter and playfulness, and then I remember walking back to Taksim Square, through the dark, winding streets, afraid of disease, afraid the wet hair around my ears would give me away to my girlfriend. I was at once deeply gratified and wretched with guilt.

The call to prayer sounded, jolting me out of this memory from 15 years ago. Eyüp sat in front of me, framed against a background of flower sellers and A.T.M.s, a mnemonic in the flesh. I wanted to use this moment to unite the person I had been then with the person I was now. Biting the bullet, I said, “I’m married to a man now.”

“I know,” he said. “And that’s great.”

It was done. I felt instantly lighter. It was as if a past self had come to stand behind who I was now and, in doing so, had surrendered his claim on the real estate of memory, allowing me to unite divided realities.

My younger self had been uneasy with the gay rights movement as it had continued to play out in the West. For a long time, I didn’t know why. I rationalized it to myself, feeling that we in the East had more urgent questions to deal with than sexuality. I told myself that we in places like India were in the grip of great human convulsions surrounding questions of history, religion and politics. Sexuality felt like the kind of fine-tuning that only rich Western societies could indulge in once the bigger issues had been put to rest. India, which would soon find itself in the throes of a majoritarian religious populism akin to Turkey’s, felt unsafe for so many groups of people — liberals, women, lower castes, its Muslim minority of about 200 million — that perhaps I believed, in 2005, that freedom functioned like a queue, and sexual orientation came last, some final frontier that only people in near-perfect societies could afford to deal with.

As Eyüp and I walked on, the Bosporus appearing down cambered streets in corridors of molten platinum, I was aware of a tendency we in countries like India and Turkey had of putting grand abstractions before concrete ideas of personal freedom and happiness. At the Hagia Sophia, the call to prayer was sounding for the first time in some 85 years. In July of 2020, Erdoğan had turned what had been a basilica for over 900 years, a mosque for almost 500 and a museum in the modern era back into a mosque. The change embodied the mixture of historical nostalgia and abstract passion that energized his authoritarian rule. Watching the throng outside, washing for prayer in the golden sunshine, I asked Eyüp if people supported its reversion to a mosque. The answer he gave me stood as a perfect encapsulation of what I had been telling him earlier, of the fervor the demagogue provides when he cannot provide a daily wage and a good job. “Before, even hard-line Islamists did not care about it,” Eyüp said, “but once Erdoğan raised it, everybody loved it and they jumped on the bandwagon.”

We stopped short at the entrance. A green-and-gold mosaic of the Madonna with child looked down on a constant stream of devotees in head scarves and heavily veiled women in black. “That’s a strange choice of entrance for a mosque,” Eyüp said with a grin. He didn’t want to go in. The pandemic was raging in the city. Numbers were spiking, but because the Turkish lira was in free fall, the authorities were resisting the economic hardship of another lockdown.

THIS RETURN TO Istanbul, bridging the chasm of years, felt like a return to self. But in more concrete ways, the theme of exile was all around me, too. On the Galata Bridge, with its permanent fixture of anglers, rods hovering over the silver water of the Golden Horn like so many tiny tower cranes, Eyüp, glimpsing the traffic of Uzbeks, Syrians, Afghans and Africans, said, “It has become a refugee city.”

Of the close to 3.8 million Syrians in Turkey, at least 540,000 lived in Istanbul. “There is huge racism against them,” Eyüp said. After my time in Turkey in 2005, I had taken the overnight train from Istanbul to Aleppo and spent almost three months in Syria’s capital of Damascus. I was haunted by the fate of that country.

It was why I now sought out Ibrahim M., who asked that I not use his surname in order to protect his family. He was a 30-year-old from the northwestern Syrian city of Idlib. He had been arrested twice, first by the Assad regime, which imprisoned and tortured him, and then by the Islamists who had taken over his region of the now Balkanized country. Ibrahim had come to Istanbul via the southern Turkish province of Hatay, and he was one of at least hundreds of thousands who now lived in a partial state of limbo in Turkey. He came to me through a Syrian acquaintance living in New York, who had been part of the volunteer organization known as the Syria Civil Defense, or the White Helmets.

He met me at my hotel. He was dressed in closefitting jeans, wore aviators and appeared muscular under his thick maroon sweater. The reddish tint of his beard, his hazel eyes and pale skin gave him the air of someone from the Black Sea or the Caucasus. In the taxi over to one of the many Syrian enclaves that had appeared in Istanbul, Ibrahim was quick to tell me that, though he could barely afford it, he lived with his wife and 6-year-old daughter in Galata, where people were kinder to foreigners. “I cannot say that people are racist,” he said, choosing his words carefully, “but I cannot say they are not.” When I asked him a political question about Syria, he froze, indicating that we should not speak of these things in the taxi. He later explained that while he had some basic papers that allowed him to be in Istanbul, his wife had none. His application for Turkish citizenship (which was granted in September 2021) had been held up owing to security concerns. His parents had gotten theirs, but they were in Hatay. Ibrahim had not seen them in three years.

The neighborhood of Fatih, with its beautiful 15th-century Ottoman mosque of low domes and pointed minarets sheathed in bluish lead, and its delicate linden and plane trees, had turned into a little Syria. Eyüp and I had spent a fair amount of time here in 2005, but it was unrecognizable now. Ibrahim led me through street after street abounding with Syrian sweet shops, supermarkets, perfumeries and restaurants. At Buuzecedi, a famous Damascene restaurant, men in bomber jackets sat at small, close-set tables, hunched over tea and falafel. “It’s just like Damascus inside,” Ibrahim said. We stopped at supermarkets packed with cheese and dates and fava beans, which were used to cook foul, a cumin-seasoned stew. Ibrahim had me taste freshly made pastries such as knafeh and hulwa, which the baker pressed into a bed of fragranced pistachio before handing it to me. Ibrahim said he came to this neighborhood once a month to get all his rations.

His nerves had abated while we were in the Syrian enclave, but as we wandered down a sloping street that culminated in a ministry for foreigners and immigrants with a long line outside, his fears returned.

“It was full of harsh,” he said of his 54 days in Assad’s prison, where he had been sent for participating in the demonstrations that followed the Arab Spring. “These are not my real teeth. I lost my hair. I lost my mind.”

Ibrahim could not afford to take Turkey for granted. It was all he had. Outside the ministry, he had seen two men in uniforms whom he referred to as “the red police.” They were vigilantes, known locally as “Erdoğan’s sons,” who could haul him in at any time and question him. They could separate him from his wife and their daughter. In that moment, I felt all the precariousness of his life in Turkey, the closeness of the trauma in Syria and the uncertainty of being practically stateless. Like a man reflecting on the spent passion of youth, he said, “I must stay and remain quiet.”

Ibrahim spoke more directly to me than he might have imagined. I could no more return to India than he could return to Syria. In 2019, the government of Narendra Modi, which had modeled itself on Erdoğan’s ethnonationalism, had, in retaliation for a cover story I had written for Time about Modi’s re-election, stripped me of a crucial citizenship document and blacklisted me from the country I grew up in. (Modi’s government did not respond to T’s request for comment.) I had been living with the dull pain of exile these many months but hadn’t realized, until that moment, how much my need to meet someone like Ibrahim and my grief over what had happened in Syria were a sublimated version of my own for India. What we thought was home no longer existed.

“If one loses [one’s own country],” writes the German journalist Sebastian Haffner in his memoir, “Defying Hitler” (1939), as translated by Oliver Pretzel, “one almost loses the right to love any other country.” Without that delightful game of give and take, of receiving and offering hospitality, of discovering new places out of the security of having one’s own, Haffner continues, one becomes “a man without a shadow, without a background, at best tolerated somewhere.”

Ibrahim and I stood that afternoon on a precipice overlooking a city of terra-cotta roofs. Behind us, the domes of the 16th-century Süleymaniye Mosque, the masterpiece of the greatest of all Ottoman architects, Sinan, loomed. Ahead, under wheeling flights of gulls, cloud shadows had appeared on the Bosporus, inky blots that gave an illusion of stillness, even as they raced over the quicksilver face of the strait. Ibrahim, who was determined to turn his back on Syria and look only to the future, said he wanted eventually, as his brother already had, to go to Europe. “But I don’t want to go in the illegal way,” he said. “I can’t risk my daughter.”

AS MY TIME in Istanbul drew to an end, my past in the city lost its special edge. I was able to restore truer ways of feeling to certain memories that a younger, more fearful self had falsified and that the passage of time had made inviolate.

In 2005, I had left this city in a fever dream of bottled-up desire. A gay couple I had been staying with after my girlfriend went back to England for Christmas had taken me on my last night to a club called Love. There, in a dark room bathed in black light, man-smelling, stale with sweat and cologne, a show was about to begin. On a stage were four men in white briefs, their shaved bodies taut and sinewy. They held great globs of neon green and orange paint in their hands. The music began. A hush fell over the crowd. In the purple shade, the men danced closer together, their thighs brushing against one another’s. The first green gash of paint across the torso of one of the men sent the crowd into a frenzy. The paint changed hands, the tempo rose, the men pawed each other freely, using touch and color to shake off their invisibility.

Arousal gave way to fulfillment. Beautiful young Turkish men paired off. I felt devastated about the lie that stopped me from joining them. I wrote about that night in my book, giving it a political cast, but not about how I had truly felt. Life is full of unanswered desires, but there is a special regret about those weaknesses that prevent us from being more fully ourselves. The next morning, as snow began to fall over Istanbul, I boarded the Taurus Express for Aleppo, brimming with unconfessed yearning.

“I can’t compete with the other intimacies in your life,” my girlfriend told me the following year, 2006, once we were back in London. Love and sex by then had ceased to be disconnected for me, and I was deep in the middle of an intense but toxic love affair with a young man who also had a girlfriend and who was also ostensibly straight. It was a horrible, painful quadrangle in which deceit fed passion, and it was a relief to be released from it. But I was to spend many more years in India in a state of sexual limbo, trying desperately to compartmentalize my desire for men, before I could come to a true place of transparency, a place where the inner and outer lives were one.

“Look, men have been sleeping with men for thousands of years,” James Baldwin tells Richard Goldstein in 1988 in “ The Last Interview ,” “and raising tribes. This is a Western sickness, it really is. It’s an artificial division. Men will be sleeping with each other when the trumpet sounds. It’s only this infantile culture which has made such a big deal of it.” At 25, though I disliked secrecy, nothing seemed more natural to me than dating women and occasionally having sex with men.

I had been thinking about Baldwin a lot on this second trip to Istanbul. From 1961, for about 10 years on and off, this city had been a refuge to him. Quoting Baldwin’s biographer Fern Marja Eckman, Magdalena J. Zaborowska writes in “ James Baldwin’s Turkish Decade: Erotics of Exile ” (2009), “whenever closer hideaways fail to immunize him against his own social susceptibility,” he came to Istanbul, adding that the city served him “as a neither-here-nor-there liminal space.”

The writer had been with me all this while in Istanbul. If he had shown me why I was justified in feeling as I had about sexual identity at the age of 25, he also showed me how I was wrong. For one, societies do not deal comprehensively with a single area of human freedom — be it gender, race or religion — before moving on to another. As Baldwin himself saw, “The sexual question and the racial question have always been intertwined,” and a society must fight for justice on many fronts at once. Two — and more important — I owed my entire happiness to the gay rights movement that had made it possible for me to live in safety with my husband in New York.

Looking out now on the mirrored face of Istanbul, this city of sky and water with its many moods, I was happy to have exchanged grander narratives for feeling easier in my skin. Sexuality was not everything, but nor was it so imperfect a barometer of our quest to be more truly ourselves. It was good to return to New York, having acted on what Baldwin had felt was not so much advice as a mere observation: “If you don’t live the only life you have, you won’t live some other life, you won’t live any life at all.”

Local production: Istanbul Tour Studio, istanbultourstudio.com

Aatish Taseer has been a contributing opinion writer since 2015. He is the author, most recently, of “The Way Things Were.” More about Aatish Taseer

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Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in Istanbul, Türkiye. Built between 532 and 537AD by Roman Emperor Justinian I as the Christian Cathedral of Constantinople.

Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque

Sultanahmet

Right in the heart of İstanbul’s historic center, this sacred Byzantine building remains an important symbol of power.

Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, Turkey

Topkapı Palace

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Chora Church

Kariye Mosque

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Suleymaniye Mosque

Süleymaniye Mosque

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Basilica Cistern

Basilica Cistern

This subterranean structure was commissioned by Emperor Justinian and built in 532. The largest surviving Byzantine cistern in İstanbul, it was…

Blue Mosque.

Blue Mosque

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Entrance To Bazaar

Grand Bazaar

The colourful and chaotic Grand Bazaar is the heart of İstanbul's Old City and has been so for centuries. Starting as a small vaulted bedesten (warehouse)…

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Pera Museum

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Turkey, Istanbul Modern, Turkeys premier modern art gallery showcasing contemporary international art and photography.

İstanbul Modern

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SALT Beyoğlu

SALT Beyoğlu

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Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı

Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı

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Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hamamı

Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hamamı

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Exterior of Dolmabahce Palace Selamlik Building.

Dolmabahçe Palace

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Barış Manço House

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İstiklal Caddesi

İstiklal Caddesi

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500px Photo ID: 155850215 - This stall was single handedly responsible for killing my waistline.You cannot travel to this fantastic city without sampling these fantastic sweets!

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Meshur Dondurmacı Ali Usta

Meshur Dondurmacı Ali Usta

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The Yapı Kredi Kültür Sanat building on İstiklal Caddei

Yapı Kredi Kültür Sanat

Towering over Galatasaray Sq, this sleek cultural centre affiliated with a major Turkish bank stages art exhibitions, hosts classical-music concerts, and…

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Spice Bazaar

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Hünkâr Kasrı

Hünkâr Kasrı

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Fatih district during sunset with Valens' Aquaduct in background (top right).

Aqueduct of Valens

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Maçka Park entrance

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Turkish Hamam Culture Museum

Turkish Hamam Culture Museum

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SALT Galata

SALT Galata

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İstanbul Arastırmaları Enstitüsü

İstanbul Arastırmaları Enstitüsü

Associated with the nearby Pera Museum, this institution incorporates a publicly accessible research library focusing on the cultural and social history…

Beyazıt State Library

Beyazıt State Library

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Sphendone

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Gülhane Park

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Church of St Stephen of the Bulgars

Church of St Stephen of the Bulgars

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Koç Centre exterior

Koç University Research Centre for Anatolian Civilizations

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Depo

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The Eyup Sultan Mosque in Istanbul

Eyüp Sultan Mosque

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Rüstem Paşa Mosque

Rüstem Paşa Mosque

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Aşiyan Museum

Aşiyan Museum

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Women's Bazaar

Women's Bazaar

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Akbank Art Centre

Akbank Art Centre

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Yıldız Park

Yıldız Park

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Wednesday Market

Wednesday Market

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25 Best Things to Do in Istanbul

From historic squares to the Grand Bazaar, there's much to do in the Turkish metropolis.

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Surely there has never been a dull moment in Istanbul . An imperial capital for 1,700 years, the metropolis has long stood as a gateway between the East and West, and that has made it a hub for crossing cultures, religions, ideologies, and cuisine. And the legacy of the city — formerly Constantinople — has withstood the test of time. "It is a city with an incredible depth of culture, and history like no other," says Liam Dunch, product manager of Abercrombie & Kent, Europe. "Discovery through the stratification and the layers will be constant and unending. Observing the way that people of the city blend together the notions of the East and those of the West is an incredible experience."

Mina Agnos, president of Travelive and a Travel and Leisure A-List Advisor , agrees that the bustling city is a quintessential destination for anyone aiming to understand Turkey. "Every visit to Turkey either starts or ends with Istanbul," she adds. "It is a uniquely diverse city with so many unforgettable sites to discover." Read on to learn what these experts name as the best things to do in Istanbul.

Related : Travel + Leisure Readers' 3 Favorite Hotels in Istanbul of 2023

Experience Taksim Square.

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Taksim Square is in the heart of modern Istanbul, perched at the end of the famous pedestrian street Istiklal Caddesi. Past meets present here; at one end you have the grand Taksim Mosque, and at the other is the modern Ataturk Cultural Center . This is where the hum of Istanbul’s activity vibrates at its highest level.

Stroll down Istiklal Caddesi.

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Speaking of Istiklal Caddesi, this pedestrian-only walking street is the place to soak in the vibe of Istanbul. It is one of the most famous thoroughfares in the country today and is flanked by both Ottoman-era buildings and Art Nouveau and Art Deco structures. The buildings house everything from boutiques and art galleries to cafes, theaters, restaurants, and nightclubs.

Sample Turkish kebab.

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Turkish cuisine includes a dizzying array of grilled meats, seafood, salads, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern spices, rich desserts, coffee, and tea. When visiting Istanbul, you will want to try as many of the above as possible, but perhaps Turkish kebab especially. Made of marinated lamb or beef, the kebab is cooked on skewers and served alongside vegetables or wrapped up in lavash bread.

Visit the Galata Tower.

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Rising from the historic streets of Istanbul's Beyoglu district, Galata Tower was originally constructed as a watchtower during the Byzantine era. The structure that stands today, however, dates back to the 13th century and serves as a gallery and museum. A primary feature of the tower is a 360-degree observation deck that overlooks Istanbul.

Shop and party in Beyoglu.

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"The European side of Istanbul is home to the main historic district," says Agnos. "This side of the city is considered more 'Western' and it includes nightlife spots and more cosmopolitan districts such as Beyoglu and Karakoy. Beyoglu is famous for its vibrant atmosphere; this area offers wonderful stops for shopping, dining, and nightlife." It's likely you will spend a lot of time in Beyoglu should you travel to Istanbul. Steeped in more than a thousand years of history, the neighborhood is the beating heart of modern Istanbul on the European side of the city.

Grab a drink at Grand Hotel de Londres.

A grande dame of Istanbul, Grand Hotel de Londres is a beautifully preserved building from the 1800s. It's all about opulence here, from the rich color palette and glittering chandeliers to plush wall-to-wall carpeting. The terrace bar is a favorite hangout for tourists and locals; there's often live music here, plus beautiful sunset views over the Golden Horn. "This is a good suggestion for travelers that have been to Istanbul," says Agnos. "It's an off-the-beaten-path suggestion for visitors to really feel the vibe of the city."

Explore Karakoy.

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"Karakoy, the modern name for the old Galata, is part of the Beyoglu district," says Agnos. "It is known as one of the hippest and oldest neighborhoods in Istanbul, home to arty cafes, local boutiques, cocktail bars open late into the night, and art galleries. There is a growing local fashion and art scene in this area."

Marvel at the Blue Mosque.

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One of the most recognizable landmarks in Istanbul, the Blue Mosque (also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque) is a beacon in the city skyline. It is known for its gorgeous domes and six soaring minaret towers. The mosque dates back to the 17th century and is still a functioning mosque today.

Visit Hagia Sophia.

Not far from the Blue Mosque is the equally impressive Hagia Sophia. Originally built as a church where rulers of the empire were crowned, it was later converted to a mosque. Today it serves as a museum dedicated to Turkey, and it remains one of the most important monuments for both the Byzantine and Ottoman empires.

Roam the Hippodrome.

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Back when Istanbul was the imperial capital of Constantinople, it was known for its horse and chariot racing, and the Hippodrome was where these exciting, adrenaline-pumping races took place. While the original venue is no longer around, what stands in its place is Sultanahmet Square, where several monuments serve as reminders of the area's millennia-old past.

Explore the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum.

The Turkish and Islamic Art Museum is a revolutionary museum for Turkey, being the first in the country to showcase Turkish and Islamic artwork together. Opened in 1914, it was the last museum to open during the Ottoman Empire period. The museum has 1,700 pieces of art, and its carpet collection is among the most impressive in the world.

Journey underground at the Basilica Cistern.

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Istanbul's skyline soars with some of the world's most beautiful and historic monuments, and the beauty continues underneath the pavement, too, thanks to masterpieces of engineering and infrastructure. The primary water reservoir for Constantinople, the Basilica Cistern is cathedral-esque and a sight to see. Built during the 4th century, it is supported by 336 columns and can hold up to 17.5 million gallons of water.

Visit Topkapi Palace.

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This 15th-century palace was once the administrative headquarters for the Ottoman Empire. Now a museum, the venue is full of treasures, from walls festooned with gorgeous paintings to rooms that give way to sumptuous courtyards — you can even explore the opulent former harem. It's one of the best places in Istanbul to learn about the former grandeur of the Ottoman Empire.

Check out the Süleymaniye Mosque.

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Istanbul is not short on impressive mosques, and Süleymaniye Mosque is certainly one of its most beautiful. Considered the masterpiece of architect Mimar Sinan, the mosque was built in the 16th century to honor Sultan Süleyman, the longest-reigning sultan of the Ottoman Empire. The central dome stands at a staggering 154 feet tall and the interior is beautifully decorated with colors of gold, green, red, and blue.

Ferry to Istanbul’s Asian side.

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Istanbul stands as an important crossroads between Europe and Asia, and the city itself is divided between the two continents by the Bosphorus Strait. Be sure to immerse yourself in both sides of this rich city in order to best understand its history. There are more than 20 ferry routes across the Bosphorus, and the crossing takes only 15 minutes.

Admire Beylerbeyi Palace.

Across the Bosphorus, Beylerbeyi Palace is a 19th-century estate built as a summer palace for royalty. It was also used as a residence for visiting heads of state. The now-museum is a gorgeous example of interior design and architecture, with nods to both Ottoman and Neo-Baroque styles. The stunning gardens that surround the palace are equally impressive.

Shop around Kadikoy Market.

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Kadikoy Market is part of a buzzy bazaar on Istanbul's Asian side. Overlooking the Sea of Marmara, the market is a historic one, home to more than 4,000 vendors selling everything from fruits and vegetables to carpets, pottery, textiles, and paintings. It is also one of the best spots in the city to sample Turkish street food and Turkish delights, a jelly candy made with rosewater.

Walk the Kuzguncuk neighborhood.

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Sandwiched between Uskudar and Beylerbeyi, Kuzguncuk is one of the most lively and vibrant neighborhoods in Istanbul's Asian side, and it has always been a melting pot of religions and cultures. You'll see mosques, churches, and synagogues here, plus the neighborhood's funky mishmash of coffee shops, restaurants, tree-lined cobblestone streets, and brightly colored historic homes.

Bargain at the Grand Bazaar.

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Prepare to feast your eyes on the granddaddy of all covered markets. One of the world's oldest and largest venues of its kind, the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul contains a maze of streets and thousands of shops. Vendors sell everything you could possibly think of, so if you're a professional at haggling, this will be like your Super Bowl.

Get a serious scrubbing at Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı.

Wellness has been "on trend" in Turkey for hundreds of years, and visitors can step back into the old ways of wellness with a visit to the iconic Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamamı. The building dates back to the 16th century and serves as one of the top spots in the city for a classic hamam ritual today. Remember to book accordingly — the hamam is open to women in the morning and men in the afternoon.

Visit the Monastery of Zoodochos Pege.

This early Byzantine monastery has a history of miracles and legends tied to it, thanks to a spring that is believed to have magical powers. It's also set on a hilltop, making it a great place to take in city views.

Connect with the local community.

If you like to step into the shoes of a local when you travel, you can do that in Turkey. Agnos recommends visiting the island village of Bozcaada in August to harvest and sell tomatoes with the local community. Or, if you're in Bodrum, join the olive harvest that occurs between September 15 and December 25.

Enjoy the Mediterranean climate.

Istanbul may be a cosmopolitan city, but it is surrounded by nature at every turn, with coastal views, island-style living, forests, and parks. "There are many seaside promenades where locals walk, run, or socialize and hang out," says Dunch. "From early June to the end of September, public beaches on the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara are open." Dunch also recommends enjoying open-air concerts in the summer, or visiting Belgrad Forest, north of the city. "Around Prince's Island," he adds, "sailing and water sports are popular."

Discover your favorite ‘esnaf lokantası’.

Istanbul has some of the top restaurants in Europe, but local, homestyle street food cafes are where the city really shows its heart. "I recommend eating at a craftsmen's eatery," said Dunch. "They are referred to as 'esnaf lokantası,' frequented by shopkeepers and craftsmen in commercially vibrant areas, such as the markets, and they offer underrated and extremely tasty home-style cooking. This is as close as a visitor can get to the heart of Turkish cuisine."

Be entertained at Bomontiada.

The impressive Bomontiada complex is a center for the arts. There's the Ara Güler Museum, restaurants, and a calendar of outdoor concerts and movie screenings, making this the place to go for all forms of entertainment. It also happens to be housed within the once-abandoned Bomonti beer factory, and it was integral to helping redefine this formerly desolate part of the city.

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Istanbul receives over 13.1 million visitors in first 9 months

By daily sabah with aa.

People walk around Eminönü Square in Istanbul during celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye, Oct. 29, 2023. (AFP Photo)

Turkish metropolis Istanbul welcomed over 13.1 million foreign tourists in the first three quarters of 2023, official data shared Monday suggested, as this year’s robust momentum in the tourism sector reflected positively on the city spanning two continents.

According to a written statement from the Culture and Tourism Ministry, in September, Istanbul saw a 1.55% increase in arrivals when compared to the same month last year, with 1,631,963 foreign visitors.

The influx of foreign visitors to the city in September was led by arrivals from Russia (168,925), followed by Germany (119,681) and visitors arriving from Iran (111,688).

Some 87,670 U.S. tourists visited Istanbul in the same period. They were followed by 64,980 British visitors and 46,547 from France.

From January through September, Istanbul hosted 13.15 million foreigners, the data showed, up 11.61% compared to the same period last year.

Total arrivals to the city thus accounted for nearly a third of 39.2 million tourists who arrived in Türkiye in the nine months.

Tourism is a critical source of revenue for the country as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his government focus on reducing the current account deficit to tackle stubborn inflation.

Last year’s complete rebound from the pandemic fallout saw the number of tourists near a record, generating all-time high revenues and prompting the government to raise its annual estimates.

The government sees foreign arrivals reaching 60 million this year, which it estimates will hit 90 million in 2028.

For the income, it sees it rising to $55.6 billion this year, while it sees $100 billion in revenue from the sector five years from now.

The first choice for visitors arriving in the city via air in September was Istanbul Airport, holding a share of 73.30% among the total number of foreigners visiting.

In September, some 45,156 foreign visitors arrived in Istanbul by sea, with a growth rate of 24.81% compared to the same month a year ago.

Meanwhile, the occupancy rate of accommodation facilities in Istanbul in August was 68.33%, according to the data from the Culture and Tourism Ministry.

Tourism contributes about 10% to Türkiye’s gross domestic product (GDP). In addition, around 1.7 million people worked in accommodation and food services in 2022 – about 5% of total employment.

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Is it safe to travel to Türkiye right now? Latest travel advice

Here is everything we know about travelling to Türkiye amidst the conflict in Israel

Liv Kelly

Türkiye’s abundance of cultural heritage, fascinating historical sites, great architecture, food and people have made it a go-to holiday destination for decades. Istanbul is an incredibly vibrant city, which straddles two continents, but the country is also known for its beautiful landscape and coastlines. 

However, its proximity to the continuing conflict in Israel , which erupted on Saturday October 7, is causing concern about how safe it is to travel to this region of the world. Here is everything we know about travelling to Türkiye amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict. 

Is it safe to travel to Türkiye at the moment? 

Türkiye  has not been impacted by the conflict in Israel.  It depends on where in the country you’re travelling, but the majority of destinations in Türkiye are safe and tourist-friendly. Certain areas have experienced wildfires over the summer, and the UK Foreign Office estimates that the terrorist threat is ‘very high’. However, travelling to Türkiye is not advised against. 

How about Antalya? 

A city with gorgeous beaches which is full of ancient Greek and Roman remnants, Antalya is one of Türkiye’s fastest-growing tourist destinations.  

The province experienced wildfires earlier this year, which began in the forests of Kemer. However, the region has been considered a safe place to travel since the fires were brought under control. 

Is it safe to travel to Istanbul?

There is currently no official advice stating that it is unsafe to travel to Istanbul.

What is the UK Foreign Office saying? 

The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to anywhere within 10km of the border with Syria. It also advises against all but essential travel with Sirnak (city) and Hakkari (province). 

Travellers are free to visit the rest of Türkiye, but the advice is to remain vigilant. Political protests can break out unexpectedly and the country is considered to have a ‘very high’ threat of terrorist attacks. The webpage also states that Türkiye is prone to experiencing wildfires during the summer, and recommends taking care when driving through woodland areas. 

What about the Turkey Travel Advisory? 

The advice from the Turkey Travel Advisory is similar to that of the UK Foreign Office. It marks Sirnak, Hakkari and anywhere within 10 km of the Syrian Border as a level four, which means ‘do not travel’. 

Advice about the rest of Türkiye encourages travellers to stay alert, avoid demonstrations and crowds, and to monitor local media for up-to-date information. You can read more about the Turkey Travel Advisory’s recommendations on their webpage. 

How far is Türkiye from Israel? 

Türkiye is 879 km from Israel, or about an hour and a half flight. Türkiye is north of Israel, and the two countries do not share a border. 

Is travel to other countries near Israel safe?

The Foreign Office does not currently advise against travelling to countries bordering Israel, but advice may change quickly as the violence escalates. 

Read more about the latest  travel advice for Israel and Egypt  and Jordan . 

For more information on how to help those affected by the conflict, you can read our guide on where to donate here . 

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9 of the best restaurants in Istanbul

In 2023, Istanbul attracted more visitors than any other city, and its distinct and varied cuisine was undoubtedly part of the appeal. But to really taste the best of Turkey's continent-straddling food capital, it pays to step outside the historic centre.

There’s no shortage of good reasons to visit Istanbul — from its flagship attractions such as the Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern to the seductive rhythms of its busier neighbourhoods and the tranquillity of its islands. It’s not hard to see why it was recently named the world’s most visited city . Yet its standout feature is arguably its cuisine. This is a city that’s been home to an impressive, bustling dining scene for over two millennia — and, while many travellers limit themselves to the prix fixe menus in the Historical Peninsula, there’s a greater culinary depth available to those willing to venture beyond the touristy kebab shops. Here are nine of the city’s best dining options — restaurants that excite the locals and offer visitors something they’re unlikely to forget.  

1. Içli köfte at Seraf Vadi

Chef Sinem Özler’s second Seraf restaurant in the northern Istanbul neighbourhood of Vadi delivers an elevated culinary exploration of Turkey’s traditional flavours. The highlight of the menu is the içli köfte — a delicate shell made of bulgur wheat is stuffed with onions and minced meat, and served on top of velvety sour yoghurt. Opt for the tasting menu with wine pairings from expert sommelier Sabiha Apaydın. With high standards of service within a thoughtfully designed space, it's a flawless dining experience from start to finish.

turkish dish

2. Sweetbread kebab at Sadrazam Mahmut

This renowned kebab restaurant is located in the historic Sütlüce neighbourhood, once home to Istanbul's abattoirs, overlooking the calm waters of the Golden Horn. One of the pleasures of dining here is the warmth of Ilgın Kaya, the second-generation proprietor, who can often be found patrolling the floor from table to table, anticipating diners’ wishes. But the food is also exceptional, with the kitchen turning out some of the city’s finest offal dishes and buttery bulgur pilavs. For those who enjoy their offal, perhaps the best starting point is the uykuluk (sweetbread) kebab, which is grilled over a charcoal fire until perfectly crispy on the outside, while retaining a juicy interior.

3. Dates with roquefort cream at Smelt & Co

Among the cobblestone streets of Balat, a small facade and a humble door mark the entrance of Smelt and Co, one of the city’s most inventive and elegant restaurants. Inside, expect marble surfaces, terracotta-coloured walls and an impressive collection of plants. The chefs Samet Güneş and Sinan Bakkaloğlu offer a seasonal menu dominated by vegetables and seafood, making the most of local ingredients. While dishes rarely repeat, there’s one that seems to make regular appearances on the menu: dates filled with roquefort cream. The treacly richness of the dates, the sharp smell of the cheese and the briny roe topping all combine to create something memorable and extremely popular.

Restaurant

4. Onion dolma at Balat Sahil

Sahil Restaurant sits along the shores of the Golden Horn in the vibrant neighbourhood of Balat, once the heart of Istanbul's Jewish community and now a favourite haunt for photography enthusiasts drawn to its colourful houses. The restaurant embodies the essence of a traditional Turkish meyhane — atmospheric establishments where visitors linger over arrays of mezes, accompanied by glasses of the aniseed spirit, rakı. But what sets Sahil apart is the quality of its dishes, including their foraged mushroom mezes in the style of the Kastamonu region. Another highlight is the iconic onion dolma (stuffed onions). Expect a spiced rice-filled onion shell slowly braised in olive oil and broth, served at room temperature with a signature charred blister at the bottom.

5. Paça çorbası at Yanyalı Fehmi

On the Asian side of Istanbul in the Kadıköy neighbourhood, Yanyalı Fehmi is a century-old institution. As the quintessential esnaf lokantası (tradesmen's restaurant) it offers batch-cooked dishes designed to nourish the locals, with a menu that adapts to the seasons but always offers the type of comfort food cooked in homes across the country. Perhaps the most beloved dish here is the paça çorbası (trotter soup): tender veal trotters simmered in a silky, garlic-infused yoghurt broth.

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6. Turkish breakfast at Privato Cafe

Located in the shadow of the 670-year-old Galata Tower, this trendy hotspot serves one of the most sensational Turkish breakfast spreads in the city. Guests are treated to a lavish feast that practically spills over the table, starting with staples such as fresh tomatoes, salt-cured olives, cucumber, cheeses, dips and jams, many of which are made in house. Then comes the second wave: sizzling eggs, grilled spicy sucuk sausage and stacks of savoury and sweet pastries. All this is accompanied by a steaming samovar of bottomless, fragrant Turkish black tea.

7. Tarama with bottarga at Rutin

Renowned throughout the city for her pastries, Gizem Yavuz made her first solo venture into the cafe scene last year with Rutin, a cosy spot tucked away on a quaint street in Beyoğlu that quickly became a local favourite. Later in the year when Kaan Demirci joined as chef, Rutin found its culinary identity offering an impressive menu featuring dishes such as dry-aged mackerel marinated in homemade soy sauce, and lamb shoulder with fermented habanero sauce. However, the tarama (whipped roe) spread is arguably the dish to try, with its indulgently thick texture and apricot-coloured pieces of local bottarga. Beyond the food, the cafe has the feel of a listening bar, with a top-notch sound system and curated vinyl selection. Catch the must-attend collaborative dining events they host with the city’s famous events collective Tanrı Misafiri.

dessert

8. Ayva tatlısı with kaymak at Sakarya Tatlıcısı

Tucked in a side street of the fish market in Beyoğlu, Sakarya Tatlıcısı is an unassuming bakery that has made traditional Turkish sweets and pastries for the past 67 years. Among the fatty poğaça breads, syrup-drenched baklavas and flaky börek pastries, one delicacy steals the show: the ayva tatlısı (poached quince). The quinces are cooked slowly in a sugary sherbet, yielding a ruby-red colour and sumptuous, almost gooey texture. Served alongside a generous dollop of buffalo milk kaymak (a dairy dish similar to clotted cream), this seasonal treat is available only during quince season, from autumn to early spring.

9. Baby calamari at Cadde Nazende

One of Istanbul’s best-kept secrets is tucked away in a side street off the fancy Bağdat Avenue. Cadde Nazende is a self-proclaimed Mediterranean restaurant that’s only recently caught the attention of the city’s gourmands. It excels in offal dishes like grilled sweetbreads, tripe stew and kid liver, but its crowning achievement is the melt-in-your–mouth baby calamari. The outside patio, warm service and extensive menu makes it ideal for families.

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Travel to Istanbul: Stepping into a treasure trove of history

Travel & tourism.

Turkey’s port city on Bosphorous is a mosaic of Ottoman architecture and incredible food

Hagia Sophia

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The Greeks called it Byzantium. It was Constantinople in the history books. I know it as Istanbul. The largest city in Turkey languished on my bucketlist for a long time. That was until last week. I flew Turkish Airlines to the city that straddles Europe and Asia, making it a melting pot of cultures.

Istanbul was everything and more than what I had read and imagined. History and culture remained entwined so inextricably that every step was a journey into the past. Three days with Tour Istanbul gave me a glimpse of the Ottoman capital, and I felt that there was much more to the city than I had seen. And when I left, my heart kept saying, “I’ll be back.”

Watch: A swing through to Istanbul

The Bosphorus Sea — the strait linking the Black Sea to the Mediterranean through the Marmara Sea — is central to life in Istanbul. Many Turks cross the waterway every day, living on the Asian coast and working in Europe. And vice versa. So, it was only natural that the strait was crucial to my discovery of Turkey’s largest port city.

Every day, during my stay in the Address Istanbul, I motored through the Bosphorus Bridge (15 July Martyrs Bridge) and once rode the ferry as we explored the city. But nothing could beat the boat ride through the Bosphorus, which certainly was the highpoint of my stay in Istanbul.

It was a cold, dank morning with mist hovering over the blue waters as I boarded the yacht Kareem Denizcilik at the Uskudar Pier. As the winds picked up speed, my icy cold fingers reached for hot Turkish tea. I braved the elements and stayed outside the cabin on the boat to take in the sights before alighting at the Ciragan Palace Kempinski Hotel.

Bosphourus

There was something magical about the Bosphorus. The undulating waters, the steady stream of ferries, tankers, and cruise ships, the three bridges, and the palaces and heritage buildings on the banks form a kaleidoscope of images that kept playing on a loop. I just stood and watched in awe. It was simply stunning.

I had a sampling of the Bosphorus a couple of days earlier. The dinner at Chacha Balik restaurant on the Asian side and breakfast at Dolmabahce Palace Cafe in Europe were special. What better ambience than the backdrop of the Bosphorus Bridge, although chilly winds drove us indoors? I will also remember it for my first Turkish coffee, sipped between bites of baklavas slathered with cream.

My first trip across the Bosphorus was to the sets of Kurulus: Osman (Establishment Osman). As OTT platforms and web series shrunk the entertainment world, Turkish television series have soared in popularity. After being dubbed into several languages and shown on several networks, the TV series now boast audiences beyond the Arab world and have a worldwide fan base. “It’s become like K-pop. We have Latin Americans coming to the sets,” our guide told us as we drove past the hills to a forested area.

Nestled in a valley of Riva, Beykoz district, are the sets of a village with hut-like structures that brought the Ottoman saga to life. Kurulus: Osman , currently in the fifth season, has been wildly popular after the prequel Dirilis: Ertugrul (Resurrection: Ertugrul) made waves for five years till 2019. The runaway success prompted the producers to turn the sets into a tourist attraction, where visitors dress up in their favourite Alps and Hatun characters and re-enact some scenes. And yes, I got to shake the bloodied hands of the lead actor Burak Ozicivit, who came off after filming a battle scene.

That was my first taste of the Ottoman Empire, which eventually ruled Europe, Asia and the Middle East after coming to power in 1299. The Ottoman past is a recurring theme in Istanbul: two of the three Bosphorus bridges are named after the Ottoman kings Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge and Yavuz Sultan Selim.

The Ottoman palaces and heritage structures bring hordes of tourists to Istanbul. I made it to the Beylerbeyi Palace on the Asian side of the Bosphorus before it closed for the day. Commissioned by Sultan Abdulaziz, the Ottoman-style palace was built between 1861 and 1865 as a summer residence. A pool and fountain are the main features of the reception hall that hosted heads of state.

I caught a glimpse of the Dolmabahce Palace on the European coast, the largest monoblock palace in Turkey at 45,000sqm. Since a visit was not on the agenda, I missed seeing the fusion of Baroque, Neoclassical, and Ottoman styles of architecture.

The Bosphorus Bridge

A walk through the streets of Kuzguncuk in Uskudar district brought me face-to-face with buildings from another era. Painted wooden houses, plane trees, cafes and patisseries lined the steep roads of Kuzguncuk, which faces the Black Sea on the Asian coast. Home to a mix of Turks, Armenians, Greeks and Jews, the Kuzguncuk residents are called the Brotherhood of Religions, as the neighbourhood houses mosques, synagogues and churches.

I swung by the Galata port one morning before hitting the hippest neighbourhood in Istanbul. Karakoy was indeed a surprise packet. A bustling area with sheesha cafes, taverns, cake shops, designer boutiques and street art, the neighbourhood has a vibrant vibe, which I’m sure will be ramped up when night falls and multi-hued bulbs light up the street.

A trip to Istanbul would be incomplete without a visit to the famed Hagia Sophia, which is a mosque and museum. So after hurrying to the Hippodrome in Sultan Ahmet Square to see the Obelisk of Theodosius (the Egyptian obelisk of Pharoah Thutmose III was re-erected in Constantinople by the Roman emperor Theodosius I in the 4th century), I quickly scurried across to see the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.

The mosques of Instanbul

Taksim Mosque

Turkish mosques are different, with distinct flat, semi-circular domes and thin, tall spires. They are beautiful. A quick Google reference tells me that they reflect Ottoman architectural styles with Byzantine influence. I had earlier seen the impressive Dolmabahce Mosque on the waterfront, the ornate Nusretiye Mosque, the imposing New Mosque (Yeni Camii) and later the Taksim Mosque.

After a descent into the cavernous Basilica Cistern, a subterranean Byzantine water storage structure built in 532, I headed to Taksim Square to see the Republic Monument. That was followed by a stroll down Istiklal Street, which reminded me of Meyondong Street in Seoul. But bigger and with more people. At times, it felt as if a sea of humanity was coming towards me. I was jolted out of the stupor by the clanging bell of an old tram that trundled by.

Earlier, I had studiously avoided shopping while wandering through the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, packed with shoppers and tourists. A trip to the Grand Bazaar was scrapped, so it made sense to shop at Istiklal Street. I picked up some baklavas on the way, having gorged on them in the past few days.

Turkish television series

I’ve had baklavas in the past, but these were so much better. Not just baklavas, Turkish food generally sent my restraint out of the window. I avoid bread, but simit (sesame-encrusted round bread) was sensational. And cheese, so many different types. I love Turkish kebabs, but the national dish of sucuk or sujuk (spicy beef sausage) was so delicious that I ditched the kebabs. I tucked into some Ali Nazik (lamb stew) too.

The food was so good that I dreaded stepping on a weighing scale. Istanbul was indeed a gastronomic delight. It will stay with me, along with the sights and sounds of the Bosphorus.

Byzantium, Constantinople or Istanbul, the name doesn’t matter. With its culture and heritage, the throbbing city is a must-see destination. History stalks you at every step.

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Hürriyet Daily News

  • Türkiye
  • Arts & Life

Istanbul eyes 20 million tourists

  • January 06 2024 07:00:31

Istanbul eyes 20 million tourists

Istanbul is setting a higher target in tourism , aiming to welcome 20 million foreign visitors, says Firuz Bağlıkaya, the president of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies ( TÜRSAB ).

Tourists from more than 200 countries visit the city, Bağlıkaya said, adding that most of the international holidaymakers came from Russia, Germany, Iran, the United States, the United Kingdom, Iran, Saudi Arabia, France and Italy last year.

“We estimate that more than 17 million tourists visited the city in 2023,” he said in a statement.

According to the latest official data, foreign tourist arrivals in Istanbul increased by 9 percent in January-November 2023 from the same period of 2022 to more than 16 million people.

“Istanbul is the city of culture, arts and gastronomy, attracting a large number of visitors. Some 76 restaurants in the city are listed in the Michelin Guide,” he said, noting that in 2022, 86 museums in Istanbul received 5.8 million visits.

Bağlıkaya also said that in the first 11 months of last year, 219 cruise ships visited Istanbul, bringing more than 392,000 visitors.

“Istanbul has a huge potential in cruise tourism. As TÜRSAB, we are working on projects to realize this potential. For instance, we carry cruise passengers who arrive at the port directly to the historical peninsula with the tram to avoid the traffic jam. This way, visitors save time.”

Istanbul is also an important hub for medical tourism, according to Bağlıkaya.

“There are 188 hospitals, 79 medical centers and 435 clinics and outpatient clinics in the city with certificates from the Health Ministry for medical tourism. The number of travel agencies providing services in the field of health tourism has increased to 590,” he furthered.

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History Daily

Jet-Setters' Paradise: The Top Travel Destinations of 2024

Posted: March 15, 2024 | Last updated: March 15, 2024

<p>Nestled amidst Montana's rugged mountains, Big Sky is swiftly becoming synonymous with luxury. The opening of Montage Big Sky in 2021 elevated the town to a premier ski resort destination, complemented by the expansion of Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. With an impressive 400-inch snowfall average, it's a haven for skiers. Yet, its appeal extends beyond the slopes, with a burgeoning culinary scene highlighted by events like the Savor Big Sky Winter Wine Dinner, featuring renowned chef Nick Anderer. The town's ascent continues with the return of the Savor Big Sky food and wine festival in summer and the upcoming debut of the lavish One&Only Moonlight Basin for the next ski season. As Big Sky climbs to new heights, it promises an unforgettable blend of luxury and adventure in the heart of the Rockies.</p>

Big Sky, Montana

Welcome aboard our journey through the world's most captivating destinations in 2024! From the sun-kissed shores of Cartagena to the historic streets of Uzbekistan, join us as we explore the globe's most enticing locales and uncover the latest trends in travel. Whether you're seeking adventure in the rugged mountains of Albania or indulgence in the luxury resorts of Tainan, Taiwan, our collection promises to be your ultimate guide to the top travel destinations of the year. With insider tips, immersive descriptions, and exciting updates on upcoming events and attractions, get ready to embark on an unforgettable voyage of discovery with us. So pack your bags, buckle up, and let's set sail on an adventure of a lifetime!

Nestled amidst Montana's rugged mountains, Big Sky is swiftly becoming synonymous with luxury. The opening of Montage Big Sky in 2021 elevated the town to a premier ski resort destination, complemented by the expansion of Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. With an impressive 400-inch snowfall average, it's a haven for skiers. Yet, its appeal extends beyond the slopes, with a burgeoning culinary scene highlighted by events like the Savor Big Sky Winter Wine Dinner, featuring renowned chef Nick Anderer. The town's ascent continues with the return of the Savor Big Sky food and wine festival in summer and the upcoming debut of the lavish One&Only Moonlight Basin for the next ski season. As Big Sky climbs to new heights, it promises an unforgettable blend of luxury and adventure in the heart of the Rockies.

<p>In Istanbul, the allure of the old world blends seamlessly with the vibrancy of the new, creating an irresistible tapestry of culture and luxury. Galataport, once a historic waterfront district, has undergone a stunning revitalization, now greeting visitors arriving by cruise ship with Turkey's inaugural contemporary art museum, alongside a lively array of restaurants and boutiques. For those seeking opulent accommodations, Istanbul offers a new class of luxury hotels. The Peninsula Istanbul, a beacon of elegance, recently opened its doors just a stone's throw from Galataport, while the Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, a majestic 19th-century Ottoman palace, is nearing completion of an extensive redesign. Set against the backdrop of Istanbul's rich history and promising future, these hotels beckon travelers to indulge in the city's next chapter of grandeur and sophistication.</p>

Istanbul, Turkey

In Istanbul, the allure of the old world blends seamlessly with the vibrancy of the new, creating an irresistible tapestry of culture and luxury. Galataport, once a historic waterfront district, has undergone a stunning revitalization, now greeting visitors arriving by cruise ship with Turkey's inaugural contemporary art museum, alongside a lively array of restaurants and boutiques. For those seeking opulent accommodations, Istanbul offers a new class of luxury hotels. The Peninsula Istanbul, a beacon of elegance, recently opened its doors just a stone's throw from Galataport, while the Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, a majestic 19th-century Ottoman palace, is nearing completion of an extensive redesign. Set against the backdrop of Istanbul's rich history and promising future, these hotels beckon travelers to indulge in the city's next chapter of grandeur and sophistication.

<p>Welcome aboard our journey through the world's most captivating destinations in 2024! From the sun-kissed shores of Cartagena to the historic streets of Uzbekistan, join us as we explore the globe's most enticing locales and uncover the latest trends in travel. Whether you're seeking adventure in the rugged mountains of Albania or indulgence in the luxury resorts of Tainan, Taiwan, our collection promises to be your ultimate guide to the top travel destinations of the year. With insider tips, immersive descriptions, and exciting updates on upcoming events and attractions, get ready to embark on an unforgettable voyage of discovery with us. So pack your bags, buckle up, and let's set sail on an adventure of a lifetime!</p>   <p>Albania, nestled between Greece and Montenegro along the Adriatic coast, has emerged as a popular beach destination due to its affordability, drawing a surge in Italian tourists in 2023. The upcoming opening of a new airport in Vlorë in 2024 will enhance accessibility to its stunning coastline. However, Albania offers more than just beaches. With a rich cultural heritage blending Christian and Muslim influences, towns like Berat and Gjirokastër boast captivating historical centers, while the mountain landscapes of Theth offer scenic adventures. Additionally, Albania established Europe's first wild river national park around the Vjosa River in 2023, showcasing its pristine natural beauty. Whether exploring ancient history or enjoying outdoor adventures, Albania promises an unforgettable journey blending authenticity with natural wonders.</p>

Albania, nestled between Greece and Montenegro along the Adriatic coast, has emerged as a popular beach destination due to its affordability, drawing a surge in Italian tourists in 2023. The upcoming opening of a new airport in Vlorë in 2024 will enhance accessibility to its stunning coastline. However, Albania offers more than just beaches. With a rich cultural heritage blending Christian and Muslim influences, towns like Berat and Gjirokastër boast captivating historical centers, while the mountain landscapes of Theth offer scenic adventures. Additionally, Albania established Europe's first wild river national park around the Vjosa River in 2023, showcasing its pristine natural beauty. Whether exploring ancient history or enjoying outdoor adventures, Albania promises an unforgettable journey blending authenticity with natural wonders.

<p>Nestled along the scenic Douro River, Porto quietly emerges as a must-visit destination on the European traveler's radar. This charming UNESCO World Heritage Site, located less than 200 miles from the bustling capital of Lisbon, offers a perfect blend of historical allure and modern delights. One of its many draws is the region's famed wine culture, with production dating back to the 1750s. Visitors can indulge in tastings at the city's plethora of wineries, toasting to the rich heritage of Porto's viticulture. With exciting new properties like the Altis Porto Hotel and The Lince Santa Clara set to debut in 2024, travelers are eager to explore the innovative accommodations that promise to elevate their Porto experience. Whether savoring a glass of port overlooking the Douro or immersing oneself in the city's historic charm, Porto captivates with its timeless allure and modern flair.</p>

Porto, Portugal

Nestled along the scenic Douro River, Porto quietly emerges as a must-visit destination on the European traveler's radar. This charming UNESCO World Heritage Site, located less than 200 miles from the bustling capital of Lisbon, offers a perfect blend of historical allure and modern delights. One of its many draws is the region's famed wine culture, with production dating back to the 1750s. Visitors can indulge in tastings at the city's plethora of wineries, toasting to the rich heritage of Porto's viticulture. With exciting new properties like the Altis Porto Hotel and The Lince Santa Clara set to debut in 2024, travelers are eager to explore the innovative accommodations that promise to elevate their Porto experience. Whether savoring a glass of port overlooking the Douro or immersing oneself in the city's historic charm, Porto captivates with its timeless allure and modern flair.

<p>As anticipation builds for the third season of the HBO hit show "White Lotus," which is set to film in Thailand, Koh Samui emerges as a must-visit destination on the tourism map. With the island poised to feature prominently in the upcoming season, travelers have the opportunity to experience its unparalleled beauty and luxury before the masses arrive. At the heart of the experience lies the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, an idyllic retreat nestled among lush hillside villas, a private stretch of sand, and a breathtaking waterfront infinity pool. Guests can indulge in ultimate relaxation while immersing themselves in the island's stunning natural landscapes, from pristine beaches to jungle waterfalls. And let's not forget about the culinary delights awaiting exploration – Koh Samui is renowned for its fresh cuisine, featuring delicacies such as oysters, prawns, and salted duck eggs. Whether lounging in luxury at the Four Seasons or venturing out to discover the island's treasures, Koh Samui promises an unforgettable escape before it becomes the next hotspot on the White Lotus trail.</p>

Koh Samui, Thailand

As anticipation builds for the third season of the HBO hit show "White Lotus," which is set to film in Thailand, Koh Samui emerges as a must-visit destination on the tourism map. With the island poised to feature prominently in the upcoming season, travelers have the opportunity to experience its unparalleled beauty and luxury before the masses arrive. At the heart of the experience lies the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, an idyllic retreat nestled among lush hillside villas, a private stretch of sand, and a breathtaking waterfront infinity pool. Guests can indulge in ultimate relaxation while immersing themselves in the island's stunning natural landscapes, from pristine beaches to jungle waterfalls. And let's not forget about the culinary delights awaiting exploration – Koh Samui is renowned for its fresh cuisine, featuring delicacies such as oysters, prawns, and salted duck eggs. Whether lounging in luxury at the Four Seasons or venturing out to discover the island's treasures, Koh Samui promises an unforgettable escape before it becomes the next hotspot on the White Lotus trail.

<p>Cartagena, Colombia, is solidifying its status as a luxurious escape on the Caribbean coast. In 2023, Casa Pestagua, a boutique hotel housed within a restored 17th-century building in the historic center, debuted, with plans for bungalows on Isla Barú underway. Sustainability-conscious travelers can find refuge at Blue Apple Beach, a B Corp certified eco-hotel on Tierra Bomba Island powered by solar energy. The spotlight on Cartagena intensifies with Disney's "Encanto" tour of Colombia in 2024, while upcoming developments, including new nonstop flights from Atlanta by Delta Air Lines, the forthcoming Four Seasons hotel, and an airport expansion, promise continued growth and accessibility for visitors seeking luxury experiences in this enchanting city.</p>

Cartagena, Colombia

Cartagena, Colombia, is solidifying its status as a luxurious escape on the Caribbean coast. In 2023, Casa Pestagua, a boutique hotel housed within a restored 17th-century building in the historic center, debuted, with plans for bungalows on Isla Barú underway. Sustainability-conscious travelers can find refuge at Blue Apple Beach, a B Corp certified eco-hotel on Tierra Bomba Island powered by solar energy. The spotlight on Cartagena intensifies with Disney's "Encanto" tour of Colombia in 2024, while upcoming developments, including new nonstop flights from Atlanta by Delta Air Lines, the forthcoming Four Seasons hotel, and an airport expansion, promise continued growth and accessibility for visitors seeking luxury experiences in this enchanting city.

<p>In 2024, Paris, France, takes center stage as the International Olympic Committee introduces four new summer events, including the exciting addition of breakdancing. As the world converges on France's capital from July 26 to August 11 for this monumental occasion, all eyes will be on the tracks, courts, and pools where history will be made. Amidst the athletic fervor, Paris' top hotels will be vying for the attention of luxury travelers, offering unparalleled experiences and indulgent amenities to complement the Olympic excitement. From iconic landmarks to haute cuisine, Paris awaits travelers with a wealth of cultural treasures and unforgettable moments, making it the ultimate destination for an extraordinary Olympic experience in 2024.</p>

Paris, France

In 2024, Paris, France, takes center stage as the International Olympic Committee introduces four new summer events, including the exciting addition of breakdancing. As the world converges on France's capital from July 26 to August 11 for this monumental occasion, all eyes will be on the tracks, courts, and pools where history will be made. Amidst the athletic fervor, Paris' top hotels will be vying for the attention of luxury travelers, offering unparalleled experiences and indulgent amenities to complement the Olympic excitement. From iconic landmarks to haute cuisine, Paris awaits travelers with a wealth of cultural treasures and unforgettable moments, making it the ultimate destination for an extraordinary Olympic experience in 2024.

<p>Escape the crowds of Bali and discover the serene beauty of Sumba, Indonesia. This island paradise prioritizes community consciousness and sustainability while offering remote villages, untouched forests, and world-class surf breaks. Despite its vast size - over 4,000 square miles - Sumba remains relatively undiscovered internationally. Nihi Sumba resort first put the island on luxury seekers' radar in 2012, and since then, it has welcomed new eco-resorts like The Sanubari and Cap Karoso. With its commitment to preserving nature and culture, Sumba offers a tranquil retreat with a purpose.</p>

Sumba, Indonesia

Escape the crowds of Bali and discover the serene beauty of Sumba, Indonesia. This island paradise prioritizes community consciousness and sustainability while offering remote villages, untouched forests, and world-class surf breaks. Despite its vast size - over 4,000 square miles - Sumba remains relatively undiscovered internationally. Nihi Sumba resort first put the island on luxury seekers' radar in 2012, and since then, it has welcomed new eco-resorts like The Sanubari and Cap Karoso. With its commitment to preserving nature and culture, Sumba offers a tranquil retreat with a purpose.

<p>Basking in the sun-drenched allure of the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic emerges as a shining star in the realm of tropical getaways. Recognized as the Caribbean's most sought-after destination by the Caribbean Tourism Organization last year, the Dominican Republic is poised for even greater acclaim as it undergoes a transformative luxury renaissance. With its pristine beaches, lush landscapes, and vibrant culture, the island beckons travelers seeking the ultimate in relaxation and indulgence. From world-class resorts to immersive cultural experiences, the Dominican Republic promises an enchanting escape that continues to captivate the hearts of visitors from around the globe.</p>

Dominican Republic

Basking in the sun-drenched allure of the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic emerges as a shining star in the realm of tropical getaways. Recognized as the Caribbean's most sought-after destination by the Caribbean Tourism Organization last year, the Dominican Republic is poised for even greater acclaim as it undergoes a transformative luxury renaissance. With its pristine beaches, lush landscapes, and vibrant culture, the island beckons travelers seeking the ultimate in relaxation and indulgence. From world-class resorts to immersive cultural experiences, the Dominican Republic promises an enchanting escape that continues to captivate the hearts of visitors from around the globe.

<p>As anticipation builds for this year's heightened northern lights activity in Iceland, travelers are eagerly turning their gaze skyward. However, even without the predicted celestial show, Iceland's stunning landscapes offer an unforgettable experience. From glacial lagoons to black sand beaches and soothing geothermal spas, the country's natural beauty is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Whether you're chasing the auroras or simply basking in the tranquility of its diverse terrain, Iceland promises a journey that will leave you spellbound.</p>

As anticipation builds for this year's heightened northern lights activity in Iceland, travelers are eagerly turning their gaze skyward. However, even without the predicted celestial show, Iceland's stunning landscapes offer an unforgettable experience. From glacial lagoons to black sand beaches and soothing geothermal spas, the country's natural beauty is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Whether you're chasing the auroras or simply basking in the tranquility of its diverse terrain, Iceland promises a journey that will leave you spellbound.

<p>Debuting in 2024, the Trans Dinarica Cycle Route is poised to revolutionize cycling adventures by seamlessly connecting all eight countries of the Western Balkans. This ambitious trail spans an impressive 4,000 kilometers across 100 stages, catering to cyclists of all levels with a mix of tranquil asphalt roads, scenic forest trails, and dedicated bike paths.</p>  <p>From the stunning coastlines of Albania and Croatia to the pristine national parks of Kosovo, the rugged mountains and lush woodlands of Montenegro, and the picturesque rivers of Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Serbia, each leg of the route offers a unique and unforgettable experience.</p>  <p>For cyclists eager to embark on this extraordinary adventure, transdinarica.com serves as a comprehensive hub for route information, updates, maps, accommodation options, and essential services. Prepare to immerse yourself in the unparalleled beauty and cultural diversity of the Balkans as you pedal your way through this remarkable cycling odyssey.</p>

Trans Dinarica Cycle Route, Balkans

Debuting in 2024, the Trans Dinarica Cycle Route is poised to revolutionize cycling adventures by seamlessly connecting all eight countries of the Western Balkans. This ambitious trail spans an impressive 4,000 kilometers across 100 stages, catering to cyclists of all levels with a mix of tranquil asphalt roads, scenic forest trails, and dedicated bike paths.

From the stunning coastlines of Albania and Croatia to the pristine national parks of Kosovo, the rugged mountains and lush woodlands of Montenegro, and the picturesque rivers of Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Serbia, each leg of the route offers a unique and unforgettable experience.

For cyclists eager to embark on this extraordinary adventure, transdinarica.com serves as a comprehensive hub for route information, updates, maps, accommodation options, and essential services. Prepare to immerse yourself in the unparalleled beauty and cultural diversity of the Balkans as you pedal your way through this remarkable cycling odyssey.

<p>Tokyo, Japan, stands as a testament to the harmonious blend of tradition and innovation, where ancient customs intertwine with modern marvels to create an unparalleled urban experience. From the bustling streets of Shibuya, where neon lights illuminate the night, to the serene gardens of the Imperial Palace, Tokyo captivates with its diverse array of sights and sounds. Indulge in the city's culinary delights, from world-renowned sushi to savory ramen slurped at cozy izakayas. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Japanese culture, whether exploring historic temples or embracing the latest trends in fashion and technology. With its dynamic energy and timeless charm, Tokyo offers an unforgettable journey into the heart of Japan's vibrant capital.</p>

Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo, Japan, stands as a testament to the harmonious blend of tradition and innovation, where ancient customs intertwine with modern marvels to create an unparalleled urban experience. From the bustling streets of Shibuya, where neon lights illuminate the night, to the serene gardens of the Imperial Palace, Tokyo captivates with its diverse array of sights and sounds. Indulge in the city's culinary delights, from world-renowned sushi to savory ramen slurped at cozy izakayas. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Japanese culture, whether exploring historic temples or embracing the latest trends in fashion and technology. With its dynamic energy and timeless charm, Tokyo offers an unforgettable journey into the heart of Japan's vibrant capital.

<p>Tartu, situated in southern Estonia, has earned the prestigious title of European Capital of Culture for the year 2024. Known as the country's intellectual nucleus, Tartu is home to Estonia's oldest university, a beacon of academic excellence for centuries. Visitors flock to explore its cultural treasures, including the Estonian National Museum, where the nation's rich heritage comes to life, and the impressive Science Centre AHHAA, offering immersive experiences in the realms of science and discovery. As Tartu steps into the spotlight in 2024, it promises a captivating journey through history, innovation, and the pursuit of knowledge.</p>

Tartu, Estonia

Tartu, situated in southern Estonia, has earned the prestigious title of European Capital of Culture for the year 2024. Known as the country's intellectual nucleus, Tartu is home to Estonia's oldest university, a beacon of academic excellence for centuries. Visitors flock to explore its cultural treasures, including the Estonian National Museum, where the nation's rich heritage comes to life, and the impressive Science Centre AHHAA, offering immersive experiences in the realms of science and discovery. As Tartu steps into the spotlight in 2024, it promises a captivating journey through history, innovation, and the pursuit of knowledge.

<p>Uzbekistan, once on the cusp of becoming a major travel destination, is now ready to shine with visa-free access for citizens of 86 countries. Its untouched landscapes and well-preserved architecture await eager visitors, while cities like Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva offer insights into the historic Silk Road. UNESCO-listed Sentob village, recognized for sustainable development and eco-tourism, adds to Uzbekistan's allure. Traveling around the country is seamless thanks to the high-speed Afrosiyob Express train, connecting Tashkent with key cities. With its rich history, stunning scenery, and commitment to sustainability, Uzbekistan promises an unforgettable journey along the ancient Silk Road.</p>

Uzbekistan, once on the cusp of becoming a major travel destination, is now ready to shine with visa-free access for citizens of 86 countries. Its untouched landscapes and well-preserved architecture await eager visitors, while cities like Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva offer insights into the historic Silk Road. UNESCO-listed Sentob village, recognized for sustainable development and eco-tourism, adds to Uzbekistan's allure. Traveling around the country is seamless thanks to the high-speed Afrosiyob Express train, connecting Tashkent with key cities. With its rich history, stunning scenery, and commitment to sustainability, Uzbekistan promises an unforgettable journey along the ancient Silk Road.

<p>In 2024, Tainan, Taiwan, celebrates its 400th anniversary, solidifying its status as a must-visit destination on the international stage. Surpassing even the capital city, Taipei, Tainan proudly claims the highest overall hotel occupancy rate in Taiwan for the past two years. What sets Tainan apart? Renowned as the street food capital of Taiwan, Tainan tantalizes taste buds with its signature dishes like beef soups and oyster omelets. But its allure extends beyond culinary delights, with otherworldly natural landscapes, such as the mesmerizing Tsao Shan Moon World, and scenic sunsets over salt farms. History buffs and culture enthusiasts will be enchanted by the city's colorful old temples and a plethora of cool new museums. With its rich tapestry of experiences, Tainan promises an unforgettable journey through tradition, innovation, and culinary delights as it marks this significant milestone in 2024.</p>

Tainan, Taiwan

In 2024, Tainan, Taiwan, celebrates its 400th anniversary, solidifying its status as a must-visit destination on the international stage. Surpassing even the capital city, Taipei, Tainan proudly claims the highest overall hotel occupancy rate in Taiwan for the past two years. What sets Tainan apart? Renowned as the street food capital of Taiwan, Tainan tantalizes taste buds with its signature dishes like beef soups and oyster omelets. But its allure extends beyond culinary delights, with otherworldly natural landscapes, such as the mesmerizing Tsao Shan Moon World, and scenic sunsets over salt farms. History buffs and culture enthusiasts will be enchanted by the city's colorful old temples and a plethora of cool new museums. With its rich tapestry of experiences, Tainan promises an unforgettable journey through tradition, innovation, and culinary delights as it marks this significant milestone in 2024.

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Step inside the grand suites on the world's most famous train, which start at $26,000 a night and come with around-the-clock butler service

  • The Venice Simpon-Orient-Express is a luxury overnight train in Europe.
  • The train's grand suite, starting at $26,000 a night, is the top tier of accommodation.
  • Each grand suite has a private bathroom with a rainfall showerhead and extravagant decor.

Insider Today

Hundred-year-old carriages from the Orient Express fleet make up the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express , Belmond's revamp of the iconic luxury sleeper train. With 60 routes in 17 cities, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is perhaps the most luxurious train in Europe . Prices start at $9,000 a night.

The train's top-tier accommodation is a grand suite. With a starting rate of $26,000 a night, these rooms are filled with luxury details and amenities unique to any other cabin on board, from a private shower to around-the-clock butler service.

Business Insider recently took a tour of the rooms as a cabin steward explained the details of each suite.

Look inside the train's most extravagant accommodations to peek at the luxury journey of a lifetime.

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the epitome of luxury train travel in Europe.

istanbul tourism news

Guests are welcomed on red carpets for an overnight journey with lavishly decorated vintage carriages, fine dining restaurants, and jaw-dropping views of passing scenery.

The train has six grand suite accommodations — each with a unique design.

istanbul tourism news

Grand suites are the third tier of accommodation — one step above a suite and two steps above a historic cabin .

Each grand suite is inspired by a city on the train's routes, including Venice, Vienna, Istanbul, Budapest, and Prague.

They all include a couch, a double bed that can be converted into two twins, a dining area, and a full en-suite bathroom.

All six have a full bathroom with a rainfall showerhead.

istanbul tourism news

Each bathroom has a glass-blown sink, heated marble flooring, and a rainfall showerhead.

Grand-suite guests also get complimentary bathrobes and slippers.

Next to each bathroom is a closet with additional storage space so guests can fully unpack and feel at home.

Each has a dining area, too.

istanbul tourism news

Grand-suite guests are greeted with caviar upon arrival and can dine in their rooms rather than in the restaurant cars if they prefer.

They also get 24-hour butler service and bottomless champagne for the entire journey, the cabin steward told BI.

The Venice grand suite fuses Italian Baroque and Renaissance design.

istanbul tourism news

Venetian furniture, vintage glass light fixtures, and a combination of silk and woven fabrics fill this suite with a historic Italian ambiance. Navy-blue velvets are reminiscent of the train's exterior.

The headboard combining arches and sharp edges may remind one of the Renaissance castles in Italy .

Emerald and golden details mark the Vienna suite.

istanbul tourism news

The suite has a classic feel with dark wood contrasting gold trimmings.

According to a Belmond fact sheet obtained by BI, the headboard backing is made of silk to evoke a sense of elegance. Its curved shape and the tassel detailing in the bed's skirt may remind travelers of the historic city's regal palaces .

The Istanbul suite feels like a Turkish palace.

istanbul tourism news

Shiny, hand-carved wood from the furniture to the walls is a work of art. For those who have been to the Turkish city of Istanbul , the embossed leather and fabric embroiderings may bring back memories of the city's opulent offerings at the famous and historic Grand Bazaar market .

Gothic and Ottoman architectural styles inspired the Budapest suite.

istanbul tourism news

The Budapest suite is decorated with ornate marquetry and furniture with embroidered silk patterns. The tall, curved headboard may remind travelers of Gothic cathedrals and mosques that date back to the Ottoman Empire .

The Paris suite is meant to evoke romantic vibes.

istanbul tourism news

Inspired by the city's architecture, the Paris suite nods to art deco elements, classical facades, and the city's high-fashion reputation with a geometric headboard and detailed wooden marquetry.

And finally, the Prague suite nods to the city's theatrical culture.

istanbul tourism news

Maroon and gold are the colors of the Prague suite to bring travelers a sense of the city's theater scene . Mosaic patterns inspired by cubism fill the walls, and cushions embroidered by hand add luxury details to the furniture.

istanbul tourism news

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Turkey opts for new tightening strategy after signaling a pause to hikes

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  • The country's central bank sent a directive to lenders, effective Friday, instructing them to put parts of their required lira reserves into blocked accounts.
  • That's pushed loan rates up higher and cut the sizes of some banks' loan limits.
  • "Some banks have stopped lending. Some banks even recall their already granted loans. This is going to cause further liquidity squeeze," one Istanbul-based economist told CNBC. 

Turkey's central bank is opting for a different monetary tightening method as it grapples with climbing inflation, after previously signaling that its rate-hiking cycle was over.

The institution sent a directive to lenders, effective Friday, instructing them to put parts of their required lira reserves into blocked accounts.

That's pushed loan rates up higher and cut the sizes of some banks' loan limits, with some lenders shrinking their commercial loan limits to 100,000 lira, or $3,100, Reuters reported Thursday.

"Some banks have stopped lending. Some banks even recall their already granted loans. This is going to cause further liquidity squeeze," Arda Tunca, an Istanbul-based economist at PolitikYol, told CNBC. 

"If a central bank is willing to reduce the rate of inflation, liquidity conditions should be squeezed for sure, but the methodology is of utmost importance," he said. "If the methodology is wrong, market expectations can't be managed."

Indeed, Turkish bank stocks dipped after the news Thursday. Economic data platform Emerging Market Watch posted on X, describing the central bank as taking "another tightening step via reserve requirements."

Analysts at London-based firm Capital Economics made similar observations.

"In the past month, new quantitative and credit tightening tools have been announced," the firm wrote in a research note. "Last week the CBRT tightened  restrictions on lira loan growth , a move that would likely have a similar impact to an interest rate hike." 

Meanwhile, Turkey in January recorded its first monthly drop in reserves since May 2023, according to balance of payments data released this week.

Turkish annual consumer price inflation soared to 67.07% in February. The strong figures have fueled concerns that Turkey's central bank, which had indicated last month that its painful eight-month-long rate-hiking cycle was over, may have to return to tightening.

"Pressures on Turkish policymakers are building ahead of the local elections on 31st March as capital inflows have slowed and FX reserves are falling again," Capital Economics wrote. "We doubt the central bank will hike interest rates next week, but we're growing more convinced that at least one further hike will be delivered in Q2."

— CNBC's Dan Murphy contributed to this report.

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Palestinians carry supplies to the makeshift tent set up near the border of Egypt.

Palestinians who had Australian visas cancelled mid-flight are ‘collateral damage’, charity group says

At least 70 people have had to cancel or postpone travel while one man remains stuck in an Istanbul airport

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Palestinians fleeing Gaza with valid Australian visas only for them to be cancelled mid-flight or at airports have been described as “collateral damage” for the federal government’s failures.

One charity group helping Palestinians to leave the war zone, the Palestine Australia Relief and Action (Para) group, said it has already had to cancel or postpone the upcoming flights of at least 70 people, including sick and elderly, and is frustrated by the lack of clarity.

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Rasha Abbas, Para’s executive director, also holds grave concerns for one 23-year-old man, who remains stuck in an airport in Istanbul after his visa was cancelled while he was en route to Australia. He cannot return to Egypt or leave the airport in Turkey without a valid visa.

Abbas said the Albanese government must act urgently to rescue the man, who has serious health issues, “before it becomes an international headline that’s so embarrassing for Australia”.

The Albanese government began suspending visas this week to investigate how some visa-holders were able to leave “without explanation”. Palestinians must be approved by both the Israeli and Egyptian authorities to leave Gaza through the Rafah border crossing.

About 1.5 million people are believed to be in the southern Gazan city after being displaced by Israeli forces as it began air and ground assaults in the territory’s north. The bottleneck of Palestinians who hope to leave the besieged territory has resulted in some paying unofficial brokers to make the journey. It is understood those who have resorted to such services have raised flags with the Australian authorities.

A spokesperson for the home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, told Guardian Australia on Friday it made “no apology for doing everything necessary to maintain our national security”.

“If people make it out of Gaza without explanation, or their circumstances change in any meaningful way, we will take the time to understand those changes before proceeding,” the spokesperson said.

But Palestinians stuck in the region have become increasingly desperate as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to move forward with his ground invasion of Rafah .

Mohammed Almassri’s sister-in-law used brokers to get her four children into Egypt from Gaza, where they have been stuck for a month.

The 43-year-old from Punchbowl, New South Wales, said he had urged his sister-in-law to fly to Australia as soon as possible after seeing the news of visas being cancelled in recent days. They bought flights and checked their visas were still active before leaving for the airport on Wednesday.

'Do not go down this path,' Penny Wong warns Israel ahead of planned assault on Rafah – video

At the airport, they were told their visas were no longer valid.

“They can’t go back to Gaza, and they can’t leave Egypt. They have to wait in Cairo until we see how the situation is going. We don’t know what is happening. It really is very depressing,” he said.

“They are heartbroken because they are waiting a long time, they started dreaming they would come here, start new lives, new future and suddenly, nothing.

“We are Australian citizens. We are safe here and everyday we lose people in Palestine. Why, if you want to cancel the visas, why do you give it to them from the beginning? Don’t give them visas and cancel them, this will make more depression.”

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The department said its reason for cancelling the visa on Wednesday was that they “never intended a genuine stay temporarily in Australia”.

Abbas said she has been trying to get clarity from the minister’s office for days but her attempts so far had been met with silence. She described the series of events as a “process failure” and the Palestinian families affected as “collateral damage”.

“I have a mum and dad in their late 60s that had an accident once they left the Rafah border, and they had to be hospitalised and the daughter is so upset,” she said.

“I had them booked on the 21st [of March] and another three with massive health issues and trauma on the 21st as well. I have had to cancel all those flights.”

Abbas said with no consular support on the ground in Rafah, those with valid visas trying to leave had few options available.

“The best thing the government can do if it wants to control the process is provide consular support,” she said.

“You have issued the visas, you understand that they are immediate and close relatives of Australian citizens. Support their exit.”

More than 2,000 visas have been issued to Palestinians since the conflict began in October last year but fewer than 400 have arrived in Australia in that period.

A Guardian investigation earlier this year revealed brokers are making thousands of dollars in fees from desperate Palestinians who are trying to exit the territory through the Egyptian border crossing in Rafah.

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For the 2025 version of this itinerary, click here . Please note that we also a run a journey from Istanbul to Paris, in 2024 and 2025 .

IMAGES

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