Things to Do
The Modern Part of Istanbul
Although this part of town houses less historical landmarks than the historical peninsula of Istanbul, neglecting the modern part of Istanbul would be a shame. It still has a fair amount of must-see sightseeing spots
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
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
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
The Jewish Community and Notable Synagogues in Istanbul
The vast majority of the Jewish community in Turkey (currently estimated at around 26.000 people) lives in Istanbul. This is only a fraction of the 500.000 Jews that once lived in Istanbul during the Ottoman
Where to See the Whirling Dervishes in Istanbul?
The best place to witness the Whirling Dervishes is of course in Konya, where the Mevlevi order (tarikat) was founded in the 13th century. But also in Istanbul, you have plenty of opportunities to see
Things You Did Not Know About Turkish Hamams
I always hear mixed reviews of historical hamams. Some love it, some hate it. So it is usually very risky to recommend one. The rule of thumb is that luxury hotel hamams are pricey but
