Amazing Istanbul

Our Home Base

Istanbul, as it is now known, was once Constantinople and Byzantium; wonderful names that conjure up romance and mystery. Located at the very crossroad of Western and Eastern civilisation, it offers and eclectic cultural mix and is famed for its hospitality to foreign visitors, which still shines through today.

The beautiful city of Istanbul has much to offer, wherever you go. You can explore its culture, history, stunning views, art, shops and famous cuisine at every step in this fabulous location.

If you’re visiting for the very first time, there are numerous cultural sites that really must be seen. But we also want to share some special things to ensure an amazing trip and allow you to experience the beating heart of Istanbul.

Shopping For Kilims

Istanbul - A Whistlestop Tour

Palaces

Istanbul has a whole world of fabulous palaces to explore, from small ones to big ones, and from summer residences to winter palaces. Each one has a story to tell and its own particular character. The most famous two are ones that really must not be missed.

With a rich heritage of history, they were both built at the very height of the Ottoman empire and were used for over 400 years. While they are both Ottoman palaces, it’s interesting to note the subtle differences, reflecting the time when they were designed and built in Istanbul.

Topkapi - considered to be the largest of the royal residences which housed the Ottoman Sultans for centuries. The jewellery collection and the Harem make it well worth a visit.
Dolmabahçe Palaces (or Saray) - located within a short distance from Taksim Square, it was built near the end of Ottoman rule. Atmospheric and opulent, it has a magnificent chandelier gifted by Queen Victoria.
Beylerbeyi Palace - to visit this palace, you will enjoy a ferry ride across the infamous Bosphorus to reach the Anatolian side. It is an Ottoman summer palace with a more modern neo-baroque design that retains the division of living quarters between the family and women (the harem), and men (the selamlik).

Mosques

There are numerous celebrated mosques scattered across Istanbul, many of which are well worth a trip. You can visit them any day, but remember Fridays will be busy as it is the holy day for Muslims!

Breakfast - Turkish Style

You will always have an exquisite breakfast in your hotel. But it’s a must to sample an authentic Turkish breakfast experience!

In many cultures, breakfast is considered to be the essential meal of the day, but in Turkey, it’s viewed as an art form. Many places in Turkey offer an exceptional breakfast feast when it comes to this particular meal. Designed to awaken your taste buds, there’s a surprising mixture of sweet, chilli, and sour flavours on the table.

There is a full choice of tasty samples to try, from a simple serving of cheese and bread. Add olives, meats, honey, jam selections and kaymak, a mouth watering clotted cream. Cucumber and tomatoes are always present, but you will also find everything from pine nuts to red peppers stuffed with meat.

You will see side dishes of fresh fruit, walnuts, figs, candied fruits, and dates to awaken your senses and taste buds. Hot dishes are also served and will certainly include menmen, Turkish style scrambled eggs cooked with onions, tomatoes, herbs and spices. Absolutely delicious!

No Turkish breakfast is complete without the infamous Turkish tea, or çay, sipped from small glasses. Typically, this is a strong tea leaf brew and often sweetened heavily. Turks would never start their day without a glass or two – although often coffee will follow – çay remains the only way to start your day.

Shopping For Kilims

Turkish carpets are world-renowned for their workmanship, colour, and design. Kilims, however, are often thought to be a poor man’s alternative, but they actually hold their own special charm. They have their own particular beauty and use. Also, they are convenient to fold up and squeeze in your suitcase!

They were usually woven by the nomads in Thrace, Anatolia, The Balkans, North Africa, Iran, Central Asia, as well as Iraq. Flat-woven, they can easily be wrongly categorised as oriental rugs, but Kilims are in a wonderful class of their own.

The flatweave rugs are loom woven and usually do not have a tufted pile as they are knotted. Their designs make colourful, hard wearing floor coverings and they are also useful for hanging on the wall. Because of the weaving style, the most common pattern on Kilims are geometric shapes, but you can see floral designs occasionally.

Shopping In The Grand Bazaar

Considered to be among the oldest malls worldwide, the ‘Kapali Carsi’ might also be the first in the world. The Grand Bazaar of Istanbul is thought to have been in existence since 1455/1456 when Ottomans are known to have conquered Constantinople. It is considered to be the biggest inside bazaar, covering 61 streets. With approximately 4,000 shops it is a fun, engaging and lively place to visit. The architectural style and stores take you on a journey through time, but prices will remind you it’s still the 21st century. You can rest for a while to savour some Turkish coffee and Lokum, our Turkish delight!

Modern Day Shopping Malls (Tax Free)

In Istanbul, you are always close to numerous modern shopping malls packed with shops, entertainment, restaurants and cinemas. You can always let us know if you find this tempting and we will arrange for you to visit. The trip itself and exploring the malls is sure to take up the best part of your day, so please be aware of this when you consider a visit.

Istinye Park - Sariyer Istanbul
Zorlu Center -Besiktas Istanbul
Aqua Florya Alisveris Merkezi - Bakirkoy Istanbul - with fantastic sea views.
Mall of Istanbul - Başakşehir Istanbul
Kanyon Shopping Centre - Levent Istanbul
Palladium Alisveris Merkezi - Atasehir Instanbul Asian side
Akasya Acibadem - Uskudar Istanbul Asian side

Boat Trip

The Bosphorus straits joining the Asian and European quarters of Istanbul remains a hugely significant area for shipping. Connecting the Marmara Sea and the Black Sea, it is always a hub of local action, not just for commercial activities but also sailing. You can view the coastline of historic buildings, explore wharves or parks and enjoy a delicious fresh fish dinner with a glass of Raki. The only way to eat fish is the Turkish way!

Take the ferries going back and forth to the Asian side.
Take a trip to the idyllic Prince Islands.
There are plenty of day cruises and night cruises available from 30min upwards.
Take a cruise to the historical Rumeli Fortress or the extravagance of the Kücüksu Palace.

Turkish Food

For each style of cuisine and individual taste, there is sure to be many restaurants serving it in Istanbul. From street food to fine dining, it is a paradise for lovers of food. Our selected hotels provide a variety of restaurants, and we are sure the Istanbul food adventure will be a great one. But we must introduce you to some favourites on this Whistlestop tour of Istanbul!

Baklava – this delicious pastry dates right back to Ottoman times when competition for the best chef was fierce. To please his Janissary, the private army of the Sultan, he ordered baklava to be ceremonially sent to them on the special 15th day of Ramadan. This mouth-watering sweet is made of many layers of extremely thin pastry, like filo. Layered throughout with nuts, it is also drenched in honey or sweet syrup. Tempting!

Turkish Delight or Lokum – the origins of this sweet are unknown, although the Turkish name of Lokum comes from ‘luqma’, an Arabic word meaning mouthful or morsel. It was also called Rahat-ul hulküm in Ottoman times, which means ‘comfort of the throat’. An appropriate description of this silky, smooth and delicious sweet that often just seems to slide gently down your throat. The light, marshmallow texture of this sweet has always been considered a delight with the wealthy, often giving it as a beautiful gift, usually wrapped in silk.

The very first Ottoman version of this was sweetened using molasses or honey, which used flour and water for binding. Rosewater, orange and lemon peel was then used as a flavouring.

Salep – this is normally a drink for wintertime, and if you come in the colder months, drinking it is a must. For those who have never tried it, Salep is creamy and thick, flowing silkily down your throat. It is sprinkled with cinnamon, which adds a comforting aroma. In the past it was drunk only for its medicinal properties, but today it is always a loved winter warmer.

Salep vendors are aplenty in Istanbul when the weather becomes cooler out comes the bronze urns, with the steam letting us all know the drink which will warm out whole body is available.

This gorgeous winter drink is made using the tubers of specific wild orchids. It actually takes between 1,000 and 4,000 of these tubers to produce just one kilogram of delicious Salep powder. As it uses so many tubers to produce this popular drink, it can threaten the very survival of the beautiful Orchids themselves. The government in Turkey now protects them and bans their exportation.

Today, due to scientific advancement, we are still able to enjoy Salep. As a special treat, try it with an added spoon of ice cream for a heavenly flavour!