Istanbul, the Turkish city that extends over two continents, never sleeps. Early in the morning, the seagulls are flying in the sky while motorcycles are launched in various angles, and the street vendors go out pushing their vehicles to the sidewalks. The bustle of 16 million people fill the city days, and even cats spread everywhere and loved by many locals, look busy. With evening solutions, families, husbands and friends flow to the many restaurants and cafes in the city, and their conversations are mixed with the smell of black tea scattered everywhere. The city, which is known as Istanbul since 1930, is a center of culture, trade and power for more than 2000 years, and thanks to its buildings dating back to the Byzantine and Ottoman eras, it is a place where the past does not seem far away. However, contemporary culture thrives there. Those who ventures to go to the many neighborhoods outside the historical center, will find elegant stores, exciting places for live music, restaurants, modern cafes, as well as contemporary and modern art.
Shopping places
From modern Istanbul, he went to Karaquoy, which is alive on the port beach where – along with the five -star hotels and the Michelin star – outdoor stalls selling “Balik Durum”, or coils of grilled fish and vegetables. One of these stalls, called “Mishor Baliki Ayoub Asti”, gives the fish coils a distinctive character with a cover of pomegranate, molasses and spices (at 180 pounds). After that, he toured the neighborhoods of Jehansger, Jokurjooma, and Knatas, where each building – whether it is a luxurious rural house or a crowded with antiques – is distinguished by a distinctive character. Please visit “Local Mickers”, a specialized store that sells products of the creativity of Turkish craftsmen, such as the silk scarves from “Galini”, the handmade Turkish sweets of “Marcel Delates”, and the water coloring books designed by “Naz Sanner”. It is found in the “Torchish Modern” library, with the design of the envious eye, the Turkish carpets, and the hand -made soap of olive oil.
Eat dinner in a luxurious villa
Its pimples in the “Art Deco” style, its yield covered in the pulp, and its caramel leather seats, the luxurious “Arxtra” villa looks like a scene from the movie “Great Ghatsby”. This villa, which was renewed in the 1960s, is located on the “Itiller” neighborhood, on the European side of the city, and includes a Michelin star and a musical hall, all of which require a reservation that can be made on its website. In the restaurant, Chef Dipnsason is delicious dishes such as “Katsu Sando”, which is a thick slice of raw meat between two slices of soft Japanese bread, or light vagging, a thickness served with cabbage and yozo butter (a meal for two people, at a price of about 9 thousand pounds). After dinner, he went to the “Covering Chamber”, which is a musical hall, where song coordinators play cylinders from the group’s collection, or from their own collection. Wallpaper printed with palm trees and white wooden balcony give the place, an attractive tropical nature.
Enjoy a delicious breakfast
No flight to Istanbul is not complete without eating Turkish breakfast, or “cave”, which consists of cheese, olives, jam, bread, eggs, and so on. The famous “Coffee 6” cafe, which features the atmosphere of the living room inside and a closed terrace full of plants at the back, offers several options. The “complete breakfast” meal, which is sufficient for two people, comes with raspberry jam and kaimak, which is like a calm cream, with honey, hot tomato paste, olives, and “lore” cheese, which resembles cottage cheese, with pickled peppers, bread, and a cup of hot, hot Turkish tea (at 590 pounds). You can prolong the meal by adding “Minin”, which is a scrambled egg rich in Umami with tomatoes and pepper (at 260 pounds), or skip the “complete breakfast” meal, and instead try “Izmir” meal, which includes the melted tulom cheese that is served in a frying pan is perfect for semite whispering, which is baking with sesame (at a price of 395 pounds).
In the Al -Fateh neighborhood – the area that includes some of the main historical monuments in Istanbul, which is listed on the UNESCO list – is four tourist attractions that must be visited close to each other, on foot.
Begin by visiting the Grand Hagia Mosque, a church built in the sixth century AD and was transferred to a mosque after the Ottomans invaded the city (entry fees amount to 1050 pounds). After that, go to visit the amazing Sultan Ahmed Mosque. It is known as the Blue Mosque, a seventeenth century building decorated with 20,000 complex tiles.
It is prohibited to enter tourists during prayer times throughout the day, which changes from day to day based on sunrise and sunset, and each lasts about 90 minutes, but entry is free at other times. He continued the visit to the basilica tank, which is an underground complex built almost at the same time, in which the Hagia Sophia Church was built, to store up to 100,000 tons of water for the city.
Inside, huge ancient columns stand in shallow water, lit with blue, green and purple lights (the entry ticket price with an audio guide of 1500 pounds), then ended with a visit to Topkapi Palace, a wonderful complex that was previously the residence of the Ottoman sultans, and includes a former harem and museum that displays jewelry, textiles and weapons. Eat a snack between the stations at the “Hakapasa Pedgisi” restaurant, which specializes in the “Bidi”, which is a large flat bread with additions such as minced meat, cheese and vegetables (the price of the piece from 300 to 400 pounds).
cruise
Due to its location on two continents separated by a narrow water strip, Istanbul is full of boat tours. The cheapest and easiest way to go and enjoy the sea is to ride the ferry. The journey from Eminono, in the historical center on the European side, takes about 20 minutes, and it provides picturesque views of the Topkabi Palace, the Blue Mosque, and the Marmara Sea (the price of the going ticket only 40 pounds). If the wind intensifies on the deck, you can enter the cafe on the ship to eat hot Turkish coffee, or black tea. The ferries can be reached from many points in the city, and they work regularly. Tables on the site of the ferry operating company are available on Google Maps, and you can pay by mobile or card.
Eat a snack in Kadikoy
In the heart of the vibrant Kadikoy, the locals crowded in the narrow streets, shopping the goods, moving tea, and eating folk foods. Dinner is prepared based on what you want. Here are some suggestions: Start by taste samples of olives, cheese and sauces in “Guzdie Sarkoteri”, a luxury food store that determines the price according to weight (expect to spend about 200 to 300 pounds for a selection of snacks), then cross the street to a store called “Ozkan Torso 1935”, to eat a cup of fresh pickled juice (at 30 pounds). Then he went to the “Cadikoy Borexisi Center”, where you will find a lot of seats, to take boric, which is crunchy pastries stuffed with cheese or potatoes (at 140 pounds). I conclude your meal in “Selim Tatar”, a simple and comfortable restaurant that sells the Donor, which is slices of tender lamb served with flat bread and a refreshing salad of herbs, lettuce and pomegranate (at 410 pounds). No need to reserve. Drink a cocktail before or after your meal in the comfortable “Fakhri Consolos” restaurant, where the ingredients can include pistachios, saffron and saffron, and drinks come with small snacks, such as a slice of homemade baklava (the price of cocktails 620 pounds).
Start with a sweet touch
For sweets lovers, Istanbul’s visit is not complete without baklava, which are sweet pastries and a drink made of layers of crunchy dough. The “Karacoy Golooglu” bakery, a famous bakery that opened in 1949, offers various pastries, including chocolate or cold baklava, in an elegant and modern atmosphere. On his side, there is another famous café, called “Mazer Baklazua Karakoy”, where you can find innovative dishes and food, such as baklava ice cream sandwich, a Turkish type of Turkish “Trillachi” cake, and Boding Fig.
Where do you live?
The “Pinensola Istanbul” hotel, a five -star hotel opened two years ago while it was previously a ferry station, is located on the waterfront in the modern Karacoy neighborhood off the historic center. As with many hotels, prices are determined in euros, and vary according to availability and season.
The Orient Bank of Istanbul, Autogrev Collection, is located a short walk from the tourist attractions listed on the UNESCO list, such as Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, a small hotel that was previously bank.
The Monas Roms rooms, known as “Monas Wings” in some search engines and hotel reservation sites, is a hotel that includes rooms in the style of apartments in Jihanger, a neighborhood characterized by hills and winding streets.
* The New York Times Service
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