Istanbul: the charms of Turkey’s largest city
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Istanbul is where East meets West. Turkey’s largest city (with 13 million inhabitants) is bisected by the Bosphorus River – on the left bank you are standing in Europe and on the right, Asia. This geography is reflected in a skyline dominated by elegant mosques and grand Ottoman palaces, all of which light up at night to create some of the most romantic views anywhere in the world.
With so much to see, it’s hard to choose where to visit first. But an absolute must is the old town area of Sultanahmet, perched above the Marmara coast and accessed via a maze of cobbled streets. Here the Aya Sofya dominates the main square with its soaring dome and four towering minarettes. Now a museum, the sheer scale of the interior of what was once “the greatest church in Christendom” will knock your breath away. Equally impressive and a stone’s throw away is the magnificent Blue Mosque from where the haunting call to prayer is sounded five times a day. The old town is also home to the Grand Bazaar – a shopper’s paradise since the 15th century. This sprawling market, with its wonderfully overwhelming range of colours, smells and textures, is packed with stalls all frenetically competing to sell everything from exotic herbal remedies to Turkish carpets – all at bargain prices, if you don’t mind a bit of good-natured bartering.
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If all this sightseeing and shopping makes you hungry, fear not – it’s hard to find a bad meal in Istanbul. The dishes offered in the city’s cafes and restaurants tend to be simple but deliciously spiced – even the humble meatball, “kofte”, becomes a treat. And everyone should experience the local dessert, baklava, a honeyed pastry. Try any of the restaurants huddled near the Aya Sofya in the old town – many, such as Bodram or Omars, have high terraces offering great views or, for riverside dining, seek out the delightful food stalls and cafes clustered just under the Bosphorus bridge at Ortakoy. With few weather extremes other than a very hot summer, the city is a year-round destination. As for accommodation, you can’t beat the charming Ottoman Imperial, a four-star boutique hotel in the heart of the old town. The rooms are comfortable and there are a couple of gorgeous terraces with views over the rooftops where you can enjoy a drink or a meal in the warmer months. For more, see Ottomanhotelimperial.com.
British Airways flies direct to Istanbul from Heathrow.
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