DESTINATIONS TURKEY
official Sema ceremony through
the Mevlevi Museum. Its base
in the Beyoglu district, is currently
closed for refurbishment, however,
performances now occur in a theatre
on the Istiklal Caddesi.
From the high street highlights
of Beyoglu’s main drag the Istiklal
Caddesi to the labyrinthine bazaars,
shoppers have plenty to spend their
lira on. The warren of 61 streets of the
covered Grand Bazaar are as much
fun for browsing as buying. Clients can
wander among more than 4,400 shops
and stalls selling goods such as spices,
shoes, leather goods and carpets. The
sales patter is relatively low-key, so
they won’t feel too harried. Designer
names and elegant boutiques can be
found in the upmarket Nisantasi and
Levent areas.
NIGHTLIFE
Eating out is a joy in Istanbul, and
buzzing Beyoglu is the best place to
head in the evening. Clients with cash
to splash should book a table at Mikla,
a world-class Mediterranean restaurant
at the top of the Marmara Pera hotel,
where the views are only surpassed by
the flavours. However, there’s no need
to spend big bucks to get great food.
Local restaurants offer a range of
mezze, grills and fish dishes
– try the drag of restaurants off
Istiklal Caddesi on Nevizade
Sokak. Imroz is a particular find.
Many Turkish specialities can
be bought as street food –
kebabs, pide (Turkish pizza)
and bagel-like simit.
Visitors can watch the
rows of men fishing off
44 | Travel Weekly | January 29 2010
Clients must
make time to visit
the breathtaking
Blue Mosque
the Galata Bridge and grab a fresh
and delicious barbecued mackerel
sandwich from one of the restaurants
under the bridge, or from boat-cafes
tied to the quay. At almost every street
corner, stalls offer freshly-squeezed
pomegranate juice for a couple of lira.
A good night out isn’t hard to find
in Istanbul. Recommend the Cicek
Pasaji for lively meyhanes, or Turkish
pubs. Clients can sit around small
wooden tables and drink pints of local
Efes beer. Bars and clubs are mainly
concentrated in the Beyoglu, Taksim
and Ortakoy areas.
WHERE TO STAY
The most conveniently situated hotels
for sightseeing are in Sultanahmet and
Beyoglu, where there is a wide range of
properties ranging from international
brands to boutique character hotels.
There are also some luxury hotels such
as the Ciragan Palace Kempinksi
and the Four Seasons Bosphorus.
Most UK tourists stay on the European
side of the Bosphorus.
Cox and Kings offers four nights
for the price of three at the historic
boutique Avicenna Hotel until the
end of February, from £375 per person
on a bed and breakfast basis including
British Airways flights and transfers.
(coxandkings.co.uk; 020 7873 5000).
Though Istanbul works
perfectly as a city break
destination, it’s also possible
to twin it with relaxing beach
time on the Turkish coast.
Classic Collection Holidays
offers four nights’ bed and
breakfast at the Four Seasons
Sultanahmet or Four Seasons
The Grand Bazaar
is packed full of
stalls selling good
such as spices,
shoes, leather
goods and carpets
Bosphorus and six nights all-inclusive
at the Xanadu Island all-suite hotel
in Turgutreis from £2,165 per person
in June. Price includes return flights,
internal flights Istanbul/Bodrum and
private transfers. (classic-collection.
co.uk; 0800 008 7288)
GETTING THERE AND
AROUND
British Airways and Turkish Airlines
fly daily from Heathrow to Istanbul
Ataturk. Easyjet also flies into this
airport on the European side from
Luton and Gatwick, and low-cost
carrier Pegasus flies from Stansted
into Sabiha Gokçen on the Asian
side. Visas, which cost £10, can easily
be purchased at the airport on arrival.
Alternatively, clients with more
time could take the train. The luxury
Danube Express travels more than
2,500 miles through nine countries. An
eight-day itinerary takes passengers
all the way from St Pancras to Istanbul
by train, stopping at destinations en
route and for two days in Istanbul.
The wider city is huge, though
many of the major sights are in the
Sultanahmet area on the European
side. On the northern bank of the
Golden Horn – the river that runs
through the European side of Istanbul
into the Bosphorus – the Beyoglu
district is the home of the city’s best
shopping and nightlife.
Taxis are cheap, but warn clients
to ensure drivers turn on the meter,
otherwise they could be stung for
more than they owe. A clean, prompt
and easy-to-navigate tram system
runs through the centre and is a great
way to get around. TW
www.travelweekly.co.uk
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