Istanbul

Turkey

Things to do in Istanbul:

View the Gallery View from the Bosphorus

Istanbul Restaurants

Cheap (38)

Kafe Kukla

If you're not a fan of manti, Turkish ravioli, or Turkish folk music, you'd best give this student-friendly haunt a wide berth because that's all they do: one dish, one style of music. They do,... read more
Affordable (36)

Beer House

This once-traditional meyhane restaurant now bids for a younger client�le, although you'll still find the same mix of traditional kebabs and fish on the menu. Wash your meal down with raki or wine. read more
Good quality (40)

Zarifa

Once a Greek workshop, Zafira boasts a menu offering�Ottoman and Balkan cuisine and speciality dishes from Istanbul's Greek, Jewish and Armenian communities. read more

Istanbul Nightlife

Chilled (35)

Ortakapi Cafe & Bar

A quiet, friendly beer house serving simple snacks, with board games and outdoor seating also on offer. read more
Live Music (29)

Cemal Reşit Rey Konser Salonu

This state-run concert hall is home to the Istanbul Symphony Orchestra. Regular concerts feature Turkish and international classical music, with appearances by visiting jazz and classical luminaries. read more
Clubbing (34)

Anjelique

This decidedly top-drawer club-restaurant on the shores of the Bosphorus stays open daily until 4am. read more

This Month in Istanbul (March):

By David O'Byrne

Shopping: Istanbul's Egyptian Bazaar (Misir Carsasi) in Eminonu is still selling spices and medicinal herbs 350 years after it first opened.

Sightseeing: This month, Istanbul's Archeology Museum hosts an exhibition on the ancient Assyrians, who are credited with bringing writing to Anatolia around 1800BCE.

Key areas: Spend a civilised Sunday afternoon cruising the Bosphorus on the city ferry for a different view of the city (ido.com.tr).

Day trips: Fast ferries leave Yenikapi ferry terminal daily for the one-hour crossing to Bursa. Home to Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman ruins, it's only a cable car ride away from the ski resort of Uludag.

Istanbul News & Gossip

Word of Mouth

1 Newcastle

The Toon is bracing itself for some right royal antics as Princess Eugenie of the British Royal Family begins her degree course at Newcastle University. The racy royal has already proved a match for Prince Harry as the wildest in line for the throne, including being snapped in a nurse's outfit on a night out and in a pole-dancing club. She may worry royal staff, but she should go down a storm in Newcastle's Bigg Market. Michelle Ord

2 Amsterdam

We've heard of hotels that are dives, but the Goldfish Hotel takes things to a whole new level. The brainchild of Dutch travel agency D-Reizen, it's basically a room at Schiphol Airport where holidaymakers can deposit Bubbles before jetting off. Although the "mini resort" includes a restaurant and tennis courts, the manager isn't expecting huge demand. A small-scale operation if ever there was one. Mark Smith

3 Istanbul

Restoration work on the Hagia Sophia has exposed a mosaic of a six-winged angel, or seraphim, that dates to the 14th century. The mosaic was hidden from view when the Byzantine cathedral, built in the sixth century, was turned into a mosque after the Muslim conquest of 1453. The angel had been covered up by plaster ever since. Further treasures are expected to be revealed as work proceeds. David O'Byrne

4 Madrid

After six years of digging, contractors have fi nally finished the underground train station at Puerta del Sol, one of the busiest squares in the Spanish capital. The huge excavation project has cleared out a cavern that is large enough to fi t a 60-storey skyscraper laid on its side. The station cost a whopping �570m to develop and will be one of the most important transport hubs in Europe. Simon Hunter

5 Gibraltar

On 21 July, the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Peter Caruana, welcomed the Spanish Foreign Minister, Miguel �ngel Moratinos to Gibraltar, marking the first border crossing to the disputed British colony by a Spanish cabinet minister since The Rock was ceded almost 300 years ago. Moratinos said that while Spain did not renounce its claim to Gibraltar, it believed cooperation was the way to resolve disputes. Josephine Quintero

6 Milan

Parents of underage drinkers in Milan are to be fined up to �900 under a strict new law. The move comes in response to a growing problem of young people drinking excessively in public, rather than enjoying moderate amounts of alcohol with family. A recent survey showed that a third of 11-year-olds in Milan had alcohol problems. Mayor Letizia Moratti says the law has been passed to address an emergency situation. Claudio Mancini

Istanbul Trivia

March: Water in the Bosphorus flows in two directions: a main current of heavy salt water flows from the Sea of Marmara north to the Black Sea, while above it a surface current of lighter, less saline water flows the other way.
February: Turkey's prime minister of seven years, Tayyip Erdogan, once had his sights set on other great achievements - he was a defender for Kasimpasa SK, the little-known Istanbul football team.
January: Recycling old buildings is an Istanbul specialty - the French Consulate started life as a plague hospital, while the Four Seasons Hotel in Sultanahmet was originally a prison. Currently under conversion to a hotel is the city's former rabies clinic!