Last week, I decided to go and watch a ceremony of the whirling dervishes at the Hodjapasha Cultural Center. There are some places where you go and you feel you will be happy there. Hodjapasha is one of them, and here's why.Finding the dance theater is very easy. All you need to do is go to the heart of Istanbul: Eminönü. You can do it by taking a tram, bus or a ferry … [Read more...]
Bebek, Istanbul’s Trendy Village along the Bosphorus
Bebek is a very trendy village along the Bosphorus. It has a buzzing atmosphere and it is well-known for the nice cafés and shops that line the waterfront. Locals also praise Bebek for its nice seaside promenade, ideal for long strolls along the strait.Location Bebek is located on the European shore of the Bosphorus. It has a nice deep and wide bay, which offers stunning … [Read more...]
What Bosphorus Cruise Tour to Take in Istanbul?
A cruise on the Bosphorus is probably the most overlooked Istanbul tourist attraction. Understandable, with such an abundance of historical sightseeing spots in Istanbul and too little time to squeeze them all into your short holiday. But take my advice and set a few hours aside to take an unforgettable Bosphorus tour. Certainly if you're in town between May and September. You … [Read more...]
Is Büyükada the Only Princes’ Island of Istanbul I Should Visit?
As I mentioned in a previous post, you can visit only four of the nine Princes' Islands in Istanbul: Büyükada, Heybeliada, Kınalıada and Burgazada. Unfortunately, not all islands are equally interesting or beautiful. So, which Istanbul island should you visit, and when? The purpose of this post is to introduce all four of the Princes' islands and list what they have to … [Read more...]
Why and How Should You Visit the Princes’ Islands in Istanbul?
Istanbul has two major tourist attractions that will take almost a full day out of your holiday: a visit to one or more of the Princes' Islands and a boat tour on the Bosphorus. People rightfully ask me if it's worth sacrificing one or two days of their often already short stay in Istanbul? That is a tough question to answer, and completely based on personal preferences. So let … [Read more...]