Istanbul is a delight for the senses
Monday 28 Oct 2013 6:00 am
Occupying a deep, natural harbour on the Bosphorus Strait, which divides the Mediterranean from the Black Sea, it’s easy to see why Istanbul was at the centre of the world’s greatest empires. The relevance of this for the modern visitor is that the city is a hotchpotch of architecture, religion and – importantly – areas. Most of the major tourist sites are in the Old City of Sultanahmet, including the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque. This area is buzzing by day and sleepier at night, when the action moves to Beyoglu, a cool district with shops, eateries and a thriving rooftop bar scene. For up-and-coming edge, try Cihangir or Karakoy – neighbourhoods of artisan street cafés, crumbling buildings and old men selling baklava to hip twenty-somethings. Luxury nightclubs cluster along the Bosphorus – Reina, Supperclub and Sortie all attract clients in yachts – and if this all gets too much, escape to The Princes Islands. The car-free archipelago is 45 minutes away by ferry and has relaxed beach clubs and a back-to-nature appeal.
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