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The perfect guide to your planning your next holiday to Turkey

  • by Sheree Gomes Gupta
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The traditional

Çiragan palace kempinski.

vogue travel istanbul

Çıragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul is situated on the European shore of the Bosphorus;  Image: Shutterstock

According to legend, Sultan Abdulaziz, who built this palace on the shores of the Bosphorus, had a love affair with the hotel’s first celebrity guest, Empress Eugénie de Monjito of France , incidentally also the wife of Napoleon III. These days, you’re more likely to bump into the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo , Sting or Angela Merkel. Besides 11 spectacular suites, the hotel’s grand ballrooms have hosted several high-profile Indian weddings (designer Pernia Qureshi Gilani was the latest bride).  Lhw.com

The Sultan’s Dinner

vogue travel istanbul

Image: Shutterstock

Transporting you to the grandeur of the Ottoman Empire, this dinner at Çıragan Palace Kempinski offers a traditional sherbet service and a royal feast on antique tableware

Küçüksu Palace

While the Historical Peninsula Tour covering tourist hotspots is recommended for first-timers, returning visitors should start at this less commercial spot that was commissioned by the Ottomon Empire as an imperial hunting lodge but is now a state guest house. Ktb.gov.tr

Kadiköy Market

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Kadıköy is the local produce market;  Image: Shutterstock

Visit for a true feel of Istanbul’s local life. Lined with cafes, bars, restaurants and an impressive fish market, the area is eclectic. Çiya Sofrası, a no-frills joint, serves the best homestyle Turkish cuisine this side of the Bosphorus.

Pandeli Restaurant

Enjoy a meal at this iconic eatery, which draws in celebrities like Robert De Niro and Sarah Jessica Parker . It’s hard to get enough of their eggplant börek (a salty pastry) with döner kebab and cherry tirit (tart) that comes with clotted buffalo cream.

Unwind By The Bosphorus

vogue travel istanbul

47 Bar at Çıragan Palace Kempinski;  Image: Shutterstock

Sip champagne by the sea or make a beeline for Ruby, the hottest bar and restaurant on the strait. And if you’re looking to spot a Turkish celebrity, head to the al-fresco 47 Bar, back at the hotel.

Shop At Nisantasi

Comprising five main streets—Rumeli, Vali Konagı, Abdi Ipekçi, Atiye and Tesvikiye—this is where the rich and famous shop, eat and play. Think Blair Waldorf on the Upper East Side. Party At Bomontiada An abandoned beer factory resurrected into an eclectic hub that houses a music venue (Babylon), restaurants and a place for outdoor fi lm screenings. Babylon.com.tr

Coffee In Balat

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Image Courtesy: Alamy

A trendy neighbourhood with cobbled streets and colourful buildings, where many new Istanbul designers have set up shop. Stop by Cafe Naftalin K, where you can listen to old records as you drink your coffee .

An Insider’s Guide To Istanbul

Vogue Turkey’s editor-in-chief Seda Domaniç shares her favourite fashion and lifestyle finds:

vogue travel istanbul

S anayi 313; I mage: Shutterstock

Trezz, a furniture brand established by interior architects Tayfun Mumcu and Rezzan Benardete, is worth checking out. I also love the one-of-a-kind pieces from Sanayi 313 by Enis Karavil. Trezz.com.tr ; Sanayi313.com

Brakfast Hour

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Apartiman offers breakfast with indoor and outdoor seating options;  Image: Shutterstock

I love Apartıman in Yenikoy for its food and location by the Bosphorus. It has bikes to rent out front. After eating, grab one and you can cycle all the way to Tarabya.

Mikla has a nice bar overlooking the old city and the Golden Horn. Chef Mehmet Gürs’s kitchen is innovative and authentic. Miklarestaurant.com

MSA’nin Restorani serves modern Turkish food. You can also go on a private tour of the museum it is located in. Msaninrestorani.com

Street Style

Istanbul is famous for its street food and markets. Istanbul Tour Studio’s Flavours of Two Continents trail uncovers both in two exciting locations—Beyoglu on the European side and Kadıköy on the Asian side. Istanbultourstudio.com

vogue travel istanbul

Esma Dereboy’s unique, handmade ceramic and porcelain pieces are worth taking home. There’s also Kapka, a young, contemporary enamel tableware brand and artisanal essential oils by Homemade Aromaterapi. Esmadereboy.net; Kapka.com.tr; Homemadearomaterapi.com

Culture Fix

Visit Marina Abramovic’s exhibition at the Sakıp Sabanci Museum (till April 2020) or Lütfi Özkök’s portraits at Istanbul Modern (till May 2020). Beyoglu is the cultural hub, housing the Arter and the Museum of Painting and Sculpture of Mimar Sinan University. Once Galataport and Haliçport are completed this year, there will be four new museums.

vogue travel istanbul

Misela offers bags for a variety of occasions;  Image: Shutterstock

The bold earrings of Begum Khan and the mythological symbolism of Bee Goddess’s fine jewellery are worth checking out—I believe in the lucky energy of both. For bags , I love Misela— stylish and comfortable. Begumkhan.com ; Beegoddess.com ; Misela.com

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36 Hours in Istanbul, Asian Side

The less-harried asian side of istanbul is a greener, cleaner swath of the city that offers its own multicultural mix of ottoman palaces, intriguing cuisine and hipster night life..

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By Susanne Fowler

  • Aug. 26, 2015

The lines to enter major sites on the European side of Istanbul, Turkey’s cultural capital, can stretch for hours. But just across the Bosporus lies the less-harried Asian side, a greener, cleaner and often more conservative swath of the city that offers its own multicultural mix of Ottoman palaces, artsy hotels, tasty cuisine and hipster night life. Here, at the gateway to Anatolia, hilly pine-forest trails in former fishing villages offer opportunities to burn off the baklava, while shady tea gardens abound for those who prefer relaxing with a water view. Wealthy Turks live in villas to the north, while miles to the south, party-friendly Kadikoy is bursting with vegetable and fish markets and bookstores, and is home to a street devoted to bars.

1. Green Mansion | 2 p.m.

The governor of Egypt, Abbas Hilmi Pasha, got more than a title from his Ottoman sultan; he also got permission to build an elegant summer home in 1907 in the wooded Beykoz neighborhood. The Khedive Palace, or Hidiv Kasri in Turkish, is now the centerpiece of a park with paved paths and restaurants and cafes set amid rose gardens and pine-lined trails. The grounds are decorated with wacky giant squirrel sculptures and the occasional kangaroo statue. There are Art Nouveau influences in the palace’s stained glass and ceramic tiles, and marble pillars surround a fountain in the foyer. Along the broad veranda, families savor their sour-cherry bread pudding (12.5 Turkish lira, or $4.43 at 2.82 lira to the dollar) and Turkish coffee (5 lira).

2. Happy Hunting | 4 p.m.

When does a palace have no formal bedrooms? When it’s not intended for overnight stays, as was the case with the Kucuksu Pavilion (5 lira). This eight-room stone building was designed by the Ottoman-Armenian architect Sarkis Balyan in the 1850s as a hunting lodge for Sultan Abdulmecid and his buddies. Outside, intricate carvings of pomegranates and geese add to the Baroque frills. The interior is no less decorative with its curved double staircase and Bohemian crystal chandeliers. Seen in the 1999 James Bond film “The World Is Not Enough,” this jewel-box of a palace is near the river zone immortalized as the Sweet Waters of Asia, and was a popular subject for European engravers in the 1800s. Even then people were fleeing to the Asian side for fresher air.

3. Spoon With a View | 7 p.m.

vogue travel istanbul

The man-made and natural light shows don’t get much better than from the terrace of Tapasuma, a restaurant on the grounds of the Sumahan on the Water hotel. As the moonlight on the water intensifies, the sparkling lights on the First Bosporus Bridge change from white or yellow to pink or blue and even turquoise. The seasonal menu is international with a Turkish twist. Start with Circassian chicken with walnuts or a skewer of sesame-coated beef with a Roquefort dip, then move to sea bass stew or marinated fillet of beef. End with three Turkish milk puddings: rosewater, berries and mastic. Or try the semolina halvah with caramelized pears and vanilla ice cream. Sip your Sevilen Isabey cabernet-merlot into the night as Turkish executives at the next table discuss their investments. Dinner for two, about 350 lira, with wine.

4. The Empire Spreads Back | 9 a.m.

It’s not Topkapi, despite being nearly as lavishly decorated, but the 19th-century Beylerbeyi Palace is an impressive Imperial Ottoman edifice with Baccarat crystal chandeliers, grand staircases, Yildiz porcelain, Hereke carpets and an indoor marble fountain with carvings of frolicking dolphins. It was once host to visiting European royalty, and its last official overnight guest is said to have been Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Turkish Republic. The 20 lira entrance fee includes a tour in English.

5. A Blend of Beliefs | 11 a.m.

The arts colony of Kuzguncuk was once a melting pot of cultures and boasts a mosque and a synagogue, plus Greek Orthodox and Armenian churches, along with a crop of cute cafes. Rows of colorful wooden townhouses with carved-gingerbread balconies have made this zone a destination for new brides with photographers in tow. Souvenirs by local designers line the shelves at Bir Kuzguncuk Dukkani , like painted Popsicle-stick bookmarks by Ayse Durukan (20 lira) or small purses of recycled materials from the Cop Madam cooperative (50 to 90 lira), which employs, and empowers, Turkish housewives.

6. Midday Meze | Noon

The Bosporus shore is lined with pricey places offering fresh fish dishes. For more budget-friendly fare in Kuzguncuk, go a few blocks inland to Kosinitza for small plates like fresh anchovies in spicy tomato compote or chunks of sea bream in a vinegary mustard (about 60 lira for four small plates). An even more casual meal can be had at the tiny Kuzguncuk Balikcisi, where fish soup is 7 lira and seasonal fish 15 to 35 lira.

7. Far Pavilions | 2 p.m.

Grab a cab to Buyuk Camlica, a hilltop respite favored by conservatively dressed Turks and Gulf Arab tourists and near where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is building a mosque destined to dominate the Asian-side skyline. Here at the highest point in Istanbul, more than 850 feet above sea level, the view, which shows nearly every twist in the Bosporus, has inspired writers like Lord Byron and Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. Settle in for a slice of hazelnut cake (4.5 lira) or a cup of thick black coffee (3 lira), served on an etched-brass tray inside a renovated Ottoman coffeehouse surrounded by rosebushes.

8. Matinee Idyll | 4 p.m.

Another cab ride brings you farther south to the trendier Kadikoy and the tiny Sureyya Opera House , where seats can be had for as little as 15, 25 or 35 lira. Here, the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet performs European classics from the likes of Verdi and Rossini on Saturday afternoons and has also presented Turkish works like the two-act “Hurrem Sultan” ballet about Suleiman the Magnificent and his scheming bride. The space also is host to concerts as part of the annual Istanbul Music Festival.

9. Sip and Shop | 6 p.m.

Explore Anatolia’s viniculture heritage by sampling a glass of white sultaniye (15 lira) as its green-apple and citrus aroma competes with the jasmine in the air at the vine-covered garden of Viktor Levi Sarap Evi . The wine bar, founded on the European side in 1914, opened its Asian branch in 2002. Then peruse items like olive oil soap (20 lira) and olive-wood earrings (35 lira) at the Cicekisleri gift shop around the corner.

10. Reliable Repast | 8 p.m.

It’s hard to find a better, or more intriguing, dinner than at the sidewalk tables at any branch of Ciya , the popular outpost of what was nearly forgotten Anatolian cuisine. At the one at Gunesli Bahce Sokak 38A, for example, go for seasonal specialties like truffle kebab in the autumn, roast baby goat in the spring or sour cherries and beef meatballs in summer. The preserved-walnut dessert, softened husk and all, is served year-round. Dinner for two: 80 lira without alcohol. The Ciya across the street at No. 43 serves alcohol.

11. Bar Hop | 10 p.m.

Cheaper rents draw a student crowd to Kadikoy, and a student crowd tends to draw a lively night life, as is the case around Kadife Street, known as Barlar Sokak, or Bars Street. Reliables like Karga and Arka Oda are always a good bet, but the old Greek house at No. 10 offers a chance to hit three spots in the same building. The exposed brick walls, worn oak floors and subdued lighting draw a crowd of 20- to 30-somethings to Trip to hoist pints of tap-drawn Bomonti (11 lira). Upstairs, Stereogun appeals to the younger set, while downstairs at Hera, there’s a retro feel with a fashionable older crowd swaying to an alternative music soundtrack next to an ad for an “I heart the ’90s” party. Night owls can surround themselves with the throbbing beat at 360 East on the roof of the DoubleTree Moda hotel (the 40 lira weekend cover charge after 11 p.m. includes one drink).

12. Shore Thing | Noon

The stretch of coast around the Moda neighborhood was once home to wealthy shipping merchants, and the feel of the moneyed crowd still clings with its private clubs and marina. Grab a humble seaside breakfast of simit (sesame-coated bread roll) and tea before hopping a taxi or dolmus (minibus) to Bagdat Caddesi, the Asian side’s answer to the Champs-Élysées, with upscale boutiques and sidewalk cafes. In neighboring Suadiye, admire the ornate wooden exterior at Vakko , then head inside to check out the fine silk scarves (195 to 220 lira) and durable lambskin wallets (375 to 395 lira).

13. Feelin’ Groovy | 2 p.m.

Moda is home to one of Istanbul’s quirkiest museums: The Baris Manco House Museum (6 lira), a shrine to the beloved Turkish rock star who lived there until his death in 1999. Outside the Victorian-style structure is a Graceland-like bronze gate bearing his likeness. The vegetable sculptures in the yard relate to his hit love song, “Domates, Biber, Patlican” (“Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant”). Inside is a staircase painted to resemble piano keys and his collection of musical instruments, far-out suits and psychedelic neckties.

Sumahan on the Water (Kuleli Caddesi 43, Cengelkoy; sumahan.com), a 24-room low-rise hotel in a former Ottoman raki distillery, now with its own marble hammam (45-minute scrub, 50 euros). A boat fetches guests on the European side and speeds them across the Bosporus. A buffet breakfast is served along the shore. Rooms from 295 euros in high season and 140 euros in December and January (about $325 and $155).

The glass tower DoubleTree by Hilton — Moda (Albay Sozdener Caddesi 31, Kadikoy; doubletree3.hilton.com) offers spacious rooms, a spa and a rooftop swimming pool with views of the Marmara Sea. Rooms start around $120.

“36 Hours,” a television program inspired by The Times’s 36 Hours column, airs Mondays at 8 p.m. Eastern on Travel Channel. The next episode on Istanbul dovetails with this column.

Have a weekend to explore a destination? We’ve got the perfect travel itinerary.

Colorado Springs: ​​Colorado’s second-largest city, which brims with outdoor activities , is enticing visitors with a new museum and revamped hotels.

Minneapolis: Springtime is best for exploring this Midwestern city’s lakeside trails, robust arts scene and top-notch restaurants .

Maui: The beauty and hospitality of this Hawaiian island, still recovering from last year’s wildfires, remain as vibrant as ever .

Toronto: Savor the diversity of this lakefront city through its hidden bars, small-but-fascinating museums and vibrant restaurants .

Cape Town: Take a food and storytelling tour, cruise one of the world’s most beautiful coastal drives and see contemporary African art in this city with stunning views in every direction .

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

An American Expatriate on Why She’s Not Leaving Istanbul

By Suzy Hansen

istanbul

For nearly a decade, Istanbul had been a magical place for journalist Suzy Hansen—a cosmopolitan refuge and a welcoming home. Then the violence began.

On the day last March when a man blew himself up in the middle of Istanbul, I was at home. I heard the blast as I sat at my desk; it was nearby on Istiklal Avenue, where I walk every day. On the night in June when ISIS attacked the Istanbul airport, I was having dinner at the new Soho House, in a nineteenth-century Italianate mansion that was once the American consulate. My first thought was that it would make for a brilliant second target, and I quickly scanned the perimeter of the terrace for an escape. In the early hours of the military coup in July, I joined a line of Turks snaking out of my local deli and stuffed water bottles and beer cans in my pockets, preparing for the long night ahead. (“Are you sure you don’t need three packs of cigarettes?” the deli worker asked a customer as I left.) I watched live footage at home of the army firing on Turkish civilians—and when fighter jets flew low over the city, I took cover in my bathroom.

I am not a war correspondent. I never dreamed of watching history unfold on the front lines, or bearing witness to atrocity, or learning the difference between the sounds of a mortar and a car bomb. I chose to live in Istanbul because when I arrived the city felt like a refuge and then, very quickly, like home. Over the last decade I have become so attached that I am still momentarily confused when people ask me if I plan to leave. Istanbul has been the place I have felt safest in my life.

In 2007, when I was 29, I won a fellowship that sent journalists to the country of their choice for two years. I had grown up in a proudly provincial Jersey Shore town, believing that New York was the most daring place I could escape to. But some time after I arrived the mood of the city began to bother me. New Yorkers’ curiosity and compassion in the wake of September 11 had dissolved into a frenzy of decadence. The spiking stock market, the luxury towers crowding the skyline, the $50 grass-fed steaks on every menu—in retrospect, my decision to move to Turkey was as much about getting away from New York. I suspected there were many things that I did not understand about the rest of the world.

I arrived just as Istanbul was entering its own Gilded Age. There was a palpable feeling during this magical period that the East was leaving the West behind. The Constantinople-era buildings of Beyog˘lu, the central neighborhood where I found an apartment, were still dusty and dilapidated, with cats peeking out through broken windows, padlocks rusting on doorknobs, eerie men smoking in unlit foyers and scaring me to death. But people from all over the world were moving in, transforming what had become a kind of haunted city into a place of thriving boutiques, restaurants, hotels, and art spaces. Even the Nobel Prize–winning Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk, who had long meditated on the country’s state of melancholy, expressed optimism about the future. European and American tourists invaded; Istanbul topped all the travel lists. An Islamic conservative prime minister and president were running the country after decades of state-enforced secularism, yet the city felt liberated—even raucous—and there was a gleeful defiance in the air. Istanbul was a rejoinder to the West for doubting the Muslim world’s many possibilities.

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By Héloïse Salessy

I loved Istanbul instantly, from the moment my first airport taxi merged onto the coastal road and passed the oil tankers cruising through the Sea of Marmara, a view so beautiful I couldn’t believe they had put a highway next to it instead of waterfront condos. I loved the romance of the Bosporus and the rose-gold glow of its sunsets. I was charmed by the old-fashioned ferries that shuttled back and forth between Asia and Europe, the horse-drawn carts piled high with carrots and onions, the dinners of vegetables soaked in olive oil, even the smell of burning coal in the winter. But after a year I knew it was an expat’s mistake to love a country only for its beauty or its food or its exchange rate. If I was to make Istanbul my home, I would have to define my affection beyond such superficialities. Did I love the country’s nationalism, its obsession with honor, its xenophobic soccer chants? Not really. In the beginning, it was the sense of engagement I missed in New York, of being in the middle of the world. Young people here seemed more concerned about politics, about the painful history of the region, even seemed to have a greater belief in democracy and human rights, mostly because they still had to fight for those things. By the end of two years, I had road-tripped through the dark-green mountains of Turkey’s east and taken vacations by myself on the Mediterranean; I’d rooted for Turkey’s soccer team during the Euro Cup and shouted along at countless political protests. Dating wasn’t easy—even Westernized Turkish families remained fairly traditional, and many men my age had married; upper-class Turkish women warned darkly that I would have a hard time finding someone egalitarian enough for me, and I was not brave enough to go on dates barely speaking the language. But I had a group of friends, a daily walk, a view of the famous Old City from my bedroom window. I decided to stay.

Even the first stirrings of the Arab Spring in Tunisia, the subsequent crackdown in Egypt, and the war in Libya seemed only to boost Turkey’s image. Here was that rare Muslim democratic success story—the one hopeful city in a deteriorating region. Exiles and refugees arrived, adding to Istanbul’s regenerative cosmopolitanism; suddenly I heard Arabic everywhere on the streets, met a young Tunisian fashion designer in my local deli. I never worried that the violence they’d left behind would come here. For most of its modern history, Turkey had stayed out of foreign wars, and I was confident that that would continue. In 2013, at a wedding in New York, I laughed dismissively when a friend asked me if Turkey would get mixed up in Syria. A war correspondent who had actually been in Syria and seen the way the new violence dissolved borders looked at me in disbelief and walked away. I still had a lot to learn about the world.

istanbul

Slowly the geopolitical landscape took a darker turn. By 2013, it had become clear that Turkey’s leader, Recep Tayyip Erdog˘an, had been providing safe haven to Syrian militant groups that opposed Bashar al-Assad. Jihadis were flying into Istanbul and transferring to domestic flights to cities on the border with Syria. Journalists I knew met Syrian warlords for interviews in trendy cafés; Arab fighters did their shopping on the same gentrifying street where my friends and I bought our printer cartridges and ate gelato. Refugees arrived in numbers too enormous to control or assist, and took up residence on street corners, displacing entire neighborhoods. The chaos of the region caused Erdog˘an to fear a rebellion within his own borders, and so he started a war with Turkey’s Kurdish militants. In 2015, the first bombs went off: at a leftist gathering in the south, a rally in the east, and a peace march in the capital city of Ankara. No one agreed on who was responsible—was it ISIS, Kurdish opposition groups, the government? The uncertainty made the terror worse. And it came gradually closer: explosions in metro stations in distant Istanbul neighborhoods, then in the Old City, then on Istiklal Avenue. The reaction was a mix of fear, heartache, and detachment. Everyone in the city moved on so quickly after bombings that you yourself barely noticed how many had gone off. What I did notice was the increasing frequency of emails from friends at home: When are you getting out of there? Isn’t it time to leave? This is insane.

What do we mean when we talk about safety? A year ago, I began reporting a story in an unfamiliar neighborhood on conservative Muslims and the influx of Syrian refugees. My American acquaintances, even the tolerant ones, thought such a place might be forbidding because of its strict Islamic traditions: Many women were covered, some in black chador; some men dressed like imams. The area also was famous for drugs, mafia, guns, and thieves.

Yet it had not occurred to me to worry. In these old Ottoman neighborhoods, people rush by on narrow streets, engage in daily exchanges—of commerce, of greetings, of complaints. If you come up short a few lira at the deli, the shop owner insists you take your goods anyway, not because he is generous but because he knows that you have to come back. Everyone is up on everyone’s business, everyone is watching, and, of course, they were watching me, too. Little can happen to you when the neighborhood is an organism in and of itself, something that must be loved, fed, and protected.

That’s the feeling of security I’ve carried with me in Istanbul. For years I’ve left my purse, phone, or laptop at tables in restaurants when I go to the bathroom, and I’ve always walked home by myself late at night. I am comforted by the most ordinary community rituals: the groups of men lumbering up the hills after Friday prayer; the boys bringing tea on trays from a café to a deli employee; cats stretched across a coffee-shop counter; hipsters too respectful of Istanbul cat culture to disturb them. Once my 65-year-old mother came to visit and, while walking on the dark back streets of Beyog˘lu, tripped on the cobblestones and fell. The area had been empty; it was late at night. Before I could bend down to help her, seemingly ten men were at our side, as if they had been watching from the windows or sensed her pain through the walls. “Oh!” she exclaimed, more stunned by the reception than the fall. “Oh, my goodness! How nice. So sorry to bother you!”—a deeply American reaction to standard Turkish operating procedure of social obligation and reciprocity.

This is what the recent political unrest threatens to unravel—and my friends and I have begun wringing our hands. One thinks of moving back to Athens; a Turk married to an American I know is considering the United States. Another Turkish friend has become so distraught over her country’s politics—the persecution of dissidents, the war against the Kurds, the arrests of democratically elected politicians—that she has developed a mysterious illness and rarely wants to venture out of the house. Turks who do not support the government live ever more circumscribed lives. Many have fled the country, and many more are in jail. The only people moving to Istanbul these days are journalists, who can’t help expressing an unseemly excitement about all the new and grim prospects for work. Throughout my neighborhood, for rent signs hang in the windows. After the airport attack, the tourists stopped arriving completely, and rich Turks in their SUVs no longer “come downtown” either. Even a Starbucks has closed its doors.

The day before July’s military coup, I said goodbye to two American friends who had decided to move to Lisbon after fifteen years here. For them, the city had changed in ways they could no longer accept. They told me that the French consulate had issued a terror warning for Istanbul, and reflexively I wondered why we were sitting outside. Later that night, I saw on the news that a truck had rammed into a crowd in Nice. Twenty-four hours later, the military coup began. It seemed that enormous, horrific events were happening everywhere , and whether to leave Istanbul was beside the point—nowhere was particularly safe. A few months ago, just before seven in the morning, an apartment across from mine had a gas explosion, the force of which was so strong that shattered bits of glass blew clear across the roof of a mosque and into my own fifth-story windows. I was jolted straight out of bed and onto the floor. It sounded like a bomb. It didn’t really matter, to my rattled psyche, that it wasn’t.

I have begun to believe that a price one pays for living in an unstable place is a failure of imagination. I have had a couple of serious relationships over my decade here, but I am unmarried and have often thought about whether I want a child. My answer used to have to do with things like how much money I make, how much I like babies. Now I look out the window and am confronted with the world out there , the world I would be bringing a child into, one that often feels chaotic and bleak.

But all such calculations are speculative and to some degree irrational. They are about wondering if someplace would be better, some time, some future, will be safe. Many of us from the U.S. grew up believing security was our birthright. When that is threatened, our impulse is to withdraw or lash out. In Turkey I learned that the future will never be predictable and that mutual dependence in daily life is the truest form of safety. When I am confused about whether to leave Istanbul, I think about those tight-knit Ottoman neighborhoods and take my cue from the Turks, many of whom would never abandon the communities they have created, and who, like most of the world, don’t even have the extraordinary privilege of leaving.

A Turkish artist who recently returned from living in New York for ten years told me that it had been a difficult place for him. “The city is a grid, designed to get you from place to place quickly,” he said. “It’s a strange concept of time for me. I missed Istanbul, where I can look at something 600 years old and know it will always be there. There is something reassuring about that.” Being surrounded by history—what I craved when I moved abroad—does offer its comforts. When I wake up in the middle of the night and look out my living-room windows to a wide view of the city, I see the fourteenth-century Galata Tower brilliantly lit, a huge stone column that has survived all manner of war and atrocity. The tower is strong, permanent, and proud. And it is a reminder that far more important than plotting an escape is learning how to preserve and honor the life that we love—and to stay.

Author’s note: Since this essay appeared in the pages of Vogue_, there has been more violence in Turkey, including the New Year’s attack on the Reina nightclub in Istanbul, which killed 39. These events have been upsetting, but my plans to remain—for now—haven’t changed._

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Istanbul Travel Guide

Katie Nadworny is an Istanbul-based writer who specializes in stories at the intersection of culture and politics in Turkey, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. She has lived in Turkey for nearly a decade and has traveled extensively around the region.

vogue travel istanbul

There is nowhere in the world quite like Istanbul. Spread across two continents, Istanbul is a city of layers and contrasts. With historical sights like the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace brushing up against buzzing bars and lively cafes, with Ottoman-era mosques a short walk from contemporary art museums and galleries, with traditional carpet shops around the corner from trendy boutiques, Istanbul is a city of old and new coexisting. The city never stops moving.

Istanbul is the cultural capital of the country, with a plethora of independent galleries and inventive restaurants, as well as its transit hub, with flights going all over Turkey and all over the world. Each neighborhood has its own distinct identity and vibe, and it's easy to spend weeks in Istanbul without ever seeing everything. But that is what makes it so fascinating—there will always be something calling you back for more. So order a cup of Turkish coffee and a piece of pistachio baklava, and get ready to delve into this fascinating metropolis.

Turkey's time zone is GMT+3 year-round, and is also called TRT (Turkey Time). Turkey does not do daylight savings.

Best Time to Go

Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) are the perfect times to visit Istanbul, when the weather is bright and mild. During the month of April is the city-wide Tulip Festival, when the parks and green spaces in the city are bedazzled with the colorful bulbs. In the summer, the city becomes sticky and very hot, and most residents flee to the beaches in the south as soon as they can, but the streets are alive all night when the air cools off a little. Winter is gray and rainy, showing Istanbul at its most moody and evocative.

Things to Know

The main language in Istanbul is Turkish, though with a large international presence in the city, don't be surprised to hear chatter in English or Arabic or Farsi as you explore. Turkish people are generally quite helpful, even if you don't speak any Turkish, and shop owners (especially in Sultanahmet, the historic center) will often invite you to sit down and share a çay, a tiny tulip-shaped cup of strong black tea. Personal space is often a luxury in this crowded city, so don't be surprised if you feel someone is standing too close to you as you wait for a bus or in a line—it's normal here.

Don't mistake the water that bisects the city for a river. The Bosphorus Strait connects the Sea of Marmara (and, by extension, the Mediterranean) with the Black Sea, and is therefore a major global shipping route. It's not unusual to see massive container ships floating by your commuter ferry.

While Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, the capital city is actually Ankara, in central Anatolia. But the palaces that dot the Bosphorus, left over from Istanbul's status as the capital of the Ottoman Empire, might make you think otherwise. The politicians might do their business in Ankara, but Istanbul feels like the center of the world.

Currency: Turkish Lira (TL)

(Check the current exchange rate )

Language: Turkish I don't speak Turkish: Türkçe bilmiyorum. I'm lost: Kayboldum Can I have…?: …alabilirmiyim? Where is…?: ... nerede?

Calling Code: +90

Capital City: Ankara

How to Get Around

Intricate interlocking transportations—both official and informal—make it easy to navigate around Istanbul. There are multiple metro lines with clear signage and modern cars that connect to an above-ground tram line and two funiculars. The Marmaray, a cross-continent metro line that passes under the Bosphorus Strait, connects the metro system on the European and Asian sides of the city, and has recently expanded to run all the way into the suburbs on both sides of the city. Otherwise, the best way to cross from Europe to Asia and back is by ferry, with multiple ferry lines running between stations on a regular schedule all throughout the day.

The gaps are filled by city buses, which are paid for by the same IstanbulKart that gets you onto the metro, Marmaray, and ferries. And if there is no bus that runs to your destination, there might be a dolmuş , a yellow van that runs on a fixed route but stops whenever a passenger requests it and leaves whenever the van is full. There are also light blue minibuses that run on various routes throughout the city. Dolmuş and minibuses are paid in cash, with the price depending on the distance you go.

Taxis are plentiful, especially around touristed areas. Apps like BiTaksi can be useful to call taxis directly, and hotels are also usually happy to order a taxi if you can't flag one down.

Best Hotels

Ciragan palace kempinski.

Address: Ciragan Caddesi 32 34349 Istanbul Phone: +90 212 326 4646 Website

Housed in an ornate former Ottoman palace on the shores of the Bosphorus Strait, the Ciragan Palace is the ultimate luxurious hotel in Istanbul. The Ciragan boasts an outdoor infinity pool, an exquisite spa with a Turkish hamam, and high-end restaurants. If you want to experience Istanbul like Ottoman royalty, the Ciragan is the place to do it.

Corinne Hotel

Address: Kuloğlu Mah., Turnacıbaşı Caddesi 41 34433 Beyoğlu/İstanbul Phone: +90 212 293 94 94 Website

Located in the heart of Beyoğlu, Istanbul's nightlife and entertainment district, the Corinne Hotel is an ideal base to experience the energy of the city. The boutique hotel is in a lovingly restored late-Ottoman neoclassical building, with trendy and contemporary amenities alongside a winding marble staircase. Don't miss out on its rooftop terrace, the perfect place to sip a cocktail and watch Istanbul sparkle below.

Sirkeci Mansion

Address: Taya Hatun Sokak 5 34120 Sirkeci/Istanbul Phone: +90 212 528 43 44 Website

Nestled in the heart of Sultanahmet, Sirkeci Mansion is walking distance from the Hagia Sophia, Gulhane Park, and Topkapi Palace. The hotel contains 32 spacious rooms, a spa, and an on-site restaurant. Relax at the hotel's Turkish hamam, or head up to the hotel's rooftop, with its sweeping views of the old city.

Pera Palace Hotel

Address: Mesrutiyet Caddesi 52 34430 Tepebasi/Istanbul Phone: +90 212 377 4000 Website

Modern luxury and Turkish history entwine at the Pera Palace hotel, a grand Art Nouveau beauty that was built for travelers on the Orient Express and over the years has hosted illustrious guests that include Agatha Christie, Ernest Hemingway, and Queen Elizabeth II. The Pera Palace is located close to Istiklal Caddesi, Istanbul's main thoroughfare. The five-star hotel has 115 rooms, multiple restaurants and bars, and a fully-equipped spa and fitness center.

The Bank Hotel

Address: Azapkapı, Bankalar Caddesi 5/1 34421 Beyoğlu/İstanbul Phone: +90 212 283 00 55 Website

Located in a reappropriated late-Ottoman-era bank in the Karakoy neighborhood, The Bank Hotel is a trendy boutique hotel located between the historic peninsula and the nightlife of Istiklal Caddesi. The eclectic design mixes the modern and the historic bones of the building throughout the hotel's 62 rooms. The restaurant on the rooftop offers splendid views of the city.

Splendid Palace Hotel

Address: Büyükada-nizam, Yirmiüç Nisan Caddesi 39 34970 Adalar/İstanbul Phone: +90 216 382 69 50 Website

This striking hotel on Istanbul's biggest island is full of early Republic charm, somehow both modern and nostalgically vintage. A highlight is the outdoor pool, where it's easy to while away the day in the sunshine. The 60 rooms and 9 suites are bright and breezy, perfect for an island escape in the middle of the city.

Best Restaurants

Address: The Marmara Pera Meşrutiyet Caddesi 15 34430 Beyoğlu/İstanbul Phone: +90 212 293 5656 Website

The creation of lauded Turkish-Scandinavian chef Mehmet Gurs, Mikla has long had a reputation as one of the best restaurants in Istanbul thanks to its creative twist on traditional cuisine. Located on the roof of the Marmara Pera Hotel, the views are as exquisite as the food. Try the tasting menu to get a sense of the scope of Mikla's creative culinary creations. Reservation is recommended. Indoor and outdoor dining is available.

Ciya Sofrasi

Address: Caferağa Mah. Güneşlibahçe Sokak 43 34710 Kadıköy/Istanbul, Phone: +90 216 330 3190 Website

This unassuming restaurant in the heart of the Kadikoy neighborhood's market street belies its reputation as an Istanbul powerhouse. With cuisine drawn from various regions across Anatolia, especially its diverse southeast region, the menu is constantly shifting and incorporating seasonal produce. In the summertime, try the cherry kebab; in the springtime, don't miss the lamb stewed with erik , Turkish sour plums. Indoor and outdoor dining is available.

Address: Azapkapı, Gümrük Han, Fermeneciler Caddesi 40/A 34420 Beyoğlu/İstanbul Phone: +90 212 244 97 76 Website

This seemingly ramshackle restaurant comes alive at night, glittering with strings of lights and lanterns. Perched right at the edge of the water in the Karakoy district, this is an evocative place to have the Turkish meyhane experience, with small plates of meze dotting the table and rakı (an anise liquor) flowing all night. Make sure to try the atom , thick yogurt mixed with hot dried peppers, and the catch of the day. Reservation is recommended, especially on weekends, and most dining is outdoors.

Address: Mesrutiyet Caddesi 107/F 34430 Beyoglu/Istanbul Phone: +90 212 243 2633 Website

This cozy bistro in the Pera neighborhood, walking distance from Istiklal Caddesi, combines Turkish, Persian, and Middle Eastern influences in its inventive cuisine. Make sure to try the dudi Persian rice speckled with ruby-red barberries. Reservation recommended, only indoor dining.

Things to Do

Hagia sophia.

Address: Ayasofya Meydanı 1 34122 Fatih/İstanbul Phone: +90212 522 17 50 Website

The Hagia Sophia is a building that has held many identities: from a Byzantine church to an Ottoman mosque to a secular museum, and now back to a mosque again. Visitors will need to respect the rules of the mosques in Turkey and dress appropriately , but there is no longer a fee to experience the ultimate palimpsest of a building. While some of the famous mosaics and frescoes are covered, many are still visible.

Topkapi Palace

Address: Cankurtaran Mah. 4122 Fatih/Istanbul Phone: +90 212 512 04 80 Website

Construction on Topkapi Palace began in 1453, when the Ottomans took Constantinople, and was the primary seat of imperial power for nearly four hundred years. The Harem requires an additional ticket, but it's worth it, with its magnificent blue-tiled walls and chambers.

Galata Tower

Address: Bereketzade, Galata kulesi 34421 Beyoğlu/İstanbul Phone: +90 212 245 4141 Website

Built by the Genoese in the 14th century, Galata Tower is an iconic part of the Istanbul skyline. Climb to the top for some of the best views of the city—especially at sunset.

Suleymaniye Mosque

Address: Süleymaniye Mah, Prof. Sıddık Sami Onar Caddesi 1 34116 Fatih/İstanbul Website

Suleymaniye Mosque is considered Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan's most splendid Istanbul mosque, and the architect himself is buried in a tomb on the site. With its intricate tiles, massive dome, and sweeping view of the city from its courtyard, Suleymaniye is a gem among Istanbul's imperial mosques.

Kilic Ali Pasa Hamam

Address: Kemankeş Mah. Hamam Sokak 1 34425 Tophane Karaköy/İstanbul Phone: +90 212 393 80 10 Website

The full hamam , or Turkish bath, experience is particularly luxurious at the Kili Ali Pasa Hamam. Sweat out on a marble slab in the elegantly restored historic building, and get scrubbed squeaky clean.

Best Shopping

Grand bazaar.

Address: Beyazıt, Kalpakçılar Cd. 22 34126 Fatih/İstanbul Phone: +90 212 519 12 48

Istanbul's Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, encompassing an entire buzzing hive of artisans and merchants spread across 60 streets and 4000 shops. Come for traditional Turkish carpets, gold and silver jewelry, leather goods, and more—and make sure to sit, share a tea, and haggle.

Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar)

Address: Rüstem Paşa, Erzak Ambarı Sokak 92 34116 Fatih/İstanbul Phone: +90 212 513 65 97

Built in the 17th century, this fragrant covered market brims over with spices, from tangy sumac to smokey urfa pepper to Turkish saffron. Vendors also sell Turkish delight, ceramics, and other non-spice items.

Arasta Bazaar

Address: Kabasakal Caddesi 34122 Fatih/İstanbul

This market street in the heart of the Sultanahmet neighborhood historically housed shops whose rent helped pay for the maintenance of the nearby Blue Mosque. Now, vendors sell hand-woven pestamel (Turkish towels), ceramics, carpets, and more.

Souq Dukkan

Address: Büyükdere Caddesi 185 34330 Şişli/İstanbul Phone: +90 555 030 82 32 Website

Souq Dukkan began as an artisan's bazaar in the trendy Karakoy neighborhood before recently relocating to Kanyon in Levent. Featuring the work of local designers, creators, and artists, Souq Dukkan is the place to find unique Turkish items from some of the city's most creative minds.

Neighborhoods to Know

Sultanahmet : Seemingly every block in this neighborhood has something historical poking out. The central square is dominated by the twinned Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque, and the streets hold other imperial Ottoman-era mosques, Byzantine cisterns, and the remains of a hippodrome. This is the main place visitors to Istanbul come, and with good reason—the layered empires that dominated Istanbul have all left their mark right here.

Kadıkӧy : Located on Istanbul's Asian shore, Kadıkӧy is the neighborhood of artists and creatives. Bright colorful murals decorate the walls of buildings, while the streets brim with vibrant bars, sleek third-wave coffee shops, trendy boutiques, and al fresco dining. Kadıkӧy has a long stretch of seaside that is filled on summer nights with locals enjoying a beer at sunset. Only a picturesque ferry ride away from the city center, Kadıkӧy is the neighborhood to visit to see how Istanbul's cool kids live.

Cihangir : This trendy neighborhood, just a few blocks from Taksim Square, is the place to see and be seen. With cutting-edge boutiques, moody bistros, colorful bars slinging cocktails, and stylish cafes, Cihangir has long been the scene where hip Turks and foreigners mingle.

Beşiktaş : Located on the European Bosphorus shore just a short walk from Dolmabahçe Palace, Beşiktaş is a rowdy neighborhood famed for its passionate support of the local football team and its plethora of pubs. Explore the rollicking side streets spilling over with people enjoying the night time energy.

Karakoy : Formerly a forlorn strip of shipping warehouses and camping shops, the Karakoy neighborhood has blossomed in the last decade into a colorful strip of restaurants, boutiques, and art galleries. One building houses five of Istanbul's premier private galleries, while mere steps away is the splendid Kılıc Ali Paşa Mosque and its luxurious hammam.

Nişantaşı : For luxury and high-end experiences, Istanbul's elite come to upscale Nişantaşı. Here's where you can find haute couture boutiques, luxury brands like Prada and Louis Vuitton, and elegant restaurants. Just nearby is Maçka Park, one of the few parks in central Istanbul and an ideal place to stroll.

The Princes Islands : The Princes Islands, called Adalar in Turkish, are nine islands in the sea of Marmara, with four open to the public. Cars are not allowed on the islands, so it's best to get around by bicycle, by foot, or by horse-drawn carriage. With its charming white wooden houses and lush bougainvillea, the islands are an escape from the city within the city. The four islands (Büyükada, Heybeliada, Burgazada, and Kınalıada) can be reached by regular ferries from the mainland.

Balat : The twinned neighborhoods of Fener and Balat, historically home to large Greek and Jewish populations, are some of the most picturesque in Istanbul, with colorful wooden houses lining hilly cobblestone streets. Balat has erupted in recent years, easily claiming its place as one of Istanbul's most interesting up-and-coming neighborhoods. Explore the antique shops that dot the area or stop at one of the many cafes and new restaurants that line the streets.

Winter: Istanbul winters are gray and constantly rainy, with weather hovering around 45°-50°F. While it's not ideal weather, the city is evocative and somehow cozy, with vendors selling roasted chestnuts on the street corners and steaming tulip-shaped cups of tea on offer at every restaurant.

Spring: In the springtime, the sun comes out and the weather warms up to a comfortable 65°-70°F. Flowers bloom all over the city, from fragrant jasmine to hot pink petals bursting from Judas trees. The early end of spring can still be a little chilly, but everyone still sits outside to soak in the sun.

Summer: The long, sticky, crowded days of Istanbul's summer usually have temperatures around 85°F with 70% humidity. The saving grace is the water that surrounds the city—the breeze off the Bosphorus on a transcontinental ferry ride or a swim in the Sea of Marmara from Istanbul's islands takes the edge off the muggy heat. And the endless summer nights, often spent sitting around a long meyhane table sipping a cold glass of anise-flavored raki , make it all worth it.

Fall: Autumn in Istanbul is warm and comfortable. The humidity comes down, as does the temperature, lingering around a comfortable 65°F in the early autumn and slipping around to 60°F in the later part. This is the best time to come to Istanbul.

Apps to Download

BiTaksi: Local taxi-hailing app iOs | Android

Uber: International taxi-hailing app iOs | Android

Trafi: Live traffic updates iOs | Android

Moovit: Transportation schedule aggregator iOs | Android

Related Articles

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Three Days In Istanbul

By Ashlea Halpern

Galata Istanbul

Since 2015, tourism in Turkey has been roiled by a failed military coup, devastating terrorist attacks, grim travel advisories from the U.S. State Department (see also: Is It Safe to Visit Istanbul Right Now? ), and a two-year state of emergency that was only lifted in mid-July. Despite those deterrents, travelers are slowly returning. Phase I of the ambitious Istanbul New Airport soft-opened in late October; when it’s completed in 2020, it’ll be the largest transit hub in the world , serving 200 million passengers a year, accommodating 250 different airlines, and costing a pretty $12 billion USD. Flagship carrier Turkish Airlines , meanwhile, is ramping up its business class offerings while continuing to slash fares for economy travelers. An enticing stopover program , with vouchers for four- and five-star hotels, makes it easier than ever to spend a few nights in Istanbul en route to myriad destinations throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This is good news for travelers intrigued by Turkey’s deep history, rich multiculturalism, unparalleled shopping, and mouthwatering food. Here’s how to make the most of an extended layover in the country’s most dynamic and addictive city.

Checking In

The grand Pooh-Bah of the Istanbul hotel scene is the opulent Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul . From the moment you pass under its ornately carved arches and see the autographed photos of celebrities, prime ministers, and sheiks who’ve stayed here over the years, you know you’re in for the royal treatment. The hotel has 313 rooms, including 11 sumptuous palace suites, plus an opulent pool overlooking the Bosphorus Strait. Breakfasts are fit for a king, outdone in decadence only by the pasha-worthy spa treatments available in the hotel’s beautiful marbled hammam. (You haven’t truly experienced Turkey until you’ve stripped down to your birthday suit and paid a stranger to lather you up in luxurious olive-oil soap, and then scour away your dead skin with a textured mitt. It hurts so good.)

For a more laid-back experience, book yourself one of 18 rooms at Witt Istanbul Suites , a boutique hotel in the trendy Cihangir neighborhood of Beyoǧlu. Contemporary rooms are done up with sleek leather sofas, wall-to-wall mirrored tile, and gleaming kitchenettes carved from Marmara marble. It’s the little touches here that really count: the helpful concierge desk, the fresh-baked fig cookies left under bell jars by housekeeping, bathrooms kitted out with Molton Brown toiletries, and Juliette balconies offering sweeping views of Galata Tower and the Golden Horn.

Blue Mosque And Aya Sofya Istanbul

A view of the Blue Mosque from the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul's old city.

Day 1: Historic Istanbul, With Hip Boutiques and a Jazz Closer

Start early with a hearty breakfast at Van Kahvaltı Evi in Cihangir. A traditional Turkish spread includes a selection of salty white cheeses, hard-boiled eggs, muhammara (an addictive red pepper-and-walnut spread), bal-kaymak (delicious clotted cream with honey), and a basket of warm bread that the waiters will keep refilling despite your protests. Consider it fuel for the sightseeing to come.

First stop: Topkapı Palace , a.k.a. the Seraglio, a 15th-century Ottoman palace and municipal complex that served as the heart of the empire for 380 years. Royal gardens, peeling frescoes, and tiled mosaics are breathtaking in their beauty, but the zenith of any visit is a wander through the sultan’s harem, once home to hundreds of concubines and their eunuch guards. If you’re intrigued by castle drama— The Real Housewives of Constantinople , joked one friend—then rent an English-language audio guide at the entrance. (To save yourself additional time and money, buy an Istanbul Museum Pass before your visit. The five-day tourist card charges a flat rate—125 lira or about $30—for access to a dozen of the city’s most popular cultural institutions, including Topkapı Palace , Hagia Sophia , and the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts .)

Next, head down to Sultanahmet Square for an up-close look at traces of the Byzantine-era Hippodrome of Constantinople ; the majestic Hagia Sophia , a Greek-Orthodox church built by Emperor Justinian circa 537 AD, converted into a mosque by Sultan Mehmet II in 1453, and declared a museum in 1934 by the republic of Turkey’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk; and the 402-year-old Blue Mosque , which earned its nickname thanks to the dreamy Iznik tiles that cover its walls. The latter reopened to tourists in May, following a two-month renovation, but it remains closed to non-Islamic worshippers during each of the five daily calls to prayer. For the best experience, avoid visiting on Fridays or within a half hour after the ezan is chanted from the minarets.

For a more in-depth look at Istanbul’s key attractions, consider hiring an English-language guide from Condé Nast Traveler travel specialist Sea Song . The luxury tour company was founded 17 years ago by American transplant Karen Fedorko Sefer; full-time guides like Istanbul native Anka Benli cobble together seamless itineraries offering behind-the-scenes access and invaluable commentary. Benli can point out unique features the average tourist would miss—like the tortured faces of devils swirled into the green marble at Hagia Sophia. Sea Song can also arrange a languorous yacht cruise on the Bosphorus, stopping for a traditional grilled seafood lunch and tumblers of bracing rakı at the wood-paneled Ismet Baba Restaurant in Kuzguncuk. (Order the turbot if it’s season, or else the sea bass in lemon sauce with bonito and fava paste.)

Come late afternoon, carve out some time to explore two adjacent neighborhoods: Karaköy and Galata . The former is a historic harbor district dotted with small galleries, cute coffeehouses, gritty street art, and hip boutiques. Hit up Bey Karaköy for Everlane-style minimalist menswear and cool-girl concept shop Mae Zae for handmade ceramics and funky wood and leather jewelry.

The next neighborhood over is Galata, a Genoese colony back in the Byzantine and Ottoman eras. Twisting cobblestone streets give this quarter a charming European air, but avoid the overpriced restaurants clustered around the famed Galata Tower . Instead, head to Salt Galata , an Ottoman bank turned multi-use space: Under one architecturally pleasing roof you’ll find a tightly edited bookstore ( Robinson Crusoe 389 ), communal café, and research library stuffed with books about art, graphic design, and Turkish culture. The shopping continues along design-forward Serdar-ı Ekrem street; look for kilim throw pillows and olive-wood serving trays at housewares shop Çiçek Işleri , and shearling-trimmed denim jackets and rose-tinted sunglasses at Baston Vintage .

With even an ounce of energy remaining, close out the night with a bucket of lemony, rice-stuffed mussels from the wildly popular Midyelerin Efendisi in Beşiktaş and a drink at the atmospheric Nardis Jazz Club in Cihangir . The latter books a mix of local and international acts, like a quintet led by Ankara-born jazz vocalist and Fulbright scholar Ece Göksu.

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Spice Market Istanbul

At the Egyptian Bazaar, or Spice Market, you'll find row after row of vendors selling Turkish spices, coffee, and more.

Day 2: An Underrated Mosque, a Grand Bazaar, and an Unusual Museum

While not as ornate as the Blue Mosque, Süleymaniye Mosque is just as impressive—and noticeably less touristy. It’s the second-largest imperial mosque in the city, built atop the third hill of Old Istanbul in the 16th century, by the great Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan at the behest of Suleiman the Magnificent. On a clear day, the views from the courtyard are unbeatable. Don’t miss the cemetery, either, where the carvings atop each tombstone indicate that person’s station in life (a fez headdress was reserved for government officials, a turban for someone of the religious order, an anchor for a seaman, and so on). For a late breakfast or early lunch, meander over to Mimar Sinan , one of several nearby restaurants specializing in kuru fasülye , white beans stewed in olive oil and tomato sauce and served with rice pilaf. It’s Turkey’s unofficial national dish, and especially popular with lira-pinching students.

Now on to the world-famous Grand Bazaar , one of the oldest and largest covered markets on earth. Twenty-two gates usher you into a labyrinth of 4,500 stores; you’ll definitely get lost, and that’s okay—it’s how you stumble upon happy mistakes like hammered-copper serving trays, hand-tooled leather bags, and glittering zultanite rings. Or you can go in with a game plan, knocking out a list of covetable souvenirs from established shops like Dervis (good for pastel-striped peştemals ), Soy Türkiye (for professional-grade copper cookware), Iznik Art (for çini , a traditional Turkish pottery in bold turquoise and red tulip motifs), and Yazzma (ikat central). If it’s a hand-knotted silk rug you’re after, venture out of the bazaar and over to Orient Handmade Carpets , a spectacular showroom run by a fifth-generation Anatolian family. Here, more than 14,000 carpets are spread across 27 rooms. Be prepared to invest, as this level of quality does not come cheap.

One more market to go, and that’s Mısır Çarşısı , a.k.a. the Egyptian Bazaar or Spice Market. It’s a wonderful place to photograph centuries-old architecture, rows of Turkish delight vendors, and pyramids of fragrant spices. Pick up potent vials of amber and rose oil at 72-year-old perfumery Istanbuli ; and don’t forget to buy a bag of freshly ground Turkish coffee from Kurukahveci Mehmetv Efendi , one of the oldest coffee shops in Istanbul.

If you’re not totally wiped out, it’s worth a spin through the antiques district of Çukurcuma in Beyoǧlu . Here you’ll find quality dealers like A La Turca , although one of the most curious stores is The Works Objects of Desire (tagline: “For the slightly deranged collector seeking identifiable memories”). The cluttered bric-a-brac shop provides artifacts for the conceptual vignettes displayed in the nearby Museum of Innocence , based on the namesake novel by Nobel Prize–winning Turkish author Orhan Pamuk (who also happened to live in the house before it was converted into a museum). Fans of the book, as well as of Joseph Cornell–esque assemblages, will appreciate both the store and the museum. Don’t be surprised if you walk away with a 70-year-old dental mold or vintage police badge from the former.

Final stop: Dinner at Çukurcuma Köftecisi , a mom-and-pop meatball shop with just six tables and enough tempting cold meze dishes that you may forget to leave room for the köfte.

Menemen Istanbul

Menemen, lightly set eggs with salty feta, tomato, chilis, and ample olive oil.

Day 3: The Food Crawl to End All Food Crawls

If you do just one walking tour in Istanbul, design it around your stomach. The food walks organized by Culinary Backstreets cover so much more than eating, though that’s clearly the highlight. The company offers eight food-centric tours, diving deep on everything from kebabs to rakı. Born on the Bosphorus is one of the best, traversing three waterside neighborhoods: liberal, sectarian Beşiktaş ; conservative Üsküdar on the Asian side of the river; and historically multicultural Kuzguncuk , once settled by Jews, then Greek-Orthodox and Armenian Christians, and now Muslims. You’ll sample menemen (lightly set eggs scrambled with salty feta, tomato, chilis, and a bucket of olive oil) at Çakmak Kahvaltı Salonu ; tavuk göğsü (savory milk pudding made with chicken skin) at Murat Muhallebicisi ; pickled everything at Üsküdarlı Ünal Turşuları , and a real grandma’s made-from-scratch manti (tiny dumplings served in a pool of chili butter) at the family-run Hatice Anne Ev Yemekleri .

There are opportunities to buy chestnut honey, fresh figs as big as a toddler’s fist, and boxes of rainbow-colored Turkish delight. You’ll eat yourself silly, but you’ll also tour churches and mosques, swing through a seafood market where the stands are manned by bearded fishermen in galoshes, visit a cat-mobbed cemetery where whirling dervishes are buried, and meet Istanbul’s last great umbrella repairman (he’s a hoot!). The tour lasts anywhere from six to nine hours, depending on your group’s endurance level, and covers well over a dozen eateries. (If he’s available, ask for Benoit to be your guide; you won’t be disappointed.) The day out is a feast for the eyes and stomach, and you’ll be positively stuffed by nightfall. It’s the most satisfying way to end an all-too-short adventure in one of the world’s most fascinating and diverse cities.

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The Peninsula Istanbul

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Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul

Alemdar Mah. Yerebatan Cad. No:13 Sultanahmet, Fatih, 34122 Istanbul, Turkey – Excellent location – show map – Train Access

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Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul Reserve now

Lock in a great price for Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul – rated 8.7 by recent guests!

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Excellent location!

Conveniently set in the Fatih district of Istanbul, Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul is located 131 feet from Basilica Cistern, 1312 feet from Hagia Sophia and 1148 feet from Blue Mosque. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and room service, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The property is close to popular attractions like Spice Bazaar, Suleymaniye Mosque and Galata Tower. Guest rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a kettle, a shower, a hairdryer and a wardrobe. Guests at the hotel can enjoy a Turkish and world cuisine on the terrace with Hagia Sophia view. Sultanahmet bus and tram stations are 820 feet away from the property. Popular points of interest near Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul include Column of Constantine, Topkapi Palace and Grand Bazaar. Sabiha Gokcen International Airport is 28 mi and Istanbul Airport is 29 mi from the accommodations.

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 9.7 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

  • Airport shuttle
  • Family rooms
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Room service
  • 24-hour front desk
  • Facilities for disabled guests
  • Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
  • Very Good Breakfast

Property highlights

Located in the heart of Istanbul, this hotel has an excellent location score of 9.7

Breakfast Info

Halal, Buffet

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Restaurants 1 restaurant on site.

  • Cuisine Italian • Mediterranean • Pizza • Turkish • Local • International
  • Open for Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner • High tea
  • Ambience Family-friendly • Modern
  • Dietary options Halal

Amenities of Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul Great facilities! Review score, 8.5

  • Toilet paper
  • Free toiletries
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Electric kettle
  • Socket near the bed
  • Clothes rack
  • Flat-screen TV
  • Satellite channels
  • Coffee house on site
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Tea/Coffee maker
  • Baggage storage
  • Currency exchange
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Ironing service Additional charge
  • Dry cleaning Additional charge
  • Fax/Photocopying Additional charge
  • Fire extinguishers
  • CCTV outside property
  • CCTV in common areas
  • Smoke alarms
  • Security alarm
  • Key card access
  • 24-hour security
  • Shuttle service Additional charge
  • Designated smoking area
  • Air conditioning
  • Smoke-free property
  • Wake-up service
  • Private entrance
  • Soundproof rooms
  • Ironing facilities
  • Airport shuttle Additional charge
  • Bathroom emergency cord
  • Lowered sink
  • Raised toilet
  • Toilet with grab rails
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Upper floors accessible by elevator

See availability House rules

From 2:00 PM

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card at check-in

Until 12:00 PM

Cancellation/ prepayment

Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodations type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check what conditions apply to your preferred room.

Children & Beds

Child policies

Children of all ages are welcome.

Children 6 and above will be charged as adults at this property.

To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.

Crib and extra bed policies

Prices for cribs and extra beds aren't included in the total price. They'll have to be paid for separately during your stay.

The number of extra beds and cribs allowed depends on the option you choose. Check your selected option for more info.

All cribs and extra beds are subject to availability.

Age restriction

The minimum age for check-in is 18

Pets are not allowed.

Accepted payment methods

Cash Debit card Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul accepts these cards and reserves the right to temporarily hold an amount prior to arrival.

The fine print Must-know information for guests at this property

Please inform Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul in advance of your expected arrival time. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly with the contact details provided in your confirmation.

Guests are required to show a photo identification and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.

Please inform Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), additional safety and sanitation measures are in effect at this property.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), this property is taking steps to protect the safety of guests and staff. Certain services and amenities may be reduced or unavailable as a result.

FAQs about Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul

Does vogue hotel supreme istanbul have a restaurant on site, what kind of breakfast is served at vogue hotel supreme istanbul.

Guests staying at Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul can enjoy a highly-rated breakfast during their stay (guest review score: 8.3).

How much does it cost to stay at Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul?

The prices at Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates, hotel's policy etc.). To see prices, enter your dates.

What is there to do at Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul?

What are the check-in and check-out times at vogue hotel supreme istanbul.

Check-in at Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul is from 2:00 PM, and check-out is until 12:00 PM.

How far is Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul from the center of Istanbul?

Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul is 1,000 feet from the center of Istanbul. All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.

What type of room can I book at Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul?

  • Twin/Double

The Best of Istanbul

Convention centers.

  • Istanbul Congress Center
  • Halic Congress Center
  • Hagia Sophia
  • Column of Constantine
  • Spice Bazaar
  • Maiden's Towers
  • Taksim Square
  • 15 July Martyrs Bridge
  • Cagaloglu Turkish Bath
  • Hagia Irene
  • Basilica Cistern
  • Suleymaniye Mosque
  • Galata Tower
  • Dolmabahce Clock Tower
  • Blue Mosque
  • Topkapi Palace
  • Hippodrome of Constantinople
  • Dolmabahce Palace

Shopping Areas

  • Istiklal Street
  • Istanbul Sapphire
  • Istinye Park Shopping Center
  • Grand Bazaar

Stadiums or Arenas

  • Nef Stadium
  • Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) 19 miles
  • Istanbul Airport (IST) 21.2 miles
  • Corlu Airport (TEQ) 55.9 miles

Subway/Metro Stations

  • Taksim Metro Station

Train Stations

  • Sultanahmet Tram Station

Most Popular Cities

  • Sultanahmet

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  • Destinations
  • Attractions
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Istanbul Travel Guide

The splendid city of Istanbul has many unique and fascinating features. It is the only city in the world reaching across two continents, with its old city in Europe and modern Istanbul situated in Asia, separated by the Bosphorus Strait. It is also unique in having had capital status during two successive empires, Christian Byzantine and Islamic Ottoman, and the legacy from both is visible in the modern city today.

Istanbul's location on the water made it a much coveted site as a commercial shipping port and military lookout, and as capital of the Roman Empire, Constantinople, as it was known, became extremely desirable as a centre of world trade, until Mehmet the Conqueror claimed it for the Ottoman Empire in 1453 and it became the imperial seat of the sultans. After the War of Independence the capital was moved to Ankara, but Istanbul still remains the commercial, historical, and cultural heart of Turkey today.

The charm and character of Istanbul lies in its endless variety and jumble of contradictions. Its fascinating history has bequeathed the city a vivid inheritance of Byzantine ruins, splendid palaces, ancient mosques and churches, hamams (bath-houses), and exotic bazaars. Modern Istanbul exudes trendy bars and nightclubs, western boutiques, office blocks, and elegant suburbs.

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Travel Guide powered by Word Travels, copyright © 2023 Globe Media Ltd. By its very nature information in this travel guide is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities. Neither Globe Media Ltd nor Travel Vogue can accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.

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  • Istanbul Tour

Best Places to Visit

Top landmarks, entertainment.

Istanbul, a fascinating city built on two continents is a melting point of many civilizations and different people. Divided by the Bosphorus Strait, it is one of the greatest cities in the world with a traditional eastern city meets a modern western city in a melodious combination.

The city is famous for several different waters. Get amazed by the Black sea in the North, in the South you will be greeted by the Marmara Sea. From towering minarets to underground Byzantine cisterns and steamy bathhouses, the city offers a fabulous array of attractions. The Blue Mosque which was built in 17th century lures lot of visitors annually and is one amongst the few mosques that have six minarets.

Another tourist attraction is a stunning Byzantine structure ‘The Aya Sofya’, which is also known as Hagia Sophia. It was built as a church in 6th century, but was later turned into a mosque. The Basilica Cistern is next on the must-visit list. The magnificent structure was constructed to supply water to the Great Palace which is located close to the Hippodrome.

To catch a panoramic view of the city from a considerable height, visit to The Galata Tower. During the Ottoman era, the tower was earlier used as a watch tower. Now visitors throng the place to get view of many historical sites located in the region including Princes` Islands located in the Marmara Sea.

A visit to Topkapi Palace is a must, as here travelers get a rare opportunity to lay their eyes on incredible collection of jewels, matchless ceramics, imperial costumes, unique manuscripts, religious relics and armor. The palace remains closed on Tuesday. The tickets to the harem are sold separately, but it`s worth the money as it is tastefully done and exude the magnificence.

Taksim Square is another popular tourist destination which is dotted with lots of shops, bars, restaurants, etc. Istinye Park comes next and it is a shopping mall which is constructed flawlessly. Even if malls don’t interest you much, it is a must-see place. For crazy night life, head to Bebek and Arnavutköy. You can enjoy great food and music.

Whether you are travelling alone or with family and friends, holidays in Istanbul will surely be memorable for everyone, as the city has lot to offer.

Istanbul is a city that wears its history and culture well. It blends its rich culture and history in such a way that makes it more exciting, building up the curiosity which attracts the visitors from all around the world. Founded during the Neolithic times, the city of Istanbul has been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site offering plethora of architectural wonders on your doorstep.

Blue Mosque- The Blue Mosque was built by Sultan Ahmet in the 17th century, which remains an active house of worship even today. The mosque is closed to sightseers during the five daily prayers times for Muslims. Featuring a cascade of domes and six slender minarets, the curvaceous mosque was constructed from the blue tiles on the dome along with the interiors of the upper levels.

Suleymaniye Mosque- Located on the Third Hill of Istanbul, the mosque was built by Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent in 1550. The most showcases a beautiful blend of Islamic and Byzantine architecture. The visitors to this Mosque fall in love with its unmatched beauty and peacefulness. The mosque was restored in 20th century after getting extensively damaged during the WWI.

Dolmabahce Palace- Get a taste of luxury in the city of Sultans. Plush, luxurious and beautiful doesn’t justify the magnificence of Dolmabahce Palace. Built in 19th century, the palace was home to six Sultans from 1856 to 1924. Constructed by using 14 tons of gold leaf, Turkey’s most opulent palace blends traditional Ottoman architecture with the European styles of Neoclassical, Rococo and Baroque.

Archaeological Museum- Showcasing the artistic and archaeological treasures from the Topkapi collections, this superb museum is housed in three buildings. Exhibiting classical sanctuary, ancient artefacts and Istanbul`s history, there are many other highlights of this museum which makes it a must-visit.

If you underestimated the night life of Istanbul city, then you will be surprised to get a tinge of it. The city`s night life and food culture is influenced by the Asian as well as European culture. To help make your days well spent and to brighten up your days the Asian districts of Caddebostan, Fenerbahce, Moda, and Kalamis all offer evening entertainment.

Ortakoy is a cute little neighborhood with coffee shops, shops, souvenirs, markets and the world`s only baroque-style mosque which is situated on shores of the Bosphorus. Visit Tarabya, Suada, Ortakoy, Bebek, or Kurucesme on the European side, with many venues open till late making your night to last still longer.

The city has an emerging music scene, with the establishment of festivals such as Istanbul International Music Festival. Venues such as Atatürk Cultural Center, the Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theatre and Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall, host live shows and concerts regularly!

The Akmerkez, Cevahir Mall and Metrocity are well known shopping venues located in this amazing city. Various cultural events also take place in city throughout the year, which can be a pleasure to watch for both children and adults. Tourists can also pay a visit to Ottoman bathhouses, amongst which Ayasofya Hurrem Sultan Hamam is a popular choice.

The Spice Bazaar market that was constructed in 1660s, displays vividly colored spices alongside jewel like lokum, providing eye-candy for the thousands of locals and tourists who visit the city every day.

Our holiday packages to Istanbul give you a fair chance to try the delicious Turkish cuisine. Feast like a Sultan on fabulous traditional cuisine or you can also try offbeat fusion delicacies. For many people Turkish cuisine means a kebab. Marinated and minced meat is served with a range of edible salads and sauces that make for a flavorsome meal or a light snack in the middle of the day.

Exquisite seafood is served regular and is something recommended by every traveler. Black Sea region`s cuisines uses fish extensively. You can find some of the most popular restaurants on Kumkapi. The place has a small pedestrianized area which is perfect to take a stroll around.

Turkish meals are generally soupy, consisting of some kind of stock or stew. Beyoglu, Kadikoy and Sultanahmet are the districts for heavenly food. Aside from western food presented amply as an alternative, there are numerous eateries specialized in specific cuisines.

Breakfast is the most important meal in Turkish culture. The breakfast habits of Turks are different than the Europeans. Coffee is replaced with tea and sliced cucumbers and tomatoes are a must. White bread is preferred over brown bread. The restaurants not only serve food but also live entertainment too to ensure the travelers go back to their home with a longing to come back.

Our best deals in Istanbul

Hotel Golden Gate Topkapi

Need to know

  • Practical information
  • Flight advice
  • Getting around

Turkish is the main language which is most widely spoken throughout Istanbul. It is also the official language of the Republic of Turkey. English is also widely spoken and understood by the locals and the signboards, restaurant menus are in English too. For those who can`t speak or understand English or Turkish can reach out to the ‘tourism police’ in the main holiday hotspots.

The currency in Turkey is the Turkish Lira from 100TL notes to 10 kuru coins, but apart from Scottish notes Euros, Sterling and Dollars are accepted in all the major places. Turkish coins cover everything up to 1 TL, with notes starting from 5 TL. Major credit and debit cards are also widely accepted. You can also avoid individual transactional fees by withdrawing cash from an ATM.

Visitors seeking entry to Turkey need to apply for an E-visa which allows staying in the country for three months. Generally there are two types of tourist visas –a single entry and a multiple entry visa which allow single entry and multiple entries to the country. Earlier you could purchase a visa upon your arrival at the Istanbul airport counter by providing all the required documents, but since 2014, visitors need obtain their visa electronically after entering required information and making payment by credit card. After successful application, e-Visa is e-mailed to the applicant.

Owing to its geographical location, the climate of Istanbul is considered as borderline Mediterranean climate, oceanic climate as well as humid subtropical climate. The city`s diversity, size and location along with its coastline results in microclimates. The summer months range around 29 degrees and rainfall is rare. The city has high humidity, which sometimes reaches to 80% in the mornings. Winter is cold in Istanbul leading to fog that sometimes also disrupts transportation. The temperature dips to 1-4 degrees in winters, while spring and autumn experience mild temperatures, but are unpredictable.

Main Airports

Istanbul`s main airport is Istanbul Ataturk Airport. The Ataturk Airport is Europe`s third busiest airport, after Paris Charles de Gaulle and London Heathrow. There are regular flights to numerous cities across the globe, such as Athens, Rome, Toronto, Paris, London, Seoul, Dubai, Cairo, Singapore, Moscow, New York, etc. The city has one more airport on the Asian side which is called Sabiha Gokcen International Airport.

Flight Options

If you want to travel onwards by air to any major city in Turkey, there are many connecting flights from Istanbul. Turkey has an airport of its own. There are shuttles which are available from the airport`s exit gates, along with public transport routes to Taksim and Kadikoy.

Travel Advice

If you are familiar with the city or know about how to get toy our destination, then you can board on subway which departs from the airport. After reaching Istanbul, you can switch from subway to tram to go ahead with your journey. But if you are travelling to Istanbul for the first time, we will definitely recommend you to hire usual taxis that are easily found outside the airport.

Other Transport Options

Apart from flights, you can reach Istanbul by train or cruise ship. The journey by train is not a straight-forward journey but those who know how to have a good time are going to enjoy it. The train departing from London will take four days to arrive in Istanbul, passing through different regions and offering panoramic views.

Istanbul has a wide selection of private and public transportation. Due to its location at the border of Europe and Asia, it is often referred to as the ‘crossroads’ of the two continents. The transport network is excellent and well developed, which offers amazing connectivity.

The city of Istanbul is well-connected by public as well as private buses which are owned by iETT. The city now has a system of long hybrid buses known as Metro bus, which was introduced recently. The bus has separate lanes which help reducing the travel time considerably. The buses have good service and they run for 24 hours a day.

There are two tram lines in Istanbul which operates between 6 am and midnight. The tram system is called the T1 tram. Both of the lines serve several tramway stations across the city, such as Mithatpaşa, Akşemsettin, Zeytinburnu, Seyitnizam, etc. The T1 also links up with the M1 Metro system which helps those heading to Ataturk Airport. Apart from trams and trains, there are funicular railways running underground between Karakoy and Beyoglu. The city`s underground metro system is functional and very efficient. It consist of five lines and there are some more under construction. The system connects most parts of the city.

Taxis or cabs in Istanbul offer the most comfortable and economical way to get around in the city. If you want to save money, the shared taxi costs even lesser. Most of the drivers can speak and understand Basic English. Although they stick to meter rates, one must be aware of drivers who try to negotiate for a fixed rate. City-based taxis can be identified by their distinct yellow color. App-based services such as Uber are also getting popular.

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Reservation

Experience a unique holiday in bodrum, i feel lucky.

To enjoy the sun in Bodrum Bay and to cool down in the crystal waters of the Aegean Sea, Vogue Hotel Supreme's Blue Flag beach with the sparkling sand is waiting for you. Our hotel has a perfect location for your holiday to start ,  27 km to the airport and only 8 km to the City center of Bodrum. From the moment you arrive to the hotel, you can enjoy the tranquility and all day long activities in the lush green bay of Vogue Hotel Supreme. With our different types of room and private villas, you will enjoy a unique accommodation comfort, 3 free & 3 extra charged  ala carte restaurants offering delicious international cuisine, our theme parks, our unique mini club, 33 different water slides will accelerate your heartbeat and you will enjoy the day in the waves. In the evenings, you will forget the tiredness of the day and enjoy our shows and disco.

A UNIQUE HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE

Vogue Hotel

FEELING LUCKY

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Vogue Villa

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Let the Vogue Hotel Supreme Bodrum Reverse Your Dreams to the Truth...

ROOMS AND VILLAS

Enjoy a pleasant holiday.

Our spacious and comfortable rooms, which are carefully prepared for you and your family, have been designed to meet all your needs in the most appropriate way and are provided to your needs in a complete manner. Our villas with their unique view will make you feel at home, enjoy your holiday in your private pool, relax in your seating area, enjoy your dinner at your villa at your private kitchen and dining area .

Standart Garden Annex (Twin Beds)

Standart Garden Annex (Twin Beds)

Superior Garden Room Annex

Superior Garden Room Annex

Superior Room Land view

Superior Room Land view

Superior Room Sea View

Superior Room Sea View

Corner Deluxe Room

Corner Deluxe Room

Family Suite Garden Annex

Family Suite Garden Annex

Family Suite Land View

Family Suite Land View

Family Suite Sea View

Family Suite Sea View

Connection Annex Room

Connection Annex Room

Aphrodite Villa

Aphrodite Villa

Apollon Villa

Apollon Villa

Poseidon Villa

Poseidon Villa

Hermes Villa

Hermes Villa

Presidential Villa

Presidential Villa

Zeus Villa

DISCOVER THE WORLD OF VOGUE HOTEL SUPREME

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  2. Where to Stay, Eat, and Play in Istanbul

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    Courtesy of The Peninsula Istanbul. Amenities: two restaurants, indoor and outdoor swimming pool, wellness complex, beauty salon, TV with satellite, soundproofed rooms, free private parking ...

  4. Istanbul Travel Guide 2016

    By Violet Henderson and Hannah Nathanson. 17 March 2016. Straddling two continents, Istanbul boasts a lively nightlife, eclectic shopping and a rich cultural offering that reflects the influences of the many empires that have ruled over the metropolis. Click through below to discover Vogue 's insider guide to exploring the Turkish city.

  5. The perfect guide to your planning your next holiday to Turkey

    An Insider's Guide To Istanbul. Vogue Turkey's editor-in-chief Seda Domaniç shares her favourite fashion and lifestyle finds: Design Den. Sanayi 313; Image: Shutterstock. Trezz, a furniture brand established by interior architects Tayfun Mumcu and Rezzan Benardete, is worth checking out. I also love the one-of-a-kind pieces from Sanayi 313 ...

  6. Vogue Hotel Istanbul

    The Basilica Cistern is 80 meters away. The elegant rooms of Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul are equipped with air conditioning, modern amenities and include free Wi-Fi. Some of the rooms have views of the surrounding streets, and some have spectacular views of Hagia Sophia. Our on-site restaurants serve Turkish and international cuisine.

  7. 36 Hours in Istanbul, Asian Side

    Rooms start around $120. "36 Hours," a television program inspired by The Times's 36 Hours column, airs Mondays at 8 p.m. Eastern on Travel Channel. The next episode on Istanbul dovetails ...

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    European and American tourists invaded; Istanbul topped all the travel lists. An Islamic conservative prime minister and president were running the country after decades of state-enforced ...

  9. VOGUE HOTEL SUPREME ISTANBUL

    Now £180 on Tripadvisor: Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul, Istanbul. See 244 traveller reviews, 340 candid photos, and great deals for Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul, ranked #295 of 2,162 hotels in Istanbul and rated 4 of 5 at Tripadvisor. Prices are calculated as of 23/06/2024 based on a check-in date of 30/06/2024.

  10. Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul

    Now $218 (Was $̶3̶3̶3̶) on Tripadvisor: Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul, Istanbul. See 244 traveler reviews, 340 candid photos, and great deals for Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul, ranked #295 of 2,162 hotels in Istanbul and rated 4 of 5 at Tripadvisor.

  11. Istanbul Travel Guide: Vacation + Trip Ideas

    Address: Azapkapı, Bankalar Caddesi 5/1. 34421 Beyoğlu/İstanbul. Phone: +90 212 283 00 55. Website. Located in a reappropriated late-Ottoman-era bank in the Karakoy neighborhood, The Bank Hotel ...

  12. The Best Hotels In Istanbul, From Bosphorus Palaces To ...

    Vogue 's best hotels in Istanbul at a glance: Best for couples: Shangri-La Bosphorus. Best for families: JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus. Best luxury stay: Ciragan Palace Kempinski. Best boutique stay: Soho House Istanbul. Here, find Vogue 's pick of the best hotels in Istanbul.

  13. Three Days In Istanbul

    For a more in-depth look at Istanbul's key attractions, consider hiring an English-language guide from Condé Nast Traveler travel specialist Sea Song. The luxury tour company was founded 17 ...

  14. Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul, Istanbul

    Conveniently set in the Fatih district of Istanbul, Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul is located 131 feet from Basilica Cistern, 1312 feet from Hagia Sophia and 1148 feet from Blue Mosque. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and room service, along with free WiFi throughout the property.

  15. Istanbul

    The splendid city of Istanbul has many unique and fascinating features. It is the only city in the world reaching across two continents, with its old city in Europe and modern Istanbul situated in Asia, separated by the Bosphorus Strait. ... Neither Globe Media Ltd nor Travel Vogue can accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to ...

  16. Istanbul to Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul

    Rome2Rio makes travelling from Istanbul to Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul easy. Rome2Rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Find all the transport options for your trip from Istanbul to Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul right here.

  17. Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul

    Book Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul, Istanbul on Tripadvisor: See 239 traveller reviews, 338 candid photos, and great deals for Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul, ranked #291 of 3,011 hotels in Istanbul and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. Flights ... View prices for your travel dates.

  18. Travel News and Features

    The latest Travel news and features. Explore British Vogue to find out more including articles on fashion, culture and lifestyle. ... Vogue's Expert Guide To Planning A Dream Honeymoon In The Maldives. By Kate Lloyd. 6 April 2024. Travel. The Best Hotels In Istanbul, From Bosphorus Palaces To Intimate Boutiques. By Vogue. 3 April 2024. Travel.

  19. Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul

    Book Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul, Istanbul on Tripadvisor: See 244 traveller reviews, 340 candid photos, and great deals for Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul, ranked #295 of 2,148 hotels in Istanbul and rated 4 of 5 at Tripadvisor. ... View prices for your travel dates. Check In. Tue, Jun 11. Check Out. Wed, Jun 12. Guests. 1 room, 2 adults, 0 ...

  20. Istanbul Airport to Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul

    You can take a train from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Vogue Hotel Supreme Istanbul via Gayrettepe and Halic in around 1h 14m. Alternatively, HAVAİST operates a bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Istanbul Aksaray every 30 minutes. Tickets cost $4-7 and the journey takes 1h 30m. Train operators. Istanbul Ulasim.

  21. Istanbul Holiday Packages

    Get awesome Istanbul holiday packages with "fly more, save more" offer available only at Vogue Travel House. To get cheapest flights, call now! Customer support | Live help | Blog +02070788998 +8886040198 01143012424. FLIGHT; HOLIDAYS . Antalya ; Larnaca ; Izmir ; Istanbul ; Ankara ...

  22. Vogue Hotel Supreme Bodrum

    To enjoy the sun in Bodrum Bay and to cool down in the crystal waters of the Aegean Sea, Vogue Hotel Supreme's Blue Flag beach with the sparkling sand is waiting for you. Our hotel has a perfect location for your holiday to start , 27 km to the airport and only 8 km to the City center of Bodrum. From the moment you arrive to the hotel, you can ...

  23. Vogue Travel

    See 1 photo from 23 visitors to Vogue Travel. Planning a trip to Istanbul? Foursquare can help you find the best places to go to.