An Istanbul landmark since 1869, the Istanbul Archaeological Museums house roughly 1 million artifacts spanning five millennia. This sprawling complex on the historic peninsula spans three connected buildings – the Archaeology Museum, Ancient Orient Museum, and Tiled Kiosk Museum – and its collections trace the cradle of civilization from Mesopotamia and Anatolia to Egypt and […]

The Chora Church (today Kariye Mosque) in Istanbul’s Fatih district is often called “Istanbul’s Sistine Chapel”. Its walls and ceilings are covered with some of the most brilliant Byzantine mosaics and frescoes to survive, especially masterpieces of the 14th-century Palaeologan Renaissance. Despite being overshadowed by Hagia Sophia in fame, Chora’s intimate church spaces allow close-up […]

Rising proudly at the edge of Europe and gazing toward Asia, the Büyük Mecidiye Mosque – more popularly known as the Ortaköy Mosque – occupies one of Istanbul’s most breathtaking settings. This Ottoman-era mosque stands at the waterside of Ortaköy’s pier square, a lively plaza along the Bosphorus shoreline. Its elegant twin minarets and gleaming […]

Beneath the terraced slopes of the İstinye Valley, where plane trees funnel sea-salt air inland from the Bosphorus, Istinye Park rises like a glazed promontory of commerce. The mall’s lattice shell and limestone skirts declare an unmistakably contemporary ambition, yet the complex anchors itself within the century-old pattern of shipbuilding quays, fishermen’s teahouses, and the […]

The corridors of the Grand Bazaar are lined with shops offering everything from glittering mosaic lamps to handwoven kilims. The air carries the spicy scent of saffron and cinnamon, and the ceilinged alleys echo with the calls of vendors. This covered market is an immersive sensory experience. It is vast – over 4,000 shops occupy […]

Istanbul’s Sisli district seldom pauses. Offices empty into pavement cafés, apartment balconies hover above shoemakers’ workshops, and the main arterial Büyükdere Avenue sends a steady murmur toward the Golden Horn. Anchored to this flow, Istanbul Cevahir Shopping and Entertainment Centre rises as a glass-roofed colossus that mirrors the city’s twin fascinations with commerce and spectacle. […]

Stand at the entrance to Kadıköy Çarşısı on a Saturday morning and you’ll feel the city’s heartbeat. The sharp tang of brine in the air, the jostle of elbows as someone shouts for two kilos of tomatoes, the soft clink of a tea glass on porcelain—it’s as if Istanbul’s Asian shore has conspired to put […]

Nestled in the shadow of Istanbul’s most famous monuments, the Arasta Bazaar is a “hidden gem tucked beside the Blue Mosque”. Despite its central Sultanahmet location – at Hagia Sophia and the Hippodrome – many travelers pass by without ever discovering it. In contrast to the Grand Bazaar’s frenzied energy, Arasta offers a serene, laid-back […]

The Elysium Taksim opens its doors with a promise of modern luxury and comfort in the heart of Istanbul. Named for the mythic Elysium, it aspires to serve as an urban sanctuary, blending contemporary style with Turkish hospitality. This is a 5-star deluxe hotel (often regarded as ultra-luxury/boutique). Its nightly rates generally range from roughly […]

Fairmont Quasar Istanbul is an imposing newcomer on the Istanbul skyline. Two tapering glass-and-steel towers rise from a historic distillery site in the heart of the Mecidiyeköy business district. By day, the hotel cuts a sleek, modern profile; by night it glows with interior warmth. Inside, design nods to the locale’s 1930s legacy (the old Quasar […]

Address Istanbul is the gleaming new flagship of Emaar Hospitality’s Address Hotels + Resorts brand – the first Address property launched outside the UAE. This sleek 5‑star high-rise on Istanbul’s Asian side positions itself as a modern luxury urban retreat. Its strengths are undeniable: impeccable service, cutting‑edge design by HBA (Foster+Partners for the building, interior […]

Hyatt Regency Istanbul Ataköy immediately strikes a modern, upscale note in Istanbul’s Bakırköy district. This five-star hotel—the third Hyatt-branded property in Istanbul after Grand Hyatt and Park Hyatt – opened in 2015 with 284 rooms and a design that melds contemporary lines with traditional Turkish motifs. It’s a large, glass-and-concrete tower (17 floors) with a […]

The Renaissance Polat Istanbul is a large five‑star hotel in Istanbul’s Bakırköy/Yeşilyurt district, managed by Marriott’s Renaissance brand. It bills itself as a modern “seafront oasis” blending polished, contemporary luxury with Turkish hospitality. In practice, it reads more as a high‑rise resort/hotel hybrid than a boutique newcomer – its 25‑story towers and 438 rooms (per […]

Millennium Istanbul Golden Horn bills itself as a “historical luxury hotel where Eastern hospitality meets Western comfort.” From the moment you arrive, it aims to embody that motto. The 127-room property (part of the Millennium Hotels brand and affiliated with Small Luxury Hotels of the World) occupies a modern building just inside the old city […]

Rixos Pera Istanbul is the city-center flagship of the Rixos brand – a five-star “luxury resort” transplanted into the heart of old Pera (now Beyoğlu). It wears its pedigree on its sleeve: themed around “Occident meets Orient,” the hotel touts classical decor, Ottoman-inspired accents and a spa steeped in Turkish bath traditions. With 95 rooms […]

Located in the Topkapi area of Istanbul’s sprawling metropolitan map, the Uranus Istanbul Topkapi bills itself as a contemporary five‑star city retreat. Its modern façade and polished interiors invite guests into a world of spa pools, executive lounges, and international cuisine. Yet the name “Topkapi” might lead one to expect views of sultans’ palaces or […]

Clarion Hotel Golden Horn is a modern 4-star business hotel by the Choice Hotels chain, opened in 2017. It occupies a quiet waterfront site in Beyoğlu, on the northern shore of the Golden Horn inlet. The property bills itself as “waterfront” and boasts sweeping panoramic views (even of the Bosphorus and historic Istanbul skyline) from […]

Titanic Port Bakırköy is a modern five-star urban resort in Istanbul’s Bakırköy district. From the street it presents a sleek, glass-tinged façade and promises all the hallmarks of a luxury hotel – spa, indoor pool, fine dining, and well-appointed rooms. Gentle skepticism may prompt one to wonder if a large, chain-branded city hotel can truly […]

Mövenpick Hotel Istanbul Bosphorus is a five-star property in Istanbul’s Besiktas district, blending modern luxury with sweeping Bosphorus views. Part of the Accor group’s Mövenpick brand, the hotel rebuilt and renovated in 2021, emphasizes “modernity and exclusivity” in every space. Its marketing highlights “elegant and welcoming” rooms as a tranquil retreat amid the bustling city. […]

Located in Istanbul’s historic Sultanahmet quarter, the five-star Sura Hagia Sophia Hotel presents itself as a seamless blend of Ottoman-inspired grandeur and modern comfort. Its sleek lobby, decorated with blown-glass art, opens onto a peaceful garden and a small outdoor pool overlooking the Sultanahmet skyline. The hotel markets itself as both an opulent retreat and […]