Istanbul blog posts

While the Princes Islands are just a short trip from Istanbul, visitors who step onto the ferry leave behind more than just a big city - they depart the trappings of modern life and enter a long-forgotten world of horse-drawn carriages and wistful Victorian mansions. Once a place of exile for Byzantine and Ottoman royalty, today the islands are enjoyed by day trippers who explore their beaches and pine forests. Although it's rare to find real estate for sale on the Princes Islands, a 140 year-old mansion for sale offers not only the chance to experience life as part of this intriguing archipelago, but an opportunity to invest in a successful rental business.

In a city as big as Istanbul, it is easy to get lost, easy to look for easy options of investment in city centre favourite districts and regions such as prime Esenyurt and Beylikduzu. But, what are the districts in Istanbul that have yet to reach their full potential? The areas that are prime for investment today to pay off tomorrow? We take a close look at Bomonti, Kagithane, and Bahcesehir to bring to you our top three spots for real estate today that are set to see huge price increases in the next 5-10 years.

Visiting a Bazaar in Turkey is an experience like no other and once that you must undertake at least once in your life. If you read the guide books, look online for things to do once you land in Turkey, you will almost definitely find that visiting a local Bazaar is high atop most people's list of their best things to see whilst your are here. Bazaars provide locals and tourists with an unlimited amount of fresh goods, and pretty much everything else you can think of in-between. In this blog we take a look at the local Bazaar in Turkey and why it is so popular amongst tourists and locals alike, an old meeting place where you never quite know what to expect - fantastic. 

Turkey's largest city and one that brings the East to the West, Istanbul is making a name for itself as a popular city break destination of the world. The city attracts millions of tourists every year who enjoy the bustling vibes, exotic ambience, and sheer size of the region to explore. More often than not, first time visitors find themselves returning every year, and some even purchase a second home in the city - giving you a perfect place to getaway to enjoy some Turkish culture. So, for those who already know Istanbul or have been before - what is there to do? after the touristic sites? Actually, in this blog we will show you that there is a lot to put on your bucket list, from the less well-known attractions to places where the locals hang out - have a read.

A country so diverse and widespread, Turkey hosts over a thousand festivals every year - giving you a wealth of options to explore and embrace some Turkish culture while you are here. As expected, summer is prime festival season. While cosmopolitan Istanbul is the cultural centre of it all with several hundred festivals in the city alone, you can also venture out to destinations in Cappadocia or the sunny Aegean coast for a range of festivals and sunny delights to enjoy. We’ve narrowed down the list of options to give you our highlights of what to expect and what to put on your list to visit this summer. From live improvised jazz, oiled-up men wrestling like gladiators, and fun activities - these are just a few offerings in a mixed lineup of events

Turkey's largest city, Istanbul is home to many gems and beautiful sites that attract millions every year to the city. However, not many are as grand as Topkapi Palace - designed and built by Sultan Mehmed II in 1459 and completed some six years later, the palace, when it was completed, was surrounded by five kilometres of walls and occupied an area of 700,000 square metres - a stunning site back then, and still today. Any visit to Istanbul is an empty visit unless you take in the breathtaking Topkapi Palace. Here is our total guide to getting the most out of your visit. 

Anyone who has been to Turkey will know one thing - Turks know how to cook, and cook well. From authentic Turkish dishes to extravagant modern twists in cuisine, food in Turkey whets the appetite as much as any dish from around the world. In this blog we present our top five Turkish food tours in Istanbul, as well as a range of different places where you can try your hand at learning how to cook in Istanbul and prepare your very own Turkish dishes. Put your chef hat on and prepare to feel very hungry, an empty stomach is not advised when reading this. 

One city, two continents. Centre of the old Roman Empire, the Byzantine fortress and playground of the Ottoman Sultans at Topkapi Palace for over five centuries. Ranked the top tourist destination in the world by the TripAdvisor based on reviews of travellers themselves, ahead of London and Rome.  Yes, you got it, it's Istanbul, where east meets west, where you shop till you drop, where the heartbeat of ancient civilisations stand side by side with the new towering skyline made of steel and glass, all in perfect harmony. It's 'Istanbul we love you' according to over 36 million who visited Turkey in 2013

Not known around the globe for its fine wines, Turkey's vineyards are actually some of the oldest and biggest you will find in the world. Here we take a look at wine in Turkey and include some of our favourite hotspots and bars to grab a glass of some of the finest Turkish wine. With more than 140 registered producers in the entire country, we hope that you are thirsty - you surely will be after reading this blog. If you ever happen to find yourself sipping on a glass in one of the great restaurants or bars listed in this article, give us a call - we will most likely not be too far behind! 

Believe it or not, we promise to you that there is much more to Turkish food than the traditional kebab or doner. In a blog that is sure to arouse the taste buds in many, we bring you our guide to enjoying Turkish street food and give you our top 15, yes 15, Turkish dishes to try for you foodies out there. Don't worry, we haven't left out the kebab or doner - we love them just as much as you do. Think we haven left something off our list? Let us know what Turkish food you love and enjoy most and we just might feature those in our next blog. 

A tradition dating back more than 300 years, Turkish Hamams are found all over the country and enjoyed by millions of people every year. Offering the ultimate in relaxation and an intimate experience in bathing, the Turkish bath has historically been not only a place to cleanse and ease muscle pain, but a core nucleus to social life in Turkey - a place where political opinions were aired, news is shared, and more. A trip to Turkey without experiencing the pleasure of the Hamam would be a trip wasted. A guide to Turkish Hamams and what makes these amazing baths just that - amazing. 

Straddling two different continents, home to over 12 million residents, Turkey's largest and busiest city - you might think that life in Istanbul could be a bit overwhelming, not knowing which area to visit or which district is best for certain pasttimes. In this blog we give you inside knowledge to surviving Istanbul and experience Turkish culture like never before. From trendy districts such as Bahcesehir or Cihangir, to where old meets new in Cukurcuma, Istanbul is awash with a history like no other city - come explore with us.