Istanbul today is a city full of entertainment and sights, from the hundreds of clubs that are open until dawn to the relics of past empires that have called Istanbul home.
The Pera district is the perfect symbiosis between East and West. Just a few steps away from i’zaz lofts is the elegant Cumhuriyet Restaurant, roughly translated as “Restaurant of the Republic.” It has been a culinary mainstay of the city since Ataturk created the Turkish Republic in the 1920s. Further more Istanbul today is a city full of entertainment and sights, from the hundreds of clubs that are open until dawn to the relics of past empires that have called Istanbul home.
Further a field is Ortakoy along the Bosporus Channel where many trendy nightclubs are found along with open-air, water pipe lounges near the quai. Try a grape seed smoke with a glass of raki.
For the grand tour take the Tunel, world’s first subway, down to the Golden Horn waterfront. Hop a boat or tram to the other side and walk through twisting streets to the Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Aya Sophia, Egyptian Spice Market and Grand Bazaar.
Speaking of relaxing, the Turkish bath or “hamam” is a must do activity. Cagaloglu Hamami, designed by the great Ottoman architect Sinan, has serviced such clientele as Franz Liszt, Edward VIII, and Kaiser Wilhelm. Bathe in history itself.
Take a ride on the “vapors,” the steam ferries, that link the European to the Asian side of the city across the Bosporus. This is one of the busiest shipping channels in the world as cargo ships and supertanks ride the swift current between the Black and Marmara Seas. One can take a day trip to one of the Black Sea beaches about an hour north of town. Or you may spend the afternoon exploring the Prince’s Islands in the Marmara Sea. These islands are like entering a time capsule: no cars are permitted, only horse drawn carriages traveling through an old Ottoman neighborhood with wooden mansions. And the top the hill on Buyukada Island visit the Greek orthodox monastery Aya Yorgi.
Whether you’re interested in the most popular tourist attractions, or prefer an insider’s glimpse of the city, our staff will guide you in the right direction and make any necessary arrangements to ensure that you enjoy your time.