Living history
Istanbul's strategic location is special. The fact that the city is on two continents was not its only trump card: it was the last stop on the legendary Silk Road connecting Asia to Europe, and many merchants who arrived here appreciated it so much that they decided to stay. In doing so, they gave the city a cultural diversity that it still preserves today.
Art and architecture
The city has changed with the Byzantines, who adorned their churches and palaces with mosaics and frescoes. Miraculously, many of these remained. Their successors, the Ottomans, were quick to launch an ambitious construction program and the beautifully decorated imperial mosques that resulted are architectural triumphs that together form one of the great skylines of the world. In recent years, local banks and commercial dynasties have resumed the great ambitions of the Ottomans and have provided an impressive array of galleries, museums and festivals for everyone.
Culinary heritage
"But what about the food?" We hear you say. We are happy to report that the cuisine of the city is as varied as its heritage, and also delicious. The locals take eating and drinking seriously: the restaurants here are the best in the country. You can eat aromatic Asian or classic Italian dishes, but most visitors prefer to taste the succulent kebap, tasty meze and freshly caught fish, which are typical dishes of the city, accompanied by the national drink, rakı (anise brandy), or with a glass or two of local wine.
Local life
Some ancient cities are the sum of their monuments, but Istanbul is much more. The main of its many attractions is the locals, who have a contagious love for life and generosity of spirit. This vibrant, inclusive and expanding community is full of people who work and celebrate hard, treasure family and friendships, and have no problem merging tradition and modernity into their daily lives. Join them in their favorite hangouts - çay bahçesis (tea gardens), kahvehans (cafes), meyhanes (Turkish taverns) and kebapçıs (kebap restaurants) - will be the highlight of your visit.
Diet culture
Today I would like to introduce söyle etiler, a garden style Turkish restaurant in Istanbul with beautiful surroundings. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, in the latest fashion, and it has a big glass room. There's plenty of light and street views to eat in. The restaurant also has a bar and excellent cocktails. Baran Lahmacun is also a cool spot that fits its name and serves up some surprisingly innovative and very delicious Mediterranean cuisine, including a variety of small plates to nibble at leisurely and a bottle of wine there's a full bar and a street-side terrace from which you can view the Gihangar scene.
high-street fashion
İstiklal Caddesi is a 1.4km-long (.9-mile) pedestrian street in the heart of Istanbul’s central Beyoğlu district. A bright red vintage-style tram cuts through the hustle and bustle of Turkey’s busiest street.
İstiklal Caddesi is a 1.4km-long (.9-mile) pedestrian street in the heart of Istanbul’s central Beyoğlu district. A bright red vintage-style tram cuts through the hustle and bustle of Turkey’s busiest street.
Traditionally a cosmopolitan area home to shops run by Turkey’s Armenian, Greek, and Jewish communities, İstiklal Caddesi tells a story of industrialization and transformation in Turkey. Nowadays, local and international fashion chains have higher visibility than ever, even though shopping in İstiklal isn’t particularly high-end.
high-street fashion
İstiklal Caddesi is a 1.4km-long (.9-mile) pedestrian street in the heart of Istanbul’s central Beyoğlu district. A bright red vintage-style tram cuts through the hustle and bustle of Turkey’s busiest street.
İstiklal Caddesi is a 1.4km-long (.9-mile) pedestrian street in the heart of Istanbul’s central Beyoğlu district. A bright red vintage-style tram cuts through the hustle and bustle of Turkey’s busiest street.
Traditionally a cosmopolitan area home to shops run by Turkey’s Armenian, Greek, and Jewish communities, İstiklal Caddesi tells a story of industrialization and transformation in Turkey. Nowadays, local and international fashion chains have higher visibility than ever, even though shopping in İstiklal isn’t particularly high-end.
The night before the end of the tour, we returned to our hotel in Istanbul. After dinner, I walked in the street and came to a path paved with pebbles. Suddenly, I remembered what Pamuk wrote in his book: when Istanbul was repairing the gravel road, it was necessary to knock down the pebbles one by one, and when the road was repaired, fill them back one by one... I also remembered Pamuk's snow. The content of the book didn't leave much memory, but I remembered that "Kar" was written on the cover, which means "Snow" in Turkish. In snowy winter, it should be full of boundless snow. Walking on the quiet path in the morning, stepping on the snow, the sound of "Kar Kar Kar" is sent out on the sole of the shoe. It's refreshing to listen to... This feeling is exciting and secretly determined to go again in the snowy season of Istanbul.
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