Istanbul holidays
-
‘Standing by the Bosphorus gives me goosebumps’: Jason Goodwin's IstanbulFor the novelist, Istanbul is rich in Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman history, and is a place where Russian submarines, supertankers and tourist boats all glide through the heart of the city
-
Turkey’s tourism industry reels from a year to forgetHope is in short supply for those involved in Turkish tourism after bomb attacks and a failed coup in the country this year. From Istanbul to Ankara, Antalya to Mardin, visitor numbers remain woefully low and businesses are laying off staff
-
Meet the Alaskan cellist who broke barriers by playing Istanbul's ferriesListening to Jari Piper play Bach on a boat across the Bosphorus had a powerful impact on Laura Pitel – and many others whose mood has been lifted by music that transcends the challenges of daily life here
-
Istanbul’s top 10 historic shopping arcadesArchitecture and shopping go hand in hand at these characterful arcades, which also offer a glimpse into the city’s rich past
-
Istanbul Biennial 2015: an overwhelming meditation on the tides of human miseryA floating zoo, a sinkhole-inspired film, an underwater theatre for jellyfish and paintings by Aboriginal artists are the highlights of this year’s strange, ever-surprising biennial
-
10 of the best ways to enjoy Istanbul on a budgetThe Hagia Sophia, Galatasary FC, Bosphorus views … there are so many ways of exploring Istanbul’s riches while keeping your lira on a leash
-
Top 10 hotels in IstanbulHistory often comes served with a contemporary twist in Istanbul hotels. Choose from a boutique hotel that once housed a sultan’s tailor, a night in the city’s former US embassy, a cool hostel with its own pizzeria and more
• 10 of the best sights in Istanbul
-
Istanbul’s new creative hub retains Ottoman flavour – for nowThe Fener-Balat quarter, once the little Greece of Istanbul, is now one of the city’s trendy design districts and regaining the international feel of its past
-
The insider's cultural guide to Istanbul: 'This city is steeped in music'From street art to mafia soap operas, and thrift shops to gourmet hole-in-the-wall dining, Alev Scott takes us on a tour of Turkey’s biggest city
-
Snapshots: Istanbul’s impossibly colourful architectureYener Torun is a 32-year-old architect who photographs minimalist buildings around Istanbul
-
KidZania: the theme park where kids play at being adultsKidZania, a globally successful theme park where children pretend to do adult jobs, is coming to London. A genuine attempt at ‘edutainment’ or a cynical exercise in monetising fun? Suzanne Moore drags her 13-year-old daughter to the Istanbul branch, while Abigail Haworth has more luck putting her eight-year-old son to work in Bangkok
-
Travel tips: revel in Beyoglu, Istanbul, and the week’s best dealsExplore cosmopolitan Istanbul, stay in a new London budget bolthole, and burrow into an Icelandic glacier. By Joanne O’Connor
-
Istanbul city guide: essential sights, and where to eat, drink and stayBeyond the mosques and palaces, Turkey’s cultural capital has lots to fill a city break, from neighbourhood tours and art galleries to a chic ‘hole in the wall’ cafe. Lydia Bell has the inside track
-
Istanbul: readers’ travel tipsGetting your history fix underground or finding the best hammam in Istanbul; coffee you could stand your spoon in or an early morning swim with locals in the Bosphorus. Readers share their tips on the best way to experience the Turkish capital
-
Istanbul's 'illegal' towers to be demolished after landmark court rulingThe Turkish Council of State has ordered three luxury apartment blocks to be bulldozed amid widespread outrage. But will it have any impact on the country’s unstoppable, and often unlawful, construction boom?
-
An urbanist's guide to Istanbul: ‘We live in a giant construction site’Blogger Yasar Adanali of Reclaim Istanbul says a real estate gold rush is transforming one of the world's oldest cities
-
A day in … Cihangir, Istanbul
Jolted into life by the Gezi protests, Istanbul's Cihangir neighbourhood is now an even livelier place for food, drink, fun, and a hairdo, says Sevil Delin
-
Olympics 2020: Istanbul's bid chief on why it should stage Games – video
The bid chief for Istanbul 2020 says the city's geographical and political positioning in the world make it a unique choice to host the 2020 Olympic Games
-
New York's Grand Central – and nine other beautiful train stations
Jason Farago: The notoriously ugly Penn station has a chance to be reborn, but here are 10 termini which need no beautification at all
-
Historic sites in Greece and Turkey: readers' travel tips
Greece and Turkey are both staggeringly rich in sites – and sights - from the ancient world. Readers reveal their favourite places to muse among pillars, tombs and temples
-
Karaköy, Istanbul's coolest new hotspot
Karaköy, near the Golden Horn, is Istanbul's latest upcoming neighbourhood. City insider Sevil Delin finds the area's 10 most exciting new places to eat, shop, sleep and explore
-
A morning tour of Istanbul fish market
Lakerda, a dish made by preserving bonito fish, fresh from the market is part of the city's culinary tradition. Our bloggers see how it's done, and tuck into the resulting delicacy
-
From the archive, 18 January 1843: A visit to a Turkish harem
Originally published in the Manchester Guardian on 18 January 1843: At ten a.m. we made our way up the Bosphorus, to little beyond the palace of the Sultan's mother, on the Asiatic side, and were received at the door by several servants
-
Where to eat in Istanbul's Grand Bazaar
Visitors come to the Grand Bazaar for the shopping, but they should make a point of staying for the food – the market makes an atmospheric backdrop for great restaurants where locals eat
-
Fish restaurants in Istanbul: natural selection(s)
The seafood boat restaurants that once sat on the Bosphorus in Istanbul are now permanent fixtures on terra firma, and though it might sound less romantic the food has improved
-
Restaurant hopping on Istanbul's Princes' Islands
The car-free Princes' Islands are only a short ferry ride from Istanbul, and provide a welcome break from the city heat. It'll be a memorable day trip if you eat in one of these great restaurants
-
Top 10 guide to Çukurcuma, Istanbul
Istanbul's antiques district, Çukurcuma, is now home to novelist Orhan Pamuk's new Museum of Innocence – explore its winding streets with Sarah Gilbert's top 10 guide to its shops, cafes and restaurants
-
Eating out in Istanbul on a student budget
Istanbul has been an important stop on the backpacker circuit since the days of the original hippy trail. Restaurant prices have soared since those halcyon days but you can still get a real taste of the city – even on a student budget
-
Follow your ears to find a great kebab in Istanbul
If you want to find a really tasty kebab in Istanbul, just follow the sound of the zirh blade, say the bloggers from Istanbul Eats
-
A big night out in Istanbul – and a big breakfast the morning after
Istanbul is a brilliant city to party and listen to live music, and to tuck into huge traditional Turkish breakfasts the morning after. Here's our guide to both
-
Istanbul's fasil music scene
Head for an Istanbul meyhane tavern and enjoy a raki-fuelled night of Turkish 'fasil' song and dance – as long as you don't mind joining in, says Alev Scott
Istanbul: former tourist hotspot is ghost town for small businesses