Istanbul, Turkey - The most inspiring city in the world

With a population of around ten million, Istanbul is not only the biggest city in Turkey, it's also the epicentre of the country's political, economic and cultural life. On top of that, it is also one of the wold's most vibrant cities, disconcertingly contradictory, stunningly beautiful and with long centuries of history and tradition. With one foot in Europe and the other in Asia, the city has no equal when it comes to acting as a bridge between East and West and promoting cultural exchange at a European level. And that's exactly the goal that has been set for the next twelve months in the life of this historical urban centre. Istanbul is a city to fall in love with, and it's not hard to find and excuse to go and pay your respects.

1)SultanAhmet

Sultan Ahmet Mosque

Most people who come to Istanbul land feet first in Sultanahmet. This peninsula (known as Sarayburnu) juts out into the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara. Rich in history, it's a natural magnet to millions of tourists every year. The home of Topkapi Serayi (Topkapi Palace) , Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia) , the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Mosque) , Yerebatan Serayi (Yerebetan Basilica Cistern) , and the At Meydani(Hippodrome), Sultanahmet is filled to the brim with hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars, rug stores and cheesy souvenir shops, as well as a plethora of fascinating museums, mosques, markets and historical sites. The main drag, Divan Yolu, is the heartbeat of the area, and there are hundreds of tiny back streets and alleyways to explore the history of the old city. The labyrinthine Kapaliçarsi (Grand Bazaar /Covered Bazaar) near Beyazit University is also on this street. Sultanahmet can be a little intimidating as it truly caters to only tourists. (Read: you'll have to learn quickly not to respond to "Hey! Are you American/English /German /Spanish/Italian /French?") One impressive thing about Sultanahmet is that the businessmen each seem to speak every major European language, so if your Turkish isn't up to par, don't fret.

2)Eminönü

Eminönü

Situated right on the waterfront on the Golden Horn, Eminönü is the end of the tramline. It is generally buzzing with activity during the day, with street peddlers selling you things you never even knew you wanted. The vast Misir Çarsi (Egyptian Spice Bazaar) is the main feature of Eminönü Square and Mimar Sinan's Yeni Camii (New Mosque) is a familiar landmark with its minarets standing tall above the general chaos. Ferries to the Asian side and the Princes Islands leave from the huge docks lining the shore, where you can stop by and have a balikekmek (fresh fish sandwich) while you wait for your vessel. The Sirkeci Train Station is also here: all trains to and from Europe begin and end their journeys here. 

3)Beyoglu / Taksim Square

Taksim Square

A veritable symphony of Occident and Orient, Beyoglu is the pulsating heartbeat of Istanbul's day and nightlife. Istiklal Caddesi -- a paved thoroughfare perpetually swarming with Istanbul's colorful hoi polloi -- is at the hub of the metropolis while a maze of narrow winding lanes filled with funky cafes, soulful bars, continental restaurants, historic cinemas, prominent theaters and exclusive shops shoot off in all directions around it. Taksim Square, featuring the impressive Monument to the Republic, leads the way into Beyoglu's bohemian open-air museum, past the Greek Orthodox Aya Triade Church and the French Consulate. A quaint old tramway carries passengers past the Rumeli Han, Çiçek Pasaji, Cite de Pera, Atlas Pasaji, Galatasaray Lisesi, and several elegant consulates. Every year the International Istanbul Film Festival , International Istanbul Music Festival , International Istanbul Theater Festival and the International Istanbul Jazz Festival are held here and in nearby districts. Beyoglu, which has been the traditional home of Istanbul's gay community, hosts various other annual events, including the Bosphorus Festival, Roxy Music Days, Aksanat Jazz Festival and the Blues Festival. 


4)Karaköy

Around the first century BC, there was a tiny village situated on the mini peninsula of the Golden Horn where the modern suburb of Karaköy stands today. These days, Karaköy is a bustling port with a lively fish market, a hectic ferry terminal and a shady nightlife; an intriguing landscape at the mouth of the Golden Horn. Scores of locals fish from the Galata Bridge and an array of vendors peddle all kinds of goods along the sidewalks. A vast underground marketplace where you can buy electrical appliances and guns, among other things, provides not-so-safe passage under the busy road to the entrance of Tünel. Up the hill is Bankalar Caddesi, an historical area filled with banks, art galleries and do-it-yourself stores. All visiting international cruise ships dock in Karaköy.

5)Galata

Galata building

The Genoese-built Galata Tower is the most central point here. The renowned Turkish film Istanbul Beneath My Wings tells the story of Hazarfen Çelebi, who flew from this tower with a home-made pair of wings. The main street, Galip Dede Caddesi, is a hub of activity with shops selling musical instruments and antique books, and you'll also find a good dose of tiny local restaurants. The Whirling Dervishes have a home here at the Galata Mevlevihanesi (Dervish Lodge) ; the Goethe Institute provides locals with a good dose of culture and art; and there are countless mosques, churches and synagogues hidden away in obscure side streets.

6) Besiktas and Ortaköy

Ortakoy

Besiktas -- which is actually dismally devoid of places to help you paint the town red -- is at the center of the three-way fork that leads up the hill to Levent. Ortaköy, on the other hand, is a bustling suburb on the waterfront. Bubbling over with cafes, bars, restaurants and tea houses, this area is a popular weekend hangout for locals. Ortaköy's back streets are buzzing with handicraft stalls filled with trinkets and souvenirs on summer weekends. This part of town is renowned for its mosque, church and synagogue within close quarters of one another. The Bosphorus Bridge spans the waterway overhead. 


7) Princes Islands

Princes Island

There are four islands in the Sea of Marmara that attract crowds escaping the summer heat: Büyükada, Heybeliada, Kinaliada and Burgazada. Ferries leave from Sirkeci, Kadiköy and Bostanci regularly. There are no cars on the islands -- the transport here is limited to horse-drawn carriages. Each island offers plenty of places to eat and sleep, and there are Greek monasteries atop the hills of Büyükada and Heybeliada.

8) Harbiye-Nisantasi-Sisli-Mecidiyeköy-Levent

Istanbul Military Museum

The Military Museum in Harbiye is a good landmark from which to begin exploring Istanbul's business life. Nisantasi is the central shopping district, while Sisli is strictly a business district that goes all the way to Levent and beyond to Maslak. There is now an underground metro linking Taksim with Fourth Levent.