Along with the traditional Turkish restaurants, many European and Far Eastern restaurants and numerous other cuisines are also thriving in the city. Most of the city's historic winehouses (meyhane in Turkish) and pubs are located in the areas around İstiklal Avenue in Beyoğlu. The 19th century Çiçek Pasajı (literally Flower Passage in Turkish, or Cité de Péra in French) on İstiklal Avenue, which has many historic meyhanes, pubs and restaurants, was built by Hristaki Zoğrafos Efendi at the former site of the Naum Theatre and was inaugurated in 1876. The famous Nevizâde Street, which has rows of historic meyhanes next to each other, is also in this area.

Other historic pubs are found in the areas around Tünel Pasajı and the nearby Asmalımescit Sokağı. Some historic neighbourhoods around İstiklal Avenue have recently been recreated, with differing levels of success; such as Cezayir Sokağı near Galatasaray Lisesi, that has rows of pubs, cafés and restaurants playing live music.[137]

Istanbul is also famous for its historic seafood restaurants, as an example, Kumkapı has a pedestrian-only area that is dedicated to fish restaurants. Some 30 fish restaurants are found there, many of them among the best of the City. Also, many of the most popular seafood restaurants are found along the shores of the Bosphorus and by the Marmara Sea shore towards the south of the city.[138][139] The largest of the Princes' Islands in the Sea of Marmara (namely Büyükada, Heybeliada, Burgazada and Kınalıada) and Anadolu Kavağı near the northern entrance of the Bosphorus towards the Black Sea (close to Yoros Castle, which was also known as the Genoese Castle due to Genoa's possession of it in the mid-15th century) also have many historic seafood restaurants.

Dolmabahçe Palace

This is a half-day afternoon tour including Dolmabahçe Palace, Bosphorus Bridge and Çamlıca Hill. Dolmabahçe Palace is the last residence of the Ottoman Sultans and Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. It is famous for its collection of European antiques, furniture and 4.5 tons chandelier. Çamlıca Hill is the best point for a panoramic view of İstanbul and the Bosphorus. JEWISH HERITAGE "THE QUINCENTENNIAL OF SEPHARADS"( There are full-day and half-day tour options. You can attend the full-day private tour except Saturday and Sunday. The tour encompasses the centuries-old Jewish neighborhood, Galata. You have a chance to visit the Neve Shalom and Ashkenaz synagogues. While driving to Balat along the Goldern Horn, you will be able to see the Star of David's appearance on the facades of some buildings. Also, you will visit Ahrida Synagogue, which was built in the 15th century; and the special "Exhibition of the Quincentennial Foundation" about the Jews in Turkey, upon private rendezvous. And you will see the Jewish Cemetery, where the martyrs of Neve Shalom are buried. The last stop is at Ortaköy, which was first the disembarking point of the Sepharads, welcomed by the Ottoman Sultan. In a half-day morning tour option, you can see the Neve Shalom and Ashkenaz Synagogues, Galata and Balat (The Old Jewish Settlement), Private Exhibition of the Quincentennial Foundation and Ortaköy.

Kilyos

Kilyos is a resort town on the European side of İstanbul. The village is 25 km from the city center, where motels, guesthouses and restaurants serve visitors during the summer season. The roads passing through the Belgrade Forest and Sarıyer intersect just before reaching Kilyos. The forest route passes by aqueducts and reservoirs. Especially at weekends, big parties are organized. Kilyos hosts various concerts and festivals and there are several accommodation alternatives here. One of the signifi cant historic buildings in Kilyos is the Genoese castle.

Şile

You can travel to Şile, a summer resort on the Anatolian coast of the Black Sea, by taking buses from Üsküdar. Merchant ships cruising east used to dock in Şile where the giant lighthouse stands. The word Şile originally comes from Greek language and means marjoram, the beautifully scented herb that grows on hills and ridges of mountains. Clothes made of famous Şilebezi cotton fabric, which can also be found in İstanbul, are for sale here. The small fi shermen's harbor is also worth seeing. To the west of the village, beaches extend uninterrupted, and to the east there are a series of small, sandy bays. The summer months are quite crowded and dynamic, and there are numerous hotels and pensions in the area. This lovely summer resort is also a preferred meeting destination for companies.

Haliç

Haliç, (batılıların deyişi ile Altın Boynuz) İstanbul'un bir koyudur. Haliç'in kelime anlamı, nehir ağızındaki koy demektir. Yunan efsanesine göre; Megaralılar, kralları Beyaz'ın annesi Keroessa için Altın Boynuz ismini vermişlerdir. Bizans döneminde kolonileşme de burada başlamıştır. Aynı zamanda Bizans İmparatorluğu'nun denizcilik merkeziydi.Sahil boyunca uzanan duvarlar,şehri bir deniz filosu atağından korumak için inşa edilmiştir. Haliç'in girişinde istenmeyen gemilerin girişini engellemek için, şehirden karşıya eski Galata kulesi'nin kuzeydoğu ucuna uzanan geniş bir zincir vardı. Bu kule Latin haçlılarınca 4.Haçlı seferinde 1204 yılında geniş bir şekilde tahrip edildi. Fakat Ceneviz'liler yanına yeni bir kule inşa ettiler. Bu kule meşhur Galata Kulesi 1348 Christea Turris (Tower of Christ:İsa'nın Kulesi) diye adlandırılır. Osmanlı döneminde Yoğun Bektaşi nüfusun yaşadığı bir bölge idi. Karaağaç tekkesi,Karyağdı Baba tekkesi,Giresunlu Tekkesi gibi bir çok Bektaşi tekkesi bu bölgede idi

Ağva

Ağva is an old town 100 km from the city, not far from Şile, situated between the Göksu and Ağva rivers. Natural beauties and a vast beach make Ağva a getaway destination, especially in spring and winter. The name of the city is derived from the Latin word, "aqua". The history of the lovely seaside town goes back to 7th century BC and ruins of ancient civilizations may be seen at the villages close by. Ağva was an important commercial transit point during the Hittite, Phrygian, Roman, Byzantium, and Ottoman periods.

Sapanca

Located on the highway connecting İstanbul and Ankara, Sapanca is a small and green lakeside town just 1.5 hours from İstanbul by bus or train. The fi rst settlers in the region are Phrygians. The fi rst Bithynian town was founded here in the 4th century. Traces of Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman periods can still be observed in Sapanca and its surroundings. Just above Sapanca is the Kartepe ski-resort, which makes this district an attraction in winter. Only 115 km from İstanbul, Kartepe is reached via a wooded and scenic route. Kartepe receives a considerable amount of snow standing at 1,100 meter altitude; much of the snowfall is a direct result of exposure to northern winds. The resort is suitable for all skiers, from amateurs to professionals, with tracks for various levels. The resort also hosts famous wellness-SPA hotels and centers, off ering luxurious wellness programs and high standards of service quality. There are many restaurants and cafes around Sapanca Lake.

Polonezköy

Polonezköy, 65 km from Taksim, was first settled by Polish people who were forced to leave their country and came to İstanbul when Poland in the 18th century. Polish traditions can still be observed in the village, a symbol of the historical solidarity that has existed between Poland and Turkey. Polonezköy is a village in a natural setting of pine groves and pastures. Turkish government has announced this lovely village İstanbul's fi rst nature park. Nowadays Polonezköy combines modern life with tradition through its heavenly nature, villas, hotels and pensions, restaurants and green parks. The village is also famous for its delicious butter, honey, and cherries. Traditional Polonezköy Cherry Festival is organized each year in June with dancers and visitors coming from Poland.

Ottoman Relics

This is a half-day afternoon tour of the Topkapı Palace and Süleymaniye Mosque. Topkapı Palace was the imperial residence of the Ottoman Sultans. There, you will see sacred Islamic relics, old kitchen utensils, collections of Chinese porcelain, weapons, calligraphy section etc. Treasury and Harem sections are not included in the program, but you can visit those sections by paying an extra entrance fee. Süleymaniye Mosque is the most renowned imperial mosque. It is the masterpiece of Mimar Sinan, who was the chief architect of the Ottoman Empire. The mosque was built during the 16th century in the name of Süleyman the Magnifi cent.

Nightlife

There are many night clubs, pubs, restaurants and taverns with live music in the city. The night clubs, restaurants and bars increase in number and move to open air spaces in the summer. The areas around Istiklal Avenue, Nişantaşı, Bebek and Kadıköy offer all sorts of cafés, restaurants, pubs and clubs as well as art galleries, theaters and cinemas. Babylon[140] and Nu Pera in Beyoğlu are popular night clubs both in the summer and in the winter.

The most popular open air summer time seaside night clubs are found on the Bosphorus, such as Sortie,[141][142] Reina[143][144] and Anjelique[145] in the Ortaköy district. Q Jazz Bar in Ortaköy offers live jazz music in a stylish environment. Venues such as Istanbul Arena in Maslak and Kuruçeşme Arena[146] on the Bosphorus frequently host the live concerts of famous singers and bands from all corners of the world. Parkorman[147] in Maslak hosted the Isle of MTV Party in 2002 and is a popular venue for live concerts and rave parties in the summer.

Media

The first Turkish newspaper, Takvim-i Vekayi, was printed on 1 August 1831 in the Bâbıâli (Bâb-ı Âli, meaning The Sublime Porte) district. Bâbıâli became the main centre for print media. Istanbul is also the printing capital of Turkey with a wide variety of domestic and foreign periodicals expressing diverse views, and domestic newspapers are extremely competitive. Most nationwide newspapers are based in Istanbul, with simultaneous Ankara and İzmir editions.[108] Major newspapers with their headquarters in Istanbul include Hürriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Radikal, Cumhuriyet, Zaman, Türkiye, Akşam, Bugün, Star, Dünya, Tercüman, Güneş, Vatan, Posta, Takvim, Vakit, Yeni Şafak, Fanatik and Turkish Daily News. There are also numerous local and national TV and radio stations located in Istanbul, such as CNBC-e, CNN Türk, MTV Türkiye, Fox Türkiye, Fox Sports Türkiye, NTV, Samanyolu TV, Kanal D, ATV, Show TV, Star TV, Cine5, SKY Türk, TGRT Haber, Kanal 7, Kanal Türk, Flash TV and many others. In the city of Istanbul, there are over a hundred FM-radio stations.[148]

Fine arts

Istanbul is becoming increasingly colourful in terms of its rich social, cultural, and commercial activities. While world famous pop stars fill stadiums, activities like opera, ballet and theatre continue throughout the year. During seasonal festivals, world famous orchestras, chorale ensembles, concerts and jazz legends can be found often playing to a full house. The Istanbul International Film Festival is one of the most important film festivals in Europe,[132] while the Istanbul Biennial is another major event of fine arts.

Annually Istanbul hosts music and opera festivals. These festival are an outgrowth of Turkey's government policy starting in the early 1930s to introduce and instutionalize the teaching and performing of polyphonic music and opera. The policy was implemented using highly acclaimed musicologists, performers, composers, etc. who were at risk in their native Germany. Among them were Paul Hindemith, Licco Amar, Carl Ebert, and Ernst Praetorius. They are part of a music and opera directorate bound to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Pera Museum during the Rembrandt exhibition in 2006

Istanbul Modern frequently hosts the exhibitions of renowned Turkish and foreign artists. Pera Museum and Sakıp Sabancı Museum have hosted the exhibitions of world famous artists and are among the most important private museums in the city. The Doğançay Museum – Turkey's first contemporary art museum – is dedicated almost exclusively to the work of its founder Burhan Doğançay. The Rahmi M. Koç Museum on the Golden Horn is an industrial museum that exhibits historic industrial equipment such as cars and locomotives from the 19th century and early 20th century, as well as boats, submarines, aircraft, and other similar vintage machines from past epochs.

Istanbul Archaeology Museum, established in 1881, is one of the largest museums of its kind in the world. The museum contains more than 1,000,000 archaeological pieces from the Mediterranean basin, the Balkans, Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. Istanbul Mosaic Museum contains the late Roman and early Byzantine floor mosaics and wall ornaments of the Great Palace of Constantinople. The nearby Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum displays a vast collection of items from various Islamic civilisations. Sadberk Hanım Museum contains a wide variety of artifacts, dating from the earliest Anatolian civilisations to the Ottomans.[133]

Occasionally, in November, the Silahhane (Armory Hall) of Yıldız Palace hosts the Istanbul Antiques Fair, which brings together rare pieces of antiques from the Orient and Occident.[134] The multi-storey Mecidiyeköy Antikacılar Çarşısı[135] (Mecidiyeköy Antiques Bazaar) in the Mecidiyeköy quarter of Şişli is the largest antiques market in the city, while the Çukurcuma neighbourhood of Beyoğlu has rows of antiques shops in its streets. The Grand Bazaar, edificed between 1455–1461 by the order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror also has numerous antiques shops, along with shops selling jewels, carpets and other items of art and artisanship. Historic and rare books are found in the Sahaflar Çarşısı near Beyazıt Square, and it is one of the oldest book markets in the world, and has continuously been active in the same location since the late Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods.

Live shows and concerts are hosted at a number of locations including historical sites such as the Hagia Irene, Rumeli Fortress, Yedikule Castle, the courtyard of Topkapı Palace, and Gülhane Park; as well as the Atatürk Cultural Center, Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall and other open air and modern theatre halls.

Turkish baths

A significant culture has been developed around what is known as a Hamam, the Turkish word for a Turkish Bath. It was a culture of leisure during the Ottoman period, one of the finest example being the Çemberlitaş Hamamı (1584) in Istanbul, located on the Çemberlitaş (Column of Constantine) Square.[136] Another fine example from the 17th Century is the Galatasaray Hamamı, located on the Beyoğlu district, known for the quality of service and its cleanliness. In the Ottoman Empire, many Hamams were also actually build adjacent to mosques, as part of the "külliye" (complex). A very fine example to this is the Hamam of the Kılıç Ali Paşa Mosque built by Mimar Sinan.

Istanbul has numerous historic shopping centers, such as the Grand Bazaar (1461), Mahmutpaşa Bazaar (1462) and the Egyptian Bazaar (1660). The first modern shopping mall in Turkey was Galleria Ataköy (1987), which was followed by dozens of others in the later decades, such as Akmerkez (1993), which is the only mall to win both "Europe's Best" and "World's Best" awards by the ICSC; Metrocity (2003); Cevahir Mall (2005), which is the largest mall in Europe; and Kanyon Mall (2006), which won the 2006 Cityscape Architectural Review Award for its interesting design. İstinye Park (2007) and City's Nişantaşı (2008) are two new malls that target high-end consumers and are almost exclusively dedicated to world-famous fashion brands.

Istanbul has thirty-nine districts administered by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (MMI).[3] The district of Fatih, which includes the neighborhood and former district of Eminönü, is among the most central of these, residing on the historic peninsula south of the Golden Horn. The district corresponds to what was until the Ottoman conquest the whole of the city, across from which stood the Genoese citadel of Galata in the late Byzantine era. Those Genoese fortifications were largely demolished in the 19th century, leaving only the Galata Tower, to make way for northward expansion of the city.[77] Galata is now a part of the Beyoğlu district, which forms Istanbul's commercial and entertainment center and includes İstiklal Avenue and Taksim Square.[78]

Dolmabahçe Palace, the seat of government during the late Ottoman period, is located in Beşiktaş, just north of Beyoğlu, across from BJK İnönü Stadium, home to Turkey's oldest football club.[79] The former village of Ortaköy is situated within Beşiktaş and provides its name to the Ortaköy Mosque, along the Bosphorus near the First Bosphorus Bridge. Lining the shores of the Bosphorus north of there are yalıs, luxurious chalet mansions originally built by 19th-century aristocrats and elites as summer homes.[80] Today, some are homes within the city's most exclusive neighborhoods, including Bebek. Further inland, between the Bosphorus Bridge and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet (Second Bosphorus) Bridge, are Levent, Maslak, and Mecidiyeköy, Istanbul's primary economic centers. Officially part of the Beşiktaş and Şişli districts, they contain Istanbul's tallest buildings and the headquarters of Turkey's largest companies. A map depicting districts, squeezed between two bodies of water; farther districts are very large compared to those clustered in the center. Istanbul's districts extend far from the city center along the full length of the Bosphorus (with the Black Sea at top and the Sea of Marmara at bottom).

Like Beyoğlu, the districts of Üsküdar and Kadıköy on the Asian side were originally separate cities, Chrysopolis and Chalcedon, respectively. During the Ottoman period, they continued to remain outside the scope of urban Istanbul, serving as tranquil outposts with seaside yalıs and gardens. However, during the second half of the 20th century, the Asian side experienced massive urban growth, owning in part to the development of Bağdat Avenue into an upscale shopping hub similar to İstiklal Avenue on the European side. The fact that these areas were largely empty until the 1960s also provided the chance for developing better infrastructure and tidier urban planning when compared with most other residential areas in the city. While now officially parts of Istanbul, much of the Asian side of the Bosphorus, which accounts for one third of the city's population, functions as a suburb of the economic and commercial centers in European Istanbul. As a result of Istanbul's exponential growth during the 20th century, a significant portion of the city's outskirts comprised gecekondus (a Turkish term meaning built overnight), referring to the illegally constructed squatter buildings run rampant outside the centers of the country's largest cities. At present, some gecekondu areas are being gradually demolished and replaced by modern mass-housing compounds.