"Byzantine encounters: Fener in Istanbul
Avoids the Istanbul crowds and head for a designer holiday home – and a slice of real local character – in heritage site Fener
John Brunton
The Guardian, Saturday 14 May 2011
Istanbul is one of those destinations that guarantees a shock to the system, a seething metropolis that is a chaotic meeting place of east and west, ancient and modern. But when it comes to choosing where to stay, there is a surprising return to normality, with most visitors choosing between reliable budget accommodation concentrated around the tourist golden triangle of the Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque and Sultanahmet, or the funkier neighbourhoods of Beyoglu, Taksim and Ortakoy, where there are a host of famous-name luxury hotels."
MoreŞByzantine encounters: Fener in Istanbul | Travel | The Guardian
